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Standard Logical Model for Toponymic Databases

Toponymic data is fundamental framework data that many people use in order to access map and GIS related data. In the same way that people can use coordinates (the geo-spatial reference frame) in order to describe their location in the real world, using GPS technology for example, so too can people use a geographic name to describe their location. In today's GIS enabled world, we need accurate toponyms, linked to GIS data systems providing digital extent information in order to realize the full benefit of the toponymic data already available.

The overall objectives of the federal government, provincial government agencies and other naming authorities with respect to this and possibly other GeoConnections proposals concerning toponymic data is to work towards achieving all aspects of the following threefold approach:

• develop the logical model that would provide a national standard for GIS enabled toponymic databases ready to provide digital extent information compatible with the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI),
  
• within different federal and provincial government jurisdictions, determine what data layers from which databases constitute the fundamental framework layers within the CGDI and build the linkages from the toponymic databases with standardized logical models to these layers within each of their respective jurisdictions, and
  
• finally once the linkages are developed, integrate the databases and thus build accurate toponymic data into the fundamental layers of the CGDI.
  

This proposal only deals with the first prong of this three pronged approach. It will provide for the analysis of the different toponymic databases belonging to the federal government, provincial and territorial agencies and other naming authorities in terms of both their present and anticipated future needs for toponymic data within a digital GIS environment working towards a national standard. That is, it is our desire to facilitate a paradigm shift for toponymic data in Canada, moving from tabular databases that will not readily integrate with GIS systems to databases incorporating digital extent information fully integrated with GIS systems that are core to the fundamental layers within the databases that constitute the CGDI.

For more information...

Primary Partner: Natural Resources Canada - Centre for Topographic Information--Ottawa  Ottawa,  Ontario;

Partners: Centre for Topographic Information, Sherbrooke (CTI-S); National Atlas of Canada; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Funding From GeoConnections: $55,000.00 ( 46.0 %)

Estimated Inception Date: December, 2000

Estimated Completion Date: October, 2001

Deliverables from this project benefitted the following provinces: All provinces

Government of Canada