Maine Geographic Information System

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Frequently Asked Questions

Access
Q:	Dear MEGIS, I am looking for the CONTOURS layer for Thorndike, ME on the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog. I do not see Thorndike as an option to choose. What am I doing wrong?
Q:	Do you have a cross reference of what quads cover which towns?
Q:	How can I add data available in MEGIS Internet Map Services and Open GIS Consortium (OGC) Web Map Services (WMS) to my software view?
Q:	How do I access Maine GIS data?
Q:	How do I connect to SDE using ArcINFO command line?
Q:	How do I convert an .e00 file to something ArcView will read?
Q:	How do I get data on the Maine School Administrative Districts?
Q:	I have tried downloading various layers and I have successfully used them, however when I rename them i.e., contours to unitypondcontours, the layer becomes unusable. Any ideas why this is happening?
A:	A specialized copy command for coverage format is required to rename a coverage without destroying the internal links between spatial data and INFO. Now that Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog downloads are available in shapefile format, an option that works for both coverage and shapefile format is download and unzip data to a set of specific town, county, watershed, or tile directories.
Q:	Is Maine GIS data available through Open GIS Consortium (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS)?
Q:	Why can't the State of Maine MEGIS setup a central server system so that each town could send in their particular information and then anybody in the world could access it via a browser?

Cartography
Q:	Can the orthoimagery MrSid files available from MEGIS be projected to state plane?
Q:	Currently, we are looking for road maps which contain the names of the streets in a 1:24,000 scale, preferably. The road data from your site does not appear to contain the street names?
Q:	How can I convert lines drawn on aerial photos to digital data?
Q:	How do I determine proximity between public secondary schools using the SCHLIB layer in ArcView? I have some instructions on how to do proximity, but need help isolating the secondary schools?
Q:	How do I determine the area of land and water in Washington County?
Q:	How do I figure out what projection my data is in? Think it's state plane but not sure.
Q:	I am trying to create a nature trail map for an area of interest. I need to find a suitable reference point, a road intersection, a snowmobile trail, a monument?
Q:	I can't seem to figure out the units for a Maine GIS data layer?
Q:	Is there a quick and easy way to determine the square mileage of a given town in Maine using ArcView?
Q:	Trouble mapping points of XY data from tabular data?
Q:	We have a .dbf table of facilities, how do we turn that into something viewable in ArcMap?
Q:	What are the different zones used in the State Plane Coordinate System for the State of Maine?
Q:	What is the magnetic declination for Liberty, Maine? How accurate is that?
Q:	What is the projection of Maine GIS data?
Q:	When I add data to my view, Maine GIS data doesn't show up on my parcel layer? It's way above it, or out of the view.
Q:	When converting between NAD83 and NAD27, can a consistent number of meters be added or subtracted for any location in the state to convert between datums?
Q:	Why do the MEDOQs not fit the Bath parcels? The ORTHO_HF seems to be OK?

Census
Q:	Do you have Census population data for Hancock County, population 1950-2000?
Q:	Do you have digital versions of the Census Designated Places and the MEDOT compact urban areas?
Q:	Does MEGIS have 1990 Census block data in digital form?
Q:	How can Census 2000 data be related to Maine Minor Civil Divisions?
Q:	What Census data has been made available in GIS format to Maine GIS users?

Custom Mapping
Q:	Can I contact MEGIS with a custom mapping request?
Q:	I have seen some MEDEP reports that show GIS maps having: (1) municipal boundaries, and, (2) certain municipalities highlighted, where can I find these? Is this mapping function available to me? Or is this assistance that MEGIS provides to state agencies?
Q:	I'm just looking for an outline of the State of Maine in GIS format, could you help me?
Q:	MEGIS made a map for us in the past, can we obtain a copy or ask for a graphic of that for our website?

Data
Q:	Are contours at 5' or smaller intervals available for Maine?
Q:	Are surficial geology maps for Maine available from MEGIS?
Q:	Are there maps and/or digital data in support of critical infrastructure inventory?
Q:	Can GPCOG get Q3 FIRM data from MEGIS for Cumberland County?
Q:	Can I get a grid of Maine at 60 minutes by 120 minutes?
Q:	Can you provide a URL to SSURGO data?
Q:	Do we have Congressional District data for Maine?
Q:	Do we have digital growth zones for Scarborough?
Q:	Do you have a coverage of labor market areas?
Q:	Do you have a data layer of zip codes?
Q:	Do you have anything delineating peat bogs in Maine?
Q:	Do you have digital flood plain data for the town of Dresden?
Q:	Does MEGIS have Q3 FEMA flood data?
Q:	Does MEGIS have landuse/landcover data available with forest classification?
Q:	Does the house, senate and county commissioner district coverage VTD00 contain information on the current House, Senate and County Commissioner members?
Q:	Does the Maine Office of GIS have any spatial data layers that show 100 and 500 year flood levels?
Q:	Error in CONTOURS?
Q:	How can I get a grid that is 4 times the size of the 7.5 minute series grid?
Q:	How do I get the DWA and DWALURC deer wintering areas listed as sources in the WETCHAR metadata?
Q:	How do I use the FIRM data to show flood areas?
Q:	I am a student at the University of Maine at Orono. I was given the MEGIS website as a reference to get online data for the Gulf of Maine. Do you have this data available as a free download?
Q:	I am looking for a file depicting land use (e.g. forest, agricultural, residence, industrial)?
Q:	I am taking first steps to create a GIS for my town. Have collected a lot of data from MEGIS and other places but cannot find a boundary map for the town with bearings and distances (or other reference) in either paper or electronic form?
Q:	I am trying to use the STATSGO soil data layer for a class project and do not understand where to find the soil properties associated with MUNAME and MUKEY?
Q:	I have a list of villages - can you tell me what townships they belong in?
Q:	I read some minutes from GIS News, Hydrography Subcommittee Meeting, and there was talk about integrating the MIDAS numbers into the 1:24,000 scale hydrography. I was wondering if this has been done, or if the project was scrapped?
Q:	I was recently reviewing some data given to Unity College by Hancock County. This data contains a shapefile entitled CMGES, I checked the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog and the metadata for this file but could find nothing referring to it.
Q:	I'd like to map Washington County protected areas?
Q:	I'm looking for a GIS layer that would depict Maine public and private colleges?
Q:	Is reapportionment data available in GIS format for Maine Senate and Maine House districts?
Q:	Is there a map of Maine available (either the whole state, or county by county) showing the outlines of the towns and names?
Q:	Is there a way to "Search" the data holdings in the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog at http://megis.maine.gov/catalog?
Q:	Looking for hydrography data, including Maine's coastline for download?
Q:	Looking for speed limit data on roads?
Q:	The "three mile limit line", as depicted in the COAST coverage and other 24k data, appears to be inaccurate?
Q:	We are required to provide MEMA with downstream hazard maps if Carlton Pond dam collapsed - can this be done with Maine GIS software and data?
Q:	We are undertaking a LIDAR study in Maine and need GIS coverage of survey control markers with xyz triplets, do such data exist?
Q:	We're just starting with ArcView GIS. How can we use the recycling maps from MEGIS website, and procure the data table for recycling/landfill rates?
Q:	What Maine GIS data is available for drainage divides?
Q:	What counties are covered by Q3 FIRM data?
Q:	What digital soil surveys are available from the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog?
Q:	What is the relationship between WETCHAR and NWI?
Q:	What is the status of Louds Island in the Town of Bristol and Marshall Island in the Town of Swans Island?
Q:	What layers do we have that show public access to the coast?
Q:	What layers if any do we have related to fisheries?
Q:	When I query for soils data, why do I get Knox county along with Lincoln county when only Lincoln county was queried ? Why do I get Franklin county when I queried only for Somerset?
Q:	Where can I find a list of towns and counties?
Q:	Where can I find the Baxter State Park boundary layer?
Q:	Where can I find the most up-to-date list of Standard Geocodes for Maine Minor Civil Divisions?
Q:	Where can I get maps of habitat, flood zones, watersheds and other data?
Q:	Where can I obtain a paper map(s)?
Q:	Where's the rest of the soil survey for Somerset, Aroostook and Piscataquis counties?
Q:	Why does the SW overedge portion of the Burntland Pond quad not show up in the NAD83 data?
Q:	Would it be possible to have a downloadable shapefile containing the latest E911 data statewide?

Digital Parcel Mapping
Q:	Are the digital parcel mapping grants for municipalities only or for vendors interested in the actual conversion?
Q:	Are the digital parcel mapping standards going to be altered to allow 1:24,000 as a base for the Level 2 standard?
Q:	Are there standards set for digital parcel mapping automation?
Q:	Can a private sector firm apply for a digital parcel mapping grant?
Q:	Can the Rapid Development Grant be submitted separate from the Standard Development Grant as it is on a first come first serve basis?
Q:	Can you explain the budget worksheet, page 14 of the municipal grant for digital parcel mapping?
Q:	Can you give me details about the municipal grants?
Q:	Do all the feature attribute fields apply to Level 1 digital parcel mapping standards?
Q:	Does the digital parcel grant cover the cost of purchasing software for that work?
Q:	Does the municipal digital parcel mapping grant require previous investment in hardware and software? Can we approach neighboring towns and increase our purchasing power?
Q:	For a regional application, do we just fill out a form for each town and have a cover letter pulling them together?
Q:	How do I find out what Level means in digital parcels mapping standards?
Q:	How many towns have submitted municipal parcel data using the digital parcel mapping grants?
Q:	How much centralized administration do you expect from a regional digital parcel grant application? Will the money go through the applicant or to each town separately?
Q:	How should a town proceed to insure the maximum number of points for an upgrade? Are there plans to use geographic coordinates as a unique identifier?
Q:	If I use the E911 road intersections for control points will I have a Level 2 standard digital parcel file?
Q:	If a town applies for a digital parcel mapping grant and the orthophotographs are not available, will they be rejected automatically? Can they get an extension?
Q:	Information on the digital parcel mapping grants?
Q:	Is a CD of parcel coverages required to be submitted with the Rapid Development Grant? Can digital parcel mapping grant money be used to buy hardware and software?
Q:	Is the schedule for the municipal digital parcel mapping grants for calendar year 2004 or 2005?
Q:	Is there a match requirement on the digital parcel mapping grants?
Q:	Is there a schedule for completion of municipal digital parcel data? We are also interested in applying.
Q:	May we have the details of the Geolibrary RFP?
Q:	On the digital parcel mapping grant Budget Worksheet ( page 14) what is meant by upgraded and converted?
Q:	The digital parcel grant RFP indicates digital files while the standards discuss plotting and mylar proofs. Could you provide an itemized list of the deliverables expected for Level 3 compliance?
Q:	To satisfy section 3.1.1 of the digital parcel standards are we required to identify all rights-of-way?
Q:	We are interested in working on updating Waterboro taxmaps. What is available for assistance?
Q:	What is the deadline for completing a municipal digital parcel mapping grant project?
Q:	With the grants at fixed values, are we essentially making a choice of vendors based on merit?

E911
Q:	Are the GPS collected points used for E911 addressing available for download?
Q:	Can we photocopy the town's E911 map book?
Q:	I'm the Addressing Officer for my town, how do I fill out maintenance forms for new roads, how are changes handled, and how does the E911 maintenance process work?
Q:	It looks like a new road in our town is not being depicted correctly?
Q:	Page 48 of the town's E911 mapbook is missing, can it be reproduced?
Q:	What is available for E911 roads?

Imagery
Q:	Are the CITIPIX orthophotos available?
Q:	Can I find a GIS data layer of hydrography, place, or location names?
Q:	Can you get me the original DOQQ images?
Q:	Can you give me an estimate of the size of the ortho photo files that will cover the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC) jurisdiction?
Q:	Does MEGIS have digital topographic maps available for Maine?
Q:	How can I view high resolution orthophotography for Maine? What type of horizontal accuracy can one assume with this imagery?
Q:	How do I find an orthophotograph to download for a specific area of Maine?
Q:	Is Maine GIS data oriented True or Magnetic North?
Q:	No high resolution color orthoimagery available yet for your town? 1996 grayscale base layer orthoimagery is available for most towns.
Q:	The aerial photos shown for Trenton, Maine covers everything around Trenton, but not the center of the community i.e. Route 3 corridor, airport, etc.?
Q:	What GIS base layers are available for Maine?
Q:	What are the pixel sizes for the new high resolution orthophotography in the Waterville area?
Q:	What are the specifications for the new high resolution orthophotography acquisition?
Q:	What is the status of high resolution orthophotography acquisition for the lower Kennebec River area?
Q:	What orthophotography is available?
Q:	What remote sensing data is available?
Q:	When will new high resolution orthophotography be available for the Stonington area? Do you know when the area will be flown?
Q:	When will orthophotos be ready for Georgetown and Wayne?
Q:	When will the new high resolution orthophotography be available for Farmington?
Q:	When will the new high resolution orthophotography be available for Searsport?
Q:	When will the new high resolution orthophotography product be available? Will they be available for purchase?
Q:	When will the new orthophotos be available for the town of Chelsea?
Q:	Where can I find information on the Maine Geolibrary high resolution orthophotography acquisition effort?
Q:	Who flew the aerial photos this spring in southern Maine for the Maine Geolibrary high resolution orthophotography acquisition? Was the control sufficient to allow 2 foot contours?

Metadata
Q:	Do you have orthophotography for Maine available from before 1996?
Q:	How to read NWI coding?
Q:	I'm using Maine GIS data and metadata in SDE format through the Maine GIS infrastructure hosted by MEGIS. How do I view the complete FGDC metadata for a data layer?
Q:	We would like a starting place for our roads metadata. Would it be possible to get a sample of FGDC metadata from MEGIS?
Q:	Where can I find a metadata tool for ArcView 3.x to use in the Hall-Dale GIS lab?
Q:	Where can I find information about feature metadata and Maine GIS?
Q:	Where can I get help with FGDC metadata?
Q:	Where can examples of script or code for ArcCatalog metadata style sheets and thumbnails be found?

Municipal CD
Q:	How do I open the ArcExplorer projects provided on the municipal CD?
Q:	I am the co-chair of the Town of Cumberland conservation commission, is it possible to obtain a municipal CD containing Maine GIS data for our use?

Other Resources
Q:	How do I contact MEGIS with questions or feedback?
Q:	What jobs are available in Maine State government of interest recent GIS and cartography graduates?
Q:	What training is available through your office?
Q:	Where can I find information on public GIS meetings in Maine?

Software/Hardware
Q:	How can MEMA plot vulnerability sites in ArcMap and save the graphic in digital form for power point presentations?
Q:	How can we view your DOQs with AutoCad?
Q:	How do I export an SDE layer to a coverage?
Q:	How do I project data in ArcMap?
Q:	I opened a saved ArcMap project and my data does not appear and there are red checks beside each layer - what do I do?
Q:	Orthoviewer keeps locking up?
Q:	What is the order of drawing things in Arcplot?
Q:	When I try to use the print tool on the MEGIS ArcIMS Aerial Photography or Basemap viewers, nothing happens?
Q:	When we put new points onscreen, the buffers do not show up around them?
Q:	Why doesn't my mapping AML run correctly?

Standards
Q:	Can you explain what we need to do to meet the PUC requirements under Chapter 140?
Q:	What can you tell me about NIST?
Q:	What vertical coordinate system is used for referencing Z values in Maine GIS data holdings?
Q:	What vertical datum is Maine GIS elevation data currently referenced to?
Q:	Where can I find Data Standards for Maine Geographic Information Systems and other related documents?

Statistics
Q:	How many miles of border does Maine share with New Hampshire? And with Canada?
Q:	I am interested in getting the square mile area of a number of townships in Maine. Do you have access to those figures?
Q:	Is it possible to obtain a listing of the roads in Southport, their mileage, and road name?
Q:	What is the area of Maine in square miles, acres, hectares?
Q:	What is the distance along the Maine coastline from the Maine/New Hampshire border at Kittery to Port Clyde?
Q:	What is the length of the Maine coastline?

iBook
Q:	How do I load ArcView on an iBook?

Geographic Information Systems

Frequently Asked Questions