1. GIS DATA FOR CHINA Technology Assessment GIS Management and Implementation University of Texas at Dallas Michele Ladenson and Zhixiang Lu OCT-27-2006

2. 2 Who needs a China GIS Companies with enterprise GIS systems who are expanding their business into China. Companies with enterprise GIS systems who are expanding their business into China. Anyone competing with local Chinese businesses already utilizing GIS. Anyone competing with local Chinese businesses already utilizing GIS. Companies trying to make decisions about site selection for store or factories in China. Companies trying to make decisions about site selection for store or factories in China. Geographically-minded researchers and graduate students interested in research related to China. Geographically-minded researchers and graduate students interested in research related to China.

3. 3 What they need Proven base map data at a suitable scale Proven base map data at a suitable scale Specific spatial data for their industry or topic Specific spatial data for their industry or topic

4. 4 What are the unique requirements when implementing a China GIS? The need to store and display Chinese characters. The need to store and display Chinese characters. The ability to handle large numbers of points, polygons, and digits. The ability to handle large numbers of points, polygons, and digits. The challenges of unspecified or varying spheroids, datum, and projections. The challenges of unspecified or varying spheroids, datum, and projections. The need for a native speaker on the implementation team to access Chinese language data sources. The need for a native speaker on the implementation team to access Chinese language data sources.

5. 5 The need to store and display Chinese characters Although there is an official Romanization system for displaying Chinese characters in the English (Roman) alphabet … Although there is an official Romanization system for displaying Chinese characters in the English (Roman) alphabet … Many Chinese do not know it and thus will not recognize common placenames on a map unless labels are in Chinese characters. Many Chinese do not know it and thus will not recognize common placenames on a map unless labels are in Chinese characters. Many words/places that are different in Chinese characters are the same when displayed in English, INCLUDING TWO PROVINCES. Many words/places that are different in Chinese characters are the same when displayed in English, INCLUDING TWO PROVINCES.

6. 6 Shanxi The need to store and display Chinese characters, cont. Two neighboring provinces in central China have the SAME spelling in English but DIFFERENT names in Chinese. This problem is common at lower administrative level as well. It is difficult to convert placenames from “ English ” to Chinese so always keep Chinese names in the database.

7. 7 The need to store and display Chinese characters, cont. To display Chinese labels standard copies of GIS software with additional language packages and configurations should suffice but testing is definitely required. To display Chinese labels standard copies of GIS software with additional language packages and configurations should suffice but testing is definitely required. To display titles, legend, datum, projection and other map information in Chinese characters, Chinese versions of the standard GIS software may be needed. To display titles, legend, datum, projection and other map information in Chinese characters, Chinese versions of the standard GIS software may be needed.

8. 8 What are the unique requirements of a China GIS, cont. Due to China ’ s size, any China- wide GIS should be designed to handle large numbers of points, polygons, and digits. Due to China ’ s size, any China- wide GIS should be designed to handle large numbers of points, polygons, and digits.Population U.S.-300,000,000 U.S.-300,000,000 China-1,400,000,000 China-1,400,000,000 http://www.naturalresources.csdb.cn

9. 9 What are the unique requirements of a China GIS, cont. The challenges of unspecified or varying spheroids, datum, and projections. The challenges of unspecified or varying spheroids, datum, and projections. Krasovsky 1940 Krasovsky 1940 WGS84 WGS84 The need for a native speaker on the implementation team in order to access Chinese language data sources described below. The need for a native speaker on the implementation team in order to access Chinese language data sources described below. Chinese language software for writing letters and searching the internet may need to be purchased for them. Chinese language software for writing letters and searching the internet may need to be purchased for them.

10. 10 Sources of Base Map Data Orthographic satellite photos. Orthographic satellite photos. Vector and attribute data digitized from official Chinese government issued paper maps and statistics books. Vector and attribute data digitized from official Chinese government issued paper maps and statistics books. Vector and attribute data generated electronically by Chinese government agencies. Vector and attribute data generated electronically by Chinese government agencies. Vector and attribute data developed and marketed by private companies. Vector and attribute data developed and marketed by private companies.

11. 11 Orthographic satellite photos Readily available for every part of the country from U.S. satellite data providers. Readily available for every part of the country from U.S. satellite data providers. Extremely high level of currency. Extremely high level of currency. In general anyone experienced with converting U.S. photographic data to vector format can create base map layers for China from them. In general anyone experienced with converting U.S. photographic data to vector format can create base map layers for China from them. But very time-consuming and error prone and thus recommended only if good vector data is unavailable. But very time-consuming and error prone and thus recommended only if good vector data is unavailable.

12. 12 Vector and attribute data digitized from Chinese paper maps and statistics books ACASIAN at Griffth University Australian Consortium for the Asian Spatial Information and Analysis Network http://www.asian.gu.edu.au/ Scale: 1:1,000,000 Scale: 1:1,000,000 Data: administrative boundary, city and town point, generic postal code polygons (3-4 digits rather than the full code), transportation networks, several hydrology coverages Data: administrative boundary, city and town point, generic postal code polygons (3-4 digits rather than the full code), transportation networks, several hydrology coverages Prepared by GIS specialists from paper maps Prepared by GIS specialists from paper maps Advantage: easy to use, excellent hydrology coverage Advantage: easy to use, excellent hydrology coverage Disadvantage: much data is too out-of-data to be used nowadays Disadvantage: much data is too out-of-data to be used nowadays

13. 13 Vector and attribute data digitized from official Chinese government issued paper maps and statistics books China Data Center at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (http://chinadatacenter.org) China Data Center at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (http://chinadatacenter.org) Data: Chinese census data and other statistical data, GIS base mapping Data: Chinese census data and other statistical data, GIS base mapping Advantages: Their 2000 township level census data remains the most comprehensive of all attribute data sources. Advantages: Their 2000 township level census data remains the most comprehensive of all attribute data sources. Disadvantages: some gaps, quality control issues, not comprehesive, coverages not easy to use, not current. Disadvantages: some gaps, quality control issues, not comprehesive, coverages not easy to use, not current.

14. 14 Vector and attribute data generated electronically by Chinese government agencies Advantages Advantages Excellent quality control Excellent quality control Official government data Official government data Multiple scales available Multiple scales available Difficult to obtain for U.S. companies Difficult to obtain for U.S. companies No established acquisition procedures No established acquisition procedures Few websites in English Few websites in English

15. 15 Vector and attribute data generated electronically by Chinese government agencies National Geographic Information System Center National Geographic Information System Center http://nfgis.nsdi.gov.cn http://nfgis.nsdi.gov.cn Major government distributor of base maps and elevation data. Major government distributor of base maps and elevation data. 1:4,000,000, 1:1,000,000, 1:250,000 maps completed (14 vector layers as well as a separate file with Digital Elevation Models data ) 1:4,000,000, 1:1,000,000, 1:250,000 maps completed (14 vector layers as well as a separate file with Digital Elevation Models data ) Currently working on 1:50,000 and 1:10,000 Currently working on 1:50,000 and 1:10,000 Larger scale already developed at the municipal level for some cities Larger scale already developed at the municipal level for some cities

16. 16 Grid Map for 1:250,000 Base Maps from National Geographic Information System Center

17. 17 Vector and attribute data developed and marketed by private companies No U.S. data vendors advertises GIS services for China data. No U.S. data vendors advertises GIS services for China data. Several private Chinese companies provide geo-data processing Several private Chinese companies provide geo-data processing SuperMap (http://www.supermap.com.cn/) SuperMap (http://www.supermap.com.cn/) Biggest GIS company in China. Biggest GIS company in China. Proprietary software aimed at Asian market. Proprietary software aimed at Asian market. Sells data but primarily software vendor. Sells data but primarily software vendor. MapWorld (http://www.mapworld.cn/) MapWorld (http://www.mapworld.cn/) Scale 1: 10,000 and 1: 15,000 Scale 1: 10,000 and 1: 15,000 Format includes ESRI and MapInfo Format includes ESRI and MapInfo Data includes administrative boundary, facilities management Data includes administrative boundary, facilities management Beijing Creation Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd (http://www.creation-bj.com) Beijing Creation Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd (http://www.creation-bj.com) Any scale (per client requirement) Any scale (per client requirement) Satellite image processing Satellite image processing Advantages: Data is tailored to your needs. Advantages: Data is tailored to your needs. Disadvantages: May not have good English speakers on staff. Disadvantages: May not have good English speakers on staff.

18. 18 Sources for Topic Specific Data Optometric Photographs Optometric Photographs Current, detailed, time-consuming Current, detailed, time-consuming World wide GIS data World wide GIS data Small scale, may be generalized, good for comparative projects Small scale, may be generalized, good for comparative projects Chinese government data ** Chinese government data ** Detailed, good quality control, hard to acquire Detailed, good quality control, hard to acquire Large scale business/retail data of any kind Large scale business/retail data of any kind VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND AT THIS TIME! VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND AT THIS TIME!

19. 19 Chinese Government Data http://ngcc.sbsm.gov.cn/ DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data DLG (Digital Line Graphs) data DRG (Digital Raster Graphics) data DOM (Digital Orthophoto Map) http://www.sbsm.gov.cn Image data National mapping benchmark data Basic aviation photography data Satellite remote image data Basic scale geographic information data

20. 20 Chinese Government Data Institute of Soil Sciences The Chinese Academy of Science http://www.issas.ac.cn/ 1:1,000,000 Complete soil database

21. 21 Chinese government data (cont) Chinese Natural Resources Database (http://www.naturalresources.csdb.cn ) This map illustrates the level of detail found in government GIS databases. This map shows soil type.

22. 22 Other Useful Sites The Data Sharing Network of Earth System Science (http://www.geodata.cn)http://www.geodata.cn has links to many good quality databases prepared by Chinese universities for various projects. They specialize in Earth Science type data but also include several cultural databases. More data can be found at their regional branches linked on the main website.

23. 23 Conclusions Excellent GIS data does exist Excellent GIS data does exist However, it is generally only accessible by those who can read Chinese. However, it is generally only accessible by those who can read Chinese. Government and private data providers within China provide better, more up to date, and easier to use data than data providers elsewhere. Government and private data providers within China provide better, more up to date, and easier to use data than data providers elsewhere. Any China GIS implementation must thus include a thorough search of CHINESE sources. Any China GIS implementation must thus include a thorough search of CHINESE sources.

24. 24 References Chinese Natural Resources Database Chinese Natural Resources Database (http://www.naturalresources.csdb.cn ) (http://www.naturalresources.csdb.cn ) China ’ s National Spatial Data Infrastructure Project China ’ s National Spatial Data Infrastructure Project (http://sms.webmap.cn/default.asp ) (http://sms.webmap.cn/default.asp ) http://www.asian.gu.edu.au/ http://www.asian.gu.edu.au/ http://chinadatacenter.org http://chinadatacenter.org National Geographic Information System center, http://nfgis.nsdi.gov.cn National Geographic Information System center, http://nfgis.nsdi.gov.cn SuperMap (http://www.supermap.com.cn/) SuperMap (http://www.supermap.com.cn/) MapWorld (http://www.mapworld.cn/) MapWorld (http://www.mapworld.cn/) Beijing Creation Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd. (http://www.creation-bj.com) Beijing Creation Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd. (http://www.creation-bj.com)

25. 25 Michele Ladenson Project Director Paper writing Presenting Obtaining information (from English websites) Zhixiang Lu Data Provider Slides preparation Translating Obtaining information (from Chinese websites) Contributions

26. 26 Thank You