Digital Wyoming Atlas

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

Title: Digital Wyoming Atlas

Abstract:

The Digital Wyoming Atlas currently contains over 250 maps of Wyoming in many different categories. The maps are organized into several categories: Population/Society, Economy, History/Culture, Recreation/Tourism, and Transportation/Communication. A unique aspect of this Atlas is that most of the data comprising these maps is digital geospatial data and is available for download. Digital geospatial data contains not only database information, but spatial information as well. Because of the spatial component, any of the data comprising these maps can be "overlayed" and analyzed for relationships, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   University of Wyoming Dept. of Geography, 2002, Digital Wyoming Atlas: University of Wyoming Dept. of Geography, Laramie, Wyoming.

   Online Links:

   • http://www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/atlas

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.36554566

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -103.78380412

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 44.99390988

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.94479444

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: various dates

   Currentness_Reference: Please see individual datasets for more specific source dates.

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest .001. Longitudes are given to the nearest .001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572221.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • University of Wyoming Dept. of Geography

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   William Gribb, Dept of Geography, University of Wyoming. Many students participated in the development of this atlas.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

   Data Manager
   Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center
   Box 4008 University Station
   Laramie, Wyoming 82071
   USA
   

   307-766-2751 (voice)
   n/a
   

   Hours_of_Service:

   8:00 - 5:00 MST

The datasets described by this document were developed for a state atlas. As such, they are not intended to be precise or accurate beyond a statewide level. Most of the data was collected at a statewide level, compiled by county or by city/town. This data should not be used for analysis at any scale larger than the state of Wyoming.

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 1999 (process 1 of 1)

   Most of the data was compiled in a spreadsheet, by geographic unit (usually county or town names). The spreadsheet was then converted to Dbase and joined to the geographic units in ArcView.

   Each dataset has its own source and method description, providing specific details.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • various

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   Not available.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   The majority of the data used for the Digital Wyoming Atlas was compiled either by city or by county. Attribute data was joined to Wyoming counties (polygon, 1:100,000 scale) or to Wyoming cities/towns (estimated coordinate locations). For more information on these two datasets, please see their metadata documents:

   Wyoming counties: <http://www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/county.html>

   Wyoming cities/towns: <http://www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/city.html>

   Some data was compiled by other geographic features, for instance:

   Timber production, compiled by national forest boundary: <http://www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/managed.html>

   Air quality: lat/long coordinates compiled by U.S. EPA

   Cemetaries: lat/long coorindates from USGS Geographic Name Inforamtion System

   Continental Divide: digitized from 1:100,000 USGS Digital Raster Graphics (topographic maps)

   Drought: climatic regions digitized from 1:250,000-scale map from the National Climatic Data Center

   Earthquakes: lat/long coordinates provided by the National Earthquake Information Center

   Unique natural areas, fishing areas, hiking trails, scenic drives, campgrounds: digitized from 1:100,000 USGS Digital Raster Graphics (topographic maps) corresponding to the Delorme Atlas of Wyoming

   Historical trails: digitized from a 1:500,000-scale map produced by the Bureau of Land Management

   Popluation by census tracts and census blocks: tract and block boundaries obtained from the U.S. Census (1:100,000-scale)

   Tornados: lat/long coordinates from the NOAA storm prediction center

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   not available

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   not available

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints:

The data should not be used at scales larger than the state of Wyoming (e.g. county, regional, small area)

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

   Data Manager
   Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center
   Box 4008 University Station
   Laramie, Wyoming 82071
   USA
   

   307-766-2735 (voice)
   n/a
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   The distributor shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of this data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate used described in this metadata document. The distributor makes no claims for the data's suitability for other purposes.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Shapefile
     Network links:	ftp.sdvc.uwyo.edu or <http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse>

   • Cost to order the data:

     No fees are required for downloading the data that is on-line. Some

Dates:

Last modified: Mar-2002

Metadata author:

Margo Berendsen
Box 4008 University Station
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
USA

307-766-2751 (voice)
meh@uwyo.edu

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)