Esri Data & Maps contains many types of map data at many scales of geography, and the entire dataset can be read directly from the DVD in the media kit. Vector data is provided in Compressed File Geodatabase (FGDB) format. The HTML-based Help system contains information about Data & Maps including a complete list of the redistribution rights for each dataset. Please review this information carefully before redistributing any of this data.
Learn more about Redistribution
Rights
Each dataset includes a
metadata (.xml) file providing complete documentation as well as an ArcGIS®
layer (.lyr) file displaying symbols and classifications
for the dataset when viewed in ArcGIS. Map
document (.mxd) and group layer (.lyr)
files are included for all geographic areas to provide symbolized maps of the
datasets.
This data is useful for general
purpose basemaps and for more specific uses. The data
can make a new user productive and the software useful as soon as it is
installed. General basemap
information is available for the world and
Each dataset is fully
documented with metadata, which furnishes extensive general and technical
characteristics of the dataset. The metadata provides identification,
originator, publisher, description, temporal/currency, status, spatial extent,
keywords, accessibility (includes the redistribution rights), data quality,
condition, lineage, editing, spatial data organization, spatial reference,
entity and attribute descriptions, distribution, dataset size, and metadata
reference information. The metadata also provides a "thumbnail,"
which displays the full extent of the dataset.
The metadata follows two
standards—the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) from the
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) document 19115 Geographic Information - Metadata. In
addition, Esri has defined additional elements that are present in the metadata
to support and to document characteristics of datasets that are not addressed
by the two standards.
The metadata is provided as a file for each dataset in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. The Data & Maps metadata in XML can be viewed and edited in ArcGIS and can also be used with the ArcIMS Metadata Server.