How To Reference Digital Maps as Cited Works

Beyond the book report

If you need to reproduce a section of our maps and imagery to incorporate into your design proposal, research results, or similar professional documentation, spare a little room in your composition to cite your data sources correctly.  It not only fulfills the legal requirements of our EULA, the credibility and professionalism of your work goes up as well.

Below you'll find some common examples for citing the source of data you've acquired from First Base Solutions as an inline citation in the border of a map or graphical compilation of data, figure details, footnote, or bibliography.

TYPE 1: Data Downloaded From MapWarehouse:

TYPE 1.1
The basic format for citing most of the geo data files from MapWarehouse is:

Database Title [format]. Place of publication: Data Producer, Date. Available: Name of site and <URL> (accessed date).

Tip: If you need to define the title of a work yourself, put the [Title in Brackets], or put the Title in Italics to indicate the source.

Orthophoto Example:
Orthophoto Mapping, Toronto 8cm [computer file]. Markham, ON: First Base Solutions, 2015. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

Contours Example:
Contours, South Central Ontario [computer file]. Markham, ON: First Base Solutions, 2002. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

DEM Example:
Digital Elevation Model, Golden Horseshoe [computer file]. Markham, ON: First Base Solutions, 2002. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

Parcel Example:
Ontario Parcel [computer file]. Toronto, ON: Teranet Enterprises Inc., 2015. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

Groundwater Example:
Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater, Expanded Core Geology 100m [computer file]. Toronto, ON: Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition, 2006. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).


TYPE 1.2
For compiled maps that are part of a series, the formatting is a little different. For vector data formats using all layers of the map compilation, the format is basically the same, making clear reference to the particular sheet in the series:

Database Title and sheet number,[format]. Place of publication: Publisher, Date. Available: Name of site and <URL> (accessed date).

Flood Plain Example (Vector Data - using all layers):
Flood Plain Mapping, Sheet don_05 [computer file]. Toronto, ON: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2015. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

Ontario Base Map Example (Geotiff Raster, or Vector Data - using all layers):
Ontario Base Map Sheet 10 17 6350 47750 [computer files]. Toronto, ON: Ministry of Natural Resources, 2002. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).


TYPE 1.3
For vector data formats where only certain layers of the map compilation are used, those layers should be identified specifically:

Database Title and sheet number, Layers used: [format]. Place of publication: Publisher, Date. Available: Name of site and <URL> (accessed date).

Flood Plain Example (Vector Data - using only certain layers):
Flood Plain Mapping, Sheet don_05. Layers Used: regulatory flood line, spot heights [computer file]. Toronto, ON: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2015. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).

Ontario Base Map Example (Vector Data - using only certain layers):
Ontario Base Map Sheet 10 17 6350 47750. Layers Used: waterpoly, woodedarea, provparks [computer files]. Toronto, ON: Ministry of Natural Resources, 2002. Available: MapWarehouse <http://maps.firstbasesolutions.com> (Accessed December 10, 2015).


TYPE 1.4
For compiled maps that are part of a series that are in a static format or hard copy print:

Data Producer. Sheet title from the series [format]. Edition. Scale. Series title, sheet number. Place of publication: Publisher, Date.

Flood Plain Example (PDF):
Northway Survey Corp. Ltd. / Northway Photomap Inc. Don River 05 [map]. 2005 Edition. Scale 1:2,000. Flood Plain Mapping, don_05. Toronto, ON: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2009.

Ontario Base Map Example (PDF or Print):
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Sheet 10 17 6350 47750 [map]. NAD 1983 Edition. Scale 1:10,000. Ontario Base Maps, Sheet 10 17 6350 47750. Toronto: Ministry of Natural Resources, 2002. 


TYPE 1.5
Although not on MapWarehouse, satellite imagery purchased through a custom order should be cited like this:

Data Producer. Title or Scene ID, Satellite and sensor name, processing level. Place of publication: Publisher, Date of image collection.

Satellite Imagery Example:
DigitalGlobe. [Mattawa Area Of interest] scene 1010010005B12C00, Quickbird, Standard Imagery, 3-Band Pansharpened (Natural Colour), DRA-on. Longmont, CO: DigitalGlobe, June 17, 2007.


TYPE 1.6
So, what if you want to take data you've downloaded from MapWarehouse, combine it with your own files and compile a custom map? You need to explain the map components that went in, and what software you used in this way:

Map Title [map]. Scale. Data publishers and layer names [computer files]. Place of publication: Name of person who generated map, date. Using: computer software name [type of software]. Version or edition. Software manufacturer location: Software manufacturer name, date of software release/copyright.

ArcGIS Example:
Client’s Area Of Interest [map]. Scale 1:5,000. Data layers: First Base Solutions: Toronto 8cm Orthophoto Mapping 2015, Contours South Central Ontario 2002; Teranet Enterprises Inc: Ontario Parcel Mapping 2015; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: Ontario Road Network (ORN); Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: Flood Plain Mapping [computer files]. My Company, Toronto, ON: Generated by Salina Morrow on December 10, 2015. Using: ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced [GIS]. Version 10.1. Redlands, CA: ESRI, 2012.

  TYPE 2: Dynamically Generated Map Images From VuMAP:

TYPE 2.1
For an exported view of orthophoto alone (or a single data layer):

Data Producer. Name of data source. Title and location of image: Data Supplier, year of image capture. Scale/resolution, if given (otherwise "scale not given") Available: Software package name <main page url> (Date image was generated).

Orthophoto Example:
First Base Solutions. VuMAP. Orthophoto Mapping over Guelph, ON: First Base Solutions, 2010. 20 cm photo resolution. Available: VuMAP <http://vumap.firstbasesolutions.com> (November 30, 2015). 


TYPE 2.2
For an exported view using more than one data layer from VuMAP:

Data Producer. Title of map created [format]. Layers used. Scale. Name of person who generated map; using “Title of Website” <URL> (date the map was generated).

Example:
First Base Solutions. Client’s Area Of Interest [map]. Layers used: 2015 FBS Orthophoto Mapping, FBS 1m Contours South Central Ontario, Teranet Parcel, Ontario Road Network. Zoom Level 15. Generated by Salina Morrow; using “VuMAP” <http://vumap.firstbasesolutions.com> (Generated December 11, 2015). 


TYPE 2.3
For a data layer created using tools and functions found within the VuMAP application:

Software Developer, Year. Software Name, Version. Software Publisher. Name of person who generated map; using “Name of Tool” <URL> (Date Created).

Example:
First Base Solutions Development Team, 2015. VuMAP, Version 2.0. First Base Solutions. Generated by Salina Morrow; using “Measure Tool” <http://vumap.firstbasesolutions.com> (Created December 11, 2015).

TYPE 3: Dynamically Generated Map Images From MapCast (FBSWMS):

TYPE 3.1
Our web mapping service, MapCast, offers orthphoto and contour mapping served directly into your desktop CAD or GIS software, allowing you to build your own maps with the benefit of a high quality photo base layer. For a dynamically generated map view of just one layer:

Data Producer. Name of data source. Title and location of image: Data Supplier, year of image capture. Scale/resolution, if given (otherwise "scale not given") Available: Software package name <main page url> (Date image was generated).

Orthophoto Example:
First Base Solutions. MapCast. Orthophoto Mapping over Guelph, ON: First Base Solutions, 2010. 20 cm photo resolution. Available: MapCast <http://fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com> (November 30, 2015).

Contour Example:
First Base Solutions. MapCast. 1m Contours, South Central Ontario at Guelph, ON: First Base Solutions, 2002. 1:10,000. Available: MapCast <http://fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com> (November 30, 2015).


TYPE 3.2
For maps compiled from a combination of MapCast and other data:

Map Title [map]. Scale. Data layers publisher and names [computer files]. Place of publication: Name of person who generated map, date. Using: computer software name [type of software]. Version or edition. Software manufacturer location: Software manufacturer name, date of software release/copyright.

Example:
Client’s Area Of Interest [map]. Scale 1:5,000. Data layers: First Base Solutions: 2015 Orthophoto Mapping, 1m Contours South Central Ontario [web map service]; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: Ontario Road Network (ORN) [computer files]. My Company, Toronto, ON: Generated by Salina Morrow, generated on December 10, 2015. Using: ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced [GIS]. Version 10.1. Redlands, CA: ESRI, 2012.

Not sure? Just contact us and ask.