Resources and Tools
Finding Information on Datasets From the FRPA/FSP Forest Data Access Project
The Resources and Tools section provides users with information on different ways of finding and accessing the datasets within scope of this project.
A spreadsheet is provided on the left side of the project website listing the project datasets and providing a link to the metadata. Click on Available Datasets.
Metadata provides information about the dataset such as who the Custodian of the data is, contact names and numbers, attribute names and definitions, accessibility and more. A link directly to a datasets metadata record is provided in the spreadsheet.
The metadata record for a dataset also provides a Download Data button 
if the information is available for download to a user’s computer. Clicking on the button takes the user directly to the Distribution Service with the dataset listed in the users shopping cart.
The Metadata record for a dataset provides Contact information for the dataset. Sc roll down the record to the Contact Information section and you will find a name (or more, depending on roles) with phone number and email address.
See dataset listing or GeoBC Geographic Gateway to find out how to get the Metadata record for a dataset.
Example below is for the Forest Tenure Managed License dataset
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The GeoBC Geographic Gateway provides a one-stop approach to find many of the datasets and applications available within the BC Natural Resource Sector www.geobc.gov.bc.ca .
The Discovery Service (Discover) allows the user to enter Search criteria and see the relevant datasets listed with access to the metadata records. The user can directly download the data by clicking on the Download Data button.
The Distribution Service (Download) allows users to look at datasets that are available for download, load the ones they want into a shopping cart and then download them to their computer. Many of the datasets are freely available to the public or are available to the forestry sector through use of a BCEID.
The Gateway also provides access to applications such as iMapBC, MapView and many other custom spatial mapping tools for specific business areas.
GeoBC is making much of its data available through WMS (Web Map Service) which allows users to view the data on Google Earth. The link to the webpage to get the WMS layers in KMZ format for Google Earth is found on the Gateway. Choose the WMS link under Quick Links. If it is not readily apparent then you can type WMS into the Search GeoBC box.Another way to look for data is to use Google search. Using the Google Search tool, type the dataset name and the word data (e.g. Biogeoclimatic data) and the resulting search may show the GeoBC metadata record often listed at or near the top.
The WMS service allows a user to view the warehouse datasets within their own GIS system if it supports accessing WMS services, which many do. Most of the publicly available datasets can be viewed through WMS which provides a direct link to the warehouse. The information provided is the spatial polygons, lines or points and in some cases limited attribution.
To find out which WMS links are available go to the GeoBC Geographic Gateway www.geobc.gov.bc.ca and click on GeoBC on Google Earth on the lower left side of the page or click on Quick Links on the upper right side.
There are instructions on how to configure access for ESRI ArcMap and Google Earth on the WMS website.
To copy the URL address for pasting into a configuration screen right click on the URL for the WMS link and choose Copy Shortcut.Google Earth is a widely used tool that lets users View geographic data.
The FRPA/FSP Data Access Project datasets have been made available through WMS (Web Map Service) and to Google Earth by converting to a KMZ file which will open Google Earth and load the list of dataset layers.
Turning on a layer results in the data being read directly from the warehouse and displayed in Google Earth.
The KMZ file can be downloaded from the FRPA/FSP Data Access website under Resources and Tools and placed on the user’s computer. Double clicking on the KMZ file will automatically start Google Earth and display the list of datasets. The list loaded is only for those datasets relevant to this project. NOTE: Google Earth (a free version is available) must first be loaded on the user’s computer.
Download the latest KMZ file by clicking here: FRPA_FSP_Forest_Data_Access_2009_09_29.kmz
There are many additional dataset layers in the GeoBC Geographic warehouse and many of them have WMS layers available that can also be viewed in Google Earth. To see what is available go to the GeoBC Geographic Gateway and look for WMS under the Quick Links dropdown. If it is not readily apparent then you can type WMS in the Search box.
MapView
MapView is a mapping and analysis tool that lets users View data and also do some basic analysis and mark-up with a focus on forestry data and activities.
Many of the FRPA/FSP Data Access Project datasets are available in MapView thus allowing users to view and work with the data.
A specific FSP Tab can be found near the top of the application that will contain job related mapping functions to do with Forest Stewardship Planning.
You can access the MapView application from the GeoBC Geographic Gateway by clicking on the Forest, Grasslands and Wetlands category and then choosing Forest MapView.
iMapBC is a free tool that lets users View data and also do some basic analysis and mark-up.
The FRPA/FSP Data Access Project datasets have been made available in a Save Session file (SSN) which can be opened within iMapBC thus allowing users to view and work with the data.
The SSN file is downloaded from the FRPA/FSP Data Access website under Resources and Tools and placed on the user’s computer. iMapBC is opened (choose View on the GeoBC Gateway website) and then choose the open folder icon 
to be able to browse to the SSN file on your computer.
Download the Save Session File by clicking here: FRPA_FSP_Forest_Data_Access_2009_09_23.ssn and choosing Save As to place it on your computer.
The layers loaded in the SSN file are only for those datasets relevant to this project. Loading of layers is still underway but an initial version has been made available. As additional layers are created the file will be updated and replace the one on this website.
There are many additional natural resource dataset layers available in the GeoBC Geographic warehouse. A user can choose to add other layers to their session simply by clicking the Add Layer icon 
or choosing ADD at the top of the Layer list.
The FSP Theme record provides a list of the datasets from this project and provides links to their metadata records. The FSP Theme record can be found in the Discovery Service or by clicking on the following link: