I missed the start of this thread (I'm not subscribed to SLUG), so am a bit in the dark as to what you are trying to achieve.
Firstly: I remember seeing an announcement that the NSW Mapping Dept (can't remember it's name - Land and Information Services or something) are releasing a lot of map data for free. Mainly raster data initially, but I think it is expanding to vector data as well. Search around their website or give them a call to find out. Secondly: I suggest that before you try to download and maintain large datasets provided by external agencies, you ask yourself whether you can do it better by providing an interoperable application where you access maps from the web on-the-fly as you want it. I explain this a bit further in my pet project: http://mapbuilder.sourceforge.net Essentially I'm wanting to build vector data maps based on other people's basemaps. (Any keen geeks want to help out. I'm specifically looking for: * someone who can work out how to install stuff, improve install, and/or document the process. * java programmers.) There are a few around. Here is an example of one Web Map Server: http://www.geographynetwork.com:80/servlet/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?ServiceName=ESRI_World&WMTVER=1.0.0&SRS=EPSG%3A4326&REQUEST=map&FORMAT=GIF&TRANSPARENT=true&EXCEPTIONS=INIMAGE&BBOX=141,-35.532,153.7,-30&WIDTH=350&HEIGHT=400&LAYERS=Country+Boundaries,Rivers,Water+Bodies,Major+Cities,Streets+and+Railroads,Land+and+Oceans,Airports,Place+Names&STYLES= Change the values for BBOX to get a different projection. Or if you are looking for a WMS client I am working on, checkout: http://144.132.130.70:8080/ogc/OGCExample.html (This is my personal box, so please don't bookmark it, and go easy on the bandwidth). It shows 2 WMS layers being viewed together. You can pan and zoom around the map. (click and drag). Terry Collins wrote: > > Cameron Shorter wrote: > > > > Surprise, surprise, there is some free map data. > > Okay, send me the dummies guide on how to get it, because I can not find > any. > > > > > There are many key gov agencies putting their map data online using the > > Open GIS standards for serving map data (http://opengis.org ) > > ??? - the discussion is sydney metro data. Something we could download > and use is the criteria. > > > > > The local claim to fame is http://canri.nsw.gov.au which links to our > > local maps. > > Does this work? It always breaks for me (since it was launched in fact). > > -- > Terry Collins {:-)}}} Ph(02) 4627 2186 Fax(02) 4628 7861 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www: http://www.woa.com.au > Wombat Outdoor Adventures <Bicycles, Books, Computers, GIS> > > "People without trees are like fish without clean water" -- Cameron Shorter Web Mapping Manager Social Change Online 248 Johnson St Tel: +61 (0) 2 9692 5115 Annandale NSW 2038 Fax: +61 (0) 2 9692 5192 Sydney, Australia http://webmap.socialchange.net.au -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
