Frequently Asked Questions

List of Questions:

1. Are Toporama maps the same as printed topographic maps?
2. Why do the maps look a bit different as you zoom in?
3. What data do we use for Toporama - Mapping Tool?
4. What projection/coordinate system, datum and ellipsoid are used for Toporama - Mapping Tool?
5. What is the contour interval on Toporama maps and the Mapping Tool?
6. Why are there wooded areas and streams under some roads?
7. Why do so many names on the map look the same?

1. Are Toporama maps the same as printed topographic maps?

Toporama maps are similar in appearance to printed topographic maps but are different in other ways. These maps are designed for the Internet so many features will look slightly different. The main reason is that there are limitations in the level of detail that can be shown on the average computer monitor. The small, medium and large map sizes are also much smaller than the average printed topographic map. While printed topographic maps only show a defined area based on the National Topographic Map Sheet Grid, Toporama maps do not have edges. It is like having a seamless map, using 1:250 000 or 1:50 000 scale data for all of Canada, that you view through your Web browser.

2. Why do the maps look different as you zoom in?

As you zoom in Toporama - Mapping Tool - uses different maps or data which are progressively more detailed. Toporama, for the most part, uses five main base maps or data sets that are derived for the scales of: 1:15 000 000, 1:5 000 000, 1:1 000 000, 1:250 000 and 1:50 000. Some of the changes you will notice are an increase in:

• the detail of the features on the map
• the number of features shown on the map
• the number of map layers, as shown in the legend

3. What data do we use for Toporama - Mapping Tool?

Toporama uses five main data sets to offer maps that start at a national level and then move to regional and local views. Each offers increasing levels of detail. For the most part, only one main data set is used for each zoom level. However, to improve map clarity, there are situations when features from different data sets appear together as shown in the table that follows.

The five main data sets that appear in Toporama - Mapping Tool - are:

• CanVec – The Atlas of Canada's 1:15 000 000 National Scale Framework
• CanVec – The Atlas of Canada's 1:5 000 000 National Scale Framework
• CanVec – The Atlas of Canada's 1:1 000 000 National Scale Framework
• CanVec – 1:250 000 scale National Topographic Data Base
• CanVec – 1:50 000 scale CanVec

More information on the data used in Toporama - Mapping Tool can be found on our Map Sources page.

4. What projection / coordinate system, datum and ellipsoid are used for Toporama - Mapping Tool?

Note: The following information is for the National Topographic Data as seen at map scales of 1:300 000 to 1:20 000.

Projection / Coordinate System:

Name: Lambert Conformal Conic (CANLAMB-83)
False easting: 0.000000
False northing: 0.000000
Central meridian: -95.000000
Standard parallel 1: 77.000000
Standard parallel 2: 49.000000
Latitude of origin: 49.000000
Prime Meridian: 0
Unit of measure: Metre

Datum Parameters:

Name: North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83)
Ellipsoid: GRS1980
Source: US Defense Mapping Agency, TR-8350.2-B, December 1987

Ellipsoid Parameters:

Name: Geodetic Reference System of 1980 (GRS1980)
E_RAD: 6378137
P_RAD: 6356752.31414035
Source: Stem, L.E., Jan 1989, State Plane Coordinate System of 1983

5. What is the contour interval on Toporama maps and the Mapping Tool?

The interval can be anywhere from 10 to 200 metres. In some areas of the country contours and spot heights are even shown in feet. This is indicated by the use of a “m” for metres or “ft” for feet beside the contour or spot height number. The numbers will assist in determining the elevation in any particular map.

Index contours are shown as slightly darker lines to make them more prominent.

6. Why are there wooded areas and streams under some roads?

In some areas you may see wooded areas, streams and other features appearing underneath roads. The reason is that the data comes from several sources and is more up-to-date than the other features, examples of data sources: woodlands (GeoBase Land Cover), hydrography (GeoBase National Hydro Network), and roads (GeoBase National Road Network). While this may look odd, our research of Toporama users revealed that it was preferable to display the most up-to-date data.

7. Why do so many names on the map look the same?

The names of cities, towns, neighbourhoods and prominent buildings appear the same (using the same type style) on maps at zoom level 4. These names come from the National Topographic Database (NTDB) and there is currently no distinction between types of names in this database. See the table in Question 3 for detailed information on the source of place names in Toporama - Mapping Tool.

If you have any questions about Toporama, please send them by going to the Contact Us page.