I've spend almost a week tweaking a world borders dataset. Since I need a dataset which I can use without restrictions, I had to dig into the public domain world. I found a proper dataset on the Mapping Hacks website. The original dataset was derived by Schuyler Erle from public domain sources, while Sean Gilles has done some clean up and enhancements.
The main changes I've done are:
- Polygons representing one country/area are merged into one feature.
- Added ISO 3611-1 Country codes (alpha-2, alpha-3, numeric-3).
- Various feature changes to make the dataset more compatible with ISO 3611-1.
- Added region and sub-region codes from UN Statistical Division.
- Added longitude/latitude values for each country.
More information on this page and in the "readme.txt" file provided with the dataset. You can download the the dataset in two resolutions. I recommend the simplified version for thematic web mapping.
The dataset could be further optimised by removing small island polygons that are not individual countries.
8 comments:
Fantastic work! I've been looking for a world border dataset like this for a LONG time.
Congratulations for your blog!
I can not open your shape file. I use Linux and this is the out screen
$ unzip TM_WORLD_BORDERS-0.1.zip
Archive: TM_WORLD_BORDERS-0.1.zip
End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not
a zipfile, or it constitutes one disk of a multi-part archive. In the
latter case the central directory and zipfile comment will be found on
the last disk(s) of this archive.
unzip: cannot find zipfile directory in one of TM_WORLD_BORDERS-0.1.zip or
TM_WORLD_BORDERS-0.1.zip.zip, and cannot find TM_WORLD_BORDERS-0.1.zip.ZIP, period.
Is your shape ok?
Thank you
The shapefiles should be ok, but they are zipped on a windows computer using 7-Zip (www.7-zip.org). I'm not familiar with the unzip Linux command.
Great work !
I can't open the zip file (on 7zip and windows) ; I download the file 3 times and it was never possible...
Perhaps you should reload the zip into your blog
Many thanks in advance
Sebastien VIAL
GIS teacher
Hi,
New zip archives are now available on this page.
Use link above.
Whatever the nuances of copyright/database law in your area, can I assume you intend this dataset resulting from your modifications to be in (or essentially) also in the public domain? The Readme file is a bit unclear on this topic.
This dataset is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License. I will add this information to the Readme-file.
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