NRVIS layers which provide basic topographic coverage of the province are referred to as NRVIS fundamental layers. In the past this information was published by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as Ontario Base Maps (OBM) at 1:10,000 (southern Ontario) and 1:20,000 scales (northern Ontario). Access to these basic topographic 'fundamental' coverage layers is available via the Geospatial Centre or through the Ontario Ministry of natural Resources online 'Ontario Base Mapping' site via the Geography Network.
These NRVIS datasets provide fundamental or base information for the province and include: ground relief, dem, drainage, buildings, roads, railways and other physical and cultural features; please see a more complete list in the table. Non-fundamental NRVIS layers are also available and they are those which deal with wildlife and natural area management; these layers include: wildlife feeding areas, nesting sites, areas of natural or scientific interest, and recreation routes. Please refer to the list of layers available, however please note that some layers pertain only to specific geographical areas.

Data Resources |
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|---|---|---|
| Drainage (point) | Provincial Parks (regulated) Park Reserve | |
Geographic Townships |
Railway Segments |
|
| Hydro Quaternary Watersheds User Guide | Road Segments |
|
Land Ownership |
Soils |
|
Airports |
Lots |
Tanks |
Annotation |
Lots Geopolitical |
Towers |
Building Scale |
MNR Districts |
Trail Segments |
Building Symbols |
MNR Districts Administrative Area |
Transport Lines |
Concessions |
MNR Regions |
Utility Lines |
Conservation Authority Areas |
MNR Regions Administrative Area |
Utility Sites |
Conservation Reserves |
Municipal (upper tier) Boundaries |
Water Edges |
Contours (5 meter) |
Municipal (lower tier) Boundaries |
Water Structures |
Crown Leased Land |
NGO Nature Reserves |
Waterbodies |
NGO Nature Reserves Park Reserve |
Wetlands |
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| Permit To Take Water Ontario | Wetlands Evaluation Areas |
|
Digital Terrain Model (10 metres) Access tutorial guide |
Pits and Quarries |
Wooded Areas |
Drainage (line) |
Provincial Parks (regulated) |
|
These data are available in geographic co-ordinates; horizontal datum is NAD 83. These data are stored as Esri shapefiles. Other data formats can be accommodated as the Geospatial Centre has access to a number of conversion utilities.
In order to access these data sets, please visit the Geospatial Centre Reference Desk during regular reference hours in Dana Porter Library, Room 328. Library reference staff are available to provide further information about these data sets and to deliver data upon request. Under the terms of the Library's license agreement, these data sets are for the exclusive use of the students, faculty and staff at the University of Waterloo, and may be used for educational/academic purposes only. Note that the fundamental layers are available online via the Geography Network.
There are public workstations in the Geospatial Centre that provide access to both ArcGIS and ArcView software programs, program extensions and data manipulation utilities. Patrons may use the GIS software in the library to view and manipulate the data. UW faculty, students and staff may copy these data to other media (for example: CD, DVD or Zip disc) for use elsewhere.
These data may be exported from ArcGIS in a choice of bitmapped formats (also known as raster graphics) including JPG, TIFF, GIF, and BMP or in a choice of vector graphics formats including AI, EPS, and SVG. Yet another option is PDF. Patrons may use the library's colour inkjet printers to print map views or tabular views of the data.
These data are provided for personal use for academic, research, and/or teaching purposes. Library staff will ask patrons to read and sign a data release agreement before these licensed data can be released. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources must be acknowledged on any derivative product, whether printed or electronic, including for example, a printed map, a raster or vector graphic, a web-based application, etc. Patrons are advised to fully respect the provisions of Canada's Copyright Act as well as terms and conditions imposed by the data provider.
Natural Resources and Values Information System [computer file]. Toronto, Ontario: The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, [2010].
