Victoria BC, May 8, 2009

 

The Digital Road Atlas (DRA) program exists to provide a single, authoritative road network for the province and is operated by the Crown Registries and Geographic Base (CRGB) branch on behalf of the DRA Partnership.  The DRA Partnership is comprised of public agencies that require road network data.  These agencies include BC Ambulance, E-COMM, the RCMP, NRCan, Statistics Canada, Elections BC, BC Stats, BC Assessment Authority, Ministry of Transportation, ICBC, Ministry of Forests and Range and regional health authorities.

A private data provider, currently GIS Innovations (GISI), is contracted to maintain the demographic road network and its associated attributes.  Previously, the Province owned the rights to the geometry and road names outright but was restricted in its ability to share attribute data, particularly address ranges, with other levels of government.  As of December 1, 2008, the Province has gained the right to share all DRA data with other public agencies, including local governments.  The DRA Steering Committee has made the decision to distribute DRA data free of charge to local governments.  By doing so, it is hoped that the DRA road network will be adopted by local governments, easing the ability of all public agencies to share road-related data and analyses.  This is especially important for emergency planning, response and dispatch.  As well - much like the submission of cadastral and address data - it is hoped that local governments will continue to provide updates to the road network thus increasing the quality and completeness of the network.

CRGB is working to facilitate the submission/distribution of the DRA from/to local governments.  It appears that ICIS would be a logical distribution point and CRGB and ICIS are exploring ways to make such a process work.  In the meantime, local governments are free to contact CRGB directly to request delivery of standard DRA data products.  Regarding updates coming from local government to the DRA program, the DRA program operates a web-based tool (Team Track) that can be used to submit updates, corrections or changes.

CRGB will work with ICIS and local governments directly, to ensure the processes for both the distribution of data and the submission of road network updates by local governments are convenient and meet the needs of local government partners.

For further information or to request DRA data, please contact:

Brad Hlasny
Manager, GeoBC Atlas
Crown Registry & Geographic Base Branch - GeoBC
Street/Courier:  3400 Davidson Ave., Victoria BC V8Z 3P8
Mail: PO Box 9375 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC Canada  V8W 9M2
Phone: (250)952-6520  Fax: (250)952-4188  Mobile: (250)812-4637
E-mail: Brad.Hlasny@gov.bc.ca    Web: http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/bmgs/