NC OneMap: GIS Data Layer Categories for the Viewer's Table of Contents

The "Table of Contents" (TOC) category that each of the layers in the NC OneMap viewer is assigned to is based upon the 19 ISO Metadata Theme Topic Categories. The NC OneMap design team has decided to group both the inland and oceanic water resources into a single category in the viewer because some water resources layers could be assigned to either category. The NC OneMap design team also decided that it would be easier for users of the viewer if Landcover was located in its own category, rather than for it to be grouped with orthophotos, satellite imagery or scanned topographic maps.

The NC OneMap design team has assigned an abbreviated name to these categories because there is limited screen real-estate in the map viewer and the official ISO topic names are rather lengthy. Below is a table that cross-references the official ISO topic names, the older FGDC topic names you may be familiar with, and the NC OneMap layer "Table of Contents" category abbreviations.

If you are an NC OneMap data provider, please note: When you are creating your FGDC compliant metadata records or your WMS Capabilities XML files, you should always use the official ISO metadata theme topic names in all of your <Keyword> sections. We are only using the abbreviated versions in the map viewer's "Table of Contents" because of user interface considerations.

ISO Metadata
Theme Topic 		ISO Metadata Theme
Topic Description		 NC OneMap
TOC Category		 FGDC Topic
Category Name
Administrative and political boundaries This category refers to legal land descriptions. For example, political and administrative boundaries, counties, cities, townships, voting districts, school districts, polling places, state forest, state park, neighborhoods and zip codes BOUNDARIES Administrative and Political Boundaries
Agriculture and farming This category refers to the rearing of animals or cultivation of plants. For example, resources describing irrigation, aquaculture, herding, and pests and diseases affecting crops and livestock FARMING Agriculture and Farming
Atmosphere, climatology, and meteorology This category refers to atmospheric processes and phenomena. For example, resources describing cloud cover, weather, atmospheric conditions, climate change, and precipitation. WEATHER Atmospheric and Climatic Data
Biologic and ecologic This category refers to naturally occurring flora and fauna. For example, resources describing wildlife, biological sciences, ecology, wilderness, sea life, wetlands, and habitats. BIO-HABITAT Biologic and Ecologic Information
Business and economic This category refers to economic activities or employment. For example, resources describing labor, revenue, commerce, industry, tourism and ecotourism, forestry, fisheries, commercial or subsistence hunting, and exploration and exploitation of resources such as minerals, oil, and gas. ECONOMY Business and Economic Information
Cadastral and land planning This category refers to land use. For example, resources describing zoning maps, cadastral surveys, and land ownership, such as Tax Parcels. CADASTRAL Cadastral & Legal Land Descriptions
Cultural, society, and demographic This category refers to the characteristics of societies and cultures. For example, resources describing natural settlements, anthropology, archaeology, education, traditional beliefs, manners and customs, demographic data, crime and justice, recreational areas and activities, social impact assessments, and census information. SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC Society, Cultural and Demographic Information
Elevation and derived products This category refers to height above or below sea level. For example, resources describing altitude, bathymetry, digital elevation models, slope, and products derived from this information ELEVATION Elevation and Derived Products
Environment and conservation This category refers to environmental resources, protection, and conservation. For example, resources describing pollution, waste storage and treatment, environmental impact assessment, environmental risk, and nature reserves. ENVIRONMENT Environmental Monitoring and Modeling
Facilities and structures This category refers to man-made construction. For example, resources describing buildings, museums, churches, schools, factories, housing, monuments, and towers. STRUCTURES Facilities, Buildings and Structures
Geological and geophysical This category refers to the earth sciences. For example, resources describing geophysical features and processes, minerals, the composition, structure and origin of the earth’s rocks, earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, gravity information, soils, permafrost, hydrogeology, and erosion. GEOPHYSICAL Geologic and Geophysical Information
Human health and disease This category refers to health services, human ecology, and safety. For example, resources describing human disease and illness, factors affecting health, hygiene, mental and physical health, substance abuse, and health services. HEALTH Human Health and Disease
Imagery and base maps and earth cover This category refers to base maps. For example, resources describing land cover, topographic maps, and classified and unclassified images. IMAGERY-BASEMAP Base Maps, Scanned Maps and Charts
Landcover Note: The NC OneMap design team has decided that landcover will remain in its own category in the map viewer TOC. All landcover layers will be found in this grouping in the viewer, instead of the Imagery-Basemap category. LANDCOVER Earth Surface Characteristics and Land Cover
Locations and geodetic networks This category refers to positional information and services. For example, resources describing addresses, geodetic networks, postal zones and services, control points, and place names. LOCATION-GEODETIC Geodetic Networks and Control Points
Military and intelligence This category refers to military bases, structures, and activities. For example, resources describing barracks, training grounds, military transportation, and information collection. MILITARY     NONE
Transportation networks This category refers to the means and aids for conveying people and goods. For example, resources describing roads, airports and airstrips, shipping routes, tunnels, nautical charts, vehicle or vessel location, aeronautical charts, and railways TRANSPORTATION Transportation Networks and Models
Utility and communication networks This category refers to energy, water and waste systems, and communications infrastructure and services. For example, resources describing hydroelectricity, geothermal, solar, and nuclear sources of energy, water purification and distribution, sewage collection and disposal, electricity and gas distribution, data communication, telecommunication, radio, internet, and other communication networks UTILITY-TELECOM Utility Distribution Networks
Inland water resources This category refers to inland water features, drainage systems, and their characteristics. For example, resources describing rivers and glaciers, salt lakes, water use plans, dams, currents, floods, water quality, and hydrographic charts. HYDROGRAPHY Inland Water Resources and Characteristics
Oceans and estuaries This category refers to the features and characteristics of salt water bodies excluding inland waters. For example, resources describing tides, tidal waves, coastal information, and reefs. HYDROGRAPHY Ocean and Estuarine Resources and Characteristics