The Pima County GIS Layers (PCLAYERS) DVD is a collection of 261 of our GIS library data layers in ESRI Shapefile format.
These are the same files available on the Pima County GIS Data FTP Server. We make them available on DVD for convenience and because downloading all of them may not be practical. However, the township-based topographic contours layers (layer names beginning with cn_) are on the FTP server but not on the PCLAYERS DVD as they take up too much DVD space. If you need just one or a few layers, then your needs might be met by downloading using FTP.
Since the layers on the PCLAYERS DVD and our FTP server are the same (except for the previously mentioned township-based topographic contours layers) see FTP Server GIS Data Layers for a list of the FTP Server layers and layer metadata.
No tools or software for viewing or using the data are included with the PCLAYERS DVD. The files can be used with any software that supports ESRI Shapefile format.
The PCLAYERS DVD is produced for those with a need to integrate the actual data layers with their work. If your interest is simply viewing this information, you may be better served by the Internet or a different DVD.
Much the information in these Shapefiles can be viewed on our website using Autodesk MapGuide. Our Pima County MapGuide Maps are generally the preferred method for viewing our map data.
ESRI Shapefile Technical Description is an Adobe Acrobat PDF format document describing ESRI Shapefiles. Shapefile format usually includes files with .shp, .shx, and .dbf for each data layer. For instance, the three individual files subdiv.shp, subdiv.shx and subdiv.dbf collectively make up the Shapefile format for the Subdivision layer. Other file extensions such as .avl may be included with some layers.
Each layer is a single compressed .zip file containing the individual files that make up the Shapefile format on the PCLAYERS DVD. For instance, subdiv.zip is the single file for the Subdivision layer. You need to "unzip" PCLAYERS DVD layers to uncompress the data and create the individual Shapefile format files you need. Popular programs for managing .zip files include PKZIP from PKWARE, Inc. and WinZip.
Updates containing newer data are available by purchasing subsequent quarterly editions of the DVD. Updates are planned for the first Monday of each calendar quarter. That is, the first Monday of January, April, July and October. Releases may be delayed by technical or other problems.
The latest versions of individual layers are available online using FTP. See Pima County GIS Data FTP Server. No interim updates or patches will be provided on DVD.