7.1. Converting Map Data

Different data formats have sprung up because of the need for various capabilities and the desire for proprietary software control. Creating a better data format may be necessary to handle more complex information or improve performance, but having various data formats just because each vendor creates one for its own product is hardly productive. Fortunately, there are some excellent tools available for both raster and vector data conversion and for coordinate reprojection. By their natures, raster and vector data need to be handled differently, though the general concept is similar: take data in one format, and convert it to another format.

Data conversion can be necessary for a number of reasons:

• The source data may be in a format you aren't familiar with.

• Your mapping program may not know how to handle a particular format.

• You may just want to get a quick image snapshot in a common, non-GIS format.