Using USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) data in ArcView and ArcGIS

Author:

Joseph J. Kerski
Geographer
USGS
Box 25046 - MS 507
Denver CO 80225-0046
303-202-4315 tel
303-202-4137 fax
jjkerski@usgs.gov

There are five ways to import a DLG into ArcView and ArcGIS for analysis. The first four of them use optional-format DLGs, and the last uses SDTS (Spatial Data Transfer Standard) formatted DLGs.

1) From an ftp site at EROS Data Center, after an order has been placed through ESIC:

ftp as type binary
Unix: Uncompress or gunzip as necessary
PC: Winzip as necessary
Put in carriage returns with chop.exe from ftp.blm.gov, if necessary

Then:
either (1) use DLG-->Shape File Avenue script dlg2shp.ave
or (2) use Data Automation Kit (ESRI product) to convert into a coverage, then use step 2 below.

2) From an Arc/Info coverage:

ftp the entire coverage directory together with any INFO files on same directory
View
Add Theme: Feature Data Source
Click underneath name of directory to import theme as arc, annotation, polygon, etc.

3) Via Arc/Info and Arc Export Format:

ftp the DLG file as type binary
Arc: PRECISION DOUBLE DOUBLE
Arc: DLGARC OPTIONAL (input file name) (output coverage name) (output point coverage name)
Arc: BUILD

LINE
Arc: BUILD

POLY
Arc: JOINITEM .AAT .ACODE -ID -ID
Arc: JOINITEM .PAT .PCODE -ID -ID

Export the coverage to an export format file:
Arc: EXPORT COVER .e00

ftp the file to the PC Use IMPORT71 program to import .e00 into a coverage

4) Via Optional format DLGs on the Internet at http://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/DLG

Download and unzip.

Use Import DLG to Coverage Wizard in ArcToolbox.

5) Via SDTS DLGs on the Internet at http://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/DLG

SDTS Format: Go to http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/sdts for more information.

For SDTS - to - ArcView 3.x programs, Click here to download programs.

Using ArcView: Go to http://www.fws.gov/data/gisconv/sdtsovr.html

For ArcGIS: Use Import SDTS Wizard to convert SDTS DLGs to Coverages in ArcToolbox.