The University of Sheffield
Department of Landscape

Digimap (registering, selecting & converting)

digimap

Registering

Before you use digimap, you need to register first. Please follow the instructions below on how to register.

  1. Login to Muse.
  2. Click on the Library tab at the top of the page.
  3. Choose Subject Databases in the Library eResources section
  4. Choose Alphabetical Table
  5. Scroll down until you find the link called Digimap via EDINA and click on it.
  6. Click on Connect to Digimap located in the Quick Links menu on the right hand side of the page.
  7. At the bottom of the Terms and Conditions page click Continue then fill out the registration form. After you have registered it normally takes about 48 hours until you can access Digimap.

Selecting and Downloading OS Maps in Digimap

After registering, follow steps 1 to 6 above to access the Digimap site again, then follow the instructions below on how to select and download OS maps.

  1. From the Digimap home page select:
    Ordnance Survey Collection
  2. Agree to the terms and conditions on the copyright notice page.
  3. Choose Data Download Services at the bottom of the page.
  4. Choose Mastermap Download.
  5. At the first stage of the Mastermap download facility, choose what information you would like to include in your map such as buildings and terrain or choose the Select All button. If you are converting your map to an AutoCAD file, you can switch these layers on and off later. Once you have selected the layers you want to include, press Continue.
  6. The next stage will ask what area you would like to search for. use ONE of the search methods to find your area of interest. You can enter a place name, postcode, data tile name, national grid reference or easting/northing. Alternatively, you can click directly on the map. Then press Continue.
  7. When you have searched for the area you want, Digimap will then ask you to specify the exact area that you wish to download. Use the zoom in/out, direction and centre tools to position the map, then use the drag and select tool to drag a red box over the area you wish to download. Press Continue.
  8. At the summary screen, press the Order Request Now button, which will bring up the Delivery Details screen. This is where you choose how you would like your data to be sent to you by email. Keep the default settings except for the Chunking Size option. Choose No Chunking, as the other options will break up your map in to separate AutoCAD or GIS files. Choose Extract Data.
  9. You will then be sent a confirmation email to say that your order has been confirmed and is being processed. A second email will then be sent to say that your order is ready for download. From this email, copy the 23 digit code and log back in to digimap. Go back to the Mastermap download facility and select the Your Account button. From the Retrieve Data box, Paste the 23 digit code and press Get Data. Save and unzip the file.

Converting Digimap Mastermap files

Once you have downloaded your files, you can now convert them to either AutoCAD or GIS files using the InterpOSe for Digimap program. This is available on all student computers in the landscape department in the programs menu. You can also download the software for your own computer here: http://www.dottedeyes.com/spatial_data_loading/interpose/digimap.php

  1. Open the InterpOSe software, On the title screen, press Next.
  2. In the Contents Order File dialog box, press the folder icon next to the address bar and navigate to your digimap download folder and choose the text file called Contents_Order. Press the next button twice.
  3. In the the Input Files dialog box, make sure that Process All Files is selected and press next.
  4. In the Output Format dialog box, choose which format you would like to covert it to such as AutoCAD(.dwg) and press Next. If you are converting to an AutoCAD file you will then be asked what version of AutoCAD you would like to convert it to. Choose a version and press Next.
  5. Press Next in the Output Table dialog box.
  6. In the Output Folder Dialog box, make sure the Folder for Output Files is set to somewhere you can easily find your file when they have been converted. Press Next.
  7. Press Next four times to skip through the next set of dialog boxes and then press Finish. InterpOSe should now convert your files and are now ready to be opened in AutoCAD or GIS.

Downloading and Converting Digimap Contour Files

Follow steps 1 to 6 in the Registering section to access the Digimap site, then follow the instructions below on how to select, download and convert contours files.

Downloading Contour Files

  1. From the Digimap home page select: Ordnance Survey.
  2. Choose Download OS mapping data for use in GIS/CAD and select Data Download.
  3. Click the search button and one of the search methods to find your area of interest. You can enter a place name, postcode or national grid reference.
  4. In the Step 1. box: Click the Draw Rectangle button and click and drag over the area that you need.
  5. Step 2. Box: Press the + sign next to Land and Height Data and tick the box that says PROFILE Contours.
  6. Step 3. Click Add to Basket.
  7. From the basket dialog box: click Change under options and choose DXF (not NTF)
  8. Choose Request Download
  9. You will then be sent a confirmation email to say that your order has been confirmed and is being processed. A second email will then be sent to say that your order is ready for download. Click the link to download the file.

Converting Contour Files for AutoCAD

  1. Open the downloaded DXF file in Autocad.
  2. Click Zoom Extents
  3. Delete the surronding grid and any text.
  4. Go to the A button in the top left corner and choose Drawing Utilities. Select Units and change Units to Meters.
  5. Save Contour files as a DWG and close the file.
  6. Open the OS base plan CAD file that you need to overlay the contours on to in AutoCAD.
  7. Select the Insert tab and choose attach. Navigate to the saved contour DWG file and press Open.
  8. In the Dialog box, uncheck Specify on Screen and click open. The Contour file should now be overlayed on to your base plan.

Converting Contour Files for ArcGIS

  1. Follow the instructions above about converting contour files in AutoCAD and save as an AutoCAD 2007 .dwg.
  2. Import the dwg in ArcGIS using Add Data...
  3. If you want to convert your contours as a 3d TIN please use the following guide:
  4. Tutorial 18 (PDF).

If you have any problems or questions, please see Paul in the Landscape print room.

There are now various ways to keep up to date with Digimap:

EDINA Digimap Blog (http://edinadigimap.blogspot.com/)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EDINADigimap)
Twitter (http://twitter.com/edina_digimap)

There is also a YouTube Channel for short videos on help with
Digimap at http://www.youtube.com/user/EDINADigimap.