Designing a map using Open Data coming from
different sources. Methodology, problems and
solutions concerning the 1:100.000 map of Pre-
fecture of Magnisia, Greece
Chrysoula Boutoura*, Angeliki Tsorlini**,*, Vasiliki Zografopoulou*,
Evangelos Tsipis*
*Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Cadastre, Photogram-
metry and Cartography, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering - Thes-
saloniki, Greece
** ETH Zurich, Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation - Zurich, Swit-
zerland
Abstract. The synthesis of a map is always a demanding procedure, in
which all the characteristics of an area are combined and depicted on a map
with a proper way, so as the map to be easily used by all the people to whom
it is addressed. The most important steps of this procedure are the collec-
tion of the data and their homogenization, in order to fit together and to
ensure accuracy on a map. Moreover, the digital geodata produced by dif-
ferent public services are recently provided free online to users through the
National Geospatial Infrastructure. In this paper, open data coming from
this Infrastructure are used for the compilation of the map for the prefec-
ture of Magnisia, following a specific procedure in order all these data to be
homogenized and included to a common geodatabase. In this procedure,
different problems are confronted with various solutions each of them, so as
to have a better result.
Keywords: open geodata, data homogenization, map design, map produc-
tion, National Geospatial Infrastructure of Greece
1. Introduction
Designing an accurate printed paper map, useful and easily readable by all
its future users is not something easily accomplished. There are many pa-
rameters, necessary to be taken into account in every step of the procedure,
from the data collection to the final printing of the map.
The main concern in the map compilation is to ensure the reliability of its
geometric content in combination with its geometric infrastructure i.e. map
scale, geodetic and projected reference system, by the evaluation and the
homogenization of the available geometric and thematic features, which are
going to be used. On the other hand, map design, typology and symbology
(colors, symbols, typefaces) used for every feature in the map, as well as the
layout for printing are also significant parameters in order to have a map,
which can be easily readable by the users.
Map production using digital cartographic methods and techniques, having
as goal not only the digital composition and presentation of the maps, but
also their high quality printing has started in the Department of Cadastre,
Photogrammetry and Cartography of the School of Rural and Surveying
Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece) since the mid
1990s and continues until today, giving specific emphasis on the production
of standard sheets of the country's prefectures in scale 1:100.000.
The geometric background used for the composition of these maps was
principally the paper 1:50000 map sheets compiled by Hellenic Military
Geographical Service. Following a particular procedure described more
analytically below, these maps were scanned, georeferenced in their projec-
tion system, digitized and then, corrected and updated from other more
recent sources, usually from satellite images covering the area. Recently,
digital geodata produced by different public services are provided free,
online, to users through the National Geospatial Infrastructure, a system
established by the National Cadastre and Mapping Organization, in the
frame of INSPIRE Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe.
In this paper, the methodology developed for the production of maps is ap-
plied to the synthesis of the prefecture of Magnisia map in scale 1:100000,
combining the existing topographic map sheets by Hellenic Military Geo-
graphical Service and satellite images with the recently available geodata
provided digitally through the National Geospatial Infrastructure, record-
ing a variety of difficulties and providing solutions for them, in order to get
finally a map, geometrically accurate (as its scale requires) and graphically
readable, depicting the physical characteristics of the prefecture highlight-
ing areas of special environmental interest.
Magnisia is one of one of the most beautiful and touristic regions in Greece,
including the Centaurs' Mount Pilion and the complex of Sporades Islands
white the National Marine Park of Alonissos.
2. Methodology for the synthesis of a map
For the compilation of a map, the procedure followed consists of three basic
stages (Figure 1), important to be done correctly in order to ensure the reli-
ability and the accuracy of the result. These stages are:
a) compilation of the final vector file of the map, which is the result of the
synthesis of all the map characteristics that were digitized, corrected or up-
dated,
b) map design, which concerns the typology and the symbols of the themat-
ic features used for the map, as well as the addition of the map elements
responsible for the map's external recognition and reading (Livieratos
1988), such as the legend, title, north arrow, graphic scale bar and other
information about its synthesis, and
c) final editing of the different elements of the map in order to take its final
form and to be printed.
Figure 1. Diagram of the procedure followed for the synthesis of a map. Different
colors show the important stages of the whole procedure.
In order to construct the final vector file, there are some basic steps which
should be followed. First of all, it is important to collect raster and vector
data depicting the main characteristics of the area (road and hydrological
network, settlements) but also its specific characteristics (sites of touristic
interest, areas of specific environmental interest). For the raster data, an
important thing is the georeferencing of maps in their projection system
mainly using an external grid so as the maps to be correctly rectified on the
grid.
The next step is the digitization of the different map features in layers, in
order to be evaluated together with the vector geodata for their accuracy
and reliability. This can be done by using other maps or satellite images,
the precision of which was already evaluated and accepted for the construc-
tion of the map, according to the scale requirements. Based on these maps,
the data then are corrected and updated.
Of great importance in the procedure is the definition of the projection, in
which the new map will be drawn, as well as of the paper layout based on
the extent of the area and the final scale of the under construction map. All
the digitized characteristics will be converted in this projection system, in
order to be aligned to each other. For this reason, it is necessary to build a
geodatabase which will work as a central data repository for spatial data
storage and management. Through this, data both in vector and raster form
will be better organized and map characteristics can be correctly combined
to each other, in order to constitute the final vector file which then, with the
definition of the proper typology and symbology of its geometric and the-
matic features, will get its final form.
3. Map of the Prefecture of Magnisia, Greece in scale
1:100000
The prefecture of Magnisia map in scale 1:100000 is a map constructed
following the procedure described above. This map belongs to the standard
map series of the country's prefectures in scale 1:100.0001, produced in the
1 Apart from the map of the prefecture of Magnisia, there are also other map sheets con-
structed in the some scale 1:100000. These are the maps of the prefectures of Xanthi, Ka-
vala, Kilkis, Kozani, Kastoria, whereas the map sheets of Rhodopi and Chalkidiki are under
construction. The same typology and symbology are followed also for the maps for Paphos
and Limassol districts of Cyprus, in scale 1:75000 (DCPC - RSE, AUTh 2004-2011).
Department of Cadastre, Photogrammetry and Cartography of the School of
Rural and Surveying Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
These map sheets are compiled following the specific standards set for all
the maps in this category, which means that they use the same typology and
symbology for all the geometric and thematic features depicted on them.
The reference system of these maps is the transverse Mercator projection
applied in one zone, with the central Meridian on 24 degrees and the
WGS84 datum.
3.1. Collecting data from different sources
a. Existing maps
Collecting data in order to combine it for the compilation of a map demands
to search for maps in analog or digital form and vector files through inter-
net or public services in order to combine them appropriately and to use for
the construction of the new map. Due to the fact that these data are coming
from different sources, it is necessary to be evaluated before their use,
mainly for the accuracy of their geometric content but also for the existence
of the thematic characteristics they depict. This means that their origin
should be known and checked for its consistency, precision and reliability.
Some years ago, the data used for the composition of new maps were exclu-
sively derived from older maps in analog form, which were scanned, georef-
erenced and digitized in order to be combined together and to be used as a
background for the composition of a new map. These maps were principally
the 1:50000 map sheets compiled by Hellenic Military Geographical Service
(H.M.G.S.)2, the period between 1974-1980. Their map content was since
then updated and corrected from other more recent sources, usually from
satellite images covering the area giving to the map its final form.
For the map of Magnisia prefecture, the corresponding map sheets were
georeferenced in their projection system (Figure 2), and features like the
hydrological network (rivers, stream, lakes), the administrative boundaries
of the prefecture (municipalities borders according to Kapodistrias and Kal-
likratis administrative plan) were digitized, as well as some other physical
2The Hellenic Military Geographical Service (HMGS) produces all the cartographic products
needed for supporting the Hellenic Armed Forces, as well as a variety of products for the
development of the country and the needs of the general public. Among them and probably
the most useful are the 1:50000 map sheets cover the whole Greece (HMGS website,
[Link]
characteristics of the area and the onomatology of the settlements, islands,
promontories, bays, channels and narrows. The reference system of this
map sheets is the Universe Transverse Mercator projection, applied in 34
zone with central Meridian on 21 degrees, using the European datum 1950
and the reference ellipsoid of Hayford.
Figure 2. Left: Tiles of the map series 1:50000 constructed by H.M.G.S. (Source:
Hellenic Military Geographic Service). Right: Map sheets covering the area of Mag-
nisia prefecture, georeferenced on UTM projection grid.
Touristic or other special maps showing the special thematic features of the
area in different scales are also used for the construction of the map. These
maps were also georeferenced to their projection system and the necessary
characteristics were digitized in layers.
b. Online digital geodata
Recently, things have been changed, in Greece, since digital geodata pro-
duced by different public services is provided free, online to users through
the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure, a system established by the
National Mapping and Cadastre Organization3, in the frame of INSPIRE
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe. According to the National
Law 3882, adopted by the Greek State on September 22nd 2010 to comply
3 National Mapping and Cadastre Organization (HEMCO) is the coordinating agency in
Greece on issues about the INSPIRE and the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure
(NGDI). It belongs to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
([Link] [Link]
with the INSPIRE Directive, geospatial datasets and services would be pro-
vided free online to everyone without institutional or technical barriers.
Access to these data is possible through the [Link] portal, which
was designed and developed “…with the aim to provide a focal point for the
aggregation, search, provision and portrayal of open public geospatial
information”, according to its policy. Practically, somebody can view,
search and download data for free and he can use it in his application.
These datasets are coming from different public organizations, each of
which is responsible for its own data. For this reason, it is important to
evaluate and to check the accuracy and the reliability of the geodata, down-
loaded from this Infrastructure, before their use for the construction of a
map in a particular scale.
The geodata, according to their form (shapefiles, wms services, GML or
KML files), are using different reference systems. The vector and the GML
files are using the Greek Geodetic Reference System 1987 (GGRS87) or
Greek Grid4, since it is the official reference system of Greece, whereas the
KML files are using the WGS84, so that they can be easily visible by all us-
ers, also in Google Maps and Google Earth applications (Figure 3).
Figure 3. The [Link] portal depicting some of the provided geodata of the
Prefecture of Magnisia (Source: [Link]
4 The Greek Geodetic Reference System 1987 (GGRS87) uses the transverse Mercator projec-
tion and the GRS80 ellipsoid. Its fundamental point is located at the Observatory of Diony-
sos in Athens (Livieratos & Fotiou 2000).
The geodata downloaded from the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure in order
to be used for the construction of Magnisia map are recorded in Table 1, together
with the public authorities providing the data.
Table 1. Geodata from National Geospatial Data Infrastructure, used for the con-
struction of the map for Magnisia prefecture.
3.2. Constructing a geodatabase
In order to store all the data, vector and raster correctly, in a uniform pro-
jection system, aligned properly to each other, it is necessary to build a geo-
database. The projection system of this geodatabase will be the reference
system of the under construction map, which in our case is the Transverse
Mercator projection, applied in one zone with the prime meridian on 24
degrees and applying the WGS84 datum.
The existence of geodatabase offers many advantages in the organization
and the management of the spatial data, since it can store raster and vector
data with different kinds of formats in a centralized location, it can apply
sophisticated rules and relationships to the data or to define advanced geo-
spatial relational models (e.g., topologies, networks). Having all the data in
a database gives the opportunity to maintain integrity of spatial data with a
consistent, accurate database work within a multiuser access and editing
environment (ESRI, Apsey 2008).
3.3. Updating the geodata
In order to ensure the accuracy of the map, it is necessary to check its char-
acteristics, to update them or to correct them in some cases based on relia-
ble data. For this reason, the orthrophoto images provided by Ktimatologio
S.A., a company responsible for the study, development and operation of
the Hellenic Cadastre were used, since they consist the most updated map-
ping database for the country.
The images are the result of aerial photography procedure between 2007
and 2009, and their spatial resolution is 20cm for urban areas and 50cm
for non-urban areas. This large scale orthophoto imagery is provided online
to citizens free of charge through the Orthophotos Viewing Service - which
is the official name for the web service developed by Ktimatologio S.A. The
service can be accessed in two ways, either through the company's website
where the reference system used is the GGRS87 or connected to the WMS
server and working online on the appropriate GIS program. The reference
system used by the WMS server is the geographic WGS84.
Figure 4. The places for which land surveying measurements are available to be
used for the evaluation (Source: Ktimatologio S.A.).
The use of this product requires its evaluation at first. For this reason, we
used measurements from land surveying on different places, covering the
northern and central part of Greece (Figure 4). The measured points were
also drawn in the Greek Geodetic Reference System 1987. The next step was
to bring all the files in the same reference system and to compare the coor-
dinates of the specific piece of land. These transformations were performed
on-the-fly through the GIS software used also for the construction of the
Magnisia map.
The result of this comparison shows that the coordinates were exactly the
same in the case of land measurements and those coming from Ktimatolo-
gio website, whereas there were displacements comparing to the wms ser-
vice. These displacements are not the same for all the places in Greece and
it depends on the geographic area, each place belongs.
Measuring the displacements in every place (Figure 5), using the average
coordinates of each piece of land, recording them in a catalogue (Table 2)
and depicting them on a map (Figure 6) makes easier t0 understand their
magnitude, range and the average deviation in geographic longitude and
latitude (Figure 7) and in association with the final printing scale of the
under construction map, to decide if the orthrophotos can be used for up-
dating and correcting the existed data used for the compilation of the map.
Figure 5. Differences in the location of 4 places of northern Greece as they are
depicted on orthophotos (blue) and also drawn from land measurements (red).
Table 2. Displacements of some places used for the evaluation of the project. The
places marked in red, are those depicted in the previous figure.
Figure 6. Displacements in meters on particular areas of northern Greece.
Figure 7. Average deviation in geographic longitude and latitude throughout
Northern-Central Greece
Looking at this map, it is obvious that there is an almost diagonal zone in
the central part of northern Greece where the differences between the coor-
dinates of points depicted on orthophotos are almost the same to the origi-
nals, while the differences become bigger towards west and even bigger in
the north-eastern borders of the Greek territory. The minimum value of
displacement is recorded approximately between longitudes 21.8 and 22.9
and between latitudes 39.4 and 40.8.
From this evaluation, we came to the conclusion that the orthophoto images
can be used for updating earlier existed data for the construction of maps
depending on the scale of the final map but they cannot be used in case of a
topographic diagram of scale 1:1000 or 1:5000. For the synthesis of Magni-
sia map in scale 1:100000, the orthophotos can be used, since the prefec-
ture of Magnisia is extended between the geographic longitudes 22.5 and
24.3 and the latitudes 38.9 and 39.5 and belongs to the central zone where
the displacements are not very serious in the particular scale (Figure 8).
Additional maps are used as well for the correction of similar data provided
by different public services. An example of this is the case of the administra-
tive municipality boundaries according to Kapodistrias plan which are pro-
vided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority and by the Hellenic Mapping and
Cadastre Organization and traced differently in municipalities of Volos and
Nea Ionia. In order to solve this problem, we used the map compiled by the
Department of Urban Planning of Municipality of Volos, we georeferenced
it and corrected the borders based on it (Figure 9).
Figure 8. The area covered in Magnisia Map (green) drawn on the displacement
map of northern Greece.
Figure 9. Municipality borders provided by Hellenic Statistical Service (red) and
Hellenic Mapping and Cadastre Organization (blue) and the corrected borders
based on the map constructed by the Department of Urban Planning of Volos Mu-
nicipality (purple).
3.4. Map Design - Final editing of the map
The last step of the whole procedure is the definition of the proper typology
and symbology of the map's geometric and thematic features, in order the
vector file to get its final form and to be ready for printing. Important in this
procedure is the editing of the map, which should be done in such way that
all the characteristics of the map to be easily readable.
The specific typology determined for all the maps in scale 1:100000 con-
structed by our Department in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is ap-
plied, adding also -if necessary- new typology, such as new thematic sym-
bols, for special characteristics nonexistent on the other map sheets.
The main features of the map are the road and railway network, the hydro-
logical network, the settlements, the administrative boundaries and other
elements depicting the area of Magnisia prefecture. Each one of these is
divided in smaller categories, for which different symbology is required. A
detail of the map in scale 1:100000 is presented in Figure 10. The explana-
tion of the symbology used for the different characteristics and elements of
the map can be found in Figure 11.
The road network is divided in five categories, namely national, peripheral,
main asphalt, asphalt and dirt road and the railway network in two, the
main railway and the railway track in Mount Pilion (Figure 12). The settle-
ments are divided in six categories according to their population, which are
the settlements with no inhabitants, from 1 to 2000, from 2001 to 5000,
5001 to 10000, 10001 to 50000 and over 50000 inhabitants (Figure 13).
On the map, it is also depicted the hydrological network of the area (rivers,
streams, lakes) and the four categories of administrative boundaries, name-
ly the municipalities' borders according to Kapodistrias and Kallikratis
plan, the prefecture borders and the region borders (Figure 14).
Important part of the map is its thematic content. For this reason, all the
special characteristics of the area are presented on it with different discrete
symbols in a way to be easily understandable by every user. The map is
completed with the addition of the map elements useful for the external
recognition of the map: the legend, the title, the north arrow, the graphic
scale bar and other information about its synthesis.
Figure 10. Detail of the map of Magnisia prefecture in scale 1:100000.
Figure 11. The legend of the map of Magnisia prefecture.
Figure 12. The seven different categories of road and railway network.
Figure 13. The five categories of the settlements according to their population.
The specialty of Magnisia map is that it covers an area of 160 km and for
this reason it is printed in two sheets (Figure 16 & 17) of dimensions 100 x
75 cm. The two map sheets have overlapping area of 40 cm in the centre of
the map (Figure 15).
Figure 14. The administrative borders (4 categories).
Figure 15. The division of Magnisia map into two overlapping sheets.
Figure 16. The first map sheet of Magnisia prefecture.
Figure 17. The second map sheet of Magnisia prefecture.
4. Conclusion
Having access to open geodata free available to all users is crucial in map
production, since it provides georeferenced data, ready to be used on the
map. However, the fact that this geodata are coming from different public
services makes also important and necessary the evaluation of the accuracy
and the reliability of geodata and also their homogenization in order to be
aligned to each on the map.
These procedures can be easily applied nowadays using different digital
tools in order to overcome possible problems appeared in every step and
finally construct a map geometrically accurate and graphically “readable”,
depicting the geometric and thematic features of the area, according to
map scale requirements.
References
Apsey E (2008) Working with the Geodatabase, ESRI – DC Educational Services,
Federal User Conference 2008, [Link]
feduc08/papers/techworkshops/[Link] Accesed 21 March 2013
Boutoura C (2002) Map Production and Map Use, University Notes, Thessaloniki
[In Greek].
Boutoura C (2000) Automatic Relief Map of Thessaloniki area. Proceedings of the
6th National Cartographic Conference of HCS, Athens [In Greek].
DCPC - RSE, AUTh (2004-2011) Map Synthesis and Production for Region of Epi-
rus in scale 1:270.000, for Prefectures of Kavala, Xanthi, Kilkis, Kastoria, Kozani
in scale 1:100.000 and for districts of Paphos and Limassol in scale 1:75.000, Su-
pervision, Digital Production: Chrysoula Boutoura, Digital Editing: Angeliki
Tsorlini, Thessaloniki [In Greek].
ESRI (2008) Leveraging OGC Capabilities in ArcGIS Server 9.3. s.l., ESRI.
ESRI, Geodatabase Features and benefits, [Link]
arcgis/geodatabase,[Link]
Accesed 21 March 2013
Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral Organization, Greece. [Link]
Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral Organization (2012) Status of National Geoinfor-
mation Activities of Greece - Country Report, Athens. [Link]
2nd%20Session/country%20reports/GREECE%20GGIM%20REPORT%202012.
pdf Accessed 21 March 2013
Hellenic Military Geographical Service (1970-1990) Maps of General Use 1:50.000,
Athens [In Greek]. [Link] Accessed 15 March 2013
Hellenic Statistical Authority (2001), General Population Census, Athens.
[Link] Accessed 15 March 2013
Ktimatologio S.A. (2010) Upgraded version of Orthophotos Viewing Service, Hel-
lenic Cadastre, Athens. [Link]
kt_news_EN&Rec_ID=2434 Accessed 5 November 2012
Ktimatologio S.A. (2010) Orthophotos Viewing Service, Hellenic Cadastre, Athens.
[Link] Accessed 5 November 2012
Livieratos Ε (1988) General Cartography and elements of Thematic Cartography.
Ziti Publications, Thessaloniki [In Greek].
Livieratos E, Boutoura C, Kaltsikis C, Papadopoulos K (2002) Maps of Regions
West Macedonia, Central Macedonia, East Macedonia and Thrace in scale
1:270.000, Thessaloniki [In Greek].
Livieratos E, Boutoura C, Myridis M (1995) 33 School Maps of Europe, New School
Atlas of Europe in various scales, Rekos Ltd. Editions, Thessaloniki.
Livieratos E, Boutoura C, Myridis M (1994) 17 School Maps of Greece, New School
Atlas of Greece in various scales, Rekos Ltd. Editions, Thessaloniki.
Livieratos E, Fotiou A (2000) Geometric Geodesy and Networks, Ziti Publications,
Thessaloniki [In Greek].
National Geospatial Data Infrastructure, Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral Organi-
zation, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Greece
[Link]