Welcome to the GeoConnections Framework Data Guide. This online course is designed to introduce you to framework data concepts, sources and uses. Does your job require you to present information in a geospatial or map form? Do you need to bring together geospatial information from different sources and integrate it on a common base map? Have you had difficulties finding and using common base mapping data? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this guide is for you.

Framework data is common base map data that provides geospatial reference across Canada to physical features and other types of information that is linked to geography. You can access it from a number of sources at a variety of scales or levels of information detail.  Framework data is important because it provides you with a foundation for integrating other kinds of data, which is often required for analysis and reporting purposes.

The guide has two purposes:

• To inform you of the benefits of framework data.
• To help you find and access framework data.

If you have a general background in information technology or use it to analyse data, prepare charts and reports, etc., but are not familiar with geospatial information and its manipulation, this guide will help you. Once you have read the guide, you will know where to find framework data, understand the benefits of different data sources, be in a better position to choose the type of data that best suits your needs, and know how to access it from your own computer.