Download Basemaps

See below for information on the maps, including how to find the ones you need.

Quad 1 v Quad 2 v Quad 3 v Quad 4

Quad 5 v Quad 6 v Entire Borough
 

See the key map for clarification of the map numbering and file naming system. See below for metadata on the basemaps.

Format. Map data files are in a format (.DWG) that can be read directly by AutoCAD (Release 2000 or later). Such formats include the standard AutoCAD .DWG, .DXF, or possibly .DWF. AutoCAD LT can also be used to read and work with AutoCAD drawings.

Viewers: If you don't have AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, we recommend one of the following free file viewers:

When new map files are acquired by the FNSB mapping division, the map files need to conform to certain standards so that they may be integrated with a minimum of labor into the online map set. Certain layer naming conventions are used throughout the map system. The map data is placed on a well understood common geographic grid so that all the maps and layers of data will fit together for the purpose of automation. The file format is determined by the standard use of AutoCAD software from Autodesk, Inc. The rest of the document specifies some of the important standards in more detail.

LAYER NAMES:

Each map file will contain its data in or on one or more layers. There are three types of layers beginning with a letter C, G, or T. The letter C is used for temporary construction guides, G is used for line graphics, and T is used for annotative text.

LAYER		TYPE	DESCRIPTION
C-ALIGN		DASHED LINE	TEMPORARY ALIGNMENT FEATURES
C-CONSTR		SOLID LINE	TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
C-GPS-SEC		POINT	GPS POSITION OF SECTION CORNER
C-GRID		POINT	PLSS PROTRACTED GRID
C-POINT		POINT	TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION FEATURE
C-SEC-CORNER		POINT	ESTIMATED POSITION OF SECTION CORNER
C-TIE		DASHED LINE	TIE LINE FOR ALIGNING FEATURES
G-EZMNT		DASHED LINE	EASEMENTS
G-FLOODCONTROL		SOLID LINE	FLOOD CONTROL FEATURES AND EASEMENTS
G-HOOK		SOLID LINE	PARCEL LAND HOOK
G-LEASE		DASH-DOT LINE	LEASE LOT
G-LOT		SOLID LINE	LOT / PARCEL BOUNDARY LINE
G-LOT-GOV		DOTTED LINE	GOVERNMENT LOT
G-LOT-OLD		DASHED LINE	OLD LOT BOUNDARY LINES
G-MONUMENT		POINT	VARIOUS MONUMENTS
G-PLANI		DASHED LINE	PLANIMETRIC DETAILS
G-RIVER		SOLID LINE	RIVER & CREEK MEANDER LINES
G-RIVER-OLD		DASHED LINE	OLD RIVER & CREEK MEANDER LINES
G-ROAD		SOLID LINE	PLATTED ROAD RIGHT OF WAY
G-ROAD-BREAK		DASH-DOT LINE	ROAD BREAK LINES FOR CONVERSION TO GIS
G-ROAD-PRIVATE		DASHED LINE	PRIVATE ROADS
G-SCLIN		DASHED LINE	SECTION LINES
G-TRAIL		DASHED LINE	TRAIL CENTERLINE
G-WATER		SOLID LINE	LAKES & SMALL WATER BODIES
T-AREA		TEXT	AREA IN SQUARE FEET AND/OR ACRES
T-BLOCK		TEXT	BLOCK NUMBER
T-DIM		TEXT	DIMENSIONS OF LOT LINES
T-FILENAME		TEXT	RECORDED PLAT NUMBERS, BOOK-PAGE, & OTHER FILE NUMBERS
T-LOT		TEXT	LOT NUMBER
T-LOT-GOV		TEXT	GOVERNMENT LOT NUMBERS
T-MEMO		TEXT	MEMO LAYER - BORDER AND LEGEND
T-NOTES		TEXT	VARIOUS NOTES
T-RIVER		TEXT	RIVER AND CREEK NAMES
T-SCLIN		TEXT	SECTION CORNER NUMBERS
T-SUB		TEXT	SUBDIVISION NAMES
T-SURV-CORNER		TEXT	SURVEY CORNER NUMBERS
T-WATER		TEXT	LAKE & SMALL WATER BODY NAMES

THE MAP FILE NAMING SYSTEM:

There are two kinds of files, both geographically based.

Area-wide files are grouped by the type of data they contain. While everything is on coordinates and may overlay the base map easily, these files each cover many base maps. Some contain all of a particular type of information for the entire borough in one file.

The base maps are divided up along township, section and quarter section lines in a similar manner as the old mylar maps.

The base map file naming system is geographically based, with the map file name representing the location of the particular piece of ground. The file naming system uses six characters.

1. The first character represents the quadrant of the Fairbanks Meridian:

• "1" represents the townships to the northeast of the Birch Hill Initial Point.
• "2" represents the southeast.
• "3" represents the southwest.
• "4" represents the northwest.
• Two more regions, known as "5" and "6", cover the eastern, less populated, area of the Borough.

2. The second character represents the Township number, north or south.

3. The third character represents the Range number, east or west.

4. The fourth character is a letter from "A" to "I" representing a square group of four sections within the township.

5 & 6. The fifth and sixth characters are used only for maps of quarter-sections.

See the key map for further clarification of the map numbering and file naming system.

THE GRID:

The Borough map files are each placed on a continuous state plane grid consisting entirely of Alaska Zone 3, NAD83. Township corners within the Borough boundary have been located by the BLM protracted coordinates. Actual field section corners set by rectangular survey may vary from this mathematical grid. Any file received in these coordinates can be immediately inserted into the map system.

MAP ACCURACY:

Although it would be well to have all data within ten feet of true location, just as if everything were tied by survey to primary monuments, in most cases the information will not be so well known. New subdivisions are being entered directly from the recorded plats using tie points and basis of bearing as noted on the plats, digitized data from printed maps such as the U.S.G.S. 15-minute and 7½ minute quad sheets will have an inherent accuracy commensurate inversely with the source scale, and the old hand-drawn Borough base maps were precise enough for sparse land development and have that level of accuracy.

Currentness is more important than geographical precision and accuracy.

FILE FORMATS:

Map data files are in a format that can be read directly by AutoCAD (Release 2000 or later). Such formats include the standard AutoCAD .DWG, .DXF, or possibly .DWF. AutoCAD LT can also be used to read and work with AutoCAD drawings.

These files are maintained by the Department of Community Planning, Mapping Division. Questions on setting up your own system map files may be directed to Bernardo Hernandez, Director of Community Planning.