Proximity GIS/Mapping Software

GIS/Mapping Software

Selected GIS and mapping utility-oriented software resources are summarized on this Web page.

Orientation toward DBF's and shapefiles. Proximity makes widespread use of "shapefiles" and "shapefile structures." This "GIS data file design" was originally introduced by ESRI and is in widespread use today with ESRI and non-ESRI products. shapefile structures have many desirable attributes not available in other GIS/mapping file structures. It is for this reason that shapefiles are widely used and supported by Proximity. Proximity has no business relationship with ESRI and is not a reseller of ESRI products. Proximity recognizes the important contribution that has been made by ESRI in the development of the shapefile architecture and support.

Disclaimer of Warranty. Files and related materials made available through this Web page are provided on an "AS IS" basis, without warranty of any kind.

BNA2SHP Converter. Use the BNA2SHP converters to convert maps files in a "BNA" format to shapefile format. The BNS2SHP routines are ESRI ArcView/ Avenue script routines developed by Pieter Geert van den Beukel (http://www.esrinl.com). To use these routines, you must use ArcView 3.2 GIS (or functionally equivalent software).

There are many versions of "BNA" file structures typically varying in minor file structural ways. These routines support two types of BNA files.

Atlas BNA Format. Atlas BNA files are comma- or (optionally) tab-delimited ASCII files containing feature identifier lines followed by vertices (one coordinate pair per line). The identifier lines contain one, two or three feature names in double quotes, and end with an integer type/length code n indicating the type of feature and number of vertices on following lines. For example:

"_Name", "_Name2", "_ID", n 
X1	Y1 
X2	Y2 
... 
Xj	Yj

For a point feature, n = 1; a single line with its vertex follows.
For a line n = -2 or less; the specified number of lines with vertices follow.
For a region, n = 3 or greater: the specified number of lines follows.

The X and Y coordinates are TAB delimited.

When the script executes, the user is prompted for the BNA file to be converted. The shape output files are generated in the system temp folder (c:\windows\temp) with the same first level file name and .dbf, .shp, .shx file extensions.

Download the BNA2SHPA zip file. This zip file includes a U.S. by state BNA file that you can use for test purposes.

IMAGE BNA Format. IMAGE BNA files are comma-delimited ASCII files containing feature identifier lines followed by vertices (one coordinate pair per line). The identifier lines contain the character string AREANAME (such as Maricopa County), geocode (such as 04013), and integer N indicating the type of feature and number of vertices on following lines. For example:

AREANAME
GEOCODE, N 
X1,Y1 
X2,Y2 
... 
Xj,Yj

The AREANAME is terminated with CRLF.
The GEOCODE does not use quotation marks and is comma-delimited from N.
The X and Y coordinates are separated by comma.

When the script executes, the user is prompted for the BNA file to be converted. The shape output files are generated in the same folder with the same first level name and .dbf, .shp, .shx file extensions.

Download the BNA2SHPI zip file. This zip file includes an Arizona by county BNA file that you can use for test purposes.

Additional Information
Proximity develops geodemographic-economic data and analytical tools and helps organizations knit together and use diverse data in a decision-making and analytical framework. We develop custom demographic/economic estimates and projections, develop geographic and geocoded address files, and assist with impact and geospatial analyses. Wide-ranging organizations use our tools (software, data, methodologies) to analyze their own data integrated with other data. Contact Proximity (888-364-7656) with questions about data covered in this section or to discuss custom estimates, projections or analyses for your areas of interest.