More information on Road network file (RNF)

Censuses:

• 2006, 2001 (road network files - cover the entire country)
• 1996 (street network files - cover large urban centres only)
• 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971 (area master files – cover large urban centres only)

Remarks:

The road network file (RNF) is based on the road network from the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). Statistics Canada maintains the RNF to support the census and other Statistics Canada activities. The relative position of road network features is important for census enumeration and reference purposes; therefore, topological accuracy takes precedence over absolute positional accuracy. The RNF does not contain street information required for route optimization. For example, data on one-way streets, dead-ends and other street obstacles are not included in the RNF. Consequently, this file is not recommended for engineering applications, emergency dispatching services, surveying or legal applications.

The road network file contains road arcs with either 'true' address ranges, imputed address ranges, or no address ranges. Imputed address ranges are not meant to replace true address ranges for any purpose other than address geocoding. Thus, if the files are to be used for computer-aided dispatch or similar purposes (that require an address to be matched to a block or street), it may be necessary to supplement the file with local knowledge by updating existing true addresses and replacing imputed addresses.

The limitations of the road network file should be recognized for uses other than the mapping, analysis and retrieval of census data.

The road network file provides full digital coverage for Canada. There are 14 standard RNFs:

• Canada
• 10 provinces and three territories.

The RNF is available in latitude/longitude coordinates in MapInfo® (.tab), ArcInfo® (.shp), and Geography Markup Language (.gml) formats. The RNF is not distributed with software.

The road network file is available as a free downloadable product starting with the 2005 version.

Refer to the related definitions of cartographic boundary files (CBFs); digital boundary files (DBFs); Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and to the Road Network File Reference Guide (Catalogue no. 92-500-GIE or GWE).

Changes prior to the current census:

For 2001, the road network files contained both road and boundary arcs (including geographic codes to identify blocks, census subdivisions, census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations, and provinces/territories).

Prior to 2001, street network files and area master files covered mainly large urban centres (less than 1% of the land area). The coverage represented only about 35% of Canada's population in 1971. This rose to over 50% in 1981, to about 57% in 1986, and to 62% in 1991 and 1996.