Presently, there are several different commercial geographic information systems with their different specific data models and data format. Data exchange among these systems raises the necessity for data conversion approaches over appropriate interfaces. For this purpose we developed a set of programs that convert data formats into one another and transfer the data between the different GIS Systems in digital form. Our emphasis here lies in the development of interfaces, which facilitate the data transfer to and from ESRI products. Specifically, our interfaces support the geographic information systems ArcInfo, ArcView GIS and ArcSDE with their specific data models and specific formats. The majority of the offered interfaces are bi-directional, i.e. they permit a data exchange between different GIS systems in both directions.

At present we can offer mainly interfaces, which enable the data transfer and exchange for the following GIS systems and formats:

• ATKIS and ALK over EDBS
• SICAD over SQD
• GDF (Geographic Data File standard).

Due to the importance of certain file formats and their specific relevance to GIS applications in Germany, our interfaces serve above all the official topographic and cartographic information system (ATKIS) of the German surveying authority, the automated land cadastre (ALK) of the official land register administration, the Geographic Data File (GDF) format for road network data and the system SICAD of the company Siemens Geomatics.

An overview of the available interfaces is presented below. Please note that the interfaces for ArcInfo/ArcSDE require an ArcInfo/ArcSDE license.

ArcInfo-based interfaces:

ARCEDBS Version 5.1
Bi-directional interface used in conjunction with ArcInfo for conversion of the EDBS format.

ARCSICAD Version 7.1
Bi-directional interface used in conjunction with ArcInfo for conversion of the SICAD-SQD format.

ARCGDF Version 3.1
Bi-directional interface used in conjunction with ArcInfo for conversion of the GDF format.

ArcSDE-based Interfaces:

ALK/ATKIS Reader Version 8 Pro
This Interface converts the EDBS format into ArcSDE Geodatabase, and optionally, into Personal Geodatabase and Shapefile format.

ArcView-based Interfaces:

ALK/ATKIS Reader Version 8 Standard
This Interface converts the EDBS format into Shapefile format and Personal Geodatabase.

ALK/ATKIS Reader Version 3 Standard
This Interface converts the EDBS format with file size of maximum 500 MB into Shapefile format.

ALK/ATKIS Reader Version 3 Pro
This Interface converts the EDBS format into Shapefile format without size limitations.

SICAD Reader Version 2.0
This interface converts SICAD-SQD format into Shapefile format.

SICAD Writer Version 1.0
This interface converts Shapefile format into SICAD-SQD format.