Description: The Protected Internet Exchange (PiX)converted the LSIB Linework and island data provided by the State Department to polygons. The LSIB Admin 0 world polygons (Admin 0 polygons) were created by conflating the following datasets: Eurasia_Oceania_LSIB7a_gen_polygons, Africa_Americas_LSIB7a_gen_polygons, Africa_Americas_LSIB7a, Eurasia_LSIB7a, Islands_to_add_to_LSIB7b_polyg.zip (Islands from CIA Cartography Center).The two simplified polygon shapefiles were merged, dissolved, and converted to lines to create a single global coastline dataset. The two detailed line shapefiles (Eurasia_LSIB7a and Africa_Americas_LSIB7a) were merged with each other and the coastlines to create an international boundary shapefile with coastlines. The dataset was reviewed for the following topological errors: must not self overlap, must not overlap, and must not have dangles. Once all topological errors were fixed, the lines were converted to polygons. Attribution was assigned by exploding the simplified polygons into multipart features, converting to centroids, and spatially joining with the newly created dataset. The polygons were then dissolved by country name.Another Round of QC was performed on the dataset through the data reviewer tool to ensure that the conversion worked correctly. Additional errors identified during this process consisted of islands shifted from their true locations and not representing their true shape; these were adjusted using high resolution imagery whereupon a second round of QC was applied with SRTM digital elevation model data downloaded from USGS. The same procedure was performed for every individual island contained in the islands shapefile provided by DOS and from the CIA Cartography Center. After the island dataset went through another round of QC, it was then merged with the Admin 0 polygon shapefile to form a comprehensive world dataset. The entire dataset was then evaluated for proper attribution for all of the islands by the Office of the Geographer.PiX continues to work with the State Department Office of the Geographer to update these shapefiles as changes are made.The LSIB boundariesare generally accurate to within a couple hundred meters or better; shorelines in some areas will be less accurate.The boundary research and “recovery” of the delineation of the lines has been done over past decades by geographers at the Office of the Geographer (GGI) at the US Department of State (DoS) and at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), with colleagues from CIA and the UK. They are based on modern imagery, elevation data, relevant maps, treaties, international arbitration and court rulings, data from national mapping agencies and boundary commissions, and other sources. Most DoS boundary-by-boundary studies from the 1960’s and ‘70’s are posted at http://fall.fsulawrc.com/collection/LimitsinSeas/index.html.Lines:The LSIB detailedline file is regularly updated, most recently as LSIB8 in Aug. 2017, with two files (17 and 21 mb compressed, 45 and 58 mb non-compressed) for the world. *Less attention has been given to lines for western Europe due to their availability in other accurate sources. In addition, LSIB Simplified(a generalized linefile rarely shifted by more than 100 meters and just 5 mb compressed) is available; most recently updated March 2017. Polygons:These worldwide LSIB Simplifiedlines of course conveniently match the easy-to-use LSIB Simplifiedpolygons(two 16 mb compressed shapefiles, each covering half the world, but excluding medium and smaller islands.) The more detailedLSIB worldwide polygonfile, 156mb (100 mb compressed) merges the most detailed LSIB international boundary lines with the best available vector shoreline to form country polygons, with topological errors removed (which also increased island accuracy; medium and smaller islands are still excluded.) PIX received the data in May 2017, began conflating the data in June, and finished in August. The most recent updates were completed in October of 2017. This is the most comprehensive dataset available.Country-by-country“DiB” (Digital Boundary) linesexist for all 325 international land boundaries and generally contain much additional attribute information such as what feature a boundary follows. Otherwise, they are identical to the LSIB lines, and can be available on request to the public (“Contact” below.) For USG users, they and the above data sets can be downloaded from the NGA boundary pages (the “DiB”-Digital Boundaries.) Also seehttp://BASE.state.sbuwhere USG officials will find a great amount of research, analysis, old treaties, & maps for most international & maritime boundaries.Coastlines - Islands:The coastline and island data are a combination of Old NGA World Vector Shoreline except for Africa, Arabian Pen., Iran, southern half of Europe, Caspian, and Turkey-Levant-Cyprus. Some islands were added when reviewing Esri base imagery during the data conflation and QC process.The LSIB line shapefile has the following attributes:Country codes:the old FIPS 10-4 codes (now GEC; see CIA World Factbook appendix.) The simplifieddata also includes ISO codes (2 & 3 digit.) A “UU” code indicates that one side of the line receives a neutral (disputed) color or shading. Country names: US Board on Geographic Names approved country and dependency names for USG use“Label”: such as “1949 Armistice Line” or “DMZ”, when required for USG use when scale permits“Status”: in three categories as recognized by the USG. Most lines by far are Rank 1:Rank 1: International boundary Rank 2: Other line of international separation. Most are considered by the USG to bein dispute.Rank 3: Special line:Abyei (Sudan-S. Sudan), Cuba’s Guantanamo, Korea’s DMZ, No-Mans Land (Israel vicinity), & Golan Hts. region DMZ’s, UNDOF lines…all not international boundaries; included only for use on specialized products. ___Any line with a rank of “2” or “3” is, for USG use, to be dotted or dashed differently and in a manner visually subordinate to the normal rank “1” lines. In older LSIB data, the current Rank 2 was 3, the current Rank 3 was 7.Note: Argentina’s boundaries with Paraguay and Uruguay and the China-North Korea boundary all have in places a boundary line in river channels that differs from the allocation of sovereignty to islands, resulting in numerous islands of one sovereignty surrounded by river water of the other state’s sovereignty. The LSIB and DIB lines in these cases reflect island sovereignty only.Attribution is welcome: “US Dept. of State Office of the Geographer.” If a non-USG user & thus eligible to alter the boundary depictions, please add “Some lines have been modified from the original data set.” Contact: Dave Linthicum (LinthicumDH@state.gov)
Copyright Text: US Dept. of State Office of the Geographer, The Protected Internet Exchange (PiX), NGA, CIA