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Publication of conversion converters for map data (map XML format) kept by registry offices

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On January 23, 2023, the Ministry of Justice started to make map data (map XML format) prepared by the registry office in real estate registry available to the public as open data through the Geospatial Information Center of Japan.
The data is published in the map XML format, and anyone can use it as long as it does not conflict with the terms of use.
Digital Agency plans to use the information provided by the Ministry of Justice through the G-Space Information Center to acquire and reflect parcel number and brush shape information in base registry for address's efforts.
In addition, in Digital Agency, prior to its utilization, a converter that converts map XML format data into GeoJSON format was development (the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries improved the converter development). This converter is published on GitHub as open source software to contribute to the utilization of map data (map XML format) provided by registry offices.

Converter FAQ

Q1. Why did you publish this converter?

A1

Because map XML data often cannot be opened directly by a geographic information system (GIS) application, we decided to publish a converter that converts map XML data into GeoJSON data.

Is it easy for anyone to use the Q2 converter?

A2

This converter release is to release the source code written in Python, a general-purpose programming language. To use the converter, you need to prepare a Python runtime environment by yourself. It is provided for engineers, and we hope that it will be a foundation for private sector companies and civic technology to development various tools and solutions.
The G-Space Information Center will provide the converted data in GeoJSON format. Therefore, if it is difficult to use the converter, please wait for the provision of G-Space Information Center .

Q3. What kind of conversion does this converter perform?

A3

The main conversion specifications of this converter are as follows.

  • Only the polygon data of the brush and the attributes necessary for the maintenance of the base registry for address are extracted and output from the map XML data. The reference point, parcel boundary point, and parcel boundary line are not output.
  • For the data of the public coordinate system, the coordinate value is converted into longitude and latitude (JGD2011). The representative point coordinate is added as an attribute.
  • Coordinate values of data in an arbitrary coordinate system are not converted.

Q4. Can all the data in GeoJSON format converted by the converter be displayed on a map by using a GIS (Geographic Information System) application?

A4

The original data, map data (map XML format) kept by the registry office, is broadly classified into two types, but the displayability differs depending on the classification. Specifically, it is as follows.

  • Map: A result of surveying by cadastral surveys, etc., which has information on position coordinates in the real world and can be superimposed on a map (public coordinate system). It is also referred to as a "Article 14, Paragraph 1 Map." Since the position coordinate values of the original data are also converted when this data is converted to GeoJSON format, the converted data can be superimposed and displayed on a map using each application of GIS (Geographic Information System).
  • Drawings based on maps: They have information on the shape of parcels (relative coordinates), but they do not have information on position coordinates in the real world (arbitrary coordinate systems). They are also called "cadastral map" and "Article 14, Paragraph 4 Map." Since this data does not have location information even if it is converted to GeoJSON format, the converted data cannot be displayed on a map by using each application of GIS (Geographic Information System).

How can I view the GeoJSON converted by the Q5 converter?

A5

Data in GeoJSON format can be viewed using any Geographic Information System (GIS) application.
In addition, there is also a website where GeoJSON can be viewed, such as Geographical Survey Institute Map (Electronic National Land Web) of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.

Reference: GeoJSON Browsing Manual (GIS Homepage)

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