====== Generalities ======

===== What is ToolMap? =====

ToolMap is a cost-free, open-source software dedicated for digitizing data and producing complex multi-layer GIS projects. 

It was developped in response to the need to create projects with:
  * A faultless and accurate topological structure.
  * A correct and homogenized semantic attribution.

===== How does it work? =====

ToolMap perform its duty based on two basic and undissociable principles:
  * **The data model** describing the nature and spatial relationships between the possible different features.

  * **The digitizing process** allowing only two types of geometries, lines and points to represent all two-dimensional "real-world" objects. No polygon layer exists in ToolMap; they are built from the combination of lines delinaeting surfaces. Digitizing all lines, line feature (strictly speaking) and borders of polygons within one single layer yields the following advantages:
    * No redundancy in the digitzing process: geometric shapes referring to multiple object types are digitized and stored only once.
    * Perfect match between geometric shapes occurring in different thematic GIS layers: all objects are extracted from the same construction layers.


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