The database of localities and geographical names consists of over 140,000 toponyms relating to the Regions of Piedmont, Liguria, Valle d'Aosta, Region PACA, Region Rhone Alpes. (cross-border euro region Alps - Mediterranean). The database was created with the aim of creating a regional and cross-border reference dataset on toponyms or names of geographical places, to support research and geolocation activities, unambiguous referencing of measures or activities surveying in the field and more generally as a primary tool for knowledge and description of the territory in its physical, historical and cultural form. The dataset was created by Arpa Piemonte through a complex process of collection, selection, comparison, verification and classification of numerous regional, national and international databases followed by a process (still in progress) of integration and timely correction of data both as regards georeferencing and for the nomenclature and classification of names. Geographical names are organized in a dataset of points organized into two levels of thematic grouping (categories and classes). The first level includes the categories: orography, hydrography, inhabited localities, geographical areas, services. Each geographical name in the database therefore shows: full name, geographical coordinates, original name (name or abbreviated abbreviation shown in the original maps or sources), information font, category, class, administrative area to which it belongs (state, region, province, municipality) , quota (calculated or attributed by official sources), prominence and ranking (indices of relevance/importance of the toponym within its own class/category, used by research services (gazetteer service) and for cartographic representation purposes). from the geographical dataset, the map services (REST, WMS) and geographical research services (Gazetteer service) used by various thematic applications of the Arpa Geoportal were exposed.
