State and Local Government Challenges for Geospatial Data Management and Distribution

Abstract

As part of a project investigating requirements for managing and preserving geospatial data and related electronic records, interviews were conducted with 31 professionals responsible for managing geospatial data for their organizations. The interviews revealed a range of concerns regarding the management and distribution of geospatial data. Key issues include establishing and maintaining formal agreements, managing intellectual property rights and restrictions associated with the data, protecting sensitive information and the confidentiality of locations revealed by the data, and shielding the organization from potential liabilities resulting from data distribution and use. Many organizations have found innovative ways to address specific issues, but none of those surveyed has fully addressed all of these challenges. Issues identified by the interviews have contributed to the development of a guide for practitioners and a data model identifying information elements to be recorded and maintained when managing geospatial data and related electronic records.