GIS Policy & Guides
There is a national dialogue taking place about GIS. Politicians, emergency management personnel,
geographers, educators, surveyors, private companies, GIS professionals, government employees and the general public
are trying to answer fundamental policy questions. We're attempting to reach consensus on issues ranging
from data collection methods and funding, to balancing public access with security. The future of GIS is being shaped by
people who are active, engaged and thoughtful. Find out what they've been saying, and become one of them. Then use what
you've learned in your own community.
Data Security
Data Sharing
Strategic Planning
Laws and Legislation
Topical Presentations
IndianaMap Law - IndianaMap legislation passed May 2007 that establishes a Geographic Information Officer,
requires data sharing and integration, and defines framework data
MAPPS Litigation
Litigation has been filed in US District Court by the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Firms
(MAPPS), et. al., to require that nearly all federally contracted mapping and GIS activities be limited to
licensed surveyors or engineers. Read the background and legal filings compiled by the Association of American Geographers:
Case Background Paper (January 2007)
Amicus Brief (January 2007)
Amicus Brief Affidavit (1) (January 2007)
Amicus Brief Affidavit (2) (January 2007)
MAPPS Lobbies US Congress (May 2005)
Business Case for GIS - IGIC makes the case for coordinated GIS activities in State Government
(December 2006)
GIS Day Video - Indiana Senator David Ford's
keynote address, "A Vision for Future Applications of GIS," at the Indiana University GIS Day event (November 2006)
IGIC's top 5 priorities to support the IndianaMap (November 2006)
'Privacy' a bar to disclosure of electronic GIS maps by FEMA
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press article on a federal appellate court ruling that a non-profit environmental
group is not entitled to FEMA maps, or download a printable version (June 2005)
NSDI Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response
to Security Concerns (June 2005)
Supreme Court Orders Town To Release Aerial Photos, Maps -
GIS User article on ruling in Greenwich, Conneticut. Or print the article
(June 2005).
Connecticut Supreme Court Case - court documents from the Connecticut Supreme Court
case on public access to publicly funded GIS data
Indiana GIS Technology Strategy (November 2004)
Summary Security Report Summary of the report from the Rand National
Defense Research Institute, "Mapping the Risks: Assessing the Homeland Security Implications of
Publicly Available Geospatial Information" (May 2004)
How Homeland Security Affects Spatial Information (April 2004)
Access To Public Records 5.14.3 - Indiana Code that includes
provisions related to GIS and data security (July 2003)
Indiana Bill Watch - follow upcoming GIS legislation
*Denotes file(s) in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available free of charge at Adobe's Website.
