1.1 Title: Georgia Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Clearinghouse Data Distribution Policy.
 
1.2 Date: December 30, 1997.

1.3 Action: New policy.

2.1 The Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse was established initially to provide services to Georgia state agencies and University System of Georgia institutions. A data distribution policy is required to handle access to Clearinghouse information and services by county and local government as well as the private sector and the general public.
 
2.2 The intent for this policy is to establish a mechanism for the Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse to manage and monitor access and provide services to the State GIS core base map database to organizations outside state government.
 
2.3 The Clearinghouse policy should utilize existing services to facilitate information dissemination to the public. GeorgiaNet Authority and the Clearinghouse should forge a relationship to provide access to this service. 

3.1 The Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse was formed by the ITPC in May 1996 to collect, format, and publish GIS information in the State of Georgia. 

3.2 GIS implementation and technologies have been expanding rapidly in Georgia. There is a large demand for quality spatial information to feed these systems. During the first year of operation, the Clearinghouse has received many requests for services and information from non-state organizations. 

3.3 The complex nature of digital spatial information and software applications that utilize this information inhibits the exchange of this valuable data. Highly skilled and trained professionals are required to manage GIS databases and convert the information for distribution. The Clearinghouse staff are experts in spatial data exchange and transfer. 

3.4 The Clearinghouse services are as follows: 
 

3.4.1 Data Distribution Services. Provide access to clearinghouse databases in their archived form (native format or enhanced by the Clearinghouse, as directed by the GISAC, to meet established state standards). 

3.4.2 Basic Custom Services. 
 

3.4.2.1 Provide Clearinghouse data in Clearinghouse supported data exchange formats (Vector: e00, DXF, DGN, MIF, Raster: BIL, JPG, TIF, and Tabular: DBF, TXT). 

3.4.2.2 Project vector data into Clearinghouse supported projection systems (Geographic, Lambert Conformal, UTM, and StatePlane). 

3.4.2.3 Aggregate and cut vector and tabular data sets into Clearinghouse supported tiling schemes (statewide, county, USGS quadrangles, and Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) boundaries). 

3.4.2.4 Provide user support for loading and importing Clearinghouse data into user GIS systems. 

3.4.2.5 Provide technical support for user developed applications utilizing Clearinghouse data within the Clearinghouse resource constraints.

3.4.3 Supplemental Custom Services. 
 

3.4.3.1 Provide conversion services to all non-supported spatial data exchange formats, projections, and tiling schemes. 

3.4.3.2 Project and tile raster data. 

3.4.3.3 Provide extended user support for application development. 

3.4.3.4 Provide custom map production services for Clearinghouse data.

4.0 POLICY STATEMENT.
 

4.1 The Clearinghouse will provide data distribution services to all customers requesting GIS information following these guidelines: 
 
4.1.1 Packaged data distribution services provided through the Internet will be free-of-charge to all registered users. 

4.1.2 Data distribution services provided off-line on media (floppy, magnetic tapes, or CD-ROM) will follow the following rules: 
 

4.1.2.1 State of Georgia agencies, University System of Georgia (USG) institutions, and Georgia local government authorities will pay for the media, postage, and shipping and handling only.

4.1.2.2 All other organizations will pay 100% of the published price.
 

4.2 When providing basic custom services to State of Georgia agencies and USG institutions the Clearinghouse will charge for media, postage, and shipping and handling only. State of Georgia agencies and USG institutions will pay for all costs associated with utilizing Clearinghouse supplemental custom services. Other organizations will pay the full cost for both basic and supplemental custom services. 

4.3 Client fees for data and/or services may be waived at the discretion of the Clearinghouse manager when bartering agreements can be mutually agreed upon. When client organizations have valuable GIS data to include in the State GIS archive the Clearinghouse manager can negotiate an exchange of data without access fees. Bartering agreement will be executed using the standard Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse Data Sharing Memorandum of Agreement. 

4.4 Basic and supplemental custom services are provided only as Clearinghouse resources are available. At this time these expanded services are not a core element in the Clearinghouse mission. The Clearinghouse reserves the right to refuse a request due to excessive work demand or backlog of requests. 

4.5 Authorized fees to be collected by the clearinghouse are as follows: 
 

4.5.1 Packaging, enhancing, and processing the data. This includes the Clearinghouse value added investment and information systems to support the distribution of this data.
 
4.5.2 Processing fees for custom services per megabyte or central processing unit (cpu) minute. 

4.5.3 Labor and/or setup fee to process a request. 

4.5.4 Media, postage, and shipping and handling.

4.6 Fees collected by the Clearinghouse will be managed by the GeorgiaNet Authority. 

4.7 Fee and packaging rates will be established and published by the GISAC following State guidelines and precedents. The GISAC will draft and approve a fee schedule for Clearinghouse data and services described in this policy.

5.0 RESPONSIBILITIES. 

5.1 Clearinghouse employees are responsible for executing this policy when handling customer requests for information and services. 

5.2 The GeorgiaNet Authority is responsible for handling and reporting fees collected for the Clearinghouse.
 

6.1 This policy can be canceled by ITPC by issuing a revised or new policy.

7.0 CONTACT PERSONS. 

7.1 Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse Manager; Thomas D. Mettille, 404-894-5540 or tom.mettille@arch.gatech.edu. 

7.2 Data Distribution Technical Working Group Chairperson, Roy Plott, 404-526-3272 or roy.w.plott@gpc.com. 

7.3 GIS Advisory Committee Chairperson, Ray Argo, 706-542-6297 or argo@itos.uga.edu.