Introduction
GISLab has established a spatial data warehouse to provide for access
to spatial data at LANL. The GISLab spatial data policy specifies provisions
for both data providers and data users. Data providers and users must
agree to abide by the provisions of the GISLab Data Policy by signing
the GISLab Data Agreement.
Please download, sign, and submit the form to GISLab when making spatial
data available or when requesting access to spatial data.
Data
Acceptance
As shown in the GISLab
Information Management Plan, spatial data submitted for inclusion
in the GISLab spatial data warehouse are first checked by our staff for
proper data format and metadata completeness. Upon verifying that the
data meet GISLab standards for acceptance, we place the data and the metadata
in the spatial data warehouse in a timely manner. We can offer guidance
in the preparation of data and metadata for submission, but GISLab is
not responsible for the actual preparation, except in cases where an explicit
written agreement provides for these services. GISLab will maintain the
spatial warehouse in a manner that ensures 1) that spatial data and metadata
are available to authenticated users via the internal LANL network, 2)
that all data are backed up on a regular basis, and 3) that limited-access
data are available only to data users approved by the appropriate data
provider. Metadata for both open and limited-access data will be openly
available.
Metadata
Data providers are required to submit metadata
along with each submission of spatial data to the GISLab, as specified
in GISLab Metadata Requirements
(also obtained by e-mail inquiry to gislab@lanl.gov).
Metadata provide a standardized description of the nature, source, and
characteristics of data, and are essential for determining whether the
data are appropriate for a particular use. Metadata that are compliant
with Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards are required of
all U.S. government agencies.
Data
Format
Data providers are required to deliver digital spatial
data to GISLab using a standard GIS format, compatible with Environmental
System Research Institute (ESRI) formats. This ensures compatibility with
GIS software used in GISLab and throughout LANL.
Data
Quality
For spatial data that they submit to GISLab, data providers
should specify data quality in the metadata, and deliver, when available,
spatial data quality and completeness reports, QA/QC and data collection
methods, and other reports relevant to the data (if not already part of
the metadata).
Data
Access
Data providers will specify whether data can be
released to internal versus external (non-LANL) users. Internal
data users are LANL employees and contractors; external data users are
non-LANL employees and contractors. In cases where data providers require
that data access be limited, data providers must provide an access policy
that specifies a process for obtaining access permission.
Data
Use
Please see the GISLab
Data Agreement for details of the policy and rules for access and
use of data in the GISLab spatial data warehouse. The policy applies both
to internal users and to external users who have received written permission
to use particular data.
Data
Updates
Data providers agree that the metadata and data provided
to GISLab are the official versions. Timely updates to these data and
associated metadata should be submitted by the data provider. Data users
agree to submit back to the data provider any changes they make to spatial
data received from the GISLab data warehouse, along with any updates to
metadata. GISLab is available to facilitate the process.
Disclaimer
Data stored in the GISLab spatial data warehouse come from
many sources and have varying characteristics, noted in the associated
metadata. GISLab cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness nor suitability
for particular uses of these many datasets. Data users therefore agree
not to hold GISLab, LANL, or the University of California liable or at
fault for the accuracy, correctness, or completeness of data stored in
or served from the GISLab spatial data warehouse.
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