This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Point of Begining Logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Point of Begining Logo
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Classifieds
    • Subscribe
    • POB eNewsletter
  • Columns
    • GeoDataPoint Blog
    • Kline: Unmistakable Marks
    • Lucas: Traversing the Law
    • Solo Notes
    • Editor's Points
    • Turner: Surveyor's Footsteps
    • The Business Side
  • News
  • Products
  • Tech
    • GeoDataPoint
    • LiDAR/Laser Scanning/3D
    • Photogrammetry
    • GIS
    • GPS/GNSS
    • Hardware
    • UAS/UAV
    • Data Collection
    • Remote Sensing
    • Software
    • Total Stations
  • Industry
    • Aerial
    • BIM
    • Boundary & Topo
    • Construction
    • Energy & Utilities
    • Environmental
    • Forensics
    • Government
    • Marine/Hydrography
    • Mining
    • Transportation
  • Reports
    • Laser Scanning & 3D
    • Salary & Benefits
    • Surveying & Mapping Industry Software
    • Archives & Additional Reports
  • Education
    • Professional Knowledge
    • Continuing Education
    • GeoLearn
  • Online
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • Classifieds
    • POB Store
    • POB Point and Shoot
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
    • Polls
    • FARO Webinars
    • Industry Links
  • Directory
    • GeoLocator
  • Contact
    • Editorial Staff
    • Advertise
    • Clear Seas Research
    • Custom Content Marketing Services
    • List Rental
    • Store
  • POB Premium
Home » URISA Board Declines to Sign Amicus Brief
Latest Headlines

URISA Board Declines to Sign Amicus Brief

March 2, 2012
Reprints
No Comments

Des Plaines, Ill. - At its Feb. 24, 2012 meeting, the URISA board of directors again considered the draft Sierra Club vs. Orange County, California amicus brief. A board motion to sign an earlier version of the brief on Feb. 2 failed to pass a vote.

The board’s deliberation followed a joint URISA Board and Policy Committee conference call to discuss the board’s Feb. 2 decision, in light of the Policy’s Committee’s recommendation to sign the brief.  Glenn O’Grady, policy committee chair, was invited to again discuss the matter with the board during the Feb. 24 meeting.

After the California First Amendment Coalition won its public records act lawsuit against Santa Clara County in April 2009, the Sierra Club filed a similar suit against Orange County. The Sierra Club wanted Orange County's parcel basemap in GIS-compatible database formats for its wildlands conservation campaign but couldn't afford to pay Orange County what it was asking for the basemap. The Superior Court ruled in favor of Orange County. Sierra Club appealed the case, but the 4th District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision in support of Orange County. In response, members of the GIS community, led by Bruce Joffe, founder of the Open Data Consortium project, developed an amicus curiae brief outlining their position that GIS-formatted data is not software, and that computer mapping system software does not include GIS data.

Before considering the question of signing the SC v. OC amicus brief, the URISA board drafted and approved the following data sharing policy that reflects URISA’s role as an international organization, and the need for the organization to be aware of data policies and situations in many countries:

It is URISA's policy that all units of government should freely provide the means for their citizens to fully participate in their own governance by publishing and otherwise supplying geospatial data to all interested parties. URISA believes that governmental geospatial programs must be appropriately funded and that there are multiple acceptable mechanisms for such funding.  Credible studies have shown that the value of geospatial data to the governmental agencies and the people they serve increases with the breadth of data sharing.

The board then discussed reconsideration of signing the draft amicus brief; however, no motion to sign the brief reached the floor for a vote by the board. The board did agree to continue advocating for the principles outlined in the data sharing policy.  Specific actions will include continued pursuit of URISA’s 2011-2012 Advocacy Agenda item 2 (Nationwide Development of High Quality, Publicly Accessible Geospatial Data), participation in COGO’s URISA/NSGIC – Data Sharing Legal & Policy Framework initiative, and advocating for the newly approved URISA data sharing policy with state governors and legislatures.

“Individual URISA members are free to make their own choice to sign or not to sign the SC v. OC amicus brief,” said Greg Babinski, MA, GISP, URISA president, in a statement issued by the organization. “The value of a professional organization is not to tell its members what to think in a case like this. It is to create an environment where each individual can be exposed to the range of arguments about the issue so that they can make their own decision.  This would be the case no matter how the board voted.”

The amicus brief was submitted to the California Supreme Court on March 2 and included the signatures of 212 GIS professionals and 23 GIS organizations in support of Sierra Club.

Subscribe to POB

Related Articles

GITA 2007: Despite Growth in Several Categories, GITA Works to Identify and Address Decline in Overall Annual Conference Attendance

2009 URISA Board of Directors & Presidential Slate Announced

URISA Board Approves a GIS Code of Ethics 4.28.03

URISA Board of Directors Election Results Announced

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscription Center
  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Renew
  • Create Account
  • Change Address
  • Pay My Bill
  • Free eNewsletters
  • Customer Care

More Videos

Popular Stories

FAAlogo21Aug19News

Iris Automation and Kansas DOT BVLOS Drone Flight

Stonexnews4Dec19

Stonex Announces Camera Add-on

LeicaZenoPOBnews20Nov19

Leica Geosystems Enables GIS Data Capture

LeicaBLK3Dnewsletter27Nov19

Leica Geosystems Launches “BLK3D Web”

IQGeonewsletter27Nov19

IQGeo to Enable Digital Transformation for Stadtwerke Sindelfingen

Poll

Surveyor Outreach Opportunities

What kind of community outreach do you perform on behalf of the survey/geospatial profession?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

POB Top 100 Report

POB Top 100 Report

We began by creating a survey as a cooperative effort between several high level geospatial leaders, POB staff, and Clear Seas Research market research experts. The survey was sent out to more than 25,000 geospatial professionals who subscribe to POB and/or are members of MAPPS.
See More Products

FARO webinar series

POB

POB December 2019 cover

2019 December

In the December 2019 issue of POB, learn how GNSS field mapping played a crucial role in creating the Port of New Orleans first enterprise GIS. Also in this issue, find out how a recent regulatory proposal could restrict UAV flights.
View More Subscribe
  • Resources
    • Construction Group
    • List rental
    • Survey And Sample
    • Associations & Industry Links
    • Subscribe
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Order Reprints
    • Want More
    • Connect
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
    • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • My Account
    • Renew
    • Create Account
    • Change Address
    • Pay My Bill
    • Free eNewsletters
    • Customer Care

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing