Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Applicability.
All users and developers of geographic datasets and geographic information
systems in state agencies must comply with the technical standards specified in
this section. Activities conducted by a registered professional land surveyor
while engaged in the practice of professional surveying, as defined in the
Professional Land Surveying Practices Act (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1071
) are exempt from these standards.
(b) Implementation guidance. Pursuant to
Water Code §
16.021(c),
the GIO provides guidance to the Executive Administrator of the Texas Water
Development Board and to the Department of Information Resources (the
department). The guidance provided by the GIO to the department relates to
technology standards developed by the department for geographic datasets
pursuant to Water Code §
16.021(e)(4).
(c) Geographic Information Standards.
(1) Geographic dataset acquisition and
development.
(A) Standard. An agency planning
to acquire, develop, or enhance a geographic dataset that may correspond to an
HPIDS dataset shall coordinate such activity with the GIO to determine
potential use of the HPIDS master contract.
(B) Procurement of public domain geographic
datasets. An agency that procures a copy of a federal or other public domain
geographic dataset shall make the dataset available to the Texas Natural
Resources Information System (TNRIS). TNRIS will make these datasets available
to other agencies, institutions of higher education, and to the
public.
(2) Geographic
dataset exchange: Data format. An agency that originates or adds data content
to a non-proprietary geographic dataset and distributes the dataset to another
state agency, institution of higher education, or the public must make the
dataset available in at least one digital format that is recognized by the most
commonly used geographic information systems. This requirement does not
preclude the agency from offering the dataset in other data formats. The GIO
provides guidance on acceptable formats for data exchange.
(3) Geographic dataset documentation.
(A) Preparation. An agency shall prepare
documentation for each geographic dataset that it both:
(i) originates and/or adds data content to;
and
(ii) distributes as a standard
product to another state agency, institution of higher education, or the
public.
(B) Statement of
Purpose. Documentation must include a statement of the purpose or intended use
of the dataset and a disclaimer warning against unintended uses of the dataset.
If an agency is aware of specific inappropriate uses of the dataset that some
users may be inclined to make, the dataset disclaimer must specifically warn
against those uses.
(C) Format.
This documentation must be in a geospatial metadata format specified by the
GIO.
(D) Delivery. In responding to
a request for a geographic dataset, an agency shall provide the requestor a
copy of the documentation.
(4) GIS map product disclaimer. Any map
product, in paper or electronic format, produced using geographic information
system technology and intended for official use and/or distribution outside the
agency, must include a disclaimer statement advising against inappropriate use.
If the nature of the map product is such that a user could incorrectly consider
it to be a survey product, the disclaimer must clearly state that the map is
not a survey product.
