Guide Number 10 Geographical Information Systems

Governor's Information Systems Committee
Circular Letter 96-01
Guide Number 10 - Geographical Information Systems
Effective Date: June 30, 1997

INTER-AGENCY GEOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

I. LEGAL BASIS

Act No. 147 of June 18, 1980, amended by Act No. 110 of august 3, 1995, and Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, amended.
II. OBJECTIVES

A. Description:

The Geographical Information System integrates cartographic and reference information into one same database in order to more effectively carry out the Government of Puerto Rico's planning, administration, and development processes, and keeps digitally updating the map of the island, including infrastructure information and data of interest to the public and private sectors.

It is hoped that an integrated inter-agency system can be developed, structured on a high-speed telecommunications network. The system will maintain cartographic data available for participant's use, in a relational manner which allows for its renewal in the receiving system, including data on attributes, along with their geographic references.

Each agency's systems will operate as independent systems with their own servers, databases, and specialized applications. The specialized information contained in these independent systems which is not considered to be confidential or highly sensitive is available for export to other authorized participants via an inter-agency network, equipped with the necessary controls for insuring the completeness of participating agencies' databases.

Inter-agency systems shall maintain SQL databases linked to the central geographical system as a principal means for the integration of cartographic and attribute information, and will serve as front-ends for other participating systems, facilitating inter-agency data exchange. The data shall be kept at the Planning Board in a common and digital geographic database for the participants' access.

B. Purpose:

1. Establishing government policy that ensures the guidelines which allow keeping government agencies' data in a common geographical base.

2. Providing controls for data exchange between agencies.

3. Developing controls to guarantee data's confidentiality.

4. Establishing guidelines or maintaining data.

C. Scope:

Keeping data in the Central Repository up to date and allowing access of non-confidential information to Government of Puerto Rico agencies.
III. PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT

As a public policy the Government of Puerto Rico ordains information systems' best use and efficiency. The following guidelines are issued for Geographical Information Systems' development and maintenance.

A. Legal Aspect

Planning Board, Information Custody by Law - (Planning Board Act, Act No. 75 of June 24, 1975, amended).

B. General Aspects:

1. Every agency which develops a geographical information system will be responsible for:

2. Infrastructure agencies which handle underground lines (Department of Transportaiton and Public Works (DTOP), Electrical Energy Authority (AEE), Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (AAA), and the Telephone Authority (AT) will submit to the Planning Board, in digital fashion, data from as built charts for underground lines, for them to be included in the GIS.

3. As a Central Repository, the Planning Board shall be responsible for:

4. Base Map Definition:

5. Software Specifications

Each Agency will make its own selection of software to be used according to its own particular needs. This software must guarantee:

6. Security

As a Central Deposit, the Planning Board shall be responsible for implementing necessary controls for maintaining data's confidentiality and completeness. These controls are targeted at guaranteeing the completeness of agencies' data and preventing the corruption of their files.