| Spatial Data Policy and Pricing in the United States |
| Stephen C. Guptill and Diane F. Eldridge |
| U.S. Geological Survey |
| Reston, VA 20192 USA |
| E-Mail: sguptill@usgs.gov |
This article's main focus is the traditional US Government data policy, which implies free access and free reproduction of the information, and low cost to obtain the information itself. The idea portrayed is that free/low cost of geospatial data will create spinoff effects to generate other geospatial activities and thus aid the geomatics industry.
Some key points in the article about the US policy:The article uses two organizations as case studies: the US Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Within the USGS is the National Mapping Division, overseeing geomatics type activities and services. The USGS works in cost of reproduction only. For example, for LANDSAT TM data, a scene is priced at $425.00 with 200.00 for each subsequent swath in same order and acq date. Most of the startup costs in ordeing this data can be attributed to operator setup of the data, etc. LANDSAT 7 L0 data is priced from $475.00/scene, with no applied radiometrical corrections or geography. Each product, however, has metadata and calibration / ephemeris data to do so.
The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services (NESDIS) branch of NOAA, a modernization effort of cataloguing and systems will ultimately allow usrs to readily locate, browse and access/order data online at lower cost. There will be no additional fees for librariess, educational institutions, government and nonprofit organizations.
The FGDC metadata initiative acts as a central gateway for organizations to find the whereabouts of geospatial data, as an intermediary. This involves establishing the catalogues, and can mean high costs / resources during startup phases.
Public sector organizations must watch prices on data not soar too high; this may result in private sector outfits buying the data once, and reselling it a lower rate (as per 17 United States Code 105), thus deeming the public sector non-competitive.
The article does a good job of bringing forth the US' conventions and viewpoints regarding spatial data policy. The examples given are clear and descriptive of the success of this policy model throughout the United States. The US has a solid data sharing model, which encourages data sharing and collaborative development potential. New innovations can be fostered with this approach, as there is more opportunity to work with vast amounts of a variety of data, spatial and aspatial. The availibility of data / information brings forth new ideas and algorithms, discussion groups, and breakthroughs in the geosciences as a whole.
While budgetary constraints and cost recovery are means of dealing with economic setbacks, such as the early 1990s, this should not trickle down to taxpayers, who have already paid for the data during it inception and development. Furthermore, charging those who can use the data to foster scientific developments also constrains the economy, and world recognition in scientific and/or research oriented discoveries.
The comment, "The general policy is that a reasonable charge will be established for a service of thing of value provided by an agency" leads one to question motives and possible pricing policies of some organizations, whether it is for true cost recovery, or a means of keeping budgetary figures on track with projected figures from upper management and executives. This may be dangerous in the wrong hands or adminstration.
The comment, "The cost of dist does not include the initial collection and processing" also leads one to question if some agencies may wait to undertake activities until an opportunity to make revenue exists, hence a reason to produce and disseminate data.
The Internet has put tremendous pressure on such agencies because of its open nature. It is very easy to find what you want over the Web, whether it is licensed or not. Organizations now have to compete with the explosion of Internet services which connect individuals globally and make the marketplace and information open and easier to access / obtain. There is no restrictions as of this writing on Internet-related services. For example, upon searching for some technical book information, the CDROM edition of the book was found through a search engine, enabling the user to download the e-book at no cost. This is not to promote such actions, but this is the reality.
Agencies and goverment have to respond to technological and societal pressures and see the cost of setting up e-catalogues as an investment to preservation of geospatial data, tools and services, and not solely a monetary issue. Organizations, especially at the government level, must think in the long term.