(a) Applicability. All users and developers of geographic datasets and geographic information systems in institutions of higher education must comply with the technical standards specified in this section. Institutions of higher education are exempt from these standards when geographic information systems are acquired or geographic datasets developed, solely for research or instructional purposes. 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 (Art. 5282c, VTCS) 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).

(1) Geographic dataset acquisition and development. (A) Standard. An institution of higher education planning to acquire, develop, or enhance a geographic dataset that may corresponds 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 institution of higher education 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 institutions of higher education, state agencies, and to the public.

(2) Geographic dataset exchange: Data format. An institution of higher education 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 institution of higher education 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 institution of higher education 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 shall include a statement of the purpose or intended use of the dataset and a disclaimer warning against unintended uses of the dataset. If an institution of higher education is aware of specific inappropriate uses of the dataset which some users may be inclined to make, the dataset disclaimer shall specifically warn against those uses. (C) Format. This documentation shall be in a geospatial metadata format specified by the GIO. (D) Delivery. In responding to a request for a geographic dataset, an institution of higher education 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 institution of higher education, shall 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 shall clearly state that the map is not a survey product.

Source Note: The provisions of this §205.20 adopted to be effective June 12, 2014, 39 TexReg 4643