Sharing GIS Data

The Nebraska SHPO is working with our Dept. of Roads to develop a better system for distributing historic resource GIS data. We were considering a use agreement with them in order to address the issues of sensitive/restricted sites. Have other SHPO's developed use agreements, or devised some other means for addressing the needs for restrictions and information sensitivity, as you share your data with other agencies? How would you rate the success of the use agreement in practice?

Alaska: Alaska has an online database with some GIS capabilities. We have been using the key modules for a few years, but it is still under development for full integration. Our DOT provided funds to partially support its development. We have provided access to DOT environmental planners and other State staff on a "need to know" basis. Each authorized user must apply and justify their need for information, and sign an electronic use agreement. Outside our own staff, remote access is presently only available to certain agency and museum folks. Access is primarily through work stations in our office, where users are monitored by staff (after taking a required half-day workshop and signing a use agreement). We are in the process of updating our use agreements to reflect data exchange in the modern world.

Arizona: Arizona has a user agreement for AZSITE, our statewide cultural resources database and GIS. We modeled our after agreements used by other state. This agreement allows approved users to access information on-line. Currently, only agencies are eligible to receive large GIS data dumps. The AZSITE agreement is available on-line at: www.azsite.arizona.edu

Connecticut: CTSHPO is currently evaluating similar agreements with outside agencies and I am curious to see how other states are managing this issue. Currently, our GIS database is used by SHPO and the Office of State Archaeology (OSA), but CTDOT is helping to maintain the database and has limited use of the files for review planning purposes. Only a single individual in DOT currently accesses these files. Our somewhat informal system is working, but only due to the very small number of individuals involved and close coordination between our offices. We anticipate establishing more stringent restrictions on the use and distribution of resource data when additional parties are formally invited to use the GIS. Consultants and researchers may request information from the GIS database, but are not allowed direct access to the data, nor are they allowed to copy the GIS files for their own use.

Maryland: Maryland has a standard license agreement for the distribution of non-sensitive GIS data, which includes an archeological site presence grid. We distribute archeological site data only to agencies that have an archeologist on staff, who is named as the custodian of that data. The archeological data is to be kept locally rather than loaded on the network.

New Jersey: NJ HPO uses a boilerplate Data Distribution Agreement developed by our agency's GIS office for all publicly accessible GIS data. Data for Historic Distircts, Historic Properties, and an archaeolgical screen grid are available for download or via an online mapping application (NJ Geoweb: http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm ) Site specific archaeological data is accessible only to HPO staff.

The agreement is included in the metadata for each layer, available here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/stateshp.html#HISTDIST

We have yet to work out any formal data-sharing with other agencies that would enable access to sensitive data.

South Carolina: Check out the subscription overview sections and the license agreement on ArchSite, which is our joint GIS cultural resource information system in South Carolina for above ground sites (maintained by the SHPO) and archaeological sites (maintained by the SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. http://archsite.cas.sc.edu/ArchSite

Arkansas: http://www.arkansaspreservation.org/historic-properties/arkansas-register/

Maryland: http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/mihp-search.html

New Hampshire: http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/state_register.html

New Mexico: http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/about/contents/forms/4nmac10-7.pdf

New York: http://www.nysparks.com/sites/

North Carolina: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/nc-hist-com.htm

South Carolina: South Carolina does not have a state register

Vermont: http://www.historicvermont.org/sites/

Virginia: http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/RegisterMasterList.pdf

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Historic Structures Reports

Wisconsin:

• Suggestions for Historic Structures Reports RFPs (courtesy of Anne Biebel, Cornerstone Preservation)
• Historic Structures Report Checklist (courtesy of Jeanne Lambin, National Trust for Historic Preservation)
• Historic Structures Report Preparation Guide (draft only)

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