Access to Geographic Information

Access to geographic (or spatial) information concerns the right and ability of the general public to use a range of geographic data and information gathered by local, state, and federal government agencies and paid for by citizens'tax dollars. Since much of the data gathered for public purposes have a spatial reference, be it a street address or the geographic coordinates of a particular location, understanding the complexities of managing access to geographic information becomes important and relevant for all of us.

The emergence of the Internet and the World Wide Web is often credited with democratizing access to data and information. In the initial stages of the Internet's growth and expansion, discussions about access to geographic information were often linked to larger debates about the “digital divide.” Digital divide refers to the separation between those who have access to data and information via the Internet and those who do not. Initially, both scientists and practitioners successfully argued that access to the technologies themselves (computers, connectivity to the Internet) was essential in ensuring equitable access to data and information.

In the last few years, as the costs of computers and Internet connectivity have declined dramatically, discussions about access have broadened to include the social and institutional contexts that can either provide or impede access to geographic information. Likewise, the ability of individuals or groups to interpret and thereby use the information they have managed to obtain (sometimes discussed under the rubric of spatial literacy) is also a topic that concerns practitioners and policymakers who want to promote access to geographic information. Presently, discussions about access include topics such as freedom of information, individual privacy rights, the commodification of information, data quality and data-sharing standards, spatial literacy, and the role of intermediaries (e.g., nongovernmental organizations) in assisting the public in gaining access to information.

Geographic information access policies are often contextualized and shaped by national ideologies as well as pragmatic social and economic considerations. It is important to note that these policies can change dramatically within a short period of time. Until recently, the United States maintained a federal “open-access” policy in the management and use of geographic information. However, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 dramatically altered the government's information access policies. The enactment of the USA Patriot Act immediately following the attacks and its subsequent reauthorization in 2006 have placed significant limits on the types of geographic information that can be made freely available to the public.

In the United States, as in many other countries, the most ready-to-use source of geographic information, particularly for individuals and grassroots groups, comes from the national census. Census organizations provide an extensive range of data sets about economic and social indicators, as well as tools for manipulating and querying the data. As early as 1994, the U.S. government established the National Spatial Data Infrastructure to coordinate geographic data acquisition and access and establish a national geospatial data clearinghouse. Currently, the Geospatial One-Stop [Page 2]initiative, sponsored by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), continues this mission and serves the public by providing access to geospatial data in order to enhance government efficiency and improve services for citizens.

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