URISA Policy Watch

The URISA Board of Directors frequently takes action to respond to various policy issues that may have an impact on the membership.

January 22, 2009 - The URISA Board officially endorsed "Building a National GIS"  today. To read the response, click here .

Several COGO Member Organizations Also Endorsed Building a National GIS:

January 14, 2009 - URISA Comments on ASPRS Guidelines for Procurement

ASPRS recently called for public comment on their draft "Guidelines for Procurement of Professional Aerial Imagery, Photogrammetry, Lidar and Related Remote Sensor-based Geospatial Mapping Services," and asked for review/comment.
(http://www.asprs.org/society/divisions/ppd/guidelines/guidelines.htm ).
Comments were due to the committee by January 15.
 
After a call for participation to the membership via the URISA Digest, and significant input from the Policy Committee, the URISA Board has endorsed a response and transmitted it to the ASPRS committee for their review. To read the comments, click here .
 

JUNE 15, 2007 - Judge Issues Decision on MAPPS Case
Joint Press Release Issued by Amicus Brief Signers

April 3, 2007 - Setting the Record Straight - legal response to a recent press release

January/February issue of URISA News - comprehensive coverage of the Brooks Act Litigation

February 16, 2007 - GIS Monitor interview on the issue with Ed Wells (URISA President) and Al Butler (URISA Board member)

February 16, 2007 - Two-page legal briefing on case

February 8, 2007 - URISA Board of Directors’ Position in MAPPS, et al. v. the United States of America

January 24, 2007 - Brooks Act Litigation

The URISA Board, along with the Association of American Geographers (AAG), GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), Geospatial Information Technology Association (GITA) and the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) recently signed an Amicus Brief (an Amicus Curiae or "Friend of the Court" brief is a a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it) to oppose a U.S. federal lawsuit filed by MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors) and three other groups that seeks to limit all federal government contracting for surveying and mapping activities, including GIS and remote sensing, to licensed engineers and surveyors.

Read the complete Amicus Curiae Brief submitted to the Court on January 24, 2007

Background documents and information gathered by the AAG http://www.aag.org/Donate/links.html

MAPPS website and explanation of their case http://www.mapps.org/QBSlawsuit.asp

The US Government response to the MAPPS’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (.pdf file)

Judges summary of the case and refusal to dismiss the case based upon challenges to the Plaintiffs’ legal ‘standing’ (.pdf file)

Directions Magazine's coverage of the story

September, 2006 - URISA Board Supports Full Funding for US Census

May, 2006 - URISA Board Responds to Geospatial Line of Business RFI

To provide feedback to the URISA Board, please email Wendy Nelson or call (847) 824-6300.