Locational Data

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recognizes that its locational data is a valuable asset for internal staff, external partners, and the public. Components of locational data help users answer questions about:

• where features are located on, above, or below the Earth's surface
• tools and techniques used to collect the locational data
• quality (e.g., accuracy) of the locational data

Users must consider all of these locational data components for each specific data set in order to determine appropriate uses for the data.

DNR has started developing a coordinated, department-wide approach for the collection, use, presentation, storage, distribution, and documentation of its locational data. Some of the goals of this effort are to:

• improve the quality, consistency, and usefulness of locational data throughout DNR
• save time, money, and other resources by coordinating locational data activities

Locational Data Standards

On October 17, 2000, the DNR Department Leadership Team adopted the Locational Data Standards for department-wide use. This document updates and expands DNR's previous Locational Data Policy, and includes locational data element definitions and discussions about the agency's locational data collection, use, storage, distribution, and documentation activities.

• An updated version of the Locational Data Standard (version 1.1) was released on April 6, 2001. [500KB]
• A listing of pages updated from the original release (version 1.0) includes brief descriptions of changes. [12KB]

Contact

For more information:

DNR Bureau of Technology Services.