California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) and the California Chapter of the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN) today released a new publication to help raise awareness and protect the California geospatial community.
CGIA is proud to announce the first release of the document, jointly published with GPN, Cautions to Geospatial Professionals, in context of California statutes defining the Practice of Surveying. This document provides carefully researched guidance and insight for geospatial professionals navigating the complex landscape of California statutes defining the practice of surveying.
The document addresses the boundaries between land surveyors, engineers, professional geologists, and geospatial (GIS) professionals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of each field. It highlights key sections of the Professional Land Surveyors’ Act (PLSA) and offers practical advice to help geospatial professionals avoid activities that may be interpreted as land surveying, thereby fostering collaboration and compliance.
Key recommendations include:
- Familiarizing professionals with the California Business and Professions Code.
- Avoiding activities reserved for Professional Land Surveyors as defined by the PLSA.
- Using disclaimers and metadata to clarify intent and sources of maps and data.
- Engaging with licensed surveyors to understand the complementary nature of surveying and GIS mapping.
- Advocating for clearer regulations and collaboration between geospatial professionals and surveyors.
This document is a result of a cross-organizational committee consisting of members from CGIA and GPN, along with other non-affiliated individuals, working together to protect and support the California geospatial community.
Read more about CGIA at cgia.org and GPN at thegpn.org.