USE LICENCE AGREEMENT FOR SHARED CARTOGRAPHIC DATA WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF RAISG

 

A. INTRODUCTION

The present document establishes agreed procedures for the distribution of cartographic information data bases produced by RAISG member organizations or compiled from multiple sources by means of institutional agreements in each country. These data have been systematically organized within a quality control framework and have been reviewed by RAISG member organizations to ensure harmonization, compatibility and legibility without losing their specificity of origin.

RAISG is a network for enabling cooperation between institutions that work with geo-referenced socio-environment information systems for Amazonia. The network currently comprises seven civil society organizations from six Amazon countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). Further information about RAISG can be found at www.amazoniasocioambiental.org.

This protocol is a guide to the management and use of geographic data made available by RAISG.

 

B. OBJECTIVES

The overriding purpose of this protocol is to offer general users geographic information on the different Amazon countries, organized under quality control standards within the framework of RAISG. Thus users can have rapid access for visualizing or downloading data and thereby develop their own analyses using a reliable regional database.

This protocol applies to the management of geographic and alphanumeric information drawn from different sources and shared by RAISG member organizations.

 

1. DEFINITIONS

The terms used in this protocol are:

GEOGRAPHIC or CARTOGRAPHIC DATA: Vector, image (raster) or alphanumeric information, geo-referenced, compiled and made available by RAISG.

GEO-SERVICE or API: Web service that enable the visualization of cartographic data in dynamic form through the internet.

ONLINE MAP: Web tool enabling visualization in layers of cartographic information.

LICENCE AGREEMENT: Conditions and permissions for the use of geographic data made available by RAISG in different formats.

SOURCE: Institution responsible for the compilation and publication of the data. These may be produced by governmental bodies, RAISG member organizations or other civil society organizations.

RAISG MEMBER ORGANIZATION: One of the institutions that make up the Network (see www.amazoniasocioambiental.org) and share cartographic information.

METADATA: File containing the description of and information on the cartographic data.

 

2. GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

The data that are the subject of the present protocol are limited to the biogeographic Amazon regions of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname, to the Ecuadorian Amazon Region and to the Brazilian Legal Amazon region.

The information is the result of compilation undertaken by the member organizations of RAISG themselves or obtained from other sources as described in the metadata for each of the themes. The themes for which RAISG has currently compiled information with a regional Amazon coverage are:

  1. Indigenous territories – information regarding the different categories of indigenous territories, both those with and without official recognition.
  2. Protected natural areas – information on the different categories of protected natural areas established or proposed within the frameworks of national or sub-national protected area systems.
  3. Hydropower plants – locations of hydroelectric installations that are planned, under construction or in operation [information still being compiled with a view to future availability].
  4. Highways – routes of existing and planned main and secondary highways and railways [information still being compiled with a view to future availability].
  5. Mining – polygons of mining applications or concessions [information still being compiled with a view to future availability].
  6. Oil and gas – polygons of oil and gas exploitation applications or concessions [information still being compiled with a view to future availability].
  7. Deforestation – areas of clear-cut forest, prepared using RAISG’s own protocol based on Imazon’s methodology. It should be emphasized that the information is generated under a coordinated framework involving RAISG member organizations. Available in raster format for each country.
  8. Administrative boundaries – compilation and harmonization of official information on international, state and municipal (or equivalent) boundaries [being finalized for downloading]
  9. Amazon boundaries:
    • River basins and sub-basins [being finalized for downloading]
    • Biogeographic
    • As used by RAISG in its publications, corresponding to the biogeographic Amazon regions of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname, to the Ecuadorian Amazon Region and to the Brazilian Legal Amazon region.

 

3. DATA FORMAT

RAISG offers cartographic information in three different formats; these can be viewed in the MAPS AND PUBLICATIONS section at www.amazoniasocioambiental.org:

  1. All the data described in section 2 above can be used by means of API (or geo-services).
  2. All the data described in section 2 above can be visualized via the online map, a graphic interface that allows users to control the layers of information and see the metadata, as well as to generate their own maps through the printing tool.
  3. Part of the data described in section 2 above is available for download in shapefile format through the download tool subject to express acceptance of this use licence.

All the data have their own metadata files which can be accessed through the online map.

 

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND AUTHORS RIGHTS  

The intellectual property of the data described in section 2 above is held by the original source in each country, as described in the metadata, which may be governmental sources or information generated by RAISG member organizations or other civil society organizations.

Citation of geographic data should follow the format described in the ‘citation’ field of the metadata for each theme.

 

5. PERMISSION TO USE

The information made available by RAISG in the formats referred to in section 3 above – which we repeat may be information produced by a RAISG member organization or by third parties, compiled and organized by a RAISG member organization – may be used as and when such use abides by the following conditions: 1) such use is not for profit; 2) the data downloaded remain unaltered; 3) the form of citation described in the ‘citation’ field of the metadata is used.

When using the API or downloading data, the user agrees to adhere to the three conditions for use cited above.

We will be grateful for notification by email of any errors or inconsistencies found in the databases to mailraisg@socioambiental.org.

 

6. REGISTER OF USERS

The download of data in shapefile format is only allowed in the case of registered users. The first time this option is requested the user will be asked to complete a simple record form.

The user will then be asked the select the data s/he wishes to download and to inform the use to which the information will be put. Immediately and automatically the system will generate an email containing a link to enable the download.

The register will enable RAISG to know who the users of its information are.