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Data Exchange:

• ArcView shapefile (.shp) format
• Image data shall be provided in SID (.sid) format, and include an accompanying SID world (.sdw) file where available.  All other images will be proved in TIF (.tif) format.

• CD ROM
• 3.5" diskette
• Email
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) if available from data recipient

• CD ROM - ISO 9660 format
• 3.5" diskette - Standard DOS format
• WinZip data compression

• 7 bit ASCII for text data
• 8 bit binary for image data

• Double is preferable where applicable
• As stored in the source documentation

• Will be used where applicable

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Data Layers Available:

An important feature of a GIS is the ability to input data from various sources and scales into a single, integrated database. This database, because it is geographic, can be manipulated to develop maps and tabular data that are an amalgamation of the original maps and databases.

Wherever possible, existing state, local, and federal maps and databases are used and augmented with data collected by the LID staff. Moreover, we provide documentation for all procedures, including registration accuracies, sources of data used, and projection parameters. Through manipulation of the data in the GIS, an evaluation of issues relative to development scenarios can be identified which allow the rational use of land resources.  GIS Data Availability

Our customers currently include most departments in Columbia County, other public agencies, citizens, and the private sector. Internally, our greatest demand comes from Land & Water Conservation, the County Clerk, Assessors, Planning & Zoning, the Division of Health, UW Extension, Highways and Transportation, and the Sheriff's Office. Demand for our products has increased significantly since our conception in 1998 as more departments have became aware of our services and capabilities. The list of public agencies we support is quite lengthy. These include cities, special districts (fire, metropolitan, recreation, water, and sanitation), non-profit organizations, and others. Citizens are generally interested in locations, addresses, aerial photos of sites, and tax parcel issues.  Private sector customers include utilities, developers, law firms, environmental GIS firms, large landowners, and businesses seeking location-based information.

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Data Documentation:

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata is the county standard for data documentation.  If a Wisconsin profile of the FGDC Content Standards, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), or other standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata is developed and adopted as a state standard, it will become the data documentation requirement of this standard.   Metadata will be provided. Please see FGDC Metadata & Other Documentation for more information on metadata.

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Coordinate System:

All county data is reference to the Columbia County Coordinate System.  Data provided to the county shall be provided in Columbia County coordinates or another “standard” spatial reference system with sufficient metadata to describe the system characteristics.  Additional information can be found at the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office web page.

The Columbia County Coordinate System is mathematically relatable to the North American Datum 83(91).  The Columbia County Coordinate system’s use is allowed under Chapter 236 of Wisconsin Statues because of its mathematical relationship to NAD 83(91).  The county’s coordinate system is also mathematically based and related to the National Geodetic Reference System (NGRS) which takes advantage of using the NGRS network while providing the opportunity for developing rectangular coordinate systems with minimal differences between ground and projected grid distances. The ground and grid difference is minimized by elevating a parallel local ellipsoid (the reference surface) to the median, or most commonly occurring, ground level in the county. 

To develop each local ellipsoid, U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale topographic maps were analyzed to determine average highs, lows, and elevation profiles for each county. A minimum of fifteen points were selected from each county including the county seat and populated areas.  Using the county maximum and minimum latitude and longitude values, a rectangular geographic area was determined. Geoidal separation values for NGRS First and Second order geodetic control points in this geographic area were then averaged to determine each county's geoidal separation parameter value.  The county profile, the computed median elevation, and the county shape were then used to select the optimal projection type and the exact placement of the central meridians or standard parallels for Columbia County.  Design criteria supports uses in urban areas and transportation corridors, as well as in rural areas.

Note:  All feet units for the Columbia County Coordinate System are US Survey Foot.

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 Data Sharing & Pricing:

The Columbia County Land Information Office recognizes the enormous costs of data collection for a GIS system; therefore, the department is dedicated to freely sharing all spatial and tabular information as a public record.  Data is freely shared with the understanding that it [the data] is not to be distributed in any way for commercial sale, resale or profit by a non-County entity. This open information policy has developed into a Data Sharing program between the Land Information Department and many of the groups listed below including all Cities, Villages, and Towns in Columbia County.

Columbia County Agencies and Department

The Land Information Department actively seeks partners to participate in sharing information pertaining to geographically based features such as road names, fire numbers, etc. Data Sharing agreements are voluntarily, and there are no costs involved to our partners for participating in this agreement. It is our intent to share data and information freely between our data-sharing partners to improve the quality of data and the efficiency of both local and county government activities as well as others involved in the program.

Should a commercial company desire the data for resale or profit; they would need to purchase that data under the county's data pricing policy.  Information regarding the county’s pricing can be found on the Land Records E-Store on the Land Information Department page or by calling the Land Information Department at (608) 742-9616.

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