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Index

Federal Act of 5 October 2007 on Geoinformation

Source : Federal law
Code/RS : SR 510.62
  • Abbreviation :

    GeoIA

  • Provision :

    Art. 10 GeoIA Arts. 20 et seqq. GeoIO

  • Short description :

    Access to official geodata (levels A and B)

  • Nature of the provision :

    Right to request data

  • Status :

    In force

  • Sector :

    Administration (government)

Legal text :

Official geodata under federal legislation shall be accessible to the public and may be used by anyone, unless this is contrary to overriding public or private interests.

Actor with an obligation to share data

Public administration; geodata holder

Beneficiaries

All

Linking criteria for Switzerland

Linking criteria for Switzerland

Financial aspects

Remuneration may be required

Binding and/or enforceable

Depends on the nature of the data; according to the case: enforceable claim

Conditions for accessing data

The conditions of access are defined in Art. 20 ff. GeoIO and depend on the level of access specified in annex 1 of the GeoIO. In principle, access is guaranteed for category A geodata, access is possible but not guaranteed for category B geodata, and no access is guaranteed for category C geodata Basic geodata may only be reproduced with an indication of the source (Art. 30 GeoIO). The obligations applicable to users are also valid for third parties to which basic geodata is transmitted (Art. 31 GeoIO).

Exceptions and limitations

The authority responsible for collecting, updating and managing geodata may require authorisation for geodata access under federal law and for geodata use and transmission (Art. 12 para. 1 GeoIA). See Art. 20 ff. GeoIO.

Not specified

Format

Not specified

Plateform

Various platforms, including map.portailgeologique.ch; https://www.geo.admin.ch/en; map.geo.admin.ch, www.npoc.ch/en

Notes

Under Art. 20 GeoIA, property rights holders are obliged to provide assistance with the collection of geodata. Art. 18 para. 1 GeoIO stipulates that geometadata must be made accessible to the public at the same time as the basic geodata they describe. Para. 2 of this provision stipulates that access may only be restricted if an ordinance of the Federal Council so provides.

Actor with an obligation to share data Public administration; geodata holder

Beneficiaries All

Linking criteria for Switzerland n/a

Financial aspects Remuneration may be required

Binding and/or enforceable Depends on the nature of the data; according to the case: enforceable claim

Conditions for accessing data The conditions of access are defined in Art. 20 ff. GeoIO and depend on the level of access specified in annex 1 of the GeoIO. In principle, access is guaranteed for category A geodata, access is possible but not guaranteed for category B geodata, and no access is guaranteed for category C geodata Basic geodata may only be reproduced with an indication of the source (Art. 30 GeoIO). The obligations applicable to users are also valid for third parties to which basic geodata is transmitted (Art. 31 GeoIO).

Exceptions and limitations The authority responsible for collecting, updating and managing geodata may require authorisation for geodata access under federal law and for geodata use and transmission (Art. 12 para. 1 GeoIA). See Art. 20 ff. GeoIO.

Time component Not specified

Format Not specified

Plateform Various platforms, including map.portailgeologique.ch; https://www.geo.admin.ch/en; map.geo.admin.ch, www.npoc.ch/en

Notes Under Art. 20 GeoIA, property rights holders are obliged to provide assistance with the collection of geodata. Art. 18 para. 1 GeoIO stipulates that geometadata must be made accessible to the public at the same time as the basic geodata they describe. Para. 2 of this provision stipulates that access may only be restricted if an ordinance of the Federal Council so provides.

Compilation and Disclaimer

This index was prepared on behalf of the IPI by the law firm id est avocats Sàrl (for the section on Swiss law) and the law firm Pierstone (for the section on European law). 

This index does not constitute legal advice, and no guarantee is given regarding its completeness. 

Neither id est avocats Sàrl, nor Pierstone, nor the IPI or the FDJP can be held liable for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this index.