Earlier this year, the Geospatial Information Office (GIO) made available a high-resolution aerial imagery map service (Imagery Service) for all government employees in the State of Georgia. We noted that a feature would soon be released to grant imagery access to contractors working under contract for a governmental entity. We are pleased to announce that the contractor registration is now available – you, as an employee of Georgia’s government, may grant contractors access to the Imagery Service.
The Imagery Service is ONLY available to private companies, contractors, and consultants who are under a current contract and have been granted access by an employee of the contracting governmental entity in the State of Georgia. Nongovernmental users may only use the Imagery Service for the sole benefit of the governmental entity with which they are contracted. The imagery may not be used for the benefit of a contracting entity. Furthermore, the contracting entity may not use the Imagery in work for another client, nor may that entity charge Georgia customers or clients additional fees as a result of using that imagery. Use of the Imagery Service is governed by certain terms and conditions with our vendor – any violation of those terms and conditions could result in the termination of the entire Program, so it is extremely important that the imagery is used only in support of government work.
The process for registering a nongovernmental entity for Imagery Service access is as follows:
- You, the government employee, must register yourself for an account here. You will need your own account BEFORE you can register your contractor. You will need this account EVEN if you will not be using the imagery yourself.
- If you already have an account proceed to Step 2 below.
- If you do not already have your own account, then register yourself here and wait a few minutes for an email that will contain your unique web address.
- Click here, choose “Contractor” from the first drop-down box, and complete the form.
- Your contractor (via the email address you entered in the contractor registration process) will receive an email. Once your contractor receives that email, they are ready to begin using the imagery.
Nongovernmental users must obtain a unique imagery service account for each contract they support. For example, if a contractor works with Greene County, the City of Atlanta, and GDOT, then that contractor must obtain three separate accounts, one for each contract. If a contracting company has many employees that might use the imagery, unique accounts need not be obtained for each employee; one unique web address, per company, per contract, is sufficient.
It is essential that these provisions are met, to ensure compliance with our vendor contract and so that the GIO can gather accurate usage statistics during the pilot of this service, as we will employ usage statistics to demonstrate the Imagery Service’s return on investment. To maintain the State Imagery Program, the GIO must produce a compelling and accurate illustration of the value that the Program provides to the State. There are many jurisdictions in this state that have never before had access to imagery of this quality, and we want to ensure that the resource can be maintained.
Our goal in serving you is to secure ongoing funding so we can maintain and update imagery beyond the pilot of this Program. In addition to doing your part to ensure that the imagery is not misused, you can also help support this key part of our work by sharing “success stories”. If your office has benefited from use of the imagery – either by government employees or through the work of a contractor – please recount your achievements to help us make the case for additional, ongoing funding.
For questions about contractor registration and use of the Imagery Service, contact the Imagery Program manager, Ryan Schlom (rschlom@gio.ga.gov).
I wish you the best in your endeavors to support our citizens through the use of spatial technologies.
Susan Miller
Georgia State Geospatial Information Officer
