New Jersey Geospatial Users Group

GeoEye-1, an Earth-imaging satellite that’s been in the news recently due to its agreement with Google to provide the company with half-meter imagery, has sent back its first pictures. The satellite will provide images for Google to use in its Maps and Earth applications, as well as for resale. The first image sent back was of Kutztown University. When in panchromatic mode, the satellite captures an area equivalent to the size of Texas within a day.

With the recent signing of the Permit Extension Act, permits and smart growth designations have been extended through to July 2010. However, certain areas will be exempted from the extension. This will have an effect on State Plan Centers and Smart Growth Areas. Once the effects of this legislation are updated in the GIS data, the HMFA Locator, Location Assessment Tool and NJ State Atlas will be updated.

GIS is considered by some to be an invasive technology. Even though some of the “invasive” data like lot lines and ownership are in the public domain, the easy access to large data stores of personal information is a cause for concern among privacy advocates.

Some information is protected under federal laws like HIPAA, State laws (such as our own OPRA) often protect information that could be used to identify an individual. The Government Records Council has upheld redaction of information that personally identifies an individual. Any other information stored by a government entity (with exceptions) can be requested by anyone.

Google is now making the case that complete privacy does not exist. Some agree with Google. I personally feel that if it’s something that’s available to you but not readily accessible, making it accessible through the internet is not an invasion of privacy. What’s your take on privacy? Where should the line be drawn?

Planning Magazine, a monthly periodical from the American Planning Association, has published a great write-up on the use of GIS in planning. You can read it in the July 2008 issue or online.