Dear Abby,
What is a shapefile and how do we provide access to one?
- Geographic Information Maven
Dear GIM,
A shapefile is a type of digital file format used for storing geographic information. A shapefile is made up of at least three individual vector files (graphics files built by mathematical formulas rather than colored blocks) and can store the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features. One example of shapefiles is cadastre records.
Although the shapefile format is open source, some GIS (Geographic Information System) systems may require a fee and/or assistance to facilitate access. If shapefiles are included in a records request, an agency may choose to pass along any access fees to the requester (see Utah Code 63G-2-203). It may be a good idea to communicate with the requester about the processes required to provide that record format, the costs associated, and possible alternatives before doing the work of preparing the records.
Hope this helps!
Abby
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