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CaGIS position on MAPPS lawsuit
CaGIS Supports Court Ruling in MAPPS Lawsuit
The United States District Court in Alexandria, Virginia has reached a decision in the matter of MAPPS, et al. v. United States of America. Through this litigation, MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors) sought to limit government contracts for almost every type of mapping service, including GIS, to licensed architects, engineers and surveyors. United States District Judget T.S. Ellis, III issued a summary judgment on 14 June 2007 in favor of the US government, ruling that MAPPS lacks legal standing in this case. This means that competition for government contracts by GIS and mapping professionals remains fair and open. The Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) supports this outcome.1
Several geographic and GIS organizations joined together to support the government and oppose the MAPPS et al. litigation. These organizations, which developed an Amicus Brief to the Court, include the Association of American Geographers (AAG), GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA), University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). CaGIS congratulates these organizations on their successful legal and educational efforts to protect the interests of the extraordinarily diverse, productive, and committed community of GIS and mapping professionals.
To access the Court’s decision and other legal documents related to case, please go to http://www.aag.org/help/links.html.
About CaGIS: The mission of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society is to support research, education, and practice to improve the understanding, creation, analysis, and use of maps and geographic information to support effective decision-making and improve the quality of life. The society serves as a forum for the exchange of original concepts, techniques, approaches, and experiences by those who design, implement, and use cartography, geographical information systems, and related geospatial technologies.
CaGIS is a member organization of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), National Member of the International Cartographic Association (ICA), member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, and partner organization of the US Federal Geographic Data Committee. The journal, Cartography and Geographic Information Science, is its official peer-reviewed publication. CaGIS hosts an annual map design competition for professional and student cartographers and organizes the biennial AutoCarto research conferences. For more information, visit http://www.cartogis.org.
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1 The statement above reflects the views of the CaGIS Board and not necessarily the views of ACSM or its other member organizations.