To provide consistency in GIS data collection, the Washington Council of County Surveyors (WCCS) has created a Survey Control Database template. Originally designed by several Washington county agencies for their own use, the template can be used by any entity collecting survey control data, such as land-use specifics.

The template, a Microsoft Access document, adheres to federal National Spatial Data Infrastructure and Federal Geographic Data Committee standards. Using the standardized protocol, cities and counties can maintain data consistency, allowing them to share information easily. Users can download their free template at www.wccs.wa.gov.

"Survey control is very expensive, and GIS data is poorly documented throughout the country," says Gavin Schrock with Snohomish County (Wash.) Public Works. "If you can get people to work in similar formats, it makes data sharing much more efficient."