Geoinformation Act (GeoIA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Aim
This Act has the aim of ensuring that geodata relating to the territory of the Swiss Confederation is made available for general use to the authorities of the Confederation, the cantons and communes, the private sector, the public and to academic and scientific institutions in a sustainable, up-to-date, rapid and easy manner, in the required quality and at a reasonable cost.
Art. 2 Scope
1 This Act is valid for official geodata under federal legislation. 2 It is valid for other federal geodata provided its use is not regulated by other federal legislation. 3 The regulations for geodata apply by analogy to federal geological data. 4 The Third, Fourth and Fifth Chapters hereof shall take priority over divergent provisions of other federal acts.
Art. 3 Terms and definitions
1 In this Act: a. geodata means geospatial data that is related in time to the dimensions and characteristics of certain spaces and objects and in particular their position, nature, use and legal relationships; b. geoinformation means geospatial information obtained through combinations of geodata; c. official geodata means geodata that is based on a legislative enactment of the Confederation, a canton or a commune; d. official geodata of proprietary nature means official geodata that binds by law all persons with a legal interest in a particular land parcel; e. official geodata binding public authorities means official geodata that is legally binding for federal, cantonal or communal authorities in the execution of their public duties; f. geospatial reference data means official geodata which serves as the geometric basis for other geodata; g. geospatial metadata means formal descriptions of the characteristics of geodata describing, for example, the origin, content, structure, validi