Abstract

Geospatial technologies and emerging legal issues
Law follows technology and technological developments need legal regulations. It is also true with geospatial technologies. Spatial data collected through aerial, ground, and space based systems are becoming important in defining database and application activities thereby involving a spectrum of sciences and technologies. Many technological developments have been taking place in spatial infrastructure such as new space-borne sensors capable of delivering very high spatial and spectral resolution imagery, blending of UAVs for data acquiring, control and distribution of imagery and information derived, technical advancements such as internet and e-commerce which is allowing distribution of information in a large scale mechanism. The paper also discusses the different application of spatial data in society with reference to Agriculture, Forestry, Oceanography, Geology & Mineral Resources, Hydrology, Geography & Cartography, Soil Science, etc. The economic, political and social significance of spatial data gives rise to emerging policy and legal issues including sovereignty and jurisdiction, rights and responsibilities, intellectual property, liability, access and privacy, intellectual property rights (IPR), public-private partnerships (PPP), national security, quality & pricing of data, authenticity of data in courts, human rights. At the same time, these advancements need to respect legal frameworks and regulations. Due to these advancements, there arise important and critical issues in field of law and policy governing data collection, distribution, archiving, and access of spatial database. However, incoherent, incompatible, or non-existent spatial laws are an emerging problem in the interface between law, policy and spatial databases which complicates it further. This paper focuses on the emerging legal issues pertaining to geospatial technologies. The conclusion through studying these issues can provide solutions to complex legal and practical problems which policy-makers will face and are not to be ignored. . Finally this paper will also analyse some of the hard and soft law norms laid down by the United Nations in this context.