Guidelines for Procurement of Aerial Imagery, Photogrammetry, Lidar, and Geospatial Mapping Services

1. Guidelines for Procurement of Professional Aerial Imagery, Photogrammetry, Lidar and Related Remote Sensor Based Geospatial Mapping Services Developed by In Consultation With:

2. Background • Existing document, “Guidelines for Procurement of Photogrammetric Services from Private Professional Sources” adopted in 1986, published in 1987 • May 2006: ASPRS Board votes to update existing Guidelines • Professional Practices Division (PPD) tasked with leading ad hoc work group • October, 2006: Ad hoc committee formed to includefederal/state government, MAPPS and ACSM

3. Procurement Guidelines Committee • ASPRS Committee Members • Chair (Asst. PPD Director): Doug Smith, David C. Smith & Associates, Inc. • Co-chair (PPD Director): Dan Paulsen, Wilson & Company • Federal government: George Lee, USGS • State government: John Tull, Washington Dept. of Transportation • MAPPS Representatives • Marvin Miller, Aerometrics • Mike Ritchie, Photo Science, Inc. • ACSM Representatives • John Matonich, ROWE Engineering, Inc. • Curt Sumner, ACSM Executive Director

4. Charter • Deliver an updated, revised document which: • Includes updated technological references; • Maintains consistency with references to “professional services” included in recent modifications to the NCEES Model Law and Model Rules; • Addresses professional services vs. products; • Includes guidance for organizations procuring mapping services to assist in determining when qualifications-based selection processes should be used

5. Work to Date • Numerous meetings • Initially focused on defining characteristics of “professional service” related to photogrammetry/remote sensing • Submitted initial draft summary at ASPRS Tampa conference • Introduced draft to Excom, Board and at “Hot Topic” session • Feedback from conference received through early summer • Re-initiated meetings in Fall ’07 to incorporate feedback and resolve key issues

6. Current Status • Revised Executive Summary to address key issues: • Better address NCEES distinction between survey/not survey • Include supporting matrices with a specific list of “professional” vs. “technical” services • Address Best Value and other procurement methods that include qualifications as a primary selection criteria • Seeking Feedback from this session • Has not been reviewed by ASPRS Board DRAFT

7. Current Status DRAFT

8. Schedule • Submit full draft at ASPRS Spring Conference in Portland • Board/Excom review • Similar Panel Discussion in Portland • Incorporate feedback and submit final draft for Board approval • Send out accepted/approved document for review by broader geospatial mapping community • Target: Final submitted for Board approval at ASPRS Fall conference • Publish in PE&RS and distribute to educate agencies and procurement personnel

9. Licensure/NCEES Considerations • Initially considered issues related to Licensure • State licensing laws vary too widely to serve as a guide • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Model Law and Model Rules • National Multi-Organizational Task Force (MAPPS, ACSM, ASPRS, NSPS, URISA, others) • “Authoritative Location” – Final word and basis on which all other determinations are made

10. Professional Services • Determined “Professional Services” for procurement purposes is much broader in scope than for Licensed Services • Licensing: • Minimum level of competence • Serious harm / Public health, safety and welfare • Procurement Guidelines: • Recommendations / guidelines, not law or policy • Need to consider broader scope of public interest, not just serious harm • Goal is to provide guidance to help organizations best meet project needs

11. Professional Services • “Professional Services” require: • Specialized knowledge/skill • Independent judgment • Expectation of overall ethical conduct and quality of performance to protect public or recipient’s best interests

12. Professional Services • Includes all photogrammetry or remote sensing services that: • Interpret, process or analyze remotely sensed imagery to determine geospatial positions or produce maps; and • Have an expectation of accuracy that could influence decisions that affect public welfare/interests • Focused primarily on measurement science, though recognize professional nature of other analytical remote sensing work • “Professional services” does not include technical services or product sales

13. Matrix Attachments • Matrix attachments compare Professional Services, Technical Services and Products • Distinguishes between NCEES surveying/not surveying to address concerns and feedback from Spring conference • Vast majority of photogrammetry/remote sensing geospatial mapping services are listed as “professional services” • IMU/GPS and geo-referenced aerial photography/imagery • Orthophotography • LiDAR, IFSAR • Feature extraction • Digitizing or cadastral mapping if interpretation is required

14. Matrix Attachments • Standardized / automated processes still considered professional • Ultimately a professional is responsible for the reliability of the information • Technical Services include: • Conventional or resource photography that is not geo-referenced • Image mosaics for display only purposes • Direct digitizing / no interpretation • Products include “off the shelf” and other products where provider offers a set of standard features and sets specifications • Definition of Product is from MAPPS Product vs. Services Matrix

15. Matrix Attachments • Example: Orthophotography • Rectification/processing imagery for representation as an orthophoto is a professional service • Imagery rectified to existing USGS DEM, solely for referential/GIS overlay purposes and accompanied by an appropriate disclaimer is not surveying by NCEES definition • Orthophotography produced to meet a specific stated or implied accuracy is surveying by NCEES definition

16. Matrix Attachments • Example: Feature Extraction • Always a professional service • Features digitized or extracted to meet a specific accuracy statement are surveying by NCEES definition • Inventory maps, GIS centerlines, resource management boundaries and similar features when used solely for referential purposes are not surveying by NCEES definition • Example: LiDAR, Radar and Terrain Modeling • Always professional service • Surveying if represented to meet a specific accuracy • May be exceptions, but could not identify any reasonable examples where a stated / authoritative accuracy would not be required

17. QBS Procurement • Current revised Executive Summary: • Qualifications, not cost, should always be the primary factor • Recommends Brooks Act as best procurement model • Recognizes Brooks Act is not always required by law; local jurisdictions and others will use other methods • Recommends Brooks Act as only appropriate method for services that meet definition of surveying • Provides minimum guidelines for qualifications as primary selection criteria if best value or other processes are to be used

18. Other Recommendations • Research and comply with State licensing laws • Research and comply with State mini-Brooks Act laws • Consider NCEES Model Law/Model Rules as best definitive guideline for determining surveying vs. not surveying • Apply general principals outlined for all future technologies • Apply principals outlined to all mapping procurement, including “incidental” or subcontracted services

19. We Want Your Feedback • SUMMARY • Broad definition of professional services not limited to licensed services. Includes vast majority of geospatial mapping services. • Professional Services vs. Technical Services vs. Products(Matrix attachments) • Brooks Act is only appropriate method for NCEES “surveying” • Brooks Act is endorsed for all professional services • Low bid is never appropriate; minimum guidelines needed to ensure qualifications is primary if other process is used • Guidelines/QBS also apply to subcontracts