San Luis Obispo County GIS File Requirements

Any geographic information electronically mapped as part of any County project shall be provided as a .SHP file, a format compatible with ESRI’s ArcView GIS software program, and shall be registered to the California State Plane NAD 83, Zone 5 coordinate system, units in feet. A .PRJ file shall be included reflecting this coordinate system.

All .SHP files submitted shall include sufficient metadata compatible with the ArcCatalog .XML format. This metadata shall include at minimum the following:

• An abstract containing a brief narrative summary of the data set including levels of accuracy and methods of data capture.
• Purpose for creating the data with a summary of the intentions with which the data set was developed
• Citation including the name of the organization and/or individual that developed the dataset
• Maintenance requirements noting the frequency with which changes (if any are necessary) are made to the data set after the initial data set is completed
• Theme key words associated with the data set
• Contact information for the creator of the data set and for the creator of the metadata
• Date the data was published

Descriptive text, thoroughly defining all features within each mapped data set, shall be incorporated into the data attribute tables. If codes or abbreviations were used for data attributes then a .LYR or other document explaining the codes shall be included. If maps were created in ArcView a .MXD file shall be included showing proper final map layout with any necessary symbolization. Map symbology shall be provided in a .LYR file which the County can import into any subsequent maps if desired.