Looking Back at Top Spatial Law and Policy Stories Since 2010

Since 2010, the Spatial Law and Policy Blog has identified the Top 10 Spatial Law and Policy stories over the course of the year. In preparing this year's version, I decided to go back and look at previous Top 10 blog posts. 

In my review, I was struck by how mainstream geospatial technology and location information has come in a relatively short time. For example, in 2010 the fall-out over Google Streetview was a top story.  In 2013, it is (or will be) UAVs. I was also struck as to how there has been little resolution to the legal and policy issues. For example in 2010, top issues included efforts to legislate geolocation privacy, a push for open data and law enforcement's collection of location information without proper oversight. Sound familiar?

Here are links to the previous Top 10 Spatial Law and Policy Stories from 2010, 2011 and 2012. Let me know your thoughts. 

Update on Spatial Law and Policy

California has revised its proposed "Pay As You Drive" insurance regulations. A full copy of the regulations can be found here.

Vector One has an article on the growing importance of spatial data quality that is a worthwhile read for both lawyers and policymakers.

According to a post on Techblog86, China is "investigating" maps. Matters being investigated include: maps being produced without a license, maps that contain sensitive information - such as military facilities - as well as maps that fail to include territories that officially belong to the PRC. A recent post from Ogle Earth is a good example as to how and why this can be such an important issue.

How Important Is Data Quality?

An article from a few months ago concerning how some citizens in one Arkansas county learned suddenly learned that their property is located in a flood zone; at least according to updated FEMA maps.

http://nwanews.com/bcdr/News/61202/

Christmas Shopping

I am sure you have noticed the number of television commercials involving GPS devices during the holiday season. I find the one of a ribbon cutting for a new bridge the most intriguing. Immediately following the cutting of the ribbon - a matter of a second or two - a couple with a GPS device in their car drives by and then over the bridge.

Clearly the intent of the commercial is to show that even though the bridge had just opened, it had already been loaded onto the GPS device and made available to the customer; the company is advertising the timeliness and accuracy of its spatial data. I wonder, however, if the company is not creating an expectation for consumers that cannot be met -- and which could be used against them in future litigation.