Long-term availability means that both current and earlier geodata are retained and preserved, are thus accessible and available for use as required.

Metadata and cataloguing

In order to guarantee the availability of the geodata, they have to be catalogued and provided with metadata. This enables them to be located in the corresponding systems. Generally speaking, geodata are stored in geocat.ch, the metadata catalogue for Switzerland’s geodata. Specific searches can be made, e.g. for maps in Alexandria.ch and for images in LUBIS. 

Preservation

In order to ensure that data remain available over the long term, they have to be appropriately maintained. In the case of digital data this involves maintenance (e.g. of the storage infrastructure) and migration, which ensures that the data can be correctly interpreted. Analogue data have to be kept under ideal conditions, and the originals have to be carefully preserved and, where necessary, restored. 

Securing access

In order to secure convenient online access to data and a variety of evaluation options, analogue collections have been, and are still being, digitised. In this way, it is possible to view items such as topographic maps dating from any era. Aerial images, too, are available online via LUBIS viewer. 

Documentation

Long-term availability of geodata also means that the associated documentation has to be conserved and maintained so that questions regarding current or earlier data can be answered professionally.