Any person who would like to publish geometadata of Switzerland (incl. Liechtenstein) may use the geocat.ch application.

The terms of use of geocat.ch are described below.

Users of geocat.ch are obliged to take note of this document.

General

In accordance with its legal duties and tasks as set out in the Federal Act on Geoinformation (GeoIA) and its implementing ordinances, the Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo) provides the public with a geocatalogue, geocat.ch, which enables the access to geometadata relating to all or parts of the Swiss territory. The geocatalogue also allows geometadata to be edited, modified and managed directly in the application or imported from another catalogue by harvesting. The geometadata contained in geocat.ch can then be exported to other data catalogues.

The geocatalogue was developed to document the basic geodata and geoservices of the federal government, the cantons and the municipalities. Within the framework of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), the input of geometadata is also permitted for other users, providing the terms of use mentioned here are complied with.

These general terms of use may be amended or supplemented at any time without prior notice, in response to changes to the website, changes in legislation or for any other reason considered  necessary. The user is responsible for being informed about the general terms and conditions of use of the geocatalogue, of which only the current and online accessible version is considered valid.

User accounts

The geocat.ch website allows users with an account to "log in" to access an environment for entering, managing, validating and publishing their geometadata. They can also manage the user rights within their organisation.

User information is collected by swisstopo to create user accounts. These user accounts are managed by swisstopo. By doing so, the user agrees to the storage of his/her personal data.

The user accounts are secured by passwords.

All new users of geocat.ch are required to attend an introductory training course to acquire basic knowledge of the application.

All new users are automatically subscribed to the "deploy" newsletter mailing list, which informs users about system updates.

Content generated by users

The user agrees to only store content on this environment for which he owns the rights or for which the rights have been assigned to him.

Reusable objects (ROs) such as formats, spatial extents and contacts can be used by other users.

The user undertakes to ensure that the content to which he/she contributes does not contain any content that is prohibited by law, nor is it explicitly or implicitly linked to websites and/or applications that offer such content (defamatory, misleading, distorted or false information, content that infringes on the privacy of a third party, immoral content, etc.).

If the content entered does not comply with these conditions, swisstopo reserves the right to delete the data entered and, if necessary, to delete the user account. Data and accounts may also be deleted if the user does not update invalid data and does not respond to requests from swisstopo to update or delete data.

The content is provided at the sole responsibility of the user and swisstopo is not responsible in any way for the content hosted by it or for links to other content.

The quality, timeliness and completeness of the geometadata are entirely the responsibility of the metadata owner. Publishers are responsible for keeping their metadata up to date.

The publication of geometadata on geocat.ch is free of charge for the publisher/user.

swisstopo reserves the right to make changes to the geocat.ch website and the content storage service for reasons of maintenance, updating or any other changes that may be necessary.

Limitation of liability

swisstopo undertakes to provide the necessary and reasonable means to ensure continuous access to the geocat.ch website and its contents for the user.

However, swisstopo cannot be held liable to users for any interruptions, downtime or quality defects in the geocat.ch services for whatever reason. swisstopo notifies users in the event of maintenance, servicing or updating work with the "deploy" newsletter.. Updates are also documented on the geocat.ch website.

Data is regularly backed up by swisstopo, but swisstopo cannot be held responsible for any data loss..

swisstopo cannot be held liable for attacks on the computer system or for the temporary or total unavailability of the website.

Only swisstopo can decide on necessary adjustments, further developments or changes to the software. swisstopo will inform users in good time. Third parties are encouraged to make suggestions for the further development of the application. However they have no rights to the catalogue's development.  No financial participation can be expected from swisstopo for data adjustments by the user due to software updates or changes.

The information and data contained in the geometadata come from various suppliers who use the geocatalogue and provide it with metadata. swisstopo accepts no liability for the accuracy, completeness or any discrepancies in the information.

Relates to the website www.geocat.admin.ch.

Limitation of liability

Although every care has been taken by the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo to ensure the accuracy of the information published, no guarantee can be given with regard to the accurate, reliable, up-to-date or complete nature of this information.

swisstopo reserves the right to alter or remove the content, in full or in part, without prior notice.

Liability claims against swisstopo for material or immaterial damage resulting from access to or use or non-use of the published information, from misuse of the connection or from technical faults are excluded.

Links

Links to third party websites fall outside the scope of responsibility of swisstopo. Access and use of such websites take place entirely at the user’s own risk. swisstopo expressly declares that it has no influence whatsoever over the content of any linked site. Responsibility for the information and services of linked sites rests entirely with the relevant third parties.

No liability can be accepted with regard to the content of such websites.

Copyright

The information contained on swisstopo's websites is made available to the public. Downloading or copying of texts, illustrations, photos or any other data does not entail any transfer of rights with regard to the content. Exceptions are the free geodata and geoservices, for which special terms of use apply.

Copyright and any other rights relating to texts, illustrations, photos or any other data available on the websites of swisstopo are the exclusive property of swisstopo or of any other expressly mentioned owners. Any reproduction requires the prior written consent of the copyright holder.

Data protection

Legal basis

The handling of personal data at swisstopo is regulated by the Federal Act on Data Protection (DSG, SR 235.1) and the Ordinance to the Federal Act on Data Protection (VDSG, SR 235.11).

Right of access to information, halt to processing and deletion

The right of access to information in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the Federal Act on Data Protection (DSG) gives every individual, irrespective of his or her place of residence and nationality, the right to ask swisstopo whether data on him or her is being processed. The right of access to information is the means by which Person can check the processing of their data and request any necessary correction. You can also request a halt to processing or the deletion of your data at any time.

Please contact swisstopo’s data protection advisor to exercise your right to access information, halt processing or delete your data.

Information automatically stored when you visit our websites

When you access our websites, the following data is stored in log files: IP address (i.e. the unique address that identifies your computer on the Internet), date, time, browser request and generally transmitted information on the operating system or the browser. In accordance with the Federal Act on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic (SPTA), there is a statutory storage obligation for connection data from the previous six months.

We use these IP addresses, which have been anonymised in advance, to help administer the website and to gather general demographic information for aggregate use.

This usage data forms the basis for statistical anonymous evaluations that enable us to identify trends which we use to improve our offer accordingly. If you order products or subscribe to a newsletter via our websites, your e-mail address is stored separately and not linked to the anonymous log files. You can cancel your registration at any time by sending a corresponding e-mail to swisstopo’s data protection advisor.

Use of cookies

We use cookies on a variety of our web pages in order to make your visit to our website more attractive and to facilitate the use of certain functions. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer. The majority of the cookies we use are deleted from your hard disk when you close your browser session (session cookies), while certain others remain on your computer and enable us to recognise you when you visit our website again (permanent cookies).
You can block or restrict the storage and reading of cookies in your browser. Please note that by doing so you will no longer be able to use certain functions on our website.

Google Analytics

If you have given your consent, Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Ireland Limited ("Google") is used on this website. The use includes the "Universal Analytics" operating mode. This makes it possible to assign data, sessions and interactions across multiple devices to a pseudonymous user ID and thus analyse a user's activities across devices.

Google Analytics uses "cookies" to help the website analyse how users interact with the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. We would like to point out that on this website Google Analytics has been extended to include IP anonymisation in order to ensure anonymous collection of IP addresses (so-called IP masking). The IP address transmitted by your browser in the context of Google Analytics is not merged with other Google data. For more information on terms of use and data protection, please visit https://www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html or https://policies.google.com/?hl=en.

Purposes of the Processing

On behalf of swisstopo, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide swisstopo with other services related to website and Internet use.

Legal Basis

The legal basis for the use of Google Analytics is your consent.

Recipients or Categories of Recipients

The recipient of the collected data is Google, on behalf of swisstopo.

Duration of Data Storage

The data sent by us and linked to cookies, user-identifiers (e.g. User-IDs) or advertising-identifiers are automatically deleted after 14 months. Data whose retention period has been reached is automatically deleted once a month.

Rights of the Persons affected

You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the Browser Add-on. Opt-out cookies will prevent future collection of your data when you visit this website. To prevent Universal Analytics from collecting data across different devices, you must opt-out on all systems used. If you click here, the opt-out cookie will be set: Disable Google Analytics

You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by blocking the storage of cookies by setting your browser software accordingly; however, we would like to point out that in this case you may not be able to use all functionalities of this website to their full extent.

Source: the text in the "Google Analytics" section was kindly provided by www.datenschutzbeauftragter-info.de and adapted for the swisstopo website.

Social networks and other third party services

swisstopo manages miscellaneous accounts and profiles on social networks (including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN, Instagram, etc.), its own YouTube channels and various apps. These pages and services are offered and operated by third parties. All of these pages have their own data protection provisions.

In addition, third-party services, such as those provided by YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, bit.ly etc., are directly embedded into individual swisstopo web pages. These providers also use cookies, etc. When they use the relevant swisstopo web pages, the user’s data is automatically transmitted to these companies. In such cases, the data protection provisions of the provider concerned expressly apply. Users must be aware that data is collected via these services and may also be passed on to third parties. If users also have an account with the service concerned, the operator may assign the information transmitted directly to the personal account concerned.

swisstopo has no influence over the collection of data or its further use by these operators. swisstopo has no knowledge of how much data they store, where they store it and how long, the extent to which they comply with duties to erase data, the analyses they make of the data, the links they make to the data and to whom they pass on the data. 

The most important third-party services swisstopo uses are:

YouTube: As soon as you call up a swisstopo webpage that has a YouTube video embedded in it, a connection is established with the YouTube servers, and plug-ins from YouTube (YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA; subsidiary of Google LLC) are used from time to time. YouTube receives information on which page was visited from which IP address.

Instagram: Instagram, Inc. is owned by Facebook. For further information on how Instagram handles user data, please consult its Data Policy.

Twitter: Twitter, Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94103. For further information on how Twitter handles user data, please consult its Privacy Policy and its Cookies guidelines.

Bitly: Bitly is a URL shortening service. Bitly, Inc. is based in New York, USA. You will find further information on how Bitly handles user data at https://bitly.com/pages/privacy

Google reCaptcha: Under the name reCaptcha, Google LLC operates services that may recognise and prevent automated actions on websites. Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

What personal data do we collect and for what purpose?

geocat.ch (geospatial metadata) 

geocat.ch is the metadata catalogue for geodata in Switzerland, i.e. the application for administering and publishing geospatial metadata in accordance with standard GM03 (Swiss standard SN 612050). At least one contact point is defined for each geospatial metadata set.

geocat. ch contains the following publicly available data:

• Last name and first name
• Name and abbreviation of the organisation
• E-mail address and telephone number of the person or organisation
• Address of the organisation (house number, street, postal code, town, etc.)

Newsletter geocat.ch 

The newsletter contains news and information about the development of geocat.ch as well as general information about the metadata field. 

When you register for the newsletter, only your e-mail address is saved and no further personalized summary or evaluation of your data is made. Data processing is carried out in accordance with the National Land Survey Ordinance NLSO, Art. 24 ff.

If you want to cancel your subscription to the newsletter, then simply click on the ‘unsubscribe’ link that is provided in each newsletter or send us an e-mail stating your wish to unsubscribe.

Deploy Newsletter geocat.ch 

The geocat.ch deploy newsletter informs you in advance when a deploy of the geocat.ch application is taking place. In principle, all user administrators automatically receive this newsletter. However, it is possible to subscribe or unsubscribe directly via geocat@swisstopo.ch. 

Further information

Non-disclosure of personal data

Any other use of your personal information, in particular its sale, disclosure or dissemination to third parties, is explicitly excluded.

Security

swisstopo uses the latest technologies to protect personal data from unauthorised access and improper use.

Data protection advice

The data protection advisor at swisstopo is the contact person for your enquiries relating to data protection and the right to information at swisstopo.

We will be pleased to receive your questions or comments of any kind:

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Data protection advisor
Seftigenstrasse 264
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern

E-mail: privacyPolicy@swisstopo.ch