Recommended Formats Statement

Most complete data (all layers, appendices), even if proprietary, with a preference for preserving the native format and projection of the data

Vector formats compatible with widely adopted GIS including

• Shapefile, which is comprised of at least a SHP, SHX, and DBF file and optionally a PRJ (highly recommended), XML (highly recommended), SBN, and/or SBX.
• Esri File Geodatabase
• OGC GeoPackage
• GeoJSON (may have scalability issues)

• KML
• GML

1. Public download URLs
2. Automated private download URLs with any necessary API keys or credentials
3. Hard drives

• For metadata information see 191xx ISO standards and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
• To the extent allowed by the underlying format, include available information about how the data was created, collected and any post-processing which has been applied

Project and layer files (.mxd, .qgs, .lry) may be acquired with deposits of content data to assist in reviewing materials during deposit process

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work.

1. Most complete data (all layers, appendices), even if proprietary, with a preference for preserving the native format and projection of the data
2. Vector and raster formats compatible with widely adopted GIS including:
   1. Esri File Geodatabase
   2. OGC GeoPackage
   3. Formats compatible with recommendations and tools from geospatial open source and open data communities; formats supported by well supported open source software libraries such as GDAL, OGR and GeoTools

• TerraGo GeoPDF
• Geospatial PDF

1. Public download URLs
2. Automated private download URLs with any necessary API keys or credentials
3. Hard drives

• For metadata information see 191xx ISO standards and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
• To the extent allowed by the underlying format, include available information about how the data was created, collected and any post-processing which has been applied

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work

• Most complete data (all layers, appendices), even if proprietary, with a preference for preserving the native format and projection of the data
• Raster formats compatible with widely adopted GIS including GeoTIFF
• OGC GeoPackage

1. TIFF (.tif) files with accompanying TIFF World File (.tfw and .tifw)
2. GML in JPEG 2000

1. Public download URLs
2. Automated private download URLs with any necessary API keys or credentials
3. Hard drives

• For metadata information see 191xx ISO standards and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
• To the extent allowed by the underlying format, include available information about how the data was created, collected and any post-processing which has been applied

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work

1. Most complete data (including appendices) with a preference for preserving the native format and projection of the data
2. Largest size
3. Most widely distributed
4. Follows recommended formats in Still Image Works (if material is an image) or Textual Works (if material is primarily textual).

Equal in quality to the publication version, best edition or master copy

• Packaging materials equivalent to published form (e.g., binding, box/packaging materials)
• If multiple versions available, provide the most widely distributed edition.
• If limited edition, provide an unnumbered but otherwise identical copy.
• For large items, provide rolled, unfolded.
• Prefer edition with protective coatings.
• Faithful representation of the work as published. Equal quality to publication version.

• Includes indexes, study guides or other matter if available
• Also includes annotations, accompanying tabular or textual matter or other interpretive aids

1. As supported by format:
1. Title
2. Creator
3. Creation Date
4. Place of publication
5. Publisher/producer/distributor
6. Contact information
2. Include if available:
1. Language of work
2. Other relevant identifiers (e.g., DOI, LCCN, etc.)
3. Subject descriptors
4. Abstracts
5. Key or reference to each data field and technical production information (e.g. EXIF metadata from digital camera