No other item effects geospatial RFPs more than positional accuracy specifications. Buyers often leave out or inadequately define these important measures. When not clearly specified, it may be difficult or impossible to compare approaches and costs between contractors. Such lack of specificity results in sub-standard products and services.

What Are Positional Accuracy Standards?
Positional accuracy is typically the single most expensive component of your geospatial project. During the initial project planning stages, it is important to understand how users will interact with and use the data. This, in turn, will dictate what horizontal and vertical positional accuracies are needed and what can be afforded. Since the cost of positional accuracy increases with accuracy, understanding the needs versus wants of the user community is important to avoid excessive cost (and accuracy) and maximize value.

Guidance from a professional geospatial provider is important at this stage both to grasp the relevant user issues that have a bearing on needed positional accuracy and to determine how much accuracy is affordable. Misjudgment in how much (or how little) accuracy is required and poor project design are the most common reasons geospatial projects fail. A contractor selection process maximizing relevant professional expertise will also maximize the value of the procurement for you and your user community.

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