For the purposes of this Act, the words and phrases below shall have the following meanings:
Basic map: Topographical map used as basic data for the thematic data being worked with at any one time, such as information about vegetation, planning or geology. Basic maps are most often in digital form and may be used in geographical information systems. Basic maps may also be used to produce derived maps for publication, for instance touring maps and hiking maps.

Height reference system: A net or system of fixed height reference points, for instance metal bolts on the surface of the land.
Geographical databases: Databases with geographical information generally categorized and stored in digital format and which may be used in different ways on maps. Data or information in geographical databases is categorized with respect to type into different layers.

National coordinate system: A system of coordinates with datums covering the whole country and comprising measuring points on the surface of the land, e.g. metal bolts.

    Geographical information: Any kind of coordinate-indexed information about features in the environment, both natural and man-made ones.
    Datum: Parameters describing position, direction and scale used in coordinate systems.
    Layer: A certain type or category of geographical information forming one whole in a geographical database, e.g. a road layer or a hydrological layer.
    Placename: Name, term or phrase connected to a geographical point, line or region which may be used on a map and refers to one particular place within a definite community; land, district, farm, urban area, house, street, town square, road, mountain, valley, lake, fjord, sea expanse, skerry, fishing bank etc.

Article 3

The National Land Survey of Iceland

The National Land Survey of Iceland is a government institute under the Minister for the Environment. It is located in Akranes. Its role is to undertake tasks stated in Article 4.
The Minister for the Environmet appoints the Managing Director of the National Land Survey of Iceland for a period of five years at a time. The Managing Director shall be university educated and have managerial experience.
The Managing Director is responsible for the running of the institute, formulates its working policies and is responsible for its financial management. The Managing Director hires the institute’s employees.

Article 4

Tasks of the National Land Survey of Iceland

Tasks assigned to the National Land Survey of Iceland according to this Act are:
1.      To advise the Ministry for the Environment in the institute’s fields of expertise as they are stated in this Act, and in connection with policy making in the fields of land surveying and official basic mapping.
2.      To develop and maintain datums and accessible coordinate and height reference systems for the whole of Iceland.
3.      To provide initiative in the making and using of guidelines in the field of geographical information.
4.      To make, maintain and disseminate the following digital layers on a scale of 1:50 000 and their dissemination on a smaller scale:
                a.      Hydrology.
                b.      Surface.
                c.      Roads and communications.
                d.      Placenames, in consultation with the Arni Magnusson Institute of Icelandic Studies.
                e.      Administrative boundaries.
                f.      Man-made structures.
                g.      Contour lines and height points.

5. To provide access to data preserved in the databases of the institute, cf. Article 6.
6. To register and disseminate information about geographical databases of Iceland.

7. To professionally cooperate with universities, institutes, businesses, international organizations in accordance with the tasks of the institute.

Article 5

Copyrights

The Icelandic State is the owner of all copyrights acquired by the National Land Survey of Iceland.

The institute looks after State interests in connection with copyrigts and rights of use of all materials it has acquired, processed or published in connection with surveying, maps or images of Iceland. In addition Copyright Act No. 73/1972 with subsequent amendments applies as regards copyrights.

Article 6

Dissemination of Information and Right of Use

The National Land Survey of Iceland disseminates information and provides access to data in the keeping of the institute at the time this law enters into force, as well as the data which complies with paragraphs 2, 4 and 6 of Article 4, provided its delivery is not in violation of the right of a third party which is protected by law. In the case of basic data with its origin outside the institute, further dissemination shall be negotiated with the original party.

Right of use as regards all information in the fields of land surveying and mapping mentioned in paragraph 1, and which is in the keeping of the National Land Survey of Iceland, may be granted subject to its origin being credited and the reliability of the information being guaranteed.

Article 7

Financing

The cost of running the National Land Survey of Iceland is paid for through appropriations from the Treasury in accordance with the General Budget. The National Land Survey of Iceland also has the following sources of income:
1. Through the selling of the right of use of materials in the keeping of the institute and products which the State has copyright to, as shown in Articles 5 and 6.
2. Through the selling of the right of use of specialized services in connection with processing and handling of data in the keeping of the institute when this Act takes effect as well as the data that falls under paragraph 4 of Article 4.

3. Through service fees in connection with the handling of data, such as photocopying or other copying, duplication and dissemination. Rates shall be determined in a tariff for service charges ratified by the governmental minister and published in the B-series of the Icelandic Official Gazette. The tariff shall take account of the cost of the services and the execution of individual tasks in such a way that all accompanying costs are met.

Article 8

It is mandatory to permit access on landed property and the installation of surveying points deemed necessary for the implementation of this Act. The landowner must be shown due consideration and shall not be needlessly inconvenienced.

Article 9

The Governmental Minister sets further rules for the implementation of this Act.

Article 10

This Act shall come into force on January 1 2007. At the same time Act No. 95/1997 on land surveying and mapping and its subsequent amendments shall cease to be in force.

Interim Provision

Before January 1 2007 the National Land Survey of Iceland stock of printed maps and CDs and the accompanying rights shall be submitted to tender. The rights to maps and associated software which have their origin with other parties than the National Land Survey of Iceland shall, however, not be submitted to tender without permission from the holders of these rights.

Passed by Alþingi on June 3 2006.