ABSTRACT
Data and databases provide the foundation for water resources GIS development and management. Without an adequate database having accurate and complete entries, there can be no reporting and modeling to support the various decisions required. Sources of spatial data are myriad and include conversion of existing data from archived records and plans (maps) and creation of new data from field measurements. Technologies for field measurements continue to advance for on-ground, aerial, and satellite surveys. Consideration must be given to the inherent accuracy of the data per the intended uses. Given the existence of data in digital formats, it is then required to archive and manage those data for the purposes intended. This requires careful planning and design of spatial databases, which are the foundation of a successful GIS.
