Who we are
OpenGeoHub Foundation, also referred to as OpenGeoHub, is a not-for-profit research foundation based in Doorwerth, the Netherlands. OpenGeoHub operates websites and online services connected to open geospatial data, open-source tools, research, training, events, and community activities.
This Privacy & Cookie Policy explains how OpenGeoHub handles information collected through its websites, forms, email communication, event registration, training activities, and related online services.
Our approach to privacy
OpenGeoHub’s policy is to respect your privacy regarding information we may collect while operating our websites and services. We aim to collect only information that is useful for operating, improving, securing, and communicating about our activities.
Where personal information is collected, OpenGeoHub aims to process it lawfully, fairly, transparently, and only for relevant purposes.
Website visitors
Like most website operators, OpenGeoHub may collect non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available.
This may include browser type, device type, language preference, referring website, pages visited, date and time of visitor requests, and similar technical information.
OpenGeoHub uses this information to better understand how visitors use its websites, to improve website performance, to maintain security, and to identify technical issues.
From time to time, OpenGeoHub may release non-personally-identifying information in aggregate form, for example by publishing a report on trends in website usage.
Potentially personally-identifying information
OpenGeoHub may collect potentially personally-identifying information such as Internet Protocol addresses, especially where this is necessary for security, spam prevention, logs, troubleshooting, forms, registration processes, or similar operational needs.
OpenGeoHub only discloses potentially personally-identifying information under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described in this policy.
Information you provide directly
Certain visitors choose to interact with OpenGeoHub in ways that require OpenGeoHub to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information depends on the nature of the interaction.
For example, you may provide personal information when you contact OpenGeoHub, subscribe to a newsletter, register for a course or event, apply for a position, submit a form, send an email, participate in a workshop, or communicate with OpenGeoHub staff.
- Name and surname.
- Email address and phone number.
- Institution, organization, or affiliation.
- Billing details such as address, VAT number, or invoice information where required.
- Messages, questions, application materials, registration details, or other information you choose to provide.
- Technical information connected to your interaction with OpenGeoHub websites and services.
Contact forms and email communication
If you send OpenGeoHub a request through a contact form, email address, support channel, or feedback mechanism, OpenGeoHub may process the information you provide in order to respond to your request, clarify your question, provide support, improve services, or maintain records of communication.
OpenGeoHub may retain contact-form and email communication for as long as reasonably necessary to handle the request, maintain organizational records, resolve issues, or comply with legal obligations.
Events, courses, workshops, and applications
OpenGeoHub may collect personal information for registration, administration, communication, invoicing, participation, certificates, travel or logistics, event safety, and reporting related to courses, summer schools, workshops, conferences, job applications, and similar activities.
Personal documents and similar materials received from third parties during registration for courses, summer schools, workshops, job applications, or related processes should be removed from OpenGeoHub systems within a reasonable period after the end of the relevant event or process, unless retention is required by law, accounting rules, contractual obligations, or legitimate operational reasons.
Browser storage details
The names below are the technical browser-storage keys currently used by OpenGeoHub.org. Session storage is removed when the browser session ends. Optional storage is also removed when you reject or withdraw the related choice.
- ogh-cookie-consent — essential local storage, one year: records whether functional preferences and website analytics were accepted or rejected, together with the choice expiry date.
- ogh-pending-home-anchor, ogh-fast-home-anchor, ogh-earth-finish-reveal, and ogh-home-scroll-position — essential session storage: complete requested homepage navigation or restore its position after a refresh, and are removed after use or when the session ends.
- ogh-home-loader-played — essential session storage: prevents the homepage introduction from repeating until the current tab or window is closed.
- ogh-recent-search-results, ogh-search-interest-scores, and ogh-search-suggestion-seed — optional functional local storage, up to one year: remember recent selections and improve search suggestions on this browser.
- ogh-analytics-visitor — optional analytics local storage, 24 hours: contains a random first-party visitor identifier and its expiry date.
- ogh-analytics-session and ogh-analytics-view:<page path> — optional analytics session storage: contain a random session identifier and prevent duplicate page-view events during the current session.
Analytics and website improvement
If you allow website analytics, OpenGeoHub uses first-party analytics to understand which pages are useful, how visitors arrive, and which device class they use. The browser identifier expires after 24 hours. Visitor and session identifiers are hashed by the OpenGeoHub server before they are stored.
OpenGeoHub does not send raw IP addresses, full browser user-agent strings, URL query strings, or browser fingerprints to this analytics service. It does not use advertising cookies or third-party analytics tracking. Analytics is also disabled when your browser sends a Do Not Track signal.
Rejecting or withdrawing analytics consent does not affect website navigation. Withdrawing consent stops future analytics collection and removes the optional identifiers stored in your browser.
Third-party services
OpenGeoHub websites may include links to or embedded content from third-party services, such as maps, video platforms, newsletter services, social platforms, form services, repositories, analytics tools, or external data portals.
Third-party services may collect information according to their own privacy policies. OpenGeoHub is not responsible for the privacy practices, cookie practices, or content of third-party websites and services.
Legal bases and purposes
OpenGeoHub processes personal information only where there is a relevant purpose and legal basis. Depending on the situation, processing may be based on consent, performance of a contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, or the need to carry out requested communication or services.
- To operate, maintain, secure, and improve OpenGeoHub websites and services.
- To respond to messages, questions, applications, or support requests.
- To manage newsletter subscriptions and communication preferences.
- To administer events, courses, workshops, registrations, certificates, and payments.
- To meet legal, accounting, tax, reporting, contractual, or governance obligations.
- To protect the rights, property, security, and integrity of OpenGeoHub, its users, and the public.
Sharing information
OpenGeoHub discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those employees, contractors, service providers, and affiliated organizations that need to know that information in order to process it on OpenGeoHub’s behalf or to provide services available through OpenGeoHub websites and activities.
These parties are expected to protect the information and not disclose it to others except as required for the relevant service or as required by law.
Some employees, contractors, service providers, or affiliated organizations may be located outside your home country. By using OpenGeoHub websites and services, you acknowledge that such transfers may occur where necessary for OpenGeoHub operations.
Disclosure required by law
OpenGeoHub may disclose potentially personally-identifying or personally-identifying information in response to a subpoena, court order, governmental request, legal obligation, or when OpenGeoHub believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property, rights, safety, or integrity of OpenGeoHub, third parties, users, or the public.
Data retention
OpenGeoHub retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, accounting rules, contractual obligations, dispute resolution, security, archiving, or legitimate organizational needs.
Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information, the relevant project, event, service, or legal requirement.
Security
OpenGeoHub takes measures reasonably necessary to protect against unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. OpenGeoHub cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights regarding your personal information. These may include the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to processing, withdraw consent, or request portability of your personal information.
To exercise privacy-related rights, you may contact OpenGeoHub using the contact details provided on the Website. OpenGeoHub may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.
Business transfers
If OpenGeoHub, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, transferred, merged, reorganized, or if OpenGeoHub were to discontinue operations, user information may be among the assets transferred or handled as part of that process.
Any such transfer would be handled in accordance with applicable law and the commitments described in this policy where relevant.
Children
OpenGeoHub websites and services are not primarily directed to children under 13. If you believe that a child has provided OpenGeoHub with personal information without appropriate consent, please contact OpenGeoHub so the information can be reviewed and removed where appropriate.
Changes to this policy
OpenGeoHub may change this Privacy & Cookie Policy from time to time. Most changes are likely to be minor, but OpenGeoHub encourages visitors to check this page periodically for updates.
Continued use of the website does not count as consent to optional browser storage. If a change affects the choices described here, OpenGeoHub may ask you to review your preferences again.
Contact
For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact OpenGeoHub through the contact details provided on the Website.
For general communication, OpenGeoHub may be contacted at media-office@opengeohub.org.