is that the current standard? I don't do any electronic signatures, since Florida requires a raised seal as well, but was curious how that is handled.. any thoughts?
Actually, Florida has had option for a digital seal for quite some time now.
5J-17.062 Procedures for Signing and Sealing Electronically Transmitted Plans, Specifications, Reports or Other Documents.
(1) Information stored in electronic files representing plans, specifications, plats, reports, or other documents which must be sealed under the provisions of Chapter 472, F.S., shall be signed, dated and sealed by the professional surveyor and mapper in responsible charge.
(2) A license holder may use a computer generated representation of his or her seal on electronically conveyed work; however, the final hard copy documents of such surveying or mapping work must contain an original signature and raised seal of the license holder and date or the documents must be accompanied by an electronic signature as described in this section. A scanned image of an original signature shall not be used in lieu of an original signature and raised seal or electronic signature. Surveying or mapping work that contains a computer generated seal shall be accompanied by the following text or similar wording: “The seal appearing on this document was authorized by [Example: Leslie H. Doe, P.E. 0112 on (date)]” unless accompanied by an electronic signature as described in this section.
(3) An electronic signature is a digital authentication process attached to or logically associated with an electronic document and shall carry the same weight, authority, and effect as an original signature and raised seal. The electronic signature, which can be generated by using either public key infrastructure or signature dynamics technology, must be as follows:
(a) Unique to the person using it;
(b) Capable of verification;
(c) Under the sole control of the person using it;
(d) Linked to a document in such manner that the electronic signature is invalidated if any data in the document are changed.
(4) Alternatively, electronic files may be signed and sealed by creating a “signature” file that contains the surveyor and mapper’s name and PSM number, a brief overall description of the surveying and mapping documents, and a list of the electronic files to be sealed. Each file in the list shall be identified by its file name utilizing relative Uniform Resource Locators (URL) syntax described in the Internet Architecture Board’s Request for Comments (RFC) 1738, December 1994, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference by the Board and can be obtained from the Internet Website: ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in notes/rfc1738.txt. Each file shall have an authentication code defined as an SHA-1 message digest described in Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 180 1 “Secure Hash Standard,” 1995 April 17, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference by the Board and can be obtained from the Internet Website: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip180 1.htm. A report shall be created that contains the surveyor and mapper’s name and PSM number, a brief overall description of the surveyor and mapper documents in question and the authentication code of the signature file. This report shall be printed and manually signed, dated, and sealed by the professional surveyor and mapper in responsible charge. The signature file is defined as sealed if its authentication code matches the authentication code on the printed, manually signed, dated and sealed report. Each electronic file listed in a sealed signature file is defined as sealed if the listed authentication code matches the file’s computed authentication code.
It just seems like PITA to me, I don't have the computer skills to understand "digital authentication processes" or "Uniform Resource Locators" or "Secure Hash Standards", or the energy to look it up. For the agents that can't wait, I scan the signed originals, with a rub over the raised seal, and email it with a note that these are "preliminary" and the "signed and sealed" original hard copies are being sent by mail. Seems to work.
> is that the current standard? I don't do any electronic signatures, since Florida requires a raised seal as well, but was curious how that is handled.. any thoughts?
I'm not licensed in Florida, just did an online search and found the Florida Statutes below. Also prepared an article "Electronic Information Transfer Requirements" for Spring 2009 Ohio Surveying News you may find helpful.
The 2011 Florida Statutes
Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Chapter 472
LAND SURVEYING AND MAPPING
View Entire Chapter
472.025?Seals.—
(1)?The board shall prescribe, by rule, a form of seal to be used by all registrants holding valid certificates of registration, whether the registrants are corporations, partnerships, or individuals. Each registrant shall obtain an impression-type metal seal in that form; and all final drawings, plans, specifications, plats, or reports prepared or issued by the registrant in accordance with minimum technical standards set by the board shall be signed by the registrant, dated, and stamped with his or her seal. This signature, date, and seal shall be evidence of the authenticity of that to which they are affixed. Each registrant may in addition register his or her seal electronically in accordance with ss. 668.001-668.006. Drawings, plans, specifications, reports, or documents prepared or issued by a registrant may be transmitted electronically and may be signed by the registrant, dated, and stamped electronically with such seal in accordance with ss. 668.001-668.006.
668.001?Short title.—This act may be cited as the “Electronic Signature Act of 1996.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 96-224.
Note.—Former s. 282.70.
668.002?Legislative intent.—It is the intent of the Legislature that this act:
(1)?Facilitate economic development and efficient delivery of government services by means of reliable electronic messages.
(2)?Enhance public confidence in the use of electronic signatures.
(3)?Minimize the incidence of forged electronic signatures and fraud in electronic commerce.
(4)?Foster the development of electronic commerce through the use of electronic signatures to lend authenticity and integrity to writings in any electronic medium.
(5)?Assure that proper management oversight and accountability are maintained for agency-conducted electronic commerce.
History.—s. 2, ch. 96-224.
Note.—Former s. 282.71.
668.003?Definitions.—As used in this act:
(1)?“Certificate” means a computer-based record which:
(a)?Identifies the certification authority.
(b)?Identifies the subscriber.
(c)?Contains the subscriber’s public key.
(d)?Is digitally signed by the certification authority.
(2)?“Certification authority” means a person who issues a certificate.
(3)?“Digital signature” means a type of electronic signature that transforms a message using an asymmetric cryptosystem such that a person having the initial message and the signer’s public key can accurately determine:
(a)?Whether the transformation was created using the private key that corresponds to the signer’s public key.
(b)?Whether the initial message has been altered since the transformation was made.
A “key pair” is a private key and its corresponding public key in an asymmetric cryptosystem, under which the public key verifies a digital signature the private key creates. An “asymmetric cryptosystem” is an algorithm or series of algorithms which provide a secure key pair.
(4)?“Electronic signature” means any letters, characters, or symbols, manifested by electronic or similar means, executed or adopted by a party with an intent to authenticate a writing. A writing is electronically signed if an electronic signature is logically associated with such writing.
History.—s. 4, ch. 96-224.
Note.—Former s. 282.72.
668.004?Force and effect of electronic signature.—Unless otherwise provided by law, an electronic signature may be used to sign a writing and shall have the same force and effect as a written signature.
History.—s. 5, ch. 96-224.
Note.—Former s. 282.73.
668.006?Control procedures.—The head of each agency shall be responsible for adopting and implementing control processes and procedures to ensure adequate integrity, security, confidentiality, and auditability of business transactions conducted using electronic commerce.
History.—s. 7, ch. 96-224.
Note.—Former s. 282.75.
Emphasis added!
I have a jpg made from a pdf of my seal that is quite clear and insert it onto the form in Open Office. It looks quite good if I do say myself.
Carl
Your reply beat me by a minute. You might find parts of my answer (the article linked) interesting. Using the electronic seal is not that difficult and if used correctly it does provide additional security to make it more difficult for others to alter electronic files.
Carl that will not meet the Florida standard, or those of many other states. What is required is a method that locks the file and shows an indication if the file is altered or tampered with.
Yes, after rereading #2, it looks like the most simple form of a "digital seal" is imprinting the image on the drawing, then writing:
>“The seal appearing on this document was authorized by [Example: Leslie H. Doe, P.E. 0112 on (date)]”
... somewhere on the drawing or report. Then delivering signed and (raised) sealed originals. Doesn't sound too hard. I'm still not clear if you are supposed to imprint a scan your signature on the drawing, or just write that statement. I'll check out your link when I get a chance.
> Yes, after rereading #2, it looks like the most simple form of a "digital seal" is imprinting the image on the drawing, then writing:
>
> >“The seal appearing on this document was authorized by [Example: Leslie H. Doe, P.E. 0112 on (date)]”
>
> ... somewhere on the drawing or report. Then delivering signed and (raised) sealed originals. Doesn't sound too hard. I'm still not clear if you are supposed to imprint a scan your signature on the drawing, or just write that statement. I'll check out your link when I get a chance.
As I read #2 it s a scan of the hard copy showing the original seal or a seal image similar to what Carl's message below mentions. The image that Carl is using would require the additional note. However, the type of digital signature mentioned in #3 is what I am talking about and does not require the additional note or a final hard copy.
> Carl that will not meet the Florida standard, or those of many other states. What is required is a method that locks the file and shows an indication if the file is altered or tampered with.
I understand that. I have done it "in house/hardcopy" for my own testing. Then I wet sign over it. I don't do very many, and the ones I have done I've handed to the client.
