Dated October 27, 2026

Terms of use

These terms describe what GovBot Tides & Terrain, developed by Ideation Lab, Corp., is for and how its results should be read.

In preparation. A ChatGPT directory version is being prepared and has not been submitted or published. These terms may change before it is.

What the service does

The service is a factual, read-only research tool. It retrieves public records from the NOAA CO-OPS Data and Metadata APIs, the USGS Elevation Point Query Service and the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset, and presents them with their source details. It does not create, edit or submit anything to those agencies.

Reading NOAA records

Check the returned period, datum, units, epoch, time zone, daylight-saving handling and quality flags; they may differ from what was requested.
Observed water levels are measurements. Predictions model astronomical tides only and do not include weather, waves or surge.
Station datum relationships apply at that station. They must not be transferred to USGS terrain values or to other locations or properties.
A nearby station is research context, not a representation of a particular property.

Reading USGS records

Point elevations are sampled from source data with its own resolution and vintage. They are not survey measurements.
No-data means no value was available; it is not zero.
Watershed results describe the containing hydrologic unit (HUC) and its coverage. They are a hydrologic reference, not a parcel boundary or flood zone.

Sources change

Agencies may revise, delay or withdraw data, and their services may be unavailable. Results can differ between retrievals, and we cannot guarantee availability or completeness. An empty result does not mean a place or condition is safe.

What it is not

Results are not weather or surge forecasts, current warnings, navigation or emergency guidance, property surveys, datum transfers, safety assessments, flood insurance determinations, or legal or engineering certifications. For regulated, safety-critical or legal uses, consult the issuing agency or a qualified professional.

Citation and attribution

When you use results, cite the agency source and record the retrieval time and the source period. Respect each source’s attribution requirements and terms. Do not assume every constituent dataset carries the same license or is in the public domain; check the source.

Source references: NOAA Tides & Currents, CO-OPS Data API, CO-OPS Metadata API, USGS EPQS, USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset.

Accounts and payments

The service has no application accounts, sign-in or checkout. Your AI client’s own terms apply to your use of that client.

Independence

GovBot Tides & Terrain is an independent product of Ideation Lab, Corp. It is not official and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA, USGS, any other government agency, or OpenAI.

Changes and contact

We may update these terms and will change the date above when we do. See also the privacy notice. Questions: hello@govbot.ai.