BAS GUPS Quick Reference Guide

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS):
Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) Quick Start Guide
Initial Steps

1) Report if making updates by one of the following methods:
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Complete the Annual Response Form on the BAS website:
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Call: 1-800-972-5651.
Email: .

2) Obtain the following materials from the BAS website or DVD (if requested):
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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: GUPS:
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GUPS: .

Note: Those requesting the GUPS and data on DVD will receive the software and data disc in the mail.
3) Review respondent guide and training videos.
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Review the BAS Respondent Guide: GUPS along with the training videos video’s at before beginning any boundary or linear feature updates.

Download and Install GUPS

1) Download the GUPS tool from the BAS website to the computer.
2) Unzip the file and extract all contents of the unzipped package to a
folder on the computer.
3) Click the Setup-x.x.x batch file to start the installation.
4) When the installer opens, the Welcome to the QGIS GUPS Setup
Wizard screen will appear. Follow the instructions on the Wizard
and click the Next button.
5) The License Agreement screen will appear. Review the License
Agreement and click the I Agree button to continue the install
process.
6) The Choose Install Location screen will appear. Click the Browse
button to choose the location where GUPS will be installed. It is
recommended to install the application at the default location shown (C:\Program Files\QGIS GUPS). Click Next to
continue the install process.
7) The Choose Components screen will appear. The Select Components to Install box will be grayed out as it is the
default. Click Install to continue.
8) The software should take five to ten minutes to complete the install. When the install is complete, the Completing the
QGIS GUPS Setup Wizard screen will appear. To complete the install, click the Finish button at the bottom of the
screen.
Note: The software should run automatically for those requesting a DVD. If it does not, please navigate to the DVD drive
and begin with Step 3, above).

Start New BAS Project

1) Double-click the QGIS icon on the desktop. [QGIS splash screen appears].
2) Click Close (X) on QGIS Tips screen. [Map Management dialog page opens].
3) Use the Program and Sub-program dropdown boxes to select Boundary and Annexation Survey and 2021 Boundary
and Annexation Survey respectively.
4) Use the State dropdown box to select the state to update.
5) Use the Working County dropdown box to select the county to update.
6) Use the Select Data Folder, Directory or Location dropdown box to select the location from which to pull the county’s
shapefiles. (Options: Census Web (suggested), Census-provided CD/DVD, or My Computer).
7) Use the Entity Type dropdown box to select the entity represented (County, Minor Civil Division (MCD), Place, or
State).
8) Once selected, a list of adjacent counties will appear highlighted. (Uncheck any counties not wanted on the Map
View).
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If adjacent counties are selected, load their shapefiles from the Select Data Folder, Directory or Location dropdown box.
Files load and GUPS is ready to make BAS updates.

Perform Geographic Review/Updates
1) Use the BAS Module in GUPS to:
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Add, delete, and modify legal governments (Counties [and equivalent areas], MCDs, Incorporated Places, and Consolidated
Cities).
Add, delete, and modify linear features (roads, railroads, and hydrography).
Add, delete, and modify area landmarks, hydrographic areas, and point landmarks.
Provide address data for newly annexed areas.

Perform Quality Control

1) Use the validation tools provided in GUPS to review changes before returning updates to the Census Bureau:
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Review Change Polygon Tool.
Geography Review Tool.

Create Return ZIP Files

1) Select Export to Zip icon on the BAS Toolbar.
2) From the Select Output Type dialog box, select Export for Census button to create a file to return to the Census
Bureau. Click the Share with Another Participant button if preferred.
3) Click OK.
4) A window opens showing the location of the of the output file on the local system. This is the file to be returned to the
Census Bureau in the next steps.

Return Updates Using the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM)

1) Open a web browser window and enter the SWIM URL:
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2) Participants who already have a SWIM account should skip to Step 4 and enter
their email address and password to log in.
3) Participants who do not have a SWIM account click ‘Register Account’:
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Enter the 12-digit token provided by the Census Bureau.
Create a password following the five criteria below:

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Complete the registration information form.

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Select Start New Upload button.
Select BAS radio button
Select the Entity type (State, Place, County, MCD, Tribal Area, or Consolidated
City).
Select the State and County.
Click the + Add File button.
Select the .ZIP file to upload.
Double-click on the .ZIP file to upload. Add additional files in the same manner.
Add any additional information to the Comments field.
Click Next. A Thank You screen will appear.

1)
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3)
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It must be at least eight characters in length.
It must have at least one upper case character.
It must have at least one lower case character.
It must have at least one number.
It must have at least one special character (valid characters are: #, !, $,
&, ?, ~). Do not use commas since they are for spacing purposes only.

4) Log in into SWIM:
5) Upload a BAS submission:

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Note: SWIM email addresses and
passwords are case sensitive.

Forgot your password?
Participants may reset their
password using the “Forgot your
password?” link on the login page.
Follow the prompts to enter the
case-sensitive email address and
provide the security answer. If the
security answer is correct, the
SWIM system sends a password
reset link to the email account for
use in resetting the password.
Once logged into SWIM, users can
modify their password and
security answer by selecting the
‘Change Security’ link at the top,
right-hand side of the page.

6) Logout of SWIM.

Key Dates for BAS Respondents
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January 1 – Boundary updates must be legally in effect on or before this date to be
reported in the current survey year.
March 1 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in the ACS and PEP data and in next year’s BAS materials.
May 31 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in next year’s BAS materials.

Contact Information

Please contact the Census Bureau for questions:
• Email: .
• Phone: 1-800-972-5651.
• Fax: 1-800-972-5652.