What is a spatial data infrastructure? Ian Masser Division of Urban Planning and Management, ITC

Context Canberra GSDI presentation evaluated experiences of first generation of NSDIs. Present presentation builds upon these findings Poses a number of questions about the nature of spatial data infrastructures for further debate

The first generation of national spatial data infrastructures Australia ALIC/ASDI 1986 USA FGDC/NSDI 1990 Qatar NCGIS/NGIS 1990 Portugal CNIG/SNIG 1990 Netherlands Ravi/NGII 1992 Indonesia Bakosurtanal/NGIS 1993 Malaysia NaLIS feasibility study 1994 Korea NGIS 1995 Japan NSDI 1995 Canada CGDI 1996 Britain NGDF 1996

Common features Explicitly national Refer to geographic information, geospatial data or land information Use terms such infrastructure, systems or framework

Evaluation Three main factors –Context: eg geographical and economic circumstances and systems of government –Driving forces –Key features: eg status, scope, access, implementation, resources

Issues raised by study Three important questions raised by an evaluation of NSDI experiences: What is a NSDI? How national is a NSDI? Why only national?

What is a NSDI? No general consensus Two different positions –a product: (linked) database(s) –a process: strategy required to manage national information assets Highlighted in distinction between National Geospatial Database and National Geospatial Data Framework in Britain

The concept of infrastructure Two contrasting positions further confuse the debate –notion of infrastructure limited to tangible assets like roads, railway networks (and databases) –Infrastructure seen not only in terms of tangible assets but also the individuals and institutions need to make it a functional reality

Implications for access Product position –access: informing users what data is available - metadata services Process position –access: informing users what data is available - metadata services AND –taking steps to promote the usage of data - geographic information policy

How national is a NSDI? Considerable differences between NSDIs Concept relative rather than absolute –US: FGDC federal in orientation - contrast with proposals for a National Spatial Data Council Mandates –Legal: eg Portugal –Outgrowths from established mechanisms: eg Netherlands –? Britain

Why only national? National not necessarily the most important level with respect to SDI development Depends on the distribution of responsibilities between levels of government –Australia: key level 8 states and territories - ANZLIC is a council of coordinating councils

From global to local SDIs Global and regional SDIs –global and regional forums for collaboration and the exchanged of ideas and experiences National SDIs –strategic bodies concerned with management of national information assets Local SDIs –municipal and provincial bodies concerned with operational needs of day to day decision making

Conclusions Diversity of first generation of NSDIs Not surprising given diversity of geographic and institutional factors involved in the different countries But also points to considerable confusion regarding the purpose, scope and content of an SDI.