1. Nathalie Delattre (IGNB)
EuroRegionalMap A EuroGeographics Project Co-Funded by the European Commission through eContent Program
The incremental development of high quality pan-European spatial data infrastructure at medium scale (1/250K),which could be used as base data for multifunctional purposes, suitable for spatial analysis and as a geographic backdrop for visualisation
I would like to present you in a more specific way the EuroRegionalMap project , which is a Eurogeograhic project , supported by the eContent program of the Commission in
The chief management is actually in charge of IGNB
To decentralise the concept by adopting the specifications within a longer term and the harmonisation and the maintenance of ERM at national level, with the sharing of knowledge and technologies.
Nathalie Delattre (IGNB)

2. Econtent program
Action line 1.2 is about (1) Promoting the use of Public Sector information and (2) Establishing pan-European databases
"Establishing" does not mean "Creating" but rather "Harmonizing" what already exists in order to make it pan-European
"Promoting" does not mean "Talking about it" but rather "Changing" the actual situation in a verifiable and measurable way
The project is classified under the action line 1.2 Which is about promoting the use of public sector information and establishing pan-european database.
The purpose is to increase the accessibility of NDB at medium scale by implementing a Spatial Data Infrastructure at a European level through a standardized and harmonized spatial data base,
By for example improving the distribution of these data through an efficient delivery system and simplified exploitation and distribution channels
To decentralise the concept by adopting the specifications within a longer term and the harmonisation and the maintenance of ERM at national level, with the sharing of knowledge and technologies.

3. General Technical Characteristics
Resolution 1:
Related
Vmap level 1
Data Catalogue Standard
DIGEST FACC
Theoretical Data Model
Close to DIGEST VPF
Implementation
Platform independent
Geodetic Datum (H,V)
ETRS89 , MSL
Coordinate System
Geographic Decimal Degrees
Administrative boundaries
Named location
Hydrography
Miscellaneous
Transportation
Vegetation and Soil
Settlement
Let us dicover the technical characteristics of the SDI
Similar to the Vmap level 1 but has been improved for GIS applications and adapted the civilian needs
Theoretycal data model is close to DIGEST data model, which object orientated so we have structured the dataset into feature classes sharing the same set of attributes.
Implementation is platform independent. This mean that the theoretical model (described in the specifications) has to be implemented on specific software as Arc/INFO or MicroStation. For the moment we al;l use ARC/INFO platform to produce the ERM product. ( document Data structure on Arc/INFO system )
Adminsitrative boundaries described up to the lowest admistrative level and integrate the SABE information.
Hydrography (including navigability and a range value for the river width)
Transport includes road and railways network with some airfield elements
Settelement include information such as the population range.
Named location whis is the independant cartographic text that illustrates a geographic location at regional level ( Mountain range, Valley, Peak, Gorge, Bay, Sea, Fjord, Inlet/cape, Sandbank, Beach, Headland/Peninsula )
Miscellaneous hold varied information as electric powerline, industrial plants and other topographiocs elements considered as landmarks in the countryside.
Vegetation and soil contains very few information mainly woods and sand area

4. Incremental Development
“Good solution today, is better than a perfect solution tomorrow”
To harmonize NDB according to the ERM standard by mean of a pragmatic approach through a step by step convergence and not by a one time effort to the high quality final product.
Practically feasible at acceptable costs
We have to take into account of the historical and cartographic framework of each NMA and in the discrepancies that occur between their NDB in data content or geometric resolution owing to different cartographic conception to create a NDB at similar scale and to different purpose for further use some beeing more or less advanced in spatial analysis.
Perfect harmonisation is therefore not realistic if we decide to do it by a one time effort and at acceptable costs to reengeneering the NDB.
The good solution today is then
To go step by step trhough a pragmatic approach including in the first step basic requirements in topology and in data contents. .

5. EuroRegionalMap Specification
A pragmatic approach towards harmonisation
Spatial analysis requirements:
Full connectivity of transport and water network
Topological integration of administrative boundaries
Data classified as mandatory or optional
Future development let opened
Feedback from user community and GIS experts
Integration of SABE
Coherent with others EuroGeographics database of similar applications
Mandatory data are information that have to be unifomingly provided by the producers and define the Core data set.
The specifications are not static and are more or less let opened , they can evolve according to

6. Think Big, Start Small
Starting the production with 6 NMAS covering France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark ,Ireland and Northern Ireland
Demonstration phase in order to organize the production of ERM on Europe and its exploitation.
With issues resolved on:
Technical data harmonisation
Data pricing and licensing policy ( low price/high volume strategy)
Data distribution over Internet with e-commerce solutions
Starting with 6 NMAS ,
the actual stage of the project can be considered as a demonstration phase ( pilot project) conceiving the ERM SDI and implementing the production before considering the extension of the production over Europe
with technical developments, prototype
Conceiving a distribution and exploitation plan focusing on low price/high volume)
- Conceiving a on line delivery system

7. Demonstration Phase Started in January 2002
April A prototype available on Web Site, in user testing phase
September Launching the feasibility of the extension to Europe
February The core dataset for the seven countries
February 2003 – On-line Delivery System ( core version)
June Updating and Maintenance Study Phase
August A production plan for the extension of the EuroRegionalMap database on Europe
October Launching the core dataset on the market with a product exploitation and distribution plan
The demonstration phase has started in January Within the framework of the e-content program and will end in October 2003
The premium achievements required before starting the production were the conception of all technical documents and the prototype. Those information have been installed on the project WebSite and Web Demonstrator. All this can be considered as a starting base to enhance of the ERM product towards users. We organize a user testing phase whose returns could implicate some minors changes in the specifications
All this can be considered as a starting base to enhance of the ERM product towards producers
3. Edge matched and validated 4.
5. The maintenance will be supported by the NMA who will perform their own updates into the ERM dataset.
6. The purpose is to evaluate the feasability of such extension by helping producers to estimate workload and cost elements that a similar approach previsously experimented by the 6NMAS would entail in their national context and to organize and schedule the production.
7. : This is done in the framework of the EuroGeographics association, which is setting up the guidelines for data distribution in pricing and licensing and for all the products conceived in that association ( EGM, SABE). An Expert Group on Legal and Commercial issues are discussing on it. They take into account of recent EC initiatives relating to Data Policy - the position paper of INSPIRE WG.

8. Invitation
To visit our Web Site and explore our prototype and give your feedback on the quality of our data and the usefulness of our project
You will find in the prototype section
The prototype of around 60 km2
The technical guides and documents
The metadata on the prototype
The questionnaire
To participate at our workshop for the preparation of the production over Europe ( Beginning of February)
For those who are interested to be involved into that project. WE must know by the end of the year your interest into that project . We have sent you a letter
Please, we have to know very soon your willingness to join the project. Whatever your constraints in human ressources and funding issue, these constraints could be discussed with you next year and we will taken into account of these contraints to build our production plan.
The main word is: are you interested or not to harmonize your NDB adopting the ERM specifications, in long term and to invest in a pan-European SDI.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information, with Eurogeographics or with the others partners of the project.