Spatial data infrastructure

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A spatial data infrastructure (SDI), also called geospatial data infrastructure,[1] is a data infrastructure implementing a framework of geographic data, metadata, users and tools that are interactively connected in order to use spatial data in an efficient and flexible way. Another definition is "the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data".[2] Most commonly, institutions with large repositories of geographic data (especially government agencies) create SDIs to facilitate the sharing of their data with a broader audience.

A further definition is given in Kuhn (2005):[3] "An SDI is a coordinated series of agreements on technology standards, institutional arrangements, and policies that enable the discovery and use of geospatial information by users and for purposes other than those it was created for."

General

Some of the main principles are that data and metadata should not be managed centrally, but by the data originator and/or owner, and that tools and services connect via computer networks to the various sources.[4] A GIS is often the platform for deploying an individual node within an SDI. To achieve these objectives, good coordination between all the actors is necessary and the definition of standards is very important.

The original example of an SDI is the United States National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), first mandated in the OMB Circular A-16 in 1996. In Europe since 2007, INSPIRE is a European Commission initiative to build a European SDI beyond national boundaries; the United Nations Spatial Data Infrastructure (UNSDI) plans to do the same for over 30 UN Funds, Programs, Specialized Agencies and member countries.

Software components

Summarize
Perspective

An SDI should enable the discovery and delivery of spatial data from a data repository, via a spatial service provider, to a user. As mentioned earlier it is often wished that the data provider is able to update spatial data stored in a repository. Hence, the basic software components of an SDI are:[4]

  • Software client - to display, query, and analyse spatial data (this could be a browser or a desktop GIS)
  • Catalogue service - for the discovery, browsing, and querying of metadata or spatial services, spatial datasets and other resources
  • Spatial data service - allowing the delivery of the data via the Internet
  • Processing services - such as datum and projection transformations, or the transformation of cadastral survey observations and owner requests into Cadastral documentation
  • (Spatial) data repository - to store data, e.g., a spatial database
  • GIS software (client or desktop) - to create and update spatial data

Besides these software components, a range of (international) technical standards are necessary that allow interaction between the different software components.[4][5] Among those are geospatial standards defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (e.g., OGC WMS, WFS, GML, etc.) and ISO (e.g., ISO 19115) for the delivery of maps, vector and raster data, but also data format and internet transfer standards by W3C consortium.

National spatial data infrastructures

Summarize
Perspective

List by country or administrative zone. It is not complete, is a sample of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) official websites.

More information Admin. Region, NSDI name and ext. link ...
Admin. RegionNSDI name and ext. link
United NationsThe United Nations Spatial Data Infrastructure (UNSDI)
ArgentinaSpatial Data Infrastructure of Argentinian Republic (IDERA)
AustraliaAustralian Spatial Data Infrastructure and its centre
BogotaBogota Spatial Data Infrastructure
BoliviaBolivia Spatial Data Infraestructure (IDE-EPB)
BrazilBrazilian Spatial Data Infrastructure (INDE)
CanadaCanadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure
ChileChilean Spatial Data Infrastructure and Blog
ColombiaColombian Spatial Data Infrastructure (ICDE)
Costa RicaNational Service of Territory Information
United StatesU.S. National Spatial Data Infrastructure
EuropeThe European INSPIRE initiative
AndorraAndorran Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEAnd)
EstoniaEstonian National Spatial Data Infrastructure
FinlandFinnish National Spatial Data Infrastructure
GermanyGerman National Spatial Data Infrastructure
Hong Kong Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI)
LithuaniaLithuanian geographic information infrastructure
NetherlandsDutch Geo register
SpainSpanish National Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEE)
AndalusiaAndalusian Spatial Data Infrastructure
Basque CountrySpatial Data Infrastructure and Portal of the Basque Country. geoEuskadi
Canary IslandsCanary Islands Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDECanarias)
CataloniaCatalonia Spatial Data Infrastructure
GipuzkoaGipuzkoa Spatial Data Infrastructure
SwedenGeodata.se
SwissSwiss Federal Spatial Data Infrastructure
Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi SDI
IndiaNational Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)
IndonesiaIna-Geoportal
MalaysiaMalaysia Geospatial Data Infrastructure (MyGDI)
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See also

References

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