Project

Development of Framework to Assess National Spatial Data Infrastructures

Short description:

Many countries throughout the world have spent considerable resources over the past few years debating optimal National Spatial Data Infrastructures (NSDI). The development and application of a framework to assess NSDIs support the establishment and implementation of efficient, effective and coherent NSDIs. To achieve this main objective of the project, the following sub-objectives have been formulated:
  • Define NSDI;
  • Develop framework considering key variables, indicators and assessment criteria;
  • Test developed framework (e.g. for Australia and the Netherlands);
  • Apply framework worldwide and assess NSDIs periodically;
  • Determine critical factors for success and failure worldwide.
The expected results of this project are: an assessment framework for NSDIs, Worldwide assessment for NSDIs and set of NSDI critical factors. Moreover, these results might enhance and innovate the national spatial data infrastructures (and Dutch SDI in particular) in a more strategic and operational way.

Problem definition:

In the information age, information has become of vital importance to the economic and social development of a country. Geographic information, in particular, is of increasing importance for the successful execution of (public) tasks. Spatial Data Infrastructures facilitate the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and use of spatial information. SDIs could produce significant human and resource savings and returns by reducing duplication and facilitating integration.

During the last few years, many countries throughout the world have spent considerable resources debating optimal Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI). Since 1994, national SDIs have been developing fast throughout the world. In 2002, 120 countries had already initiated projects for national SDI development. This means that (from a worldwide perspective) billions of Euros are spent yearly on (national) SDI development. Up to now these efforts have never been audited or evaluated. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of NSDI-programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. At this moment, no coherent and comprehensive framework (considering the economic, social, technological and environmental dimensions) exists for the worldwide assessment NSDIs. The application of such a framework supports the establishment and implementation of efficient, effective and coherent NSDIs. The purpose of this project is to fill this gap.

The formulation of such a conceptual framework is scientifically challenging. This project contributes to its formulation, considering all the components of a SDI (spatial data (services), networking technology, standards, policies and people & structures) and its (historical, legal, cultural, technological, institutional and economic) context.

It is difficult to implement NSDIs, partly due to the shifts in bureaucratic power that are associated with it. Since each country is unique in historical, legal, economic, technological, cultural and institutional terms the gained benefits and expected bottlenecks for implementation of NSDIs are likely to be different, so the best strategies for implementing NSDIs could be different. Consequently, critical factors for success or failure (considering its context) should be determined to support these strategies.

We recommend a complementary study to these assessments, to analyse specific NSDIs more thoroughly to determine the business requirements that have shaped the purpose, scope, design and implementation of the process and technical aspects of the national SDIs.

The project is co-financed by Dutch program "Space for Geo-Information"