SDI (Spatial Data Infrastructure)

Revealing distributed geoinformation for engineering geological applications

by Tomas Fernandez-Steeger

Kiehle, C., Azzam, R., Fernandez-Steeger, T.M. (2006): Revealing distributed geoinformation for engineering geological applications , In: Culshaw, M. , Reeves, H. , Spink, T. , Jefferson, I. (Hrsg.): IAEG 2006 Engineering Geology for Tomorrow's Cities 6.-10. Oktober 2006

Today geology faces new challenges but also great chances brought on by the increased use of digital information. On... more Today geology faces new challenges but also great chances brought on by the increased use of digital information. On one hand in the last decade the increase in data volume has been enormous, on the other hand the data sources are still neither homogeneous nor widely distributed. Furthermore often the only available data for a survey were acquired for completely different purposes. Especially when tasks become more complex, the usage of distributed not homogeneous data is essential and leads to considerable problems.
One possible solution is the development of data warehouses, integrating all available and needed data. The disadvantage of this concept is a reduced flexibility and the investments to build up and run this data environment. Another solution is provided by recent developments in Geoinformatics: the use of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) for management of huge amounts of spatially related data. In contrast to the data integration approach, SDIs foster the re-use of already existing data inventories for future uses that are not known yet. The approach aims at just-in-time integration of data in a distributed computing environment. The main building block of any SDI is the web service technology, an industrial standard in the field of Information Technology (IT).
Most tasks related to engineering geology are dependent on a broad variety of data, not necessarily assembled in one place In this paper problems resulting from this fact will be discussed and shown where engineering geologist may profit from the application of SDI. Typical approaches for the usage will be shown and an established case study (groundwater vulnerability assessment) is discussed to demonstrate the capabilities the potential of this technique in Engineering Geology.

Implications of the usage of mobile collaborative mapping systems for the sense of place

by Florian Fischer

Le infrastrutture in Italia: dotazione, programmazione, realizzazione

by marcucci edoardo

Establishing a sub-national SDI in Bahia State (Brazil) – its limits and possibilities

by Gilberto Corso

paper presented at 27th Urban Data Management Symposium, - UDMS, Ljubljana, june/2009 - http://www.udms.net
Co-authored with Clodoveu Davis e Maria Célia Rocha.

This paper describes the process of implementing a sub-national Spatial Data Infrastructure in a Brazilian state, its... more This paper describes the process of implementing a sub-national Spatial Data Infrastructure in a Brazilian state, its comings and goings, past and present actions, and the actors involved in the process. The text is divided in four parts. We first report on past actions and projects, providing the project’s antecedents. The second part describes the current actors, projects and actions aimed to constitute the state SDI. The architecture of SDI adopted for Bahia is presented next. Finally, the paper presents an analysis of the way the SDI implementation process is being conducted in Bahia, with its challenges and current directions.

A semantic registry using a Feature Type Catalogue instead of ontologies to support spatial data infrastructures

by Kristin Stock

Stock, K., Atkinson, R., Higgins, C., Small, M., Woolf, A., Millard, K. and Arctur, D. (2010). A semantic registry using a Feature Type Catalogue instead of ontologies to support spatial data infrastructures. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 24(2) 231-252.

The use of a semantically rich registry containing a Feature Type Catalogue (FTC) to represent the semantics of... more The use of a semantically rich registry containing a Feature Type Catalogue (FTC) to represent the semantics of geographic feature types including operations, attributes and relationships between feature types is required to realise the benefits of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). Specifically, such information provides a more complete representation of the semantics of the concepts used in the SDI, and enables advanced navigation, discovery and utilisation of discovered resources. The presented approach creates an FTC implementation in which attributes, associations and operations for a given feature type are encapsulated within the FTC, and these conceptual representations are separated from the implementation aspects of the web services that may realise the operations in the FTC. This differs from previous approaches that combine the implementation and conceptual aspects of behaviour in a web service ontology, but separate the behavioural aspects from the static aspects of the semantics of the concept or feature type. These principles are demonstrated by the implementation of such a registry using open standards. The ebXML Registry Information Model (ebRIM) was used to incorporate the FTC described in ISO 19110 by extending the Open Geospatial Consortium ebRIM Profile for the Web Catalogue Service (CSW) and adding a number of stored queries to allow the FTC component of the standards‐compliant registry to be interrogated. The registry was populated with feature types from the marine domain, incorporating objects that conform to both the object and field views of the world. The implemented registry demonstrates the benefits of inheritance of feature type operations, attributes and associations, the ability to navigate around the FTC and the advantages of separating the conceptual from the implementation aspects of the FTC. Further work is required to formalise the model and include axioms to allow enhanced semantic expressiveness and the development of reasoning capabilities.

gvSOS: A New Client for the OGC® Sensor Observation Service Interface Standard

by Alain Tamayo

http://www3.uji.es/~atamayo/publications/TGIS_Tamayo_preprint.pdf

A key problem with sensor networks is achieving interoperability between different networks potentially built using... more A key problem with sensor networks is achieving interoperability between different networks potentially built using different software and hardware platforms. Services interfaced by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) specifications allow GIS clients to access geospatial data without knowing the details about how this data is gathered or stored. Currently, OGC is working on a set of interoperable interfaces and metadata encodings known as Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) that enables the integration of heterogeneous sensor systems and measurements into geospatial information infrastructures. In this article we present the implementation of gvSOS, a new module for gvSIG to connect to Sensor Observation Services (SOS). The gvSOS client module allows gvSIG users to interact with SOS servers, displaying the information gathered by sensors as a layer composed by features. We present the software engineering development process followed to build the module. For each step of the process we specify the main obstacles found during the development such as, restrictions of the gvSIG architecture, inaccuracies in the OGC specifications, and a set of common problems found in current SOS server implementations available on the Internet. For most of the problems found we propose a solution, or at least we present a path that might lead to it.

SILEX: la Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales del yacimiento arqueológico de Casa Montero

by Pedro Díaz-del-Río

The real value of digital cartography in Panamá - Geocensos english version

by Javier Carranza Tresoldi

Managing and producing territorial information for an underdeveloped country is neither a simple nor an economical... more Managing and producing territorial information for an underdeveloped country is neither a simple nor an economical task. When it comes to operations of national scope, such as the coverage for a census operation or homeland security, various resources and processes are needed . The article approaches the issue for the case of Panamá.

Spatial Data Infrastructures and archaeological excavation data: SILEX, the SDI of the Neolithic flint mine of Casa Montero (Madrid, Spain)

by Nuria Castañeda

FRAGUAS, A.; MENCHERO, A.; URIARTE, A.; VICENT, J.M.; CONSUEGRA, S.; DÍAZ-DEL-RÍO, P.; CASTAÑEDA, N.; CRIADO, C.; CAPDEVILA, E.; CAPOTE, M. 2010: ”. En Francisco J. Melero, P. Cano, J. Revelles (eds.) Fusion of Cultures. Abstracts of the XXXVIII Annual Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, CAA 2010: 63-66. — ISBN: 978-84-693-0772-4

TerraLib: An open source GIS library for large-scale environmental and socio-economic applications

by Gilberto Camara

Global access and controlled ownership: volunteered geographic information in the age of the Internet (Forthcoming)

by Nate J Engler

Co-authored with G. Brent Hall

When the Internet was largely a unidirectional medium with information flowing from producers to consumers, the volume... more When the Internet was largely a unidirectional medium with information flowing from producers to consumers, the volume of information being produced was relatively low and the dynamics of interaction were limited by the prevailing architecture of the World Wide Web (Web). This changed abruptly approximately a decade ago when the architecture of participation that defines the social web (Web 2.0) was introduced. What previously were clearly defined roles have since become increasingly blurred and the distinction between digital information producers, consumers, and custodians is now far less clear. At the same time, the Web 2.0 architecture has generated exponentially more numerous multidirectional flows of information across the Internet. In this new paradigm a Geospatial Web (or Geoweb) has emerged largely through the voluntary contribution by so-called prosumers or produsers of spatially-referenced information to Web-based map repositories. The growth of the Geoweb has been so rapid it has superseded clarity and understanding in terms of the licencing and usage restrictions that can be placed on the information that is produced, voluntarily contributed, used, reused, and recombined. This chapter discusses aspects of these issues in the context of two important questions, namely what are the benefits and consequences of geographical information that is voluntarily submitted to Web map repositories? and, can the roles, rights, and responsibilities of contributors and custodians in a globalized network society be aligned to achieve a spatially-enabled digital commons?

Infraestructuras de datos espaciales y datos de excavación arqueológica: Sílex, la IDE de la mina neolítica de sílex de Casa Montero (Madrid)

by Pedro Díaz-del-Río

Infraestructuras de datos espaciales y datos de excavación arqueológica: Sílex, la IDE de la mina neolítica de sílex de Casa Montero (Madrid)

by Pedro Díaz-del-Río

Plan4all: European Network of Best Practices for Interoperability of Spatial Planning Information

by Beniamino Murgante

Murgante B., Di Donato P., Berardi L., Salvemini M., Vico F., (2011), Plan4all: European Network of Best Practices for Interoperability of Spatial Planning Information. In: Iglesias A., Apduhan, B. O., Gervasi, O., Taniar, D., Gavrilova M., Proceedings of 11th International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications (ICCSA 2011) IEEE Computer Society’s Conference Publishing Services, pp: 286-289, ISBN:978-0-7695-4404-5/11, DOI 10.1109/ICCSA.2011.45

Methodologies usually adopted in urban and regional planning do not assume an approach based on Spatial Data... more Methodologies usually adopted in urban and regional planning do not assume an approach based on Spatial Data Infrastructures principles, which could ensure a better use of geospatial data and support interoperability of planning choices providing an active participation of stakeholders involved in planning processes. An innovative approach of e¬government based on a better organization and management of geospatial data, could contribute, through a deeper territorial knowledge and a more appropriate use of decision support tools, to more effectively pursue planning goals. Spatial planning and related information have a strategic importance not only at local and national level but also at international scale where a "continuum" of settlements characterizes the crossing of various countries. Planning activity is also strictly related to aspects such as management of natural resources, prevention of natural disasters, transports which in many cases have international cross-border interests. Consequently, today there is an absolute need of harmonized planning data a strong demand of planning core data sets in order to provide an easy and wide understandability of this information. The objective of the Plan4all project is to build a network of local, regional and national stakeholders, companies in the ICT sector, organizations involved in planning and economic development, universities and international agencies in order to find a consensus concerning the harmonization of spatial planning data based on existing best practices in Europe and according to the European Directive INSPIRE. The project takes into account lessons learned from previous experiences, such as Armonia, Humboldt, eSDINet+, Euradin, whose partners are also present in the Plan4all consortium. The project will involve also the experience of OGC working group members concerning the definition of standards technologies. Plan4all aims to contribute to the harmonization of planning data. Based on best practices analysis, the project is producing a series of technical documents for metadata profiles design and implementation, data models and harmonization procedures. Particular attention will be paid to issues related to the protection of intellectual property rights, as well as security aspects.

A conceptual investigation of the ontological commensurability of spatial data infrastructures among different cultures

by David J. Saab

Earth Science Informatics 2(4):283-297, December 2009, Special Issue on Spatial Data Infrastructures for the Sustainability of the Brazilian Amazon:  Integrating People, Information, and Models, Berlin: Springer.

Humans think and communicate in very flexible and schematic ways, and a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the... more Humans think and communicate in very flexible and schematic ways, and a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the Amazon and associated information system ontologies should reflect this flexibility and the adaptive nature of human cognition in order to achieve semantic interoperability.  In this paper I offer a conceptual investigation of SDI and explore the nature of cultural schemas as expressions of indigenous ontologies and the challenges of semantic interoperability across cultures.  Cultural schemas are, in essence, our ontologies, but they are markedly different than classical formal ontologies.  They shape our ontological commitments to what exists in the world as well as the ways in which we approach and engage the world.  And while they help structure our understanding of the world in which we are embedded, they are associative and flexible.  They help to focus our attention to particular details of our experiences and give them salience, yet they cannot be simply reduced to a series of extracted features.  They allow us to make meaning of the contextualized, cultural experience in which we are always immersed. An SDI is a shared social-technological-informational structure that, if it is to be useful and successful for sustainability in the Amazon, must incorporate and use indigenous cultural schemas.  Indigenous communities must have the ability to contribute to the collection of geospatial data and their contributions recognized as legitimate forms of knowledge. In order for the SDI to work, it must recognize the larger cultural landscape to which cultural schemas can connect to the ready-to-hand elements of salient cultural experiences.

Metodología de Taller de Presentación y Difusión de Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales para Honduras

by Javier Carranza Tresoldi

Published by Ministerio del Interior y Gobernación de Honduras

El estado de las artes de las IDE (IDEs – en inglés Spatial Data Infrastructures o SDIs) en Centro América en general... more El estado de las artes de las IDE (IDEs – en inglés Spatial Data Infrastructures o SDIs) en Centro América en general y en Honduras en particular es alentador, aunque con presencias incipientes y/o fragmentadas. Existen, sin embargo, algunos desarrollos estimulantes aunque no son producto necesariamente de un proceso integrado y sistemático.

El estudio aporta una metodología revisada para desarrollar la gobernabilidad en la IDE Hondureña que puede generalizarse para construir nuevos modelos, independientemente del desarrollo y características individuales de los países, organismos y ámbitos de aplicación de América Latina.

A modo de introducción se exponen brevemente las terminologías relacionadas a la gestión de la información geográfica y territorial. A continuación, se discute esta terminología a fin de describir y comparar su realidad en países seleccionados de América Latina. A título seguido, se describe y estudia el estado de las artes de las IDEs en el Caribe en orden a enfocarse en el caso de República De Honduras. A este análisis inductivo le seguirá la proposición de un plan de acción basado en algunas acciones ya en curso, disparadas por el Taller de Presentación y Difusión de Experiencias en IDE realizado en Tegucigalpa el 22 y el 23 de Octubre de 2009 con la participación de alrededor de 20 instituciones relacionadas al ámbito de la geo información en Honduras.

Design research for cadastral systems

by volkan cagdas

Çağdaş, V. and Stubkjær, E. (2010). Design research for cadastral systems. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, doi:10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2010.07.003

Cadastral information is a reference data component, of any spatial data infrastructure (SDI). During recent years,... more Cadastral information is a reference data component, of any spatial data infrastructure (SDI). During recent years, several organisational and individual research projects have investigated the cadastral domain. Two paradigms characterize much of this research and their methodologies: a behavioural paradigm or, alternatively, a ‘design research’ paradigm. While some efforts have focused on behavioural research methodologies, design research methodologies have not been addressed by the cadastral, geographical information system (GIS) and SDI research community so far. The present article, therefore, aims to demonstrate usage of the design research paradigm through a methodological analysis of recent cadastral research, which addresses information system issues and within this context, designs information system artefact. The analysis is based on five doctoral dissertations and an array of papers representing the development of the ISO/WD 19152.3 Land Administration Domain Model. The analysis is supplemented with a review of related theory. The main contribution of this article is an explication of a design research methodology and a theoretical framework for research in cadastral information, cadastral systems and the units of property rights reflected in these systems.

Keywords: Cadastre; Design research (science); Geographical information system; Land administration; Research methodology; Spatial data infrastructure