NSDI in Germany
by Bernd Teichert
Key words: National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Metadata,
Geographic Information System, Data Access, Data Exchange, Standards.
Abstract
Computer assisted Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) and digital data processing are essential to today's practices.
Due to the complex tasks there is a high demand in many areas for
accurate spatially related data. Geodata provide the essential
building blocks for successful information systems. Up-to-date areas
of application are all modern technologies in the fields of public
planning and administration, conservation, traffic control and
telecommunication all the way to the use of geodata on the Internet.
The problem in Europe as well as in Germany
concerning NSDI at the moment is that the future growth is hampered by
major differences in the way geographic information is collected,
stored and distributed in different sectors of government and
commerce. There is still no conclusive policy on digital geographic
information, nor are there operational standards for data definition
and exchange. Readily available basic data sets and knowledge
infrastructure all over Europe is still missing. The main impediments
to the successful use of geographic information in Europe are not
technical, but political and organisational.
There is a policy framework required to set up and
maintain a stable set of agreed rules, standards, procedures,
guidelines and incentives for creating, collecting, exchanging and
using geographic information. Policy has to create the conditions for
competitive, plentiful, rich and differentiated supply of geographic
information which is easily identifiable and easily accessible for the
benefit of the citizen, society and the economy. Based on the
questionnaire of Harlan Onsrud this paper shows the German activities
about NSDI.
Prof. Bernd Teichert
University of Applied Sciences Dresden
Friedrich-List-Platz 1
D-01069 Dresden
Germany
Tel.: + 49 351-462 3179
Fax: + 49 351-462 2191
E-Mail: teichert@htw-dresden.de
NSDI in Germany
1. INTRODUCTION
Information is the principal asset in an
information society. Geographic data sets do have considerably greater
value to the community if they were definitive and unique. Among a
clear set of principles the geographical referencing system is the
core of a national spatial data infrastructure. Well-developed address
referencing systems or national cadastres can be found in the European
countries. Anyhow, a SDI is not built from scratch and its evolution
implies profound changes in existing roles and responsibilities. Easy
access and dissemination of data are the main issues to create a
"local" SDI.
Geographic information applications vary greatly,
but users have a recurring need for a few common themes of data. These
themes include basic information about transportation, hydrography
(rivers and lakes), geodetic control, digital imagery, government
boundaries and land ownership information etc. A lack of investment,
common standards, and coordination have created situations in which
these needs are not being met. As a result important information is
not available for many areas, and different organizations support
duplicate data for other areas. Increased costs and reduced efficiency
for individual organizations as well as for the Nation are the
results. Therefore a means to maintain and manage the common
information being collected by the public and private sector is
urgently needed.
The creation of a German policy framework in the
area of GI is essential. A strategy to remove the bottlenecks and
create new market opportunities has to be established. An action plan
should include the following areas:
- Stimulating the creation of base data
- Stimulating the creation of metadata services
- Lowering legal barriers and reducing potential risks
- Coordination at European level
- Technological support
- Research and development
- Quality and standards
- Awareness and training
- Market awareness
The collection and dissemination of base data in
Germany is done by a range of mandated national institutes such as
National Mapping Agencies (NMA), Military Organisations, Cadastral and
Geodetic Surveys, and there are private companies that publish a wide
range of cartographic products. Much of this geographic information is
currently controlled by the government through licensing and
copyrights.
2. NSDI - ACTIVITIES IN GERMANY
Based on the "NSDI on-line questionnaire"
- a survey of National Spatial Data Infrastructures around the globe -
of Onsrud (1999), the German activities are demonstrated. The goal of
this survey is to gather baseline information on the nature and
characteristics of the NSDI's currently being developed. The
information collected will be used (1) to determine whether there are
sufficient similarities among the national characteristics and (2) to
assess the need for a global coordination or facilitation mechanism.
Although this first survey was done in 1998, it gives a fairly good
overview of the today's situation of NSDI in Germany.
In Germany we have several initiatives for
developing a national spatial data infrastructure. There are mainly
three organizations coordinating NSDI development efforts:
1. Working Committee of the Surveying and Mapping
Agencies of the German states; Arbeitsgemeinschaft der
Vermessungsverwaltungen der Länder der Bundesrepublik
Deutschland (AdV)
2. German Umbrella Organization for Geoinformation;
Deutscher Dachverband für GeoInformation
(DDGI)
3. German Political Working Group for
Geoinformation; InterMinisterieller Ausschuss
für GeoInformationswesen (IMAGI)
The primary types, categories or forms of spatial
digital data being made available through the NSDI are all kind of
official Geodata e.g. geodetic control, elevation, topography, digital
aerial survey, administration boundaries and land ownership. The
vision is that these core data sets of the cadastral, surveying and
mapping agencies will provide a current base which anyone may use to
collect, register or integrate other thematic spatial information. But
only core spatial data sets, vector as well as raster data, are being
made available through the German NSDI. They will be provided by the
cadastral authorities, the surveying and mapping agencies of the
German states, and the Office of Cartography and Geodesy; Bundesamt
für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG.) Metadata and
means for finding spatial data sets may be found on the web sites of
AdV and BKG. This is the first step to establish a clearinghouse.
Citizens, businesses or others may gain access to data available by
special laws, contracts and they are charged according to a price-list
determined by the AdV. The basis for determining the price of various
forms of spatial data are fixed by balanced relation between benefit
and expenses of production. DDGI and IMAGI are working on an effective
and transparent data collection and data exchange model. On the other
hand there are also some private companies collecting their own
geodata and they are selling it on a separate price-list. Those
private commercial firms will need NSDI as soon as possible. Therefore
they have to be involved in building the NSDI, preferably as a member
of the DDGI.
Public domain data sets are not available within
Germany. There is no additional service or goods provided by
government in support of the NSDI for which individual users are not
charged. AdV and BKG offer information for finding and obtaining
spatial data free of charge.
The privacy of individual citizens is strongly
protected relative to data that may be accessed through the NSDI. All
spatial data sets, that contain information of individuals, are
subject of the German laws of protection of privacy.
AdV and the DDGI explicitly recognized the need to
establish a NSDI. The German government also has recognized the
importance of spatial data and has founded a German Political Working
Group for Geoinformation (IMAGI) in order to build up and improve the
coordination of a spatial data infrastructure. Unfortunately there are
no funds specifically budgeted and acquired for NSDI activities. On
DDGI-level it is done by the common weal. To build a Geo Data Service
Centre (GDSC) several partners will have to invest into a new common
company.
NSDI is mainly build up by the surveying and
mapping agencies of the German states, the cadastral authorities and
the BKG whilst AdV is coordinating it. DDGI is in general active as an
interdisciplinary, official and neutral non-profit organization
whereas IMAGI is active on the political level.
The vision of a German NSDI incorporates the
following components or concepts:
- METADATA maintained by AdV and DDGI
- CLEARINGHOUSE maintained by AdV and DDGI
- DATA STANDARDS maintained by AdV and DDGI
- CORE DATA maintained by AdV
- THEMATIC AND VALUE ADDED DATA maintained by DDGI
Funds specifically budgeted and spent on research
projects to advance NSDI concepts are very poor in Germany. Only
research projects at several universities and some initiatives on
local level for special disciplines, like environmental monitoring,
are under development. International and national information and
communication technology standards are on discussion, but it is
planned to adopt it to EGII and GSDI solutions which will include ISO
and OGC.
About the access to spatial data sets with global
coverage the official spatial data is integrated into the European
metadata information system and European data sets provided by MEGRIN,
e.g. Seamless Administration Boundaries of Europe (SABE) and
Geographical Data Discription Directory (GDDD). The German NSDI is
formally affiliated with or connected to spatial data infrastructure
initiatives like CERCO, CEN/ISO, OGC, EUROGI and GSDI.
At the moment the AdV plans to establish a
Geo-Data-Centre which will be maintained by the BKG. The DDGI is
developing a concept for GDSC. Similar activities can be found for
special disciplines in various regions of Germany. More information
about NSDI efforts in Germany may be found on the Internet addresses www.adv-online.de,
www.ifag.de and www.ddgi.de.
3. CONCLUSION
The major impediments to the successful use of GI
in Germany is not technical, but political and organisational. To
receive the benefits of an unified German/European GI infrastructure,
such like
- Efficiencies of scale in a unified market
- Reduced problems for any German-wide projects
- New business opportunities for the German GI industry
- Ability to design technical solutions for the future growth
- Increasing use of skills and improved market position in GI
- Improved capability for German-wide planning and decision making
the formulation and implementation of a German
policy framework for GI is inevitable although it will be difficult to
establish. The intention is to set up a Task Force (e.g. IMAGI)
composed of high level prominent persons from the German GI industry
and from the user community as well as high level officials from the
government. The basic collection and storage of data, metadata as well
as the performance of other basic actions shall remain as a local
task. The major investments needed for the creation of data and
applications will have to be provided by the private sector and/or the
public organisations mandated to produce data.
To remove bottlenecks, reduce unnecessary costs and
provide new market opportunities, a coherent policy framework is
urgently needed. Considering about the consequences of the German
situation mentioned before, there would be a continuation of a
fragmented GI-market, no coherent German view of spatial problems,
increased dependence on foreign technology, high costs for the
conversion of data and last but not least a tendency to adopt ad hoc
solutions will take place.
Fortunately, via the work of OGC, ISO, CEN, CERGO
and EUROGI there is now a discernible trend towards a harmonisation of
GI in Europe, and because of joint projects in industry and business
positive efforts are on the way to get coherent base data. As a result
there is an ever-growing collecting of national digital GI datasets
held by local, regional and national data providers and users, both
public and private. In order to have access to those databases,
metadata information services have to be established.
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Prof. Bernd Teichert
University of Applied Sciences Dresden
E-Mail: teichert@htw-dresden.de
3 March 2000
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