COMMISSION 3 IN PROGRESS
Jes RYTTERSGAARD, Denmark
Key words: Commission 3, Information Management,
NSDI, Internet, e-commerce.
INTRODUCTION TO SPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
In a few years no one will think of spatial data as something
special. Spatial data will be integrated in all kinds of information
systems. Sometimes they will be visible. In other cases they will be
invisible, but indispensable because they are the underlying basis in
the different information systems.
In time with integration of spatial information in the various
information systems, there will be a strong need for people who can
manage the technical and organisational aspects of combining data and
in turning raw data into understandable information. Aspects
comprising disciplines as common standards, common data models, models
for spatial information infrastructures etc. With other words, people
who are skilled in Spatial Information Management.
PRESENTATION OF COMMISSION 3
In 1998 the field of responsibility for Commission 3 was changed
from GIS/LIS to Spatial Information Management. To day the term
Spatial Information Management (or Geographic Information Management)
has been adopted by several involved in the traditional GIS
businesses.
The new field of responsibility found expression in the following
"Terms of reference":
- Management of land, property and hydrographic information and
the related processes, procedures and resources
- Spatial data infrastructure - data models, standards,
availability and legal aspects, management of spatial knowledge
- The impacts on organisational structure, business models,
professional practice and administration
- Management of spatial information supporting sustainable
development.
Against a background of this change in responsibility the
Commission formulated the following mission statement:
- "Towards a digital earth" - how to change raw data
into understandable information.
- Criterion of success: to initiate activities so interesting that
colleagues will regard the commission as one base in their
professional lives.
- Progress activities mainly through three working groups which
will participate in the planning of workshops and short seminars
held during and outside FIG working weeks; submit progress reports
to those events; and present the final outcomes of their work as
reports, statements and/or publications.
The three working groups are:
- WG 3.1: Spatial information management: technical approaches
- WG 3.2: Spatial data infrastructure
- WG 3.3: Facilitating spatial information and knowledge
management for decision support: through appropriate
organisational, political, business structure.
Commission 3 works through the Working Groups and by bringing
people together. At working weeks and seminars we offer people from
different countries the possibility:
- To share experiences.
- To become members of a global network.
- To become friends.
Like the other 9 technical commissions in the FIG structure
Commission 3 is responsible for seminar sessions during the annual FIG
working week. In addition Commission 3 arranges a seminar including an
annual meeting every year.
Till now we have had annual meetings in Budapest, Hungary in 1999
with 70 participants and in Athens, Greece in 2000 with almost 100
participants. The criterion of success has been fulfilled.
From the 2-5 October this year we will have a conference in
Nairobi, Kenya with the title "Spatial Information for
Sustainable Development". The expected number of participants
will be near 250. Our colleagues from the Institution of Surveyors
Kenya have arranged the conference in co-operation with UN-Habitat and
Commission 3, with a strong support from the director of
administration at the FIG permanent office in Copenhagen, Denmark. The
conference is co-sponsored by several of the FIG commissions and a
number of other organizations. We will have our annual meeting on the
3 October.
Information on the Commission and its activities and results are
available on the Commission homepage on http://fig3.boku.at.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Since 1998 the main activities has been dedicated to Spatial Data
Infrastructure and best practise studies in co-operation with
UN-Habitat in Nairobi. Even though it is very essential topics it is
only a limited part of issues related to Spatial Information
Management.
The accelerating technological development offers the users
possibilities for access to information and services that was
unforeseeable a few years ago, and this is a continuing process. Even
though the implementation time is very dependent on local conditions
we will see implementations as well in developed as in developing
countries.
Some possible results based on actual developing trends will be
illustrated with a few examples. Because many developments are
technology driven there will by way of introduction be a short resume
of actual major technological developments.
Major technological developments
The new technologies will give us new methods for data capture in
digital form. Remote sensing will give us cheaper data. Real time
positioning will revolutionise the traditional fieldwork, etc. The
available data will be used as well in public and prate administration
as in business.
The major influence on GPS Surveying in coming years will be the
real time kinematic technique (RTK). Networks of permanent stations
supporting real time and post processed GPS surveying will be
increasingly important parts of the Spatial Data Infrastructure.
Personal navigation is another hot issue. By means of a mobile
phone or a minimized GPS receiver it is possible locate a person, a
vehicle etc. in a few meter range. With online access to
information-systems with geographic references it is possible to offer
individualized information to an unlimited extend, to establish
different services like road pricing, route planning etc.
With the Internet the world has been narrowed. Many of us have been
accustomed to use the Internet as the communication network for
self-management, self-service, providing of information and making
business. With the coming hand-held devices information will be
available independent of where you are and when. The Internet has
great influence on development of organizational and business
structures.
In line with introduction of broadband technologies we will see a
number of new services. The different service-providers will create
and offer information based on data from different sources created on
the fly.
Examples on different developments
In the following there are a few examples on possibilities that the
potential technological developments will offer to citizens, public
administration, business and the ongoing activities within
globalization.
Citizens look for experience and adventure. They will expect that
all information independent of where it is stored will be available at
their fingertips present as well as historical versions 24 hours a
day. Some day self-administration and self-service will be taken for
granted. Therefore it is urgent and necessary to combine the
information systems with actual and updated knowledge. This will not
be limited to traditional e-commerce. In a near future it will be
possible for the citizen to update information stored in the different
databases via personalized portals. The geographic based information
systems will directly or indirectly influence the way that the public
administration is organized. With access to all data and knowledge it
will become possible to supply as well the politicians as the citizens
with the same information as the case officer and it becomes possible
to decentralize decision competence. Because it will be possible to
combine data from sources, even sources on different levels in the
administrative hierarchy it will be possible to break down traditional
bureaucratic barriers even barriers between the private and the public
sector. Spatial information will be one of the catalysts in
reengineering of many administrations.
Systems like this demands common references, common
"keys" between different data sets, seamless databases,
common standards etc.
Spatial data or information stored in traditional paper maps is
static. Each map sheet represents a snapshot of selected objects at a
given time, and "the owner" has an exclusive right to the
map and the data the map is based on. In contrast to this a digital
map or better a collection of spatial and spatial related data is
dynamic with the time parameter as a part of the individual data
collection.
In "the digital world" we have a situation with different
owners of spatial data, many different users and an unknown number of
applications. In this context it is not possible to maintain a
traditional hierarchical marked. In stead we will experience a marked
organized as a network with many to many relations.
The users, as well public as private, groups or individuals, will
take it for granted that it is possible to combine data from different
sources. To handle this situation the geo information business has to
be reorganized. We will see new business units based on partnership
and strategic alliances. Some of these business units will be global.
Internet and E-commerce is some of the catalysts in this process.
There is a general trend towards being Global. Agenda 21 and The
Habitat II Global Plan of Action address the need for information,
development of appropriate databases and exchange of information as
conditions for creating the basis for sustainable development in all
regions of the world. One reason for this is that the global society
faces great problems concerning urbanisation and the influence of
urbanisation on coastal zones and environmental conditions overall.
The ongoing development includes globalisation of both environmental
problems and trades.
CHALLENGES
The technological development will continue and the possibilities
for handling spatial data and information will proceed. When we are
looking at the data and the formalized procedures for creating models
of our physical surroundings, visualization of the results etc. the
situation is different. There are a number of recognized and not
recognized obstacles. The major hindrances are completely
organisational.
Against a background of a large number of presentations in Prague
and in Athens in 2000 and the belonging discussions and debates the
chairmanship has formulated the following draft on "Experiences
and Visions" concerning spatial information management. On the
one hand this is not a scientific conclusion based on uniformed data,
on the other hand there was so many similarities in the different
statements that the "Experiences and Visions" is normative
for the necessary developments in the years to come.
Experiences
- National Spatial Information Infrastructure (NSDI) is an Asset
for all Nations in general. It should be considered as a key part
of wider infrastructure assets such as roads, telecommunication
networks etc.
- Establishing of a Spatial Information Infrastructure demands
co-operation/partnership between the public and the private
sectors and amongst the variety of professions involved.
- Given the complexity of existing institutional structures, one
can expect conflicts when seeking co-operation in NSDI strategy
formulation and implementation.
- NSDI can proceed even if a formal policy document [top down
approach] does not exist. It is possible to proceed with certain
operational level activities [bottom up approach] while the policy
is being formulated. These activities can themselves drive and
encourage policy.
- Every NSDI will be different, depending on cultural needs,
social evolution, economic reality and national ambitions. The
environmental framework and the market demand will shape the most
appropriate SDI.
- NSDI policy must be flexible to address rapidly changing needs
and wishes of the users and adapt to changing technologies.
- Varied applications and services through a project-oriented
approach will bring reality to the NSDI (GSDI). An over emphasis
on data acquisition, without a market linked application, will not
provide any momentum for further development.
- The potential values and benefits have to be demonstrated
through large-scale projects to encourage further investment.
- Currently, it is often difficult, or even impossible, for users
to sensibly combine data from different sources.
- It is essential that users is involved in defining and testing
the associated products and services.
- Visualisation, modelling and analysing activities will be the
focus of value added services in the years to come.
Visions
- Cadastral, topographic and thematic datasets should adopt the
same overarching philosophy and datamodel to achieve multi-purpose
data integration, both vertically and horizontally.
- To be able to integrate and share data we need to focus on
research to understand and resolve different semantics in data.
- To be able to offer the different users [institutional as well
as private] the full potential of spatial information independent
of space and time, the full range of spatial data, actual as well
as historical, should be made accessible and available
- Alternative possibilities for the presentation and
interpretations of spatial information, including integration of
knowledge, should be considered.
- The commercial and contractual frameworks for co-operation and
the associated business models will be key issues in the further
development of NSDI.
- To be able to adapt to the e-market rethinking of pricing,
rights and access to data is necessary.
An examination of the "experiences and visions" shows
that the sub-statements can be divided up into five groups:
Infrastructure including data modelling
- Modelling
- Geo-visualisation
- Organizing models
- Business models
In addition to these five groups it is reasonable to extend the
list with an additional group:
As mentioned in the preceding paragraphs it will become necessary
to include knowledge or access to knowledge in the future spatial
information systems to make the systems usable for ordinary users. The
time has come to speak about "Spatial Information and Knowledge
Management".
There are a several sub-themes in each of the six groups. To
support a holistic development of spatial data and information you
need to concentrate on a few but very essential activities. Each of
the groups will be illustrated by examples.
In "Experiences and Visions" you can find advice on how
to make progress within Infrastructure and the fundamental
concepts of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).
Independent of the level of development data modelling is a
fundamental topic within NSDI. To secure harmonizing and the
possibility of combining data from different sources you have to agree
on common methods and standards for data modelling. Even though
it is very conflict-ridden it is necessary on cross-institutional
level or better on national level to start to discuss and decide on
the semantics in spatial data.
Depending of the maturity of NSDI in the individual country it is
in addition recommendable to have special focus on issues like
standards, especially the ISO standards for Geographic information,
legal aspects, access to data and prizing. It is very urgent to relate
the different topics to the Internet as a mean of communication and to
e-commerce.
The term modelling comprises several very different areas
important for professional handling and presentation of spatial data
and information. Presentation of data from one or several databases
and sources requires decisions on how to select and how to manipulate
data to be able to express what you want to express. In this context
the methods are model generalization and cartographic
generalization. Both methods need to be developed to a degree that
it becomes possible to carry out the procedures "on the
fly".
The last area to be mentioned here is modelling of our
physical surroundings including the related attributes combined with
tools for analysing of the models or changes introduced into
the models.
Traditional spatial data and information has been visualized
on one specific media, paper. In line with that PC's with access to
the Internet has become widespread it has been obvious that
visualization of spatial data and information on a screen is very
different from visualization on a map. It is partly due to the size of
the screen, the presentation of colours, the possible minimum size of
objects on the screen and similar differences. There is a strong need
for examples and standards for visualization of spatial information, geo-visualization,
on traditional maps and on screens including the small screens on
hand-held devices.
Because many new users only have limited or no experience in use
and interpretation of spatial based information it is necessary and
urgent to develop alternative possibilities for the presentation and
interpretations of spatial information, including integration of
knowledge.
As soon as it is possible to have simultaneous access to different
sources with spatial data and if possible even knowledge it is time
for reengineering of the way we arrange duties, workflow and decision
making process inside the individual organisation and across boarders
between different organisation including boarders between
private and public administration.
At the same time it is a part of the organisational framework to
co-operate on the implementation of as well a National Spatial Data
Infrastructure as possible co-operation on regional and even local
level.
As illustrated previously in this paper the marked for maps and
spatial data and information undergo major changes at the moment, with
Internet and E-commerce as business drivers.
To day the producer specifies the content and the quality of the
available product. To morrow we will see quite new products specified
by the customers dedicated to specific use. Normally the products will
consist of data and information from different sources eventually as
results of modelling processes or results from customer defined
analyses done by a service provider.
Changing from a situation where the national mapping agencies
almost had a monopoly to a marked with a widely distributed supply
chain demands new business models, new prizing algorithms,
clarified rules for copyright, standardized product specifications and
access to Meta-data and it demands partnership and strategic
alliances between the possible players in the spatial information
arena.
The traditional employee with a medium or high-level education
in geo-related issues does have a comprehensive knowledge on IT and
informatics, cartography, photogrammetry and surveying.
At the same time there is a need for employees with new
qualifications such as management, standards, data models, meta data,
access to data, infrastructure architecture, intellectual property
right, copyright, prizing of data and organizational developments.
Beside there is a need for knowledge on analysis, modelling,
visualization, visual communication etc.
The new technology offers completely new possibilities for training
and education. Distance learning and distance training are
becoming important strategic issues in developing countries and
countries in transition because training and education on site
will minimise implementation times. Besides it will be possible to be
less dependent on key persons because it will not be costly to involve
more employees in the training and education.
THE ROLE OF COMMISSION 3
A commission in the FIG structure is not able to have it is own
research and development activities. In stead a commission can
initiate and support research and development at universities, in
developing organisations and private companies, and the commission can
disseminate information and knowledge to FIG, the delegates, the
member associations, to UN to the World Bank, to international
aid-organizations etc.
Commission 3 tries to live up to this. We collect information on
the ongoing developments and developing trends in the different member
countries through the national delegates and other involved in the
commission network, from presentations during FIG working weeks and
the annual meetings, from best practise studies, by interpretation of
the answers on questionnaires and from monitoring the developments in
different countries and regions.
On background of a continuous registration of the trends and the
strategic plans for FIG formulated by the Bureau and adopted by the
General Assembly it is possible to come up with a working plan for the
commission for an inter-congress period (four years). The working plan
comprises sub-working plans for working groups, plans for annual
meeting, communication plans etc.
After a period (1998-2002) with very much focus on National Spatial
Data Infrastructure it is time for going deeper into some of the other
elements within the framework of Spatial Information Management:
modelling, geo-visualisation, organizing models, business models and
education and training.
Now it is up to the incoming chairmanship and the active delegates
of Commission 3 to decide on the content of the work plan for the
period 2002-2006.
My recommendation should be to concentrate the energy of the
Commission on organisational and business models combined with aspects
of NSDI, modelling and geo-visualization and spatial knowledge
management.
CONTACT
Jes Ryttersgaard
Chairperson of FIG Commission 3
Head of Informatics Department
National Survey and Cadastre, Denmark
Rentemestervej 8
DK-2400 Copenhagen
DENMARK
Tel. + 45 35 87 50 22
Fax + 45 35 87 50 51
E-mail: JR@kms.dk
14 April 2001
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FIG Office. Last revised on 05-11-25.
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