EU ESDIN Project marks first anniversary

09 October 2009, 3:56pm

The European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network (ESDIN) is marking its first anniversary by encouraging geographical information users and providers to contribute to a new online forum - www.eurogeoforum.eu

The website allows people to add their views, ideas and expertise to important projects such as ESDIN, which is helping to prepare data for the INSPIRE Directive.

Stakeholders also have the opportunity to join and actively participate in any of the seven ESDIN reference groups dealing with specific topic areas within the project.

ESDIN is a consortium between National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies, academic institutions, technology providers, stakeholders and users of location data. It is helping to develop services to integrate existing national spatial data infrastructures to create the definitive pan-European location framework to give users of geographical information access to the rich resource of reference data available from the national mapping and cadastral agencies of the European Union Member States, candidate countries and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States.

At the same time, the project, which is co-funded by the eContentplus programme of the European Commission and co-ordinated by EuroGeographics, will help these organisations to prepare their data for INSPIRE Annex 1 themes and meet the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive implementation.

ESDIN is also investigating ways to reliably and cost-effectively download, use and re-use geographical information from the public sector.

Milestones during 2008/09 include:

· Testing and providing feedback on INSPIRE Annex 1 Theme Draft Implementation Rules. In a very short timeframe, the project organized several independent test groups working in several countries to validate if INSPIRE specifications can be implemented. A number of issues were reported back to the Commission but in general the results were positive.

· The creation of seven expert reference groups, made up of more than 60 stakeholders and users of geographical information from 20 countries, attached to specific work packages. These are reviewing and commenting on the plans and progress of the project, providing guidance and advice and participating in testing activities. A separate observer group has been created for those with a general interest in ESDIN.

· The development of a dedicated project website at www.esdin.eu for updates on progress and news and events, and a wider online forum for sharing information about developments in geographical information at www.eurogeoforum.eu.

Stephen Evans, ESDIN Project Manager, says: “ESDIN has made significant progress during the past year with work starting on all areas of the project. A major milestone has been the creation of reference groups offering stakeholders the opportunity to become involved and influence its work. We are delighted that so many organisations have taken up this invitation and hope that many more will contribute via www.eurogeoforum.eu and www.esdin.eu.

"Project participants have already started testing the INSPIRE Implementing Rules and their feedback will be further developed during the coming year with a workshop planned to discuss the conclusions. We also provided comments to the INSPIRE Drafting Team on Annex 1 Theme Draft Implementation Rules and we hope that our report will be considered for possible future modifications to the INSPIRE Data Specifications."

Antti Jakobsson, Chair of the Project Co-ordination Group and Programme Manager at EuroGeographics, comments: "We have promoted ESDIN at a number of key industry events such as the GSDI 11/INSPIRE World Conference and will continue to raise its profile in the coming year so that it continues to provide a unique opportunity for data users and providers to discuss and contribute to dataset harmonisation."

"The willingness of participants to collaborate and communicate has been crucial to this successful first year. We look forward to continuing this exchange of ideas and expertise with a wide range of organisations."

ESDIN started in September 2008 and will end in February 2011. A full report on its first year's activities is available at the link below.

European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network (ESDIN) forum

ESDIN Project

Geo: International