European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network ESDIN

10 March 2009, 11:01am

10 March 2009 - Experts join together to help shape the European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network (ESDIN)

More than 60 users of geographical information from 20 countries met recently in Paris to discuss how their specialist knowledge can contribute to the European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network (ESDIN).

The meeting, the first involving representatives from European postal and transport services, military, local and regional government, and software companies, established two types of reference groups to help develop services to integrate existing national spatial data infrastructures to create the definitive pan-European location framework.

This will give users of geographical information access to the rich resource of reference data - such as co-ordinates, administrative boundaries, transport networks, cadastral parcels and hydrography at various levels of detail - 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 will also help these organisations to meet the requirements of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) Directive.

ESDIN, which is co-funded by the European Commission and co-ordinated by EuroGeographics, is also investigating ways to reliably and cost-effectively download, use and re-use geographical information from the public sector.

"We're delighted by the number of organisations willing to share their expertise and experience," said ESDIN Project Manager, Stephen Evans, "Members of the reference groups will play an important part in keeping us up to date about relevant developments and we hope that they will also champion the project to colleagues and associates. All the participants will be able to follow its progress through the ESDIN website, newsletters, articles and dedicated emails."

The seven expert reference groups will help to avoid any duplication of effort in overcoming the technical and business obstacles which restrict easy access to joined-up data across national borders. Members will be invited to review and comment on the plans and progress of the project, to provide guidance and advice and to participate in testing activities.

Those who simply want to follow the progress of ESDIN can join the observer reference group to receive regular updates.

Krister Olson, Official of the Directorate-General for Information Society of the European Commission, the eContentplus decision making body, said:

"Making digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable is an important component of a strategy to tackle the economic and environmental challenges which we face. The collaboration of experts in projects such as ESDIN is just one way in which we are encouraging faster and more effective progress in addressing the needs of the European Union."

ESDN will end in February 2011. More information is available at the project web site below.

For further information about EuroGeographics, please contact Executive Director, Dave Lovell on +33 (0)1 64 153 265, +33 676 396 241 (mobile) or email dave.lovell@eurogeographics.org.

European Spatial Data Infrastructure Network ESDIN

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