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Space Applications InstituteDirectorate General Joint Research CentreEuropean Commission21020 Ispra (VA), Italyhttp://www.sai.jrc.it http://gi-gis.aris.sai.jrc.it

The “GI1 and GIS2” Project: a key action for the GI&GIS community

Alessandro Annoni

1 1 GI=Geographic InformationGI=Geographic Information2 2 GIS=Geographic Information SystemsGIS=Geographic Information Systems

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JRC in the 5th Framework Programme

The JRC carries out Community research programmes. Specific programmes have

been designed for the JRC for 1999-2002 as part of the Fifth Framework Programme.

The JRC Work Programme is the result of an interactive The JRC Work Programme is the result of an interactive planning process involving a series of consultations with the planning process involving a series of consultations with the customer Directorates General (DGs)customer Directorates General (DGs)

The GI&GIS Project is one of the 85 projects for non nuclear The GI&GIS Project is one of the 85 projects for non nuclear activities of the JRC approved at the end of the consultation activities of the JRC approved at the end of the consultation

processprocess

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Why harmonisation, why interoperability ?

HarmonizedHarmonized data, not limited by data, not limited by national boundaries, coherent national boundaries, coherent databases describing databases describing fundamental resources, such fundamental resources, such as soil type, meteorological as soil type, meteorological information, land cover, information, land cover, demography, protected areas, demography, protected areas, …. ….

GIGI GISGIS

The operational use of spatial The operational use of spatial databases requires that databases requires that distributed catalogues are distributed catalogues are interoperableinteroperable, and accessible to , and accessible to distributed users. We need an distributed users. We need an adequate technology to access adequate technology to access and process distributed spatial and process distributed spatial data.data.

EU enlargement and transnational activities require

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Why the SAI leadership ?

The SAI experience and independence are key elements to assemble and manage such dbs and to act as technical co-ordination point supporting the growth of the GI&GIS market in Europe.

The recent evolution of GIS technology gives a chance to the European industry to re-enter in the global market (JRC can help to correctly defend the European needs).

The GI&GIS project therefore focuses on harmonisation of pan-european thematic datasets and on interoperability of GIS systems.

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Why a project covering bot: GI & GIS ?

GI and GIS activities must be co-ordinated in a unique project

to work out obvious to work out obvious synergiessynergies to increase the overall to increase the overall efficiencyefficiency

the GI&GIS project is an the GI&GIS project is an horizontalhorizontal activity towards activity towards the Provision of Spatial Information Servicesthe Provision of Spatial Information Services

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The objectives

To conceive, create or harmonise Pan-European dbs to be used to support and monitor the EU policies To assist in the creation of the European Geographic Information Infrastructure (EGII) To develop methods to improve statistics using GI data To provide scientific- technical support on GI&GIS to EC developing a common European position To operate GI communications facility http://ams.emap.sai.jrc.it/dg3gis

To create link / synergies with projects relevant for the development of GI and GIS market

To achieve these objectives several partners must To achieve these objectives several partners must be involved of be involved of privateprivate and and publicpublic sector, from sector, from administration, industry and research in different administration, industry and research in different domainsdomains

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Policy framework

Spatial information becomes more and more relevant to support a range of EU sectorial policies

The CommonCommon Agricultural PolicyAgricultural Policy (Agri-environment, Agriculture, ..)

Regional PoliciesRegional Policies (Spatial Planning, Structural funds…) Environmental PoliciesEnvironmental Policies (Natura2000, Agenda 21, ..) Aid and Development PolicyAid and Development Policy (European Development Fund,..) Industrial PoliciesIndustrial Policies (Competitiveness / EU enlargement, ..) Others (Transports, Fishery, Coastal Zones ManagementTransports, Fishery, Coastal Zones Management,

…) A discussion is under way for a European Data policy

(COM 585/98 Green Paper on Public Sector Information In information Society), in addition a GI Policy could be maybe defined in future through the GI2000 initiative

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Potential benefit for GI&GIS community

DirectDirect benefits will include: Technology Transfer, Promotion of Standards, New Infrastructures,

… Increased demand of GI to define and monitor sustainable policies.

IndirectIndirect benefits as results of the actions: to develop a new GI European cultureculture (emphasizing the importance

of GI in the decision-making process) to identify specific European needsneeds or problems and to defend them

in the globalisation process to set-up a inter-DG task force to co-ordinateco-ordinate actions of the EC that

could have a relevant impact on GI&GIS.

GIS Industry, GI data providers, Researchers, GIS Industry, GI data providers, Researchers, Consultants, Application Managers could benefit Consultants, Application Managers could benefit from the increasing demand for Spatial Servicesfrom the increasing demand for Spatial Services.

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Scientific/technical approach

WP7000 Catchment Information SystemWP8000 Land use / land coverWP9000 Rural LandscapesWP10000 GIS x Natura2000WP11000 European Soil Information SystemWP12000 Agro-Meterorology

WP7000 Catchment Information SystemWP8000 Land use / land coverWP9000 Rural LandscapesWP10000 GIS x Natura2000WP11000 European Soil Information SystemWP12000 Agro-Meterorology

WP2000 Technical and Political Support, .. WP4000 Concertation, Information disseminationWP2000 Technical and Political Support, .. WP4000 Concertation, Information dissemination

WP2000 Network, Political Support,…WP5000 Systems and PrototypesWP6000 Spatial Statistics WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land coverWP9000 Rural LandscapesWP10000 GIS x Natura2000WP11000 Soil Information SystemWP12000 Agro-Meterorology

WP2000 Network, Political Support,…WP5000 Systems and PrototypesWP6000 Spatial Statistics WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land coverWP9000 Rural LandscapesWP10000 GIS x Natura2000WP11000 Soil Information SystemWP12000 Agro-Meterorology

WP2000 Technology watch, …WP3000 Aspects of GIS and Tele-Geo interoperabilityWP4000 Concertation and Information disseminationWP5000 Systems and Prototypes

WP2000 Technology watch, …WP3000 Aspects of GIS and Tele-Geo interoperabilityWP4000 Concertation and Information disseminationWP5000 Systems and PrototypesTechnologyTechnology

WatchWatch

GIS and IT Industry

GIS Research

Standard Organizatio

ns

GI&GIS users

Community

Citizens

Member States

European Commission

GI data Providers

GI&GIS Association

s

TechnicalTechnical

support to ECsupport to EC

Assist the Assist the

creation of EGIIcreation of EGII

ThematicThematic

Pan-EU dbsPan-EU dbs

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Technical support/concertation for EC

Participating in the process to define a European GI policypolicy providing technical expertise Input to defining base data and other thematic data required at European level Establish and co-ordinate linkslinks with European and international initiatives, as for example EUROGI, AGILE, GISIG, OGC, MEGRIN, .... Author strategic documentsstrategic documents relating to GI research in close collaboration with GI actors and researchers.

Operate GI communicationGI communication facilities

Long term perspective: to be the Long term perspective: to be the technicaltechnical contact point and interface between EU contact point and interface between EU community and others DGs on GI and GIScommunity and others DGs on GI and GIS

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Technology watch: interoperability, standards and market monitoring

Monitor the emergence and consolidation of standardsstandards aimed at the interoperability of GI and GIS (e.g. ISO, CEOS, OGC, CEN , EUROGI, ..)

Monitor the evolutionevolution of the TechnologyTechnology in relation to GIS and evaluating their impact on Europe

Study the applicabilityStudy the applicability of technology and/or protocol to the interoperability of geographical information and prototype and demonstrate the feasibility of technology

and/or protocol

The GI&GIS project The GI&GIS project will not define new standardswill not define new standards but will but will promote the use of the emerging ones and will help promote the use of the emerging ones and will help European community to adopt them.European community to adopt them.

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Assist the creation of the EGII

Provide recommendations to the policy making processpolicy making process (help in formalisation of user requirements)

Help in identifying the technological constraintstechnological constraints due to the GI properties (operating as test environment for different models for data access and data integration)

Supporting the creation of new thematic networksthematic networks in collaboration with active organisations (e.g. EEA, GISIG, ..)

Extend the use of GI in domains in which it is still under-used (ex. to to improve statisticsimprove statistics). GI&GIS will contribute to a future European GeoStatistical system driven by Eurostat (GISCO task force: NMAs and NSIs)

The GI&GIS project will help in The GI&GIS project will help in Technical Technical aspect aspect to assist EC officers and EU actors to assist EC officers and EU actors toto define and create an EGIIdefine and create an EGII

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Set-up PAN-European thematic dbs

GI&GIS contributes to develop the thematic part of the EGII (not only identification and solving technical GI problems). Foreseen activities are: Conception, Creation and/or Harmonisation of some thematic PE spatial dbs to be used to support and monitor EU policies (European Soil Information System, Land Cover, Agro-Meteorology, Natura 2000 Protected areas, Rural Landscapes)

For agri-environmental aspects a specific catchment information system has been defined

The GI&GIS approach is The GI&GIS approach is multidisciplinarymultidisciplinary (less cost for more users)(less cost for more users)

Most of these activities will be the support Most of these activities will be the support and co-ordination of and co-ordination of thematic networksthematic networks (ESB, ETC-LC, ETC-NC, Meteo Services,..)(ESB, ETC-LC, ETC-NC, Meteo Services,..)

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Conclusions

The success of the GI&GIS project will depends on the capability to catalyze the interestcatalyze the interest and to get involved relevant organisations and actors both (within EC and EU) the progress of the on going debates on data policiesdata policies (a key element to speed up the creation of the rules for EGII) the flexibilityflexibility and ability of European industryof European industry to adapt their business plan to emerging technologies and to new user requirement and new user culture.

This project is a key action for GI&GIS. It This project is a key action for GI&GIS. It show the intention of a better EC approach in show the intention of a better EC approach in spatial related activities (at least for RTD)spatial related activities (at least for RTD)

The EC GIS workshop should continue to The EC GIS workshop should continue to provide the opportunity to know EC actions provide the opportunity to know EC actions and to help in identifying new EC prioritiesand to help in identifying new EC priorities

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Space Applications InstituteDirectorate General Joint Research CentreEuropean Commission21020 Ispra (VA), Italyhttp://www.sai.jrc.it http://gi-gis.aris.sai.jrc.it

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