Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578www.elsevier.com/locate/envsoft

Establishment of spatial data infrastructure within theenvironmental sector in Slovak Republic

Martin Tuchyna*

Slovak Environmental Agency, Department of Informatics, Tajovskeho 28, 975 90 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

Received 3 May 2006; accepted 3 May 2006

Available online 7 July 2006

Abstract

Life quality improvement depends on our willingness to develop and on the accessibility of relevant and high quality information influencingour decisions. Spatial information plays an important role in this improvement process, because it allows information to be integrated from a va-riety of disciplines for various uses and users. Within the environmental sector of Slovakia we see that there is a great demand for the use of andaccess to spatial information. On the other hand, we are still facing problems connected with incompatibility, low accessibility, data gaps, du-plicity of collection, insufficient access to metadata, varying standards and a low level of coordination. Fortunately things are getting better andthe establishment of the spatial data infrastructure (SDI) defined by INSPIRE can bring solutions for these kind of problems. Therefore the teamof the Department of Informatics at the Slovak Environmental Agency (SEA) with mutual cooperation of GIS specialists from other govern-mental institutions managed under the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) of the Slovak Republic (namely the Geological Survey of the SlovakRepublic, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Re-public, the Water Research Institute and the Slovak Caves Administration, the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology) decided todevelop a distributed geographically oriented system, which brings a new approach to the collection, administration, dissemination and publish-ing of spatial information. The old way of complicated mutual exchange among heterogeneous environments and platforms and difficult accessfor various users was going to be replaced by a new approach based on the principle of interoperability and standards.� 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Spatial data infrastructure; Environment; GIS; INSPIRE; Metadata; Interoperability

1. Philosophy and vision

The main purpose of this paper is to share experience fromthe complex process of spatial data infrastructure (SDI) devel-opment. A special focus is laid on the environmental sectorrepresented by state institutes managed under the Ministryof the Environment of the Slovak Republic. Each countryand each sector have their own specific backgrounds withtasks, problems and their solutions. As anyone who dealswith this kind of issues, the team involved in this case alsohad to search and find answers to a number of questions.Some of them have been solved and others not yet. There is

* Tel.: þ421 48 4374136; fax: þ421 48 4132160.

E-mail address: tuchyna@sazp.sk

1364-8152/$ - see front matter � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2006.05.014

no question about the significance and necessity of SDI withinany kind of sector, or area. The question is how to develop itwith maximum of efficiency and with minimum loss. The au-thor hopes that this article can answer some of these questionsand provide some inspiration for another implementations insimilar cases.

The content of this paper is focused on sharing experiencesfrom the process of SDI development taking an Eastern/Cen-tral European country as an example. There are some specificissues connected with this process and hopefully this descrip-tion will help readers to solve their specific problems andavoid the mistakes associated with this kind of conditions.The philosophy of this initiative was based on establishinga fully operable SDI within the environmental sector as an es-sential component of our national SDI. This NSDI will

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represent the Slovak contribution to the European SDI and en-sure INSPIRE compatibility. All these activities are focusedon the support and implementation relevant to EU and nationallegislation in this field. SDI is a framework defining the mainrules for collecting, administering, processing and distributingspatial information among the wider community. This frame-work will have a legal basis, will provide sufficient informa-tion for common citizens and specialists alike and willsupport a good policymaking process.

Slovakia belongs to the second generation countries whichhave started developing their national GIIs (Geographic Infor-mation Infrastructures) aiming at facilitating the planning andmanagement of economic development and natural resources.The rapid increase in the number of countries becoming in-volved in National GII development is the result of lessonslearned from the clear benefits of first generation of nationalGII (Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, UK andUSA). Initial motivation was to reduce duplication, use re-sources more effectively and to create a base from which in-dustrial productivity and the spatial information marketcould be expanded (ASTEC Global Consultancy, 2006). It isnecessary to consider the principles and practice of sharingand trading government information as in the UK case (Car-lyle et al., 2001). Within the national level there are a numberof key players working on national SDI development, but thereis no one covering legal or political or independent authorityfor this purpose. Our state environmental sector is led by theMinistry of the Environment, which is also responsible forINSPIRE implementation with strong support of the Geodesy,Cartography and Cadastre Authority of the Slovak Republic.There is strong connection to the activities of the NIPI project1

focused on national SDI development within the various keysectors dealing with spatial information.

One practical aspect of this effort is represented by the de-veloped central data warehouse, with the regularly updatedspatial data and metadata on them with the vision of trans-forming the present system to a distributed system and the es-tablishment of the EnviroGeoPortal e a key component in theSlovakian National SDI. Moreover, it seems that geo-portals(of the developed world) have a positive impact on society.These impacts are mainly economic in nature. This aim de-pends on the speed at which data warehouses develop amongall the other environmental organisations and their mutual net-work penetration.

2. Users

SDI is built above the Territorial Information System (TIS).TIS2 provides a framework for the mutual exchange of spatialdata among organisations managed under the Ministry of theEnvironment via an internal network as well as towards thepublic end-users. According to Tu�cek (1998) TIS is decisionsupport oriented information system. Available reference and

1 NIPI project (http://www.geonet.sk).2 TIS (http://isu.enviroportal.sk).

environmentally oriented spatial data are distributed by vari-ous methods to different clients. We differentiate among pro-fessional GIS users as clients representing state,governmental organisations and professional bodies requiringaccess to raw spatial data.

These data are then used for various analyses and visualisa-tions following rules set up by the agreements and directionsrespecting legal aspects and ownership issues. On the otherhand there are users who require selected kinds of information.They can use specific applications focused on the area of theirrespective interests, generally oriented applications, or theycan access the spatial data via map services. One example ofa specific oriented application is the catalogue of protectedtrees, where users can query a database of protected trees ac-cording to various criteria (http://atlas.sazp.sk/chs/). Anotherexample of an application with wide general content is theLandscape Atlas of the Slovak Republic.3

3. Architecture and used technologies

TIS is based on 3-level architecture: the client level e ap-plication level e data level. On the client side, there is widerange of free of charge applications (e.g. Web browsers Inter-net Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Java applications like ArcExplorer, etc.) providing access for visualisation or direct ac-cess to raw spatial data. Depending on the requirements thereis the possibility to use stand-alone desktop GIS applicationsfor viewing or editing spatial data (e.g. Arc Map, Arc Editor).The middleware application tier is built on the ESRI platformrepresented by Arc SDE, ArcIMS and Apache Webserver asa gate between client requirements and data warehouse possi-bilities. Spatial data localised under Oracle represent the es-sential level (Fig. 1).

4. SDI components of the Slovakian environmental sector

4.1. Metadata

The main metadata service for the environmental sector inSlovakia is the Meta-Information System (MIS) developed bySEA. MIS4 is available on-line. The Slovak EnvironmentalMIS contains meta-information about documents, databases,vector spatial data and raster spatial environmentally orienteddata, maps and other information. The metadata profile isbased on the ISO 19115 and ISO 19139 standards. Activitieson Dublin Core implementations are under development. In-dexing by GEMET5 thesaurus is implemented. This systemhas replaced the former metadata catalogue (catalogue ofdata sources) (http://www.iszp.sk/katalog). A legal frameworkfor metadata creation and update has been set up via the direc-tive of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE MIS Directive,2005). This kind of activities is focused on improving the

3 Landscape Atlas of the Slovak Republic (http://www.enviroportal.sk/atlas/

online/).4 MIS (http://mis.enviroportal.sk).5 GEMET (http://www.eionet.eu.int/GEMET).

1574 M. Tuchyna / Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578

Fig. 1. A 3-level architecture model.

synergy between the public and private sectors in the informa-tion market (Collective, 1998). Creation and update of meta-data are available for responsible persons from the wholeenvironmental sector. These users can create the metadatavia a Web-interface after authorisation. Importing of existingmetadata in XML from other applications to the MIS databaseand transformation into the Catalogue Web service is underdevelopment. Quality assurance is guaranteed via the metadataprofile validation and administrator interface, where the re-sponsible operator can control the content of metadata records,restrict their publishing, contact the responsible metadataowner for correction of information, etc. Metadata viewingfrom MIS is freely accessible (Fig. 2).

4.2. Data specification

According to Annex IeIII of the INSPIRE Directive pro-posal within the environmental sector we see that the follow-ing selected thematic datasets are covered: Annex I:Hydrography, protected sites. Annex II: Landcover. AnnexIII: Statistical units, soil, geology, environmental monitoringfacilities, area management/restriction/regulation zones andreporting units, natural risk zones, atmospheric conditions,meteorological geographical features, bio-geographical re-gions, habitats and biotopes, species distribution. Implementa-tion rules are in the preparation phase, as is the dataharmonisation process. The first step towards this aim is pro-posal for catalogue of objects (feature catalogue) as a basefor a conceptual model. The main purpose of this catalogueis to ensure that data are provided in digital form accordingto a well-known standard, in order to allow different applica-tions to use the data without any cumbersome conversions(Borrebæk and Lillethun, 2005). This conceptual model is pri-marily created to satisfy the data requirements and then

capture the business view of the data. There are reference ob-jects defined together with thematic oriented objects. Themodel is based on a relational database and therefore is underdevelopment, and no technical details regarding the data struc-ture can be given at this level. Details of the entities in terms ofmost of its actual atomic data contents (the as ‘‘attributes’’)and the relationships between the entities are captured inthis model.

4.3. Network services and interoperability

Service oriented architecture is the main orientation of fur-ther development within the environmental sector. There sometypes of services are already in place like ‘‘data view ser-vices’’, ‘‘download services’’ and ‘‘transformation services’’.Other kinds of services like ‘‘upload, discovery and invokespatial data services’’ are under development. We have startedto solve issues of interoperability by publishing OGC compli-ant WMS services via http://atlas.sazp.sk Web map server(Fig. 3).

4.4. Data and service sharing

The Ministry of the Environment declared the principle thatenvironmentally oriented data created by the financing of statebudget should be freely accessible without restrictions. Usersare merely required to register and accept copyright terms. Sincethe 2004 implementation a team has been established for thecentral geographical system6 which has started to fulfil its tasksconnected with the development of internal spatial data infra-structure for the exchange of data and services among the publicinstitutions. This framework allows authorised users to have

6 http://atlas.sazp.sk/cgs.

1575M. Tuchyna / Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578

Fig. 2. Web application of Metadata system MIS. Source: http://mis.enviroportal.sk.

access to the data and service with the content, which at this mo-ment cannot be freely accessible because of licensing, propertyrights, etc. Although the datasets are funded by the state budgetfor decision-making process support, there is social added valueby allowing them to be used otherwise as well (Hradec, 2005).Therefore there is a strong focus on information publicationand presentation tools.

There are two main access points for available data. Firstlyvector and raster raw data, or specific ‘‘views’’ on data

consisting of frequently used data connected with code listsand other attribute data from various databases. This accessis for specialised users with high expectations. Access is con-trolled via specific accounts generated by the system adminis-trator. This account is provided after an official request bya user from the environmental sector is approved. Each ac-count holder has to follow rules laid down in a protocol signedby both sides. The second kind of access is for the other usersvia Web map services (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3. Example of usage of OGC WMS service published by SEA. Source: http://atlas.sazp.sk.

1576 M. Tuchyna / Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578

Fig. 4. Web application providing viewing and downloading services. Source: http://atlas.sazp.sk/cgs.

4.5. Monitoring and reporting

Monitoring and reporting are just at the preparation phaseof INSPIRE implementation. There are only a small numberof activities underway as participation for the annual INSPIREstate of play update. Therefore it is necessary to create imple-menting rules, transpose them to the relevant level and preparethe appropriate cost-benefit (C/B) analysis (Hartley, 2006).

It is quite difficult to estimate real cost-benefit issues in thisphase. Proper guidelines for objective evaluation of C/B esti-mation are still missing. There are elements clearly definedlike costs of content, but on the other hand the proper method-ology of benefit calculation is still missing. Unclear pricingpolicy for data and services do not alleviate helping this pro-cess either. A lot of direct and indirect effects have to be takeninto account. Despite this, there is a willingness to follow theINSPIRE C/B recommendations. The estimate of costs will bebased on the costs of coordinating, developing spatial data,metadata, setting up portals and update mechanisms. Benefitsproposed will be based on a comparison of and extrapolationfrom estimates on EU level, deduction from estimates in othercountries, etc. Main aspect of benefits will be based on the ef-ficiency gain in spatial data availability. We can recognizebenefits on the management level focused on efficiency, reduc-ing the duplication of effort, the ease of exchanging informa-tion. At the user level we will take the necessity for solvingproblems in the field of environment, disaster management,etc. And finally at the broader society level covering citizens,it is necessary to realize that spatial data represent part of theinformation society (Vandenbroucke, 2006).

5. Awareness

This field was until recently very weak, but now progress issignificant via participation and discussion at various

conferences and workshops, publishing articles and informa-tion via various channels and by organizing the Enviro IForum conference.7

The SDI proposed for the environmental sector in Slovakiacomprises a framework covering the whole ‘‘cycle of datalife’’. That means there is a complex of activities from the sys-tematic creation, update of spatial data and metadata, manage-ment, exchange, publishing, development of tools forgathering and processing spatial data like equipment, soft-ware, networking and the organizational aspects coveringmanagement, cooperation, licensing, agreements, etc.

As anywhere else there are both positive and negative as-pects of this process; the main task of responsible bodies isto keep the balance and support positive aspects as much aspossible. Among the strong points we can include knowledge,level of infrastructure, personal potential, etc. On the otherhand we are still facing problems with legal issues, intellectualproperty rights, an insufficient level of awareness, a scarcity ofEnglish language versions and an unclear definition of rightsand responsibilities for key stakeholders and de facto absenceof real national SDI.

At the moment there are eight authorities managed under theMinistry of the Environment (MoE) of Slovak republic activelycreating and using spatial data. Among these institutions are:

� The Geological Survey of Slovak Republic (SGUDS/GSSR)8

� The Slovak Environmental Agency (SAZP/SEA)9

� The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU/SHMI)10

7 Enviro I Forum conference (http://www.enviroiforum.sk).8 The Geological Survey of Slovak Republic (http://www.geology.sk).9 The Slovak Environmental Agency (http://www.sazp.sk).

10 The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (http://www.shmu.sk).

1577M. Tuchyna / Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578

Fig. 5. Enviroportal e gate to environmental information. Source: http://www.enviroportal.sk.

� The Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology(SMOPAJ/SMONPS)11

� The Slovak Caves Administration (SSJ/SCA)12

� The Slovak Water Management Enterprise (SVP/SWME)13

� The State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic(SOP/SNC)14

� The Water Research Institute (VUVH/WRI)15

Within all these authorities we recognize various forms ofinternal infrastructure, organizational information processingand strategies. All the main GIS and database softwarehave been implemented at various levels, but there was nocommon linkage among data collections, software or organi-zational agreements. The different legal statuses of authoritiesled to the use of various approaches and types of involvementin this field. The main body for the whole sector is the Min-istry of the Environment. The centre of informatics playsa key role in the regulation of this process on the legal level.SEA is responsible for the organizational, technological andmethodical coordination of the whole process. Therefore a re-alization team represented by each of mentioned authoritiesresponsible for tasks was established focused on practical im-plementation and development real SDI. This team reports toMoE. This was the crucial moment for further progress. Theimportant thing is that from the beginning representativeswere mostly volunteers. As the number of tasks grew, it be-came necessary to find some support and funding for these

11 The Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology (www.

smopaj.sk).12 The Slovak Caves Administration (http://www.ssj.sk).13 The Slovak Water Management Enterprise (http://www.svp.sk).14 The State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (http://www.

sopsr.sk).15 The Water Research Institute (http://www.vuvh.sk).

activities. Therefore it was necessary to allocate some sourcesamong authorities either from the state budget or from someother funds.

It is one thing to be willing and motivated for a good cause,and altogether another to find a way to convince colleaguesabout the benefits of establishing an SDI forone’s whole sec-tor. Therefore it was necessary to start to think how to createthe necessary legal background for fulfiling these tasks. Withthe mutual cooperation of MoE a first milestone set up by in-ternal legal regulation focused on creating and updating meta-data in the whole sector. This was a critical step to move thingsforward. Metadata will help to identify what kind of data (in-cluding spatial data) exists, in what quality and what condi-tions apply to their usage. After this first step a teamprepared a new regulation focused on formulating rules forthe creation and update of raw data and their derivates, alongwith definition standards covering interoperability issues. Thewhole country still has no common integrated approach tobuild a national SDI. The main problem is that there is noreal coordinating body with funding dedicated to doing so.

6. Conclusion

As defined in the INSPIRE Slovakia SDI state of play re-port (Steenberghen and Beusen, 2005), no real national SDIis fully operable yet. However, it is important to mentionthat there are a number of activities, projects and initiativeshave been started to change this situation as soon as possible.Hand in hand with INSPIRE activities focused on detailedspecification of legal and technical expectations, it is neces-sary to understand that this is a time-consuming process.Therefore it is necessary to follow a stepwise approach for im-plementing rules. The main benefit from these activities is thewillingness to break with old, ineffective rules and manners. It

1578 M. Tuchyna / Environmental Modelling & Software 21 (2006) 1572e1578

Fig. 6. SEA Map server. Source: http://atlas.sazp.sk.

is important to bring a new approach based on innovation, en-suring technical and organizational interoperability and ensur-ing a rising awareness for requirement of SDI establishment.

A short time ago within the whole Slovakia sector dealingwith geographical information the situation was absolutely in-sufficient. The lack of information, descriptive metadata, gapsin spatial data, multiplicity in creation and update of some spa-tial data, their incompatibility, insufficient quality, the absenceof mutual cooperation and the exchange of experience amongdata producers, the lack of standards and harmonisation ef-forts, all these aspects were typical of the time. Fortunatelya foundation stone for further development of SDI has beenset up in the Slovak environmental sector. The process isjust beginning, but MoE, SEA and other partners have recog-nized the importance of SDI initiatives. SEA has finished apilot project in the development of SDI and now is in theprocess of further development towards adopting OGC speci-fications and multilingual support. All the components will beintegrated under the Enviroportal16 e gateway to environmen-tal information.

It is important to understand the specific background of thiskind of environmental data infrastructure. After the Fall of theIron Curtain the main task for the management of spatial en-vironmental data was based on setting up of huge number ofclosed information systems. All these systems did not commu-nicate with each other. Therefore it was very difficult to ex-change information from both a technological andorganizational perspective. It was important to change theway of thinking, improve efficiency, eliminate duplicity andunderstand new challenges. Therefore it was crucial to under-stand that it is necessary to support standardization, integration

16 Enviroportal (http://www.enviroportal.sk).

and interoperability, as well as to improve coordination on aswide a scale as possible. The main challenge of this initiativecan be summarized as the successful implementation of allthese goals. Defining a common terminology made peopleaware of the relevance of having an SDI. This platform canplay an important role in further development of environmen-tal information systems (Figs. 5 and 6).

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