FIG Working Week 2000, 21-26 May, Prague
Abstracts 



NSDI in Germany

by Bernd Teichert 

Key words: National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Metadata, Geographic Information System, Data Access, Data Exchange, Standards. 


Abstract

Computer assisted Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital data processing are essential to todays practices. Due to the complex tasks there is a high demand in many areas for accurate spatially related data. Geodata provide the essential building blocks for successful information systems. Up-to-date areas of application are all modern technologies in the fields of public planning and administration, conservation, traffic control and telecommunication all the way to the use of geodata on the Internet.

The problem in Europe as well as in Germany concerning NSDI at the moment is that the future growth is hampered by major differences in the way geographic information is collected, stored and distributed in different sectors of government and commerce. There is still no conclusive policy on digital geographic information, nore are there operational standards for data definition and exchange. Readily available basic data sets and knowledge infrastructure all over Europe is still missing. The main impediments to the successful use of geographic information in Europe are not technical, but political and organisational.

There is a policy framework required to set up and maintain a stable set of agreed rules, standards, procedures, guidelines and incentives for creating, collecting, exchanging and using geographic information. Policy has to create the conditions for competitive, plentiful, rich and differentiated supply of geographic information which is easily identifiable and easily accessible for the benefit of the citizen, society and the economy. Based on the questionnaire of Harlan Onsrud this paper shows the german activities about NSDI.


Bernd Teichert
University of Applied Siences Dresden
Friedrich-List-Platz 1
D-01069 Dresden
GERMANY
E-mail: teichert@htw-dresden.de



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