Data harmonisation in the context of the European spatial data infrastructure: The HUMBOLDT project framework and scenarios

Abstract

Harmonised geo-information is a basic need for fulfilling the task of creating a Spatial Data Infrastructure which is reliable and efficient, handling different data sources and different services for discovery, portrayal and retrieval of geo-data as a crucial asset. At the European level, the road to an ESDI follows the guidelines contained in the ISPIRE Directive of the EC. With the aim of implementing a framework for harmonisation of data and services in geo-information domain, the European Community has supported the development of HUMBOLDT project, under the INSPIRE Directive and in the context of GMES Initiative. The two-pronged approach to geo-data harmonisation of HUMBOLDT comprises a technical side of framework development and an application side of scenario testing and validation. This paper presents an overview of the harmonisation framework implemented by HUMBOLDT project complemented by two short application cases based on thematic Scenarios of the project, one on the topic of protected areas and the other on maritime use cases. Protected Areas Scenario aims to transform geo-information, managed by park authorities, into a seamless flow that combines multiple information sources from different governance levels (European, national, regional), and exploits this newly combined information for the purposes of planning, management and tourism promotion. Ocean Scenario, on the other side, is essentially constituted by a centrally running geoportal that allows users to view oil spill information in 3 regions over European Seas, making use of the HUMBOLDT Framework components and providing an overall portrayal interface. Both Scenarios demonstrate the usefulness and capabilities enabled by geodata harmonisation following the HUMBOLDT approach.