Creating Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure for the UK

Abstract

The need for a Coastal Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) as part of a national or regional framework has been recognized widely. However, as reported for example by Longhorn (2003), few nations have progressed significantly towards this goal. This chapter re-examines the implementation of CSDI and what it means to data custodians and end users. It provides a practical example of how the UK is creating a topographical baseline of data that includes inter-operable data from the Ordnance Survey (land) and the UK Hydrographic Office (sea) as part of achieving its own data infrastructure.