Public commons of geographic data: research and development challenges

Abstract

Across the globe individuals and organizations are creating geographic data work products with little ability to efficiently or effectively make known and share those digital products with others. This article outlines a conceptual model and the accompanying research challenges for providing easy legal and technological mechanisms by which any creator might affirmatively and permanently mark and make accessible a geographic dataset such that the world knows where the dataset came from and that the data is available for use without the law assuming that the user must first acquire permission. © Springer-Verlag; 2004.