INSPIREDirective of the European Parliament and the

Council

establishing an

Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the

European Community

Werner Kuhn

University of Muenster

Geog 176C Class Slides

Based on JRC Inspire Documents

Thanks to Max Craglia et al.

What is a Spatial Data

Infrastructure• A framework of data, technology, policies, standards,

and human resources, necessary to facilitate the sharing

and using of geographic information.

• The term infrastructure is used to

emphasise not just hardware and data

(equivalent in the rail system to carriages,

power lines, rail tracks, stations) but also

the need for coordinating structures and

international standards and agreements

(on gauges, timetables, safety rules,

signalling, etc.) without which the system

cannot operate consistently and safely.http://europa.tiscali.it/futuro/speciali/quiz_giovani/374123859quiz.html

Why do we need such

infrastructure?

• Increasing shift from sector-based (silos)

policy making towards more integrated,

cross-sectoral approaches.T

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En

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me

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Impacts

• This new approach

particularly

important for

environmental

policy

• But very difficult to

get to work across

sectors and

boundaries

http://www.wintermantel-lagersysteme.de/uploads/pics/IndustrieSilos.jpg

State of the Environment in

Europe (and elsewhere)• Although Kyoto targets

achievable,projections up to 2030for the EU-15 show a14% rise ofgreenhouse gasemissions above 1990levels

• Energy production,and transport are themain contributors togreenhouse gasemission (30% and20%)

• IPCC has calculatedthat by the end of thiscentury, sea levelscould rise by up to 89centimetres andtemperatures couldrise by between 1.4°Cand 5.8°C.

Source: IPCC

Departures in temperature in 0C from 1990

Visible consequencesCoastal ErosionSource: EUROSION Project

Sea Level trends in mm/y

Source: Marcos & Tsimplis, as quoted in JRC/IES

Forest Fire RiskSource: JRC/IES

Source: JRC/IES

Source: JRC/IES

Less visible but equally important:

Environment and Health• 20 million Europeans suffer from respiratory problems

every day

• 10% of European children suffer from asthma

• In the EU in 2000, about 350,000 were seriouslyaffected due to air pollution caused by fine particulatematter.• Current levels of ground-

level ozone cause more

than 20,000 premature

deaths each year and

dangerous levels of 'smog',

linked with high summer

temperatures and nitrous

oxide emissions, are on the

rise. Source: eea_technical_report_5_2007.pdf

Nature and Biodiversity

• Since the 1950s, Europe has lost more than half of itswetlands and high-nature-value farmland.

• At the species level, 42% of Europe's native mammals,43% of birds, 45% of butterflies, 30% of amphibians,45% of reptiles and 52% of freshwater fish arethreatened with extinction.

• Most major marine fish stocks are below safe biologicallimits for their survival. In 2003, 22% of total catcheswere outside safe biological limits, marking a substantialworsening compared to 2002 (8%).

• Some 800 plant species in Europe are at risk of globalextinction.

Impacts of Flooding

• In the period 1998-2002 floods comprised 43% of alldisaster events in Europe

– 100 major floods

– 700 dead

– Half a million displaced people

– 25 billion Euros uninsured economic loss

• Along the Rhine, 10 m people live in areas liable toextreme flooding, potential damage estimated at 165 bn.Euros

• 101,000 km of coastline, population doubled in last 50years. Assets within 500 meters of coast = 500-1000 bneuros.

Environmental phenomena do not

stop at national borders• 20% of the EU citizens (110 billion) live

within 50 km from a border.

• 60 million EU citizens live less than half anhour (25 km) from a border

Near - boundary population importance

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How to address these issues

• Comprehensive set of policies covering surface

and ground water quality, flood assessment,

marine and coastal areas, soil, etc.

• Right geographical scale i.e. river basin for water

quality and floods

• Sound knowledge based on timely, accurate,

easily accessed geospatial and environmental

information, shared across European, national,

and local jurisdictions.

Current GI Situation in Europe

• A lot of data but difficult to find because they arepoorly documented

• Even if you find data, it is often not possible toaccess because of policy restrictions

• Lack of co-ordination across borders andbetween levels of government

• Lack of standards and incompatible informationand information systems

• Even if these barriers are overcome, the data isoften not re-usable or difficult to integrate withother data

Fact: A bridge collapsed !

Where: Town of Laufenburg in the canton of

Aargau located along the river Rhine

Why: The already completed bridge on the

Swiss side has a difference in altitude (level)

of 0,54 meters compared to the German

counterpart

How: The two neighbouring countries use

varying (different) measuring methods

Source:http://www.laufenburg.ch

Differences in sea-level across EuropeDifferences in sea-level across Europe

and within a country (in cm)and within a country (in cm)

14.01.2004

Source: BKG

Good policy must be based on

sound knowledgeInformation needs for flood and drought forecasting:• Meteorological

– Rainfall

– Temperature

– evapotranspiration

• Hydrological

– river courses

– cross sections

– observed discharges and water levels

– location of lakes, incl. size & water levels

– hydropower reservoirs, polders

• soil data

– texture and depth to bedrock

– soil hydraulic parameters

• land use data

– type

– coverage during the year

– Population

– Economic value of properties

• topographical data

– elevation

– location and height of dykes

– critical infrastructure (hospitals,

power stations, elderly homes)70% of all fresh water bodies in Europe70% of all fresh water bodies in Europe

are part of a trans-boundary river basin !!are part of a trans-boundary river basin !!

Real information problems

• Data sets exist either at European level (soil data (ESB), land usedata (CORINE), river courses) or at national levels

• Typical problems:– finding the right contact person is difficult, due to frequent staff &

political changes;

– the technical responsible is not the political responsible

– no clear data access and pricing policy

– data are not documented: knowledge is with a limited number oftechnical persons

• If one obtains the data, it may be fit for the purpose, but requiressubstantial work to convert in formats and semantics– it took 2.5 years to get 70% of the data for the Danube, but the

remaining part is still extremely difficult to get even if one is prepared topay for it

– this does not yet include the time to harmonize the data!

Why we need data for analysis

Acquiring remotely sensed data Modelling it with in-situ data Mapping it by Census zone

Calculating mortality rates

Limitations of Past Approaches

• CORINE “Coordination of Information on theEnvironment” Council Decision of 1985– Experimental project for gathering, coordinating and ensuring

the consistency of information on the state of the environmentand natural resources in the Community

• Problems:

– Variable data access policy

– Lack of consistency with other data

– Semantic heterogeneities

– Irregular updating

– No long term perspective

– Lack of quality/reliability

– Lack of synchronization with other data

NATURA 2000• 1990’s directive on

the conservation ofnatural habitatsand of wild faunaand flora– SCI (Sites of

communityimportance)

– SAC (SpecialAreas ofConservation)

• Directive on theconservation of wildbirds– SPA (Special

Protection Areas)

Natura 200022.500 areas, 12-15% of the EU15

Different quality and

different types of attribute information

• Data compiled byMember States:– Paper map / site

– Descriptive database

– Digital spatial data

• Data get validatedand integrated atEuropean level

• Data sources:– In general 1/100.000,

on topographic maps

– Exceptionally1/250.000 (very largesites)

– Often 1/25.000–1/1.500 (cadastre)

Activities

•Agricultural structures

•Landfill, land reclamation and drying out

•Professional fishing

•Modification of cultivation practices

•Continuous urbanisation

Area = 67 ha

Species

•Falco Subbuteo

•Rhinolophus Hipposideros

•Lycaena Dispar

•Bombina Variegata

Data utilization problems

Natura2000 – TypicalQuestions

• In which administrativeregion is the site?

• Major roads runningthrough the area?

• Variation of altitude andslope?

• Location of nearestvillages and cities?

• How are the land coverand land use distributed?

• Where are potentiallypolluting nucleus’situated?

• Is there an area eligiblefor Community funding?

Only data of poor quality are available

to

answer those questions….

EC Proposal for a Directive establishing an

infrastructure for spatial information in the

Community – INSPIRE

In SummaryEnvironmental Needs• Better information needed to

support policies [6EAP]

• Improvement of existing informationflows

• Diversity across regions to beconsidered

• Revision of approach to reportingand monitoring, moving to concept ofsharing of information

Situation in Europe• Data policy restrictions

• Lack of co-ordination across bordersand between levels of government

• Lack of standards incompatibleinformation and information systems

• Existing data not re-usablefragmentation of information,redundancy, inability to integrate

Environmental data• 90% of is linked to geography

• Out of 58 data components neededfor environmental policy :

– 32 are multi-sectoral

– 16 are environmental only

– 10 are related to other sectors

• These 32 components allow to:– link different ENV themes together:

policy coherence

– link with other sectors: integrationsource EEA

• INSPIRE lays down general rules to establish aninfrastructure for spatial information in Europefor the purposes of Community environmentalpolicies and policies or activities which mayhave an impact on the environment.

– This infrastructure shall build upon infrastructures forspatial information established and operated by theMember States.

• INSPIRE does not require collection of newspatial data

• INSPIRE does not affect Intellectual PropertyRights

INSPIRE DirectiveINSPIRE Directive

General ProvisionsGeneral Provisions

What Kind of Spatial Data ?

• Whose ? - Spatial data held by or onbehalf of a public authority operating downto the lowest level of government whenlaws or regulations require their collectionor dissemination

• Which data ? - INSPIRE covers 34 SpatialData Themes laid down in 3 Annexes –(required to successfully buildenvironmental information systems)

INSPIRE Components

• Metadata

• Interoperability of spatial data sets and services

• Network services (discover, view, download, invoke)

• Data and Service sharing (policy)

• Coordination and measures for Monitoring & Reporting

INSPIRE is a Framework Directive

Detailed technical provisions for the issues above will belaid down in Implementing Rules (IR)

INSPIRE Spatial Data Scope

Annex I

1. Coordinate reference

systems

2. Geographical grid systems

3. Geographical names

4. Administrative units

5. Addresses

6. Cadastral parcels

7. Transport networks

8. Hydrography

9. Protected sites

Annex II

1. Elevation

2. Land cover

3. Ortho-imagery

4. Geology

Harmonised spatial data specifications more

stringent for Annex I and II than for Annex III

Annex III

1. Statistical units

2. Buildings

3. Soil

4. Land use

5. Human health andsafety

6. Utility andgovernmental services

7. Environmentalmonitoring facilities

8. Production andindustrial facilities

9. Agricultural andaquaculture facilities

10.Population distribution– demography

11. Areamanagement/restriction/regulation zones &reporting units

12. Natural risk zones

13. Atmospheric conditions

14. Meteorologicalgeographical features

15. Oceanographicgeographical features

16. Sea regions

17. Bio-geographical regions

18. Habitats and biotopes

19. Species distribution

20. Energy Resources

21. Mineral resources

INSPIRE Thematic Scope

INSPIRE Data Sharing Policy• Member States shall adopt measures for the sharing of

data and services between public authorities for publictasks relating to the environment without restrictionsoccurring at the point of use.

• Public authorities may charge, license each other andCommunity institutions provided this does not create anobstacle to sharing.

• When spatial data or services are provided toCommunity institutions for reporting obligations underCommunity law relating to the environment then this willnot be subject to charging.

• Member States shall provide the institutions and bodiesof the Community with access to spatial data sets andservices in accordance with harmonised conditions.

From Commission proposal

to Community Directive

implementation• Preparatory phase (2004-2006)

– Co-decision procedure

– Preparation of Implementing Rules 2005 – 2008…

• Transposition phase (2007-2008)– Directive enters into force

– Transposition into national legislation

– INSPIRE Committee starts its activities

– Adoption of Implementation Rules by Comitology

• Implementation phase (2009-2013)– implementation and monitoring of measures

Metadata

Member States shall create metadata and keep them up to date

• Metadata shall include:

– Conformity with rules on interoperability

– Conditions for access and use

– Quality and validity

– The public authorities responsible

– Limitations on public access

• Once Implementing Rules adopted:

– Created within 2 years for Annex I, II

– Created within 5 years for Annex III

Interoperability of spatial data sets

and services

• Harmonised data specifications– Annex I, II, III:

• definition and classification of spatial objects

• geo-referencing

– Annex I, II:• common system of unique identifiers for spatial objects;

• relationship between spatial objects;

• key attributes and corresponding multilingual thesauri;

• how to exchange the temporal dimension of the data;

• how to exchange updates of the data.

• 3rd parties shall have access to thesespecifications at conditions not restricting theiruse

• Cross-border issues shall be agreed on

Implementing Rules shall be adopted for interoperability and wherepractical for harmonisation of spatial data sets and services

Network Services

Member States shall operate a network of the following services

available to the public for data sets and services for which metadata

has been created:

• Discovery services No charge

• Viewing services No charge (exceptions)

• Download services

• Transformation services

• Services allowing spatial data services to be invoked

- Access to services may be restricted

- Services shall be available on request to 3rd parties under conditions

- Implementing Rules will be adopted for which cost-benefit

considerations are to be taken into account

- INSPIRE Geo-portal shall be established – Member States geo-

portals

Implementing INSPIRE• Needs to consider the broader context of

existing initiatives which could contribute

• Interfaces with initiatives GMES, GEO/GEOSS,GALILEO, global developments of spatial datainfrastructures

• Bottom-up implementation by Spatial DataInterest Communities, SDIC

• SDIC bundle the human expertise of users,producers and transformers of spatialinformation, technical competence, financialresources and policies. Many SDIC exist today,generally organised by region, thematic issue orsector (industry).

Commission Services co-ordinate

Spatial Data Interest Communities participate

Projects

contribute

Drafting

Teams

Consolid

ation T

eam

Proto-typestest

Pilotsvalidate

CEN, ISO, OGCcontribute

INSPIRE Expert Group

advises

INSPIRECommittee

votes

ECadopts

Publicreviews

Im

ple

menting R

ule

s

Dra

ft

Imple

menting R

ule

s

Form

al In

tern

et

Consultation

Revie

w

Call

for

Inte

rest

Exis

ting R

efe

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ate

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Experts are

proposed

Association phase Drafting phase Review phase

LMOs

review

MSapply

INSPIRE process 2005-2009

The role of SDIC

Spatial Data Interest Communities

• To collect and describe user requirements,

• To submit/develop reference materials

• To allocate experts to the drafting teams,

• To participate in the review process,

• To implement pilot projects

– to test/revise/develop the draft Implementing Rules,

• To contribute to cost/benefit analysis

– to assess costs of the draft Implementing Rules,

• To contribute to awareness raising and training

The role of

Drafting Teams (DT)

• To analyse and review the reference

material

• To write draft INSPIRE Implementing

Rules

• To provide recommendations to the

Consolidation Team, CT (EC) - in case of

conflicting technical specifications

• To provide suggestions to the CT for

testing any proposed specification

The role of projects,

pilots and prototypes

• To develop representative use-case scenarios

• To develop/test specifications for IR

development

• To demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of

interoperability-based solutions

• To acquire experience in implementing

interoperability-based solutions

• To determine cost and benefit of interoperability

based solutions on the basis of real cases

Conclusions

• INSPIRE is a framework Directive with top-downImplementing Rules developed

But…

• Bottom-up development of Implementing Rulesthrough stakeholder participation - the “Spatial DataInterest Communities”

• Open and transparent drafting and review ofImplementing Rules

• Pilots and Projects play a key role to define andvalidate the Implementing Rules

• INSPIRE is a pillar of GMES

• INSPIRE is a major EU contribution to GEO/GEOSS

Thank you for your attentionhttp://www.ec-gis.org/inspire/

And now for something completely

different…