The AGILE Research Agenda 7th EC-GI & GIS Workshop Potsdam June 15, 2001 Max Craglia, University of Sheffield Mike Gould, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón Werner Kuhn, University of Muenster Fred Toppen, University of Utrecht

Contents AGILE’s mission, activities and members AGILE’s Research Map AGILE’s Working Groups AGILE’s Research Vision –Intention –Policy context –Research Challenges –Action oriented research agenda –Future steps

AGILE Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe Mission: promote GI-research and education in Europe Activities: conferences, networking, participation in EU-projects, working groups, research agenda Membership: 70 members; 4 affiliated members; MOU’s

Research Map Motives Contents Access

Research Map: motives inform about current research activities of members structure these according to existing research agendas (UCGIS) provide a map of GI research activities in Europe

Research Map access via map

Research Map: access via member list

Research Map: access via search engine

Working Groups Prime tool to initiate and facilitate co-operation and agenda setting Tasked with work program Current Working Groups: –Environmental modelling –Interoperability –Data Policy –Education

Research Vision: intention Initiate broad discussion on research challenges Develop coherent image of AGILE research priorities Exploit new opportunities and align agenda to current and future needs of society

Research vision: policy context (1) spatial dimensions of EU policies –Integrative approach –Spatial planning at regional scale as framework –Consequence: need for GI(S) for policy monitoring and evaluation Access Dissemination Participation Integration

Research vision: policy context (2) Needs: –data flow from local to European level –new datasets for new policy domains –know who owns data and how to access it –data comparability and interoperability –analyse fuzzy territorial units –aggregate data to flexible geographies –add intelligence to data

Research vision: policy context (3) European Research Area –networking of centres of excellence –creation of virtual centres –coherent implementation of national and European research activities –establish common system of scientific and technical reference for the implementation of policies –greater mobility of researchers

Research vision: policy context (4) European research priorities of interest to GI research community –Research to develop the information society (eEurope) –Research to implement a sustainable development model –Research related to the needs of society

Research vision: 5 Research Challenges 1.GI Policy and Society 2.Theory of spatio-temporal information systems 3.Dynamic modelling of environmental and social processes 4.Semantic interoperability of spatial data and services 5.Integration of social and physical sciences in their contribution to space

Research vision: action oriented research agenda concentrate on case studies of direct value to Europe and its citizens generalize and integrate existing research into a scientific framework build a European scientific infrastructure, with: –grants for mobility –support 3-5 year projects –long time support for centres of excellence –flexible framework to respond quickly to new challenges

Research vision: future steps From Green to White paper AGILE research programme Explore funding opportunities Research map and programmes reinforce, via AGILE members, European GI research policy.