1 Space Applications Institute Directorate General Joint Research Centre European Commission Ispra (VA), Italy The “GI 1 and GIS 2 ” Project: a key action for the GI&GIS community Alessandro Annoni 1 GI=Geographic Information 2 GIS=Geographic Information Systems

2 JRC in the 5th Framework Programme The JRC carries out Community research programmes. Specific programmes have been designed for the JRC for as part of the Fifth Framework Programme. The JRC Work Programme is the result of an interactive planning process involving a series of consultations with the customer Directorates General (DGs) The JRC Work Programme is the result of an interactive planning process involving a series of consultations with the customer Directorates General (DGs) The GI&GIS Project is one of the 85 projects for non nuclear activities of the JRC approved at the end of the consultation process The GI&GIS Project is one of the 85 projects for non nuclear activities of the JRC approved at the end of the consultation process

3 Why harmonisation, why interoperability ? Harmonized data, not limited by national boundaries, coherent databases describing fundamental resources, such as soil type, meteorological information, land cover, demography, protected areas, …. Harmonized data, not limited by national boundaries, coherent databases describing fundamental resources, such as soil type, meteorological information, land cover, demography, protected areas, …. GIGIS The operational use of spatial databases requires that distributed catalogues are interoperable, and accessible to distributed users. We need an adequate technology to access and process distributed spatial data. The operational use of spatial databases requires that distributed catalogues are interoperable, and accessible to distributed users. We need an adequate technology to access and process distributed spatial data. EU enlargement and transnational activities require

4 Why the SAI leadership ? The SAI experience and independence are key elements to assemble and manage such dbs and to act as technical co-ordination point supporting the growth of the GI&GIS market in Europe. The recent evolution of GIS technology gives a chance to the European industry to re-enter in the global market (JRC can help to correctly defend the European needs). The GI&GIS project therefore focuses on harmonisation of pan-european thematic datasets and on interoperability of GIS systems.

5 Why a project covering bot: GI & GIS ? GI and GIS activities must be co-ordinated in a unique project to work out obvious synergies to work out obvious synergies to increase the overall efficiency to increase the overall efficiency the GI&GIS project is an horizontal activity towards the Provision of Spatial Information Services the GI&GIS project is an horizontal activity towards the Provision of Spatial Information Services

6 The objectives To conceive, create or harmonise Pan-European dbs to be used to support and monitor the EU policies To assist in the creation of the European Geographic Information Infrastructure (EGII) To develop methods to improve statistics using GI data To provide scientific- technical support on GI&GIS to EC developing a common European position To operate GI communications facility To create link / synergies with projects relevant for the development of GI and GIS market To achieve these objectives several partners must be involved of private and public sector, from administration, industry and research in different domains To achieve these objectives several partners must be involved of private and public sector, from administration, industry and research in different domains

7 Policy framework Spatial information becomes more and more relevant to support a range of EU sectorial policies Common Agricultural Policy The Common Agricultural Policy (Agri-environment, Agriculture,..) Regional Policies Regional Policies (Spatial Planning, Structural funds…) Environmental Policies Environmental Policies (Natura2000, Agenda 21,..) Aid and Development Policy Aid and Development Policy (European Development Fund,..) Industrial Policies Industrial Policies (Competitiveness / EU enlargement,..) Transports, Fishery, Coastal Zones Management Others (Transports, Fishery, Coastal Zones Management, …) A discussion is under way for a European Data policy (COM 585/98 Green Paper on Public Sector Information In information Society), in addition a GI Policy could be maybe defined in future through the GI2000 initiative

8 Potential benefit for GI&GIS community Direct Direct benefits will include: Technology Transfer, Promotion of Standards, New Infrastructures, … Increased demand of GI to define and monitor sustainable policies. Indirect Indirect benefits as results of the actions: culture to develop a new GI European culture (emphasizing the importance of GI in the decision-making process) needs to identify specific European needs or problems and to defend them in the globalisation process co-ordinate to set-up a inter-DG task force to co-ordinate actions of the EC that could have a relevant impact on GI&GIS. GIS Industry, GI data providers, Researchers, Consultants, Application Managers could benefit from the increasing demand for Spatial Services GIS Industry, GI data providers, Researchers, Consultants, Application Managers could benefit from the increasing demand for Spatial Services.

9 Scientific/technical approach WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land cover WP9000 Rural Landscapes WP10000 GIS x Natura2000 WP11000 European Soil Information System WP12000 Agro-Meterorology WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land cover WP9000 Rural Landscapes WP10000 GIS x Natura2000 WP11000 European Soil Information System WP12000 Agro-Meterorology WP2000 Technical and Political Support,.. WP4000 Concertation, Information dissemination WP2000 Technical and Political Support,.. WP4000 Concertation, Information dissemination WP2000 Network, Political Support,… WP5000 Systems and Prototypes WP6000 Spatial Statistics WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land cover WP9000 Rural Landscapes WP10000 GIS x Natura2000 WP11000 Soil Information System WP12000 Agro-Meterorology WP2000 Network, Political Support,… WP5000 Systems and Prototypes WP6000 Spatial Statistics WP7000 Catchment Information System WP8000 Land use / land cover WP9000 Rural Landscapes WP10000 GIS x Natura2000 WP11000 Soil Information System WP12000 Agro-Meterorology WP2000 Technology watch, … WP3000 Aspects of GIS and Tele-Geo interoperability WP4000 Concertation and Information dissemination WP5000 Systems and Prototypes WP2000 Technology watch, … WP3000 Aspects of GIS and Tele-Geo interoperability WP4000 Concertation and Information dissemination WP5000 Systems and Prototypes TechnologyWatch GIS and IT Industry GIS Research Standard Organizations GI&GIS users Community Citizens Member States European Commission GI data Providers GI&GIS Associations Technical support to EC Assist the creation of EGII Thematic Pan-EU dbs

10 Technical support/concertation for EC policy Participating in the process to define a European GI policy providing technical expertise Input to defining base data and other thematic data required at European level links Establish and co-ordinate links with European and international initiatives, as for example EUROGI, AGILE, GISIG, OGC, MEGRIN,.... strategic documents Author strategic documents relating to GI research in close collaboration with GI actors and researchers. GI communication Operate GI communication facilities Long term perspective: to be the technical contact point and interface between EU community and others DGs on GI and GIS Long term perspective: to be the technical contact point and interface between EU community and others DGs on GI and GIS

11 Technology watch: interoperability, standards and market monitoring standards Monitor the emergence and consolidation of standards aimed at the interoperability of GI and GIS (e.g. ISO, CEOS, OGC, CEN, EUROGI,..) evolutionTechnology Monitor the evolution of the Technology in relation to GIS and evaluating their impact on Europe Study the applicability Study the applicability of technology and/or protocol to the interoperability of geographical information and prototype and demonstrate the feasibility of technology and/or protocol The GI&GIS project will not define new standards but will promote the use of the emerging ones and will help European community to adopt them. The GI&GIS project will not define new standards but will promote the use of the emerging ones and will help European community to adopt them.

12 Assist the creation of the EGII policy making process Provide recommendations to the policy making process (help in formalisation of user requirements) technological constraints Help in identifying the technological constraints due to the GI properties (operating as test environment for different models for data access and data integration) thematic networks Supporting the creation of new thematic networks in collaboration with active organisations (e.g. EEA, GISIG,..) to improve statistics Extend the use of GI in domains in which it is still under- used (ex. to improve statistics). GI&GIS will contribute to a future European GeoStatistical system driven by Eurostat (GISCO task force: NMAs and NSIs) The GI&GIS project will help in Technical aspect to assist EC officers and EU actors to define and create an EGII The GI&GIS project will help in Technical aspect to assist EC officers and EU actors to define and create an EGII

13 Set-up PAN-European thematic dbs GI&GIS contributes to develop the thematic part of the EGII (not only identification and solving technical GI problems). Foreseen activities are: Conception, Creation and/or Harmonisation of some thematic PE spatial dbs to be used to support and monitor EU policies (European Soil Information System, Land Cover, Agro-Meteorology, Natura 2000 Protected areas, Rural Landscapes) For agri-environmental aspects a specific catchment information system has been defined The GI&GIS approach is multidisciplinary (less cost for more users) The GI&GIS approach is multidisciplinary (less cost for more users) Most of these activities will be the support and co-ordination of thematic networks (ESB, ETC-LC, ETC-NC, Meteo Services,..) Most of these activities will be the support and co-ordination of thematic networks (ESB, ETC-LC, ETC-NC, Meteo Services,..)

14 Conclusions The success of the GI&GIS project will depends on catalyze the interest the capability to catalyze the interest and to get involved relevant organisations and actors both (within EC and EU) data policies the progress of the on going debates on data policies (a key element to speed up the creation of the rules for EGII) flexibilityof European industry the flexibility and ability of European industry to adapt their business plan to emerging technologies and to new user requirement and new user culture. This project is a key action for GI&GIS. It show the intention of a better EC approach in spatial related activities (at least for RTD) This project is a key action for GI&GIS. It show the intention of a better EC approach in spatial related activities (at least for RTD) The EC GIS workshop should continue to provide the opportunity to know EC actions and to help in identifying new EC priorities The EC GIS workshop should continue to provide the opportunity to know EC actions and to help in identifying new EC priorities

15 Space Applications Institute Directorate General Joint Research Centre European Commission Ispra (VA), Italy Thank for the attention, to be informed visit our WEB site: