1. United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
INSPIRE Directive of the European Parliament and the Council establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community
John Pepper
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
Present yourself
Joint initiative
Status of initiative
Structure of presentation
Warning on technical nature of proposal

2. Bringing data and services together through a Spatial Data Infrastructure
Data and services easily discoverable and accessible to users
Easier development of new applications and services
Like a road infrastructure makes it possible to connect different places, a spatial data infrastructure makes it possible to connect data and services located at different sources
Components
Institutional
framework
Information
Services
Fundamental
data sets
Technical
standards

3. Why INSPIRE? Increasing number of environmental policies that have a strong spatial dimension
Marine thematic strategy
Thematic strategy on natural resources and on recycling
New soil monitoring system
Revision of SEVESO Directives on hazardous substances
Proposal for Directive on control of pipelines
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
The revised forest monitoring regulation
Noise Directive
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
European Action programme on flood risk management

4. Example: Proposed Directive on the Assessment and Management of Floods (2006)
In the period floods comprised 43% of all disaster 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 to extreme flooding, potential damage estimated at 165 bn. Euros
101,000 kms of coastline, population doubled in last 50 years. Assets within 500 mt of coast = bn euros.

5. Agreement that a common strategy is needed
70% of all fresh water bodies in Europe are part of a trans-boundary river basin !!
Risk assessment is compounded by problems related to quality of land use data, protected areas, etc.

6. Past approaches have limitations
CORINE “Coordination of Information on the Environment” - 85/338/EEC: Council Decision 27/6/1985
Experimental project for gathering, coordinating and ensuring the consistency of information on the state of the environment and natural resources in the Community
Problems:
Variable data access policy
Lack of consistency with other data
Irregular updating
No long term perspective
Lack of quality/reliability
Lack of synchronization with other MS data

7. NATURA 2000
Directive 92/43/EEC and 97/62/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
SCI (Sites of community importance)
SAC (Special Areas of Conservation)
Directive 78/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds
SPA (Special Protection Areas)
Natura 2000
areas, 12-15% of the EU15

8. What are the problems? Different quality and different types of attribute information
Data compiled by Member States:
Paper map / site
Descriptive database
Digital Spatial data
Data are validated and integrated by DG ENV
Data sources:
In general 1/ , on topographic maps
Exceptionally 1/ (very large sites)
Often 1/ –1/1.500 (cadastre)

9. Natura2000 Data harmonisation problems

10. Data utilization problems
Natura2000 – Typical Questions
In which administrative region is the site?
Major roads running through the area?
Variation of altitude and slope?
Location of nearest villages and cities?
How are the land cover and land use distributed?
Where are potentially polluting nucleus’ situated?
Is there an area eligible for Community funding?
Only data of poor quality are available to
answer those questions….

11. But good local data already exist and are accessible !

12. In Summary: Explain what is spatial information Environmental Needs
Better information needed to support policies [6EAP]
Improvement of existing information flows
Diversity across regions to be considered
Revision of approach to reporting and monitoring, moving to concept of sharing of information
Situation in Europe
Data policy restrictions
Lack of co-ordination across borders and between levels of government
Lack of standards incompatible information and information systems
Existing data not re-usable fragmentation of information, redundancy, inability to integrate
Environmental data
90% of is linked to geography
Out of 58 data components needed for 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: integration
source EEA
EC Proposal for a Directive establishing an infrastructure for spatial information in the Community – INSPIRE
Explain what is spatial information

13. INSPIRE Directive General Provisions
INSPIRE lays down general rules to establish an infrastructure for spatial information in Europe for the purposes of Community environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment.
This infrastructure shall build upon infrastructures for spatial information established and operated by the Member States.
INSPIRE does not require collection of new spatial data – electronic format
INSPIRE does not affect Intellectual Property Rights

14. INSPIRE is a Framework Directive
INSPIRE COMPONENTS
METADATA
INTEROPERABILITY OF SPATIAL DATA SETS AND SERVICES
NETWORK SERVICES
DATA SHARING (policy)
COORDINATION AND COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES – Monitoring & Reporting
INSPIRE is a Framework Directive
Detailed technical provisions for the issues above will be laid down in Implementing Rules (IR)

15. What Kind of Spatial Data ?
Whose ? - Spatial data held by or on behalf of a public authority operating down to the lowest level of government when laws or regulations require their collection or dissemination
Which data ? - INSPIRE covers 34 Spatial Data Themes laid down in 3 Annexes – (required to successfully build environmental information systems)

16. INSPIRE Spatial Data Scope
Annex I
Coordinate reference systems
Geographical grid systems
Geographical names
Administrative units
Addresses
Cadastral parcels
Transport networks
Hydrography
Protected sites
Annex II
Elevation
Land cover
Ortho-imagery
Geology
Harmonised spatial data specifications more stringent for Annex I and II than for Annex III

17. INSPIRE Thematic Scope
Annex III
Statistical units
Buildings
Soil
Land use
Human health and safety
Utility and governmental services
Environmental monitoring facilities
Production and industrial facilities
Agricultural and aquaculture facilities
Population distribution – demography
Area management/restriction /regulation zones & reporting units
Natural risk zones
Atmospheric conditions
Meteorological geographical features
Oceanographic geographical features
Sea regions
Bio-geographical regions
Habitats and biotopes
Species distribution
Energy Resources
Mineral resources

18. Why are all these themes needed ? - Just another example ....
Creation of SDI to assist in the analysis of
health impacts •
Exposure Data
Health Data
Socio -
economic data
Geographical data
Environmental data
Air Pollution and Cancer
Air Pollution Cancer Cases

19. INSPIRE Data Sharing Policy
Member States shall adopt measures for the sharing of data and services between public authorities for public tasks relating to the environment without restrictions occurring at the point of use.
Public authorities may charge, license each other and Community institutions provided this does not create an obstacle to sharing.
When spatial data or services are provided to Community institutions for reporting obligations under Community law relating to the environment then this will not be subject to charging.

20. From Commission proposal to Community Directive implementation
Preparatory phase ( )
Co-decision procedure
Preparation of Implementing Rules
Transposition phase ( )
Directive enters into force
Transposition into national legislation
INSPIRE Committee starts its activities
Adoption of Implementation Rules by Comitology
Implementation phase ( )
implementation and monitoring of measures

21. Member States shall create metadata and keep them up to date
Metadata shall include:
Conformity with IR 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

22. Interoperability of spatial data sets and services (1)
Implementing Rules shall be adopted for interoperability and where practical for harmonisation of spatial data sets and services
Based on relevant user requirements
Integrate existing international standards, if appropriate
Feasible, proportionate, cost-benefit into account (Member States shall provide information on request)
Member States shall once IR adopted:
Make services and new data conform within 2 years
Make other spatial data still in use conform (can be done through transformation service) within 7 years
Stakeholders shall be given opportunity to participate in development of this Implementing Rule

23. Interoperability of spatial data sets and services (2)
Harmonised data specifications
Annex I, II, III:
definition and classification of spatial objects
geo-referencing
Annex I, II:
common framework of unique identifiers for spatial objects;
relationship between spatial objects;
key attributes and corresponding multilingual thesauri;
Information on the temporal dimension of the data;
how to exchange updates of the data.
3rd parties shall have access to these specifications at conditions not restricting their use
Cross-border issues shall be agreed on

24. 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
View 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 (cost-benefit considerations)
- INSPIRE GEO portal shall be established – Member States geo-portals

25. INSPIRE Roadmap (1/3) Mile-stone Description 2007 X
Entry into force of INSPIRE Directive
X+3m
Establishment of the INSPIRE Committee
X +1y
Implementing Rules for the creation and up-dating of the metadata
Implementing Rules for discovery and view services
Implementing Rules for monitoring and reporting
Implementing Rules governing access and rights of use to spatial data sets and services for Community institutions and bodies
2009
X + 2y
Implementing Rules for download and invoke services
Implementing Rules for harmonised spatial data specifications and for the exchange of Annex I spatial data

26. INSPIRE Roadmap (2/3) Mile-stone
Provisions of Directive are brought into force in MS (transposition date)
2009
X + 2y
Designation of responsible public authorities for spatial data sets and services
Implementation of data sharing framework of spatial data sets and services between public bodies
Implementation of provisions on monitoring
2010
X + 3y
Metadata available for spatial data corresponding to Annex I and Annex II spatial data
Discovery and View Network services are operational
Member States’ First Report to the Commission. From then onwards MS have to present reports every 3 years

27. INSPIRE Roadmap (3/3) 2011 X + 4y 2012 X + 5y 2013 X + 6y 2014 X + 7y
Mile-stone
Provisions of Directive are brought into force in MS (transposition date)
2011
X + 4y
New or updated spatial data sets available in accordance with Implementing Rules for harmonised spatial data specifications and exchange for Annex I spatial data
Download Network Service operational for harmonised spatial data specifications and exchange for Annex I spatial data
2012
X + 5y
Implementing Rules for harmonised spatial data specifications and for the exchange of Annex II and Annex III spatial data
2013
X + 6y
Metadata available for Annex III spatial data
2014
X + 7y
Commission’s report to the EP and the Council. From then onwards the Commission has to present reports every 6 years
2016
X + 9y
All spatial data sets in use available in accordance with Implementing Rules for harmonised spatial data specifications and exchange for Annex I spatial data
2019
X + 12y
All spatial data sets in use available in accordance with Implementing Rules for harmonised spatial data specifications and exchange for Annex II and Annex III spatial data

28. 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 data infrastructures
Bottom-up implementation by Spatial Data Interest Communities, SDIC
SDIC bundle the human expertise of users, producers and transformers of spatial information, technical competence, financial resources and policies. Many SDIC exist today, generally organised by region, thematic issue or sector (industry).

29. INSPIRE process 2005-2009 Association phase Drafting phase
Commission Services co-ordinate EC
adopts
INSPIRE Expert Group advises
INSPIRE Committee votes
Review
Formal Internet Consultation
Draft Implementing Rules
Implementing Rules
Existing Reference Material
Call for Interest
Proto-types
test
Pilots validate
Consolidation Team
Drafting Teams
Experts are proposed
Projects contribute
LMOs review
Spatial Data Interest Communities participate
Public
reviews MS
apply
CEN, ISO, OGC contribute
Association phase
Drafting phase
Review phase

30. 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

31. The role of Legally Mandated Organisations (LMO)
To collaborate within the SDICs, or autonomously in providing technical specifications
To help identify user needs
To contribute to the analysis of the technical and operational feasibility of implementation of proposed draft Implementing Rules
To provide feedback on the cost/benefit consequences of Implementing Rules at Member State level.

32. Results of the call for Experts Opened on 1 March 2005 Experts registered per country
Spatial Data Interest Communities (SDICs)
139
Legally Mandate Organisations (LMOs) 89
Proposed Experts
193
Referenced Materials 96
Identified Projects 94

33. 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

34. 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

35. Example of participative process in IR development
Call for experts March 2005
Drafting Teams established in October 2005
Draft IR for Metadata published on 2nd Feb based on requirement of Directive, review of existing material submitted by SDICS and LMOs, international standards, and drafting team knowledge.
Open for comments by SDICs and LMOs over an 8 week period
Revised Draft to be published in the Summer 2007
Open for public consultation for an 8 week period NOW
Commission develops its proposal based on all input received and submits to Regulatory Committee

36. Conclusions
INSPIRE is a framework Directive with top-down Implementing Rules developed
But…
Bottom-up development of Implementing Rules through stakeholder participation - the “Spatial Data Interest Communities”
Open and transparent drafting and review of Implementing Rules
Pilots and Projects play a key role to define and validate the Implementing Rules
INSPIRE is a pillar of GMES
INSPIRE is a major EU contribution to GEO/GEOSS

37. Thank you for your attention