21.12.2009

INSPIRE reaches the people

Increased deployment of sdi.suite technology at local-government level
 
In the past it was largely federal and state government agencies that played a pioneering role in the construction of interoperable spatial data infrastructures (SDI). This resulted in the development of numerous geoportals, metadata catalogues, and service-based specialist information systems, often based on the sdi.suite platform developed by con terra GmbH. Examples are the GISU geoportal operated by the Federal Environmental Agency, the GGINA geoportal run by the Federal Institute of Hydrology, and a number of further geoportals and geocatalogues operating on state level.
 
The latest discernable trend is pointing to an increase in such activities at a local level. This is a clear sign that the EU INSPIRE directive has meanwhile reached the people.
 
It is thanks to the increased significance that metadata now enjoys that the first INSPIRE implementing regulation came into force in December 2008. This led to a sharp and direct increase last year in the number of rural districts and boroughs deploying the trusted terraCatalog solution from the sdi-suite, for collecting and issuing metadata. It is on this level in particular departments that keep metadata can be found, and which are required by the national spatial data access law to compile and keep metadata, hold it in compliance with spatial data and spatial services, and make it available interoperably.
 
There are now around 30 rural districts and towns who employ software components from the sdi.suite for their own purposes. It is not only its convincing technology but also its good scalability which make the sdi.suite components eminently suitable for use in a wide variety of institutions.
 
Do you have any questions on using the sdi.suite on local government level? If so, please get in touch with us using our contact form, and we will be happy to get in touch with you.