3D Geo-Information Innovation in Europe’s Public Mapping Agencies: A Public Value Perspective

Serene Ho,Jantien Stoter,Joep Crompvoets

doi:10.3390/land7020061

Serene Ho, Jantien Stoter + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/land7020061

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Abstract

Intensifying and increasingly complex physical developments under, on, and above ground, as well as the speed and accessibility of digital innovation, is resulting in growing interest in public sector investment in 3D geo-information. In Europe, a consortium of 11 public mapping agencies (PMAs) recently undertook a cost-benefit analysis for pursuing adoption of 3D geo-information. However, broader public management literature has shown that while economic value is vital for justifying public investment, it is not the only driving factor and that the creation of public value is crucially and equally significant as it conveys social and political legitimacy. Using a public value perspective, this paper aims to re-examine the data collected by the consortium of PMAs. Content analysis of the qualitative data provides strong examples of how 3D geo-information may potentially manifest as different types of public value across a broad public of stakeholders as well as providing evidence that such innovation would likely be politically as well as operationally viable. Nonetheless, the lack of a clear obvious need for 3D geo-information that responds to a specific societal challenge may pose an impediment to successful innovation.

Highlights

Maps have a long history in facilitating the creation of public value
They are argued to be an instrument of ‘modern statecraft’, providing the state with a way to ‘see’ through simplifying, standardizing, and codifying information about people and resources to deliver public tasks [1]. This has driven the establishment of public mapping agencies (PMAs), often at national levels, in many countries to support public organizations tasked with the production, management and stewardship of geo-information and associated products and services to meet a range of public interests associated with the economy, the environment, and society
There were more public sector stakeholders identified as beneficiaries of 3D geo-information, which could potentially be interpreted as conveying downstream benefits to the community at large as well

Summary

Introduction

Maps have a long history in facilitating the creation of public value. In effect, they are argued to be an instrument of ‘modern statecraft’, providing the state with a way to ‘see’ through simplifying, standardizing, and codifying information about people and resources to deliver public tasks [1].This has driven the establishment of public mapping agencies (PMAs), often at national levels, in many countries to support public organizations tasked with the production, management and stewardship of geo-information and associated products and services to meet a range of public interests associated with the economy (e.g., property, land use, mineral resources, infrastructure, etc.), the environment (e.g., soil type, topography, marine resources, etc.), and society (e.g., population distribution, health and safety, etc.).To date, the synoptic orientation of public geo-information products and services has been two-dimensional (2D) in both perspective (i.e., terrestrial overview) and format (paper-based or analogue drawings). Maps have a long history in facilitating the creation of public value In effect, they are argued to be an instrument of ‘modern statecraft’, providing the state with a way to ‘see’ through simplifying, standardizing, and codifying information about people and resources to deliver public tasks [1]. They are argued to be an instrument of ‘modern statecraft’, providing the state with a way to ‘see’ through simplifying, standardizing, and codifying information about people and resources to deliver public tasks [1] This has driven the establishment of public mapping agencies (PMAs), often at national levels, in many countries to support public organizations tasked with the production, management and stewardship of geo-information and associated products and services to meet a range of public interests associated with the economy (e.g., property, land use, mineral resources, infrastructure, etc.), the environment (e.g., soil type, topography, marine resources, etc.), and society (e.g., population distribution, health and safety, etc.).

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