Spatial Data Sharing: A Pilot Study of French SDIs

Matthieu Noucher,Nathalie Pinède,Jade Georis-Creuseveau,Julie Pierson,Pierre Gautreau,Françoise Gourmelon,Adeline Maulpoix,Mathias Rouan,Olivier Pissoat

doi:10.3390/ijgi6040099

Abstract

Since the appearance of Spatial Data Infrastructure several years ago, there has been a tremendous increase in spatial data available on the Internet. This situation raises several research issues, in terms of identifying the content actually accessible via this medium and its impact on governance and local authority management. Our study proposes a mixed methodology applied to 45 French institutional infrastructures, to compare the objectives stated by their promoters, their content, and the actual services provided. The methodology, based on an analysis of interviews with Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) coordinators and their answers to questionnaires, as well as a study of their websites and an exploration of over 160,000 metadata in their metadata catalogues, produced varied results concerning data accessibility, stakeholder networks, the interoperability of tools, and informational equality in different regions. Despite the proactive stance of SDI promoters, only 15.7% of data are open-access. Their interoperability remains restricted to specific types of actors and themes. Although geocollaboration organised by SDIs is very active, it only concerns the public sector. These disparities also concern their informational dimension, as some regions have considerable resources at their disposal, but others do not.

Highlights

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) are often seen as contributors to the vision of “Digital Earth”, a multi-resolution, three-dimensional representation of the planet that makes it possible to find, visualize, and make sense of vast amounts of geo-referenced information on physical and social environments [1]
Our study proposes a methodological framework for critical analysis of spatial data infrastructures, intended to complement and support this field of research, contributing to the necessary “task of conceptualisation on the basis of empirical research” mentioned by Kitchin and Lauriault [15] (p. 14)
The methodological framework proposed in this article compares the claims of SDI promoters through interviews, a survey, and editorial analysis of the websites and their SDI content, based on an analysis of the metadata and the associated communities of practice

Summary

Introduction

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) are often seen as contributors to the vision of “Digital Earth”, a multi-resolution, three-dimensional representation of the planet that makes it possible to find, visualize, and make sense of vast amounts of geo-referenced information on physical and social environments [1]. They are considered an essential driver of institutional data diffusion [2].

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion