International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B6. Istanbul 2004 
e. EuroSDR should broaden its field of activities, yet keeping relevance to data acquisition. On the 
other hand there are too many applications to address all of them; therefore choices should be 
made. 
e Core geo-spatial databases should take a central position in EuroSDR activities; this includes 
geo-spatial data modelling, maintenance, integration, delivery and access mechanisms 
e  EuroSDR should profile itself as a technology exchange platform (professional and commercially 
neutral platform) to provide services to the European GI community 
eo Collaboration with other organisations and use of new data modelling paradigms should be 
encouraged. 
e Private sector and industry should be involved. 
e  EuroSDR results should be timely available (short project phases with intermediate deliverables). 
3.2 The Research Targets 
It is quite clear that the development of GDIs will provide a major context for the research agenda of 
EuroSDR. The information components of the GDIs that are generally still based on the traditional 
map paradigm. But within this paradigm we see the development of nw products and services. That is 
that the old concept of maps evolved into digital maps and from there into seamless databases and 
presently we see scaleless databases emerging, slowly but surely. The line map is more and more 
replaced by object-structured representations. The dimensionality evolves from 2D to 2.5D and users 
have access to data and services that allow them to create rectified or draped high-resolution images 
according to their own needs. Core data are also provided through new delivery mechanisms that 
support the present fast development location based services and mobile GIS. 
But we see also new development lines that are no longer embedded in the traditional map paradigm. 
Object structured approaches allow other spatial representation that go beyond those contained in this 
paradigm. The development of the dimensionality of spatial data bases from 2D to 2.5D and beyond to 
3D and 4D will allow new types of representation of dynamic spatial complexes where we can travel 
through space and through objects. Based on the integration of images with these 3D and 4D data base 
models VR and augmented reality representations have been developed in the form of e.g. city 
models, street models and buildings. First developments have been shown on the combination of GIS 
and CAD techniques where city models zoom in to individual buildings, which can be entered to 
inspect the interior of these buildings. 
It is very likely that planners and engineers developing physical (urban) infrastructures etc. will 
require such presentations with object information at multi-resolution levels rather then the traditional 
map data. Professional users will see spatial data as one component of an integrated set of information 
with also administrative, management and planning data. Organizations involved in future spatial data 
management should anticipate the technical issues they will have to face. 
EuroSDR has a clear role to play in this field and has accepted some twelve main research subjects 
where it intends to contribute. These are without any priority arrangement (EuroSDR, 2000): 
1. Sensor systems (including calibration aspects) 
2. Geometric data acquisition issues (geo-referencing, DEM) 
3. Semantic data acquisition issues (information extraction, contents, automation) 
4. 3-D core data; emphasis on spatial modelling, information extraction and tools for 3-D 
5 
Integrated problem solution from industry (systems manufacturers should become more 
database centric) 
6. Process modelling and interfaces (product diversity/servicing) 
200