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Cleaves (1999) according to Feeney and Williamson, 2003). 
Availability is about the existence of spatial data as well as the 
quality and specifications of available data. Accessibility is 
about the capability of accessing to available data for use. 
Applicability is about the relevance of the available data to the 
user’s needs and required applications. It is also about 
capability of easy and rapid use of available and accessible data 
in the user’s environment. Usability is about how much the 
available spatial data are used by users. In this regard, different 
factors may affect such situation. Various parameters with 
respect to each of the mentioned factors were identified and 
investigated during the assessment. 
3.3 Development of NSDI Strategic Plan for Iran 
At the third step, NSDI strategic planning was conducted based 
on the results of assessment. It included an SWOT analysis to 
distinguish strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for 
NSDI development in Iran. Then the goals of NSDI were 
described and finally different strategic recommendations were 
offered for NSDI implementation. 
3.4 Development of NSDI Conceptual Model for Iran 
The strength of an SDI initiative lies in the interconnected and 
cohesive nature of its five core components. With this in mind, 
according to the results of the assessment and the strategic plan, 
Iran NSDI conceptual model was developed by examining and 
expanding each of the components of Iran NSDI. The NSDI 
conceptual model clarifies different activities that should be 
conducted, various aspects that should be considered, and 
fundamental requirements that should be defined in the context 
of each core component for a successful NSDI implementation 
in Iran. Following, the main classes of identified factors with 
respect to each of the NSDI components are described briefly: 
• Data Component: Content, scale and resolution, metadata, 
data collection technologies, spatial data management 
systems, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), and 
distributed data management. 
• People Component: Data custodians, private sector, 
academic sector, value-adders, and end-users 
• Standard Component: Interoperability, metadata standard, 
data quality standard, specifications, and distributed 
architecture of Iran NSDI designation approach. 
• Accessing Network Component: Communication 
infrastructures, information networks, spatial web services 
• Policy Component: SDI development approach, developing 
SDIs at lower levels, connecting SDIs at different levels, 
policy for standards development, policy for data collection 
and updating, financial model, capacity building, security 
constrains, stewardship, privatization, research and 
development, collaborative projects, persuasive policies, 
supportive policies, short-term and long-term projects, and 
coordinating body. 
3.5 Development of NSDI Action Plan 
The NSDI action plan was developed by proposing different 
projects/activities and relevant time table for development and 
implementation of NSDI in Iran. These projects would result 
implementation of NSDI conceptual model. In other words, for 
each factor in NSDI conceptual model, to be implemented, one 
or more projects were proposed. 
4. CONCLUSION 
Development of SDI in Iran was started from 2004. This paper 
descried study phase of Iran NSDI including five main stages. 
The basic models adopted for organizational assessment was 
explained. In addition, development of SDI conceptual model, 
based on NSDI core components were depicted, in brief. 
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
Authors would like to thank National Centre for Spatial 
Planning (NCSP) in Management and Planning Organization 
(MPO) for supporting the project.