International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B4. Istanbul 2004 
  
  
application. This is where we think that common specifications 
are really required. This ‘real’ interoperability must be 
achievable at different levels: 
e  Across borders, the borders being typically the national 
borders, but also any geographic or horizontal boundary 
between providers 
* Across scales, as source data may be provided in different 
scale or resolution levels 
* Across themes, as the interrelations between themes 
should be significantly preserved in the integration 
processes — ‘vertical’ interoperability. 
We know from current projects (SABE, EuroGlobalMap & 
EuroRegionalMap previously mentioned, as well as GiMoDig), 
that this is a challenge that needs harmonisation of 
* Coordinate reference systems (a quite well understood 
process, but which is not as simple and rigorous a we 
would expect) 
* Positional accuracy and matching (at 
horizontally , and between themes — vertically) 
* Semantic description of the real world (beyond languages 
and cultures) 
borders — 
* Data modelling (beyond individual platforms and 
technology). 
This is where EuroSpec can make the difference by proposing 
specifications for the Common Reference Data, recognising 
also that technical specifications will not solve all 
interoperability issues: organisational aspects will be critical for 
matching data from different sources, and the efforts required 
for the reengineering of the existing databases must not be 
minimized. 
2. EUROSPEC, THE PROJECT 
2.1 Vision 
The general vision is to achieve sustainable interoperability of 
European mapping (and other GI) — thus answering one of the 
main concerns of the GI industry and user community. The goal 
therefore is not to create one single centralised database. but is 
to implement specifications, processes and services built upon a 
decentralised strategy within which a user can identify, 
transform, integrate and access the information they require 
when they want to. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
This vision is shared with INSPIRE, and is the core of the 
EuroGeographics strategy, which also sets out a number of key 
projects that are designed to facilitate achieving the goal of 
interoperability. These projects include: 
e A new metadata service to provide better information 
about, and access to, existing national and European 
reference data: 
e Pricing and licensing guidelines to remove some of the 
‘business’ barriers to using geographic information: and, 
e The development of European specifications for reference 
data. 
This paper addresses the latter project, as being the core of the 
EuroSpec strategy and implementation, as well as its position 
within the wider programme context. 
2.2 Rationale 
A large part of the work done within the INSPIRE work groups 
is justification enough of the needs for common specification 
for reference data. It would in particular support some the most 
fundamental of the 12 key policy principles underlying 
INSPIRE (INSPIRE data policy position paper, http://www.ec- 
gis.org/inspire/) ; 
Principle 3- Datasets made available through the INSPIRE 
programme shall be provided to harmonised data specifications 
and to common standards. 
Principle 6- Reference Data, the scope and composition of 
which shall be specified by INSPIRE, will provide the 
underpinning framework to which INSPIRE thematic data will 
be referenced. 
Principle 11- The unimpeded flow of data and information 
between (a) the Commission and Member States, (b) Member 
States, (c) local authorities and (d) members of the public shall 
be assured. 
The development of European specifications and the move 
towards the broader goal of interoperability is timely for a 
number of reasons. 
Improve efficiency and effectiveness of governance 
At the European level the development of a European Spatial 
Data Infrastructure (ESDI) has gained considerable momentum 
through the INSPIRE initiative. The National Mapping and 
Cadastre Agencies have a key role to play in providing the 
reference data that will underpin the ESDI, and the 
development of European specifications through this project 
will be an important component of the infrastructure. 
The European Commission needs ‘borderless’ geographic 
information to inform the development, implementation and 
monitoring of policies. This covers the environment (including 
impact assessment), water quality, forest monitoring, regional 
development and planning, agriculture and transport. Greater 
access and use of geographic information is also important 
within the context of the EC's ambition to develop the ‘e’ 
economy as part of its eEurope action plan. EuroGeographics is 
already supplying data (SABE, EuroGlobalMap) to support 
some of the functions of the European Commission, data that is 
also being adopted at the national level to meet Member State 
reporting requirements, for example, for the Water Framework 
Directive. User experience with these products however, is 
already creating demand for larger scale (and higher quality) 
datasets. 
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