EUROSDR ROLE IN EUROSPEC DEVELOPMENT 
K.J.Murray 
Ordnance Survey, Romsey Road, Southampton, SO16 4GU 
Keith.Murray@ordnancesurvey.co.uk 
Special Session - SS13 
KEY WORDS: Interoperability, GIS, Integration, Federated, database, Spatial Infrastructure, Acquisition 
ABSTRACT: 
Geography recognises no boundaries and hence the need for geographic information to transcend the artificial and political 
boundaries set by man. Pressing issues regarding the environment, security and population movement can originate on one part of 
the world and affect many others. The effects may be evident in minutes (e.g. a power plant disaster such as Chernobyl) or over 
longer time scales (e.g. refugees or migrant workers). In either case the impact may be widespread and affect both the economy and 
the environment of the neighbouring countries. Recording the effects and impacts of such events is the first step towards 
understanding them. This is the domain of geographic information. Therefore our information systems need to "join up" by ensuring 
we can plan preventative measures, or protect ourselves with contingency plans. We are likely, at some stage, to have to deal with 
inevitable emergencies e.g. flooding, when they do and will happen and subsequently, we to have to take restorative action after the 
event. Individual countries are grappling with the problem of “joining up" information at the national level while accommodating 
the key role geographic information plays at all levels of government today. At the European level it is also being recognised that 
joining up across national boundaries is vital to solve the cross border examples described above. In Europe EuroGeographics (the 
association of National Mapping and cadastral Agencies [NMCAs]) has taken the lead in establishing a European-wide foundation 
of reference information by commencing the EuroSpec initiative during 2003. EuroSDR, the European research arm of the NMCAs, 
with support from academia and some private sector input, is collaborating with their sister organisation EuroGeographics. 
EuroSDR will provide the bridge to a programme of research activities that will support and pave the way for EuroSpec. The paper 
will expand on this important working relationship and describe the kinds of research activity that are now being planned and 
programmed to support EuroSpec and ensure the organisations demonstrate that their potential is greater than the sum of their two 
parts. 
I. INTRODUCTION starting to revolutionise the way we travel e.g. mobile 
navigation systems, and learn about places e.g. web-driven 
1.1 Cross border information mobile technology such as Location based Services. 
We live in a global society. Something can happen in one part 
of the world and will affect people in several other parts as a mn 
consequence. The impact may be generated by an economic or 5 
business decision, such as a multi-national company hy EU 
establishing overseas operations (or equally — closing down E 
such operations). 
   
  
The Waler Framennirk Directive 
Tap into it ! 
   
However other events may occur such as some form of 
environmental issue; for example a pollution incident or 
prolonged heavy rain in one country affecting a major river 
such as the Rhine or the Danube in several neighbouring 
countries. Again reversal also occurs, where dams or water 
extraction can adversely affect neighbouring countries. New 
legislation such as the Water Framework Directive and others is 
setting new targets that cross national borders. Other political 
decisions have seen workers or refugees moving large distances 
looking for a chance of a better life in a hard world. 
As tourism grows more people are travelling to other countries. 
In the past they may have and have used maps and guides to - Figure 1. The Water Framework Directive 
help them navigate and reach destinations we have always 
wanted to visit. New technology at affordable prices is now 
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