Future research topics on Spatial Data Infrastructure

The GSDI association stopped for various reasons in 2018. In order to explore a need for a follow-up initiative, OGC together with EuroSDR launched a small survey. The survey consisted of the following questions:

- What are the current key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures?

- What are the expected future key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures?

- Is there a need for an independent network organization focusing on SDI-knowledge transfer?

- What follow-up action steps do you recommend that we need to take?    

The survey was sent to the delegates of EuroSDR. We received 17 responses in total. A report entitled Future research topics on Spatial Data Infrastructures was finalised in January 2019.  A summary of the answers for each question are presented below:

- What are the current key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures?

A long list of current key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures have been provided with a very wide range of topics including issues related to technology, standards, legislation, quality, management, finances, and usages. The most outstanding topics specifically refer to research issues related to Standardisation and Linked Data. Other research topics frequently mentioned are: Process Management, INSPIRE implementation, Metadata, Volunteered Geographic Information/Crowdsourcing, Geodata on the Web, APIs, 3D data, GeoBIM interoperability, Open Data, Privacy, Security, Smart Cities, SDI-use and visualisation.

- What are the expected future key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures?

A very long list of expected future key research topics in the context of Spatial Data Infrastructures have been provided with even a wider range of topics than presented under Question 1. The future research topics that stand out refer to Linked Data, Open Data, 3D data (modelling), Time management (including time series, real time), Smart Cities and User-centricity. It is remarkable that most given topics are only mentioned once. In comparison with the answers of Question 1, standardisation as a research topic is not mentioned frequently.

- Is there a need for an independent network organization focusing on SDI-knowledge transfer?

The answers are very mixed. Six answers explicitly express a need for an independent network organization focusing on SDI knowledge transfer, meanwhile six answers explicitly express that there is no need. The remaining three answers are not explicit if there is a need for such organization or not. In the scope of the development of spatial data infrastructures, Europe benefited a lot by the adoption of the INSPIRE EU Directive. As such Europe stands out in comparison with other regions worldwide. It is very likely that other regions are more in favour of such an independent network organisation for SDI knowledge transfer.

- What follow-up action steps do you recommend that we need to take?  

The recommendations for follow-up actions are very diverse ranging from the organisation of workshops, focus on specific user groups/topics, collection of good practices, discussion on a redefinition of the SDI-concept, setting up relevant governance structures to monitoring the INSPIRE implementation. It is remarkable that half of the recommendations refer to be more user-centric or to widen the scope of user community.