Most events connected with spatial data infrastructure (SDI) related projects and work involve government organisations and institutions. In principle, SDI are still very young and adapting – they have yet to form closer links and governance ties, although many existing projects have had some industry participation. Current worldwide economic conditions could act as a spark to begin broader private-public partnerships, shifting SDI from their government and political roots, toward enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities for a growing and widening base of younger people – many of whom are searching for work. What is it that we need from SDI at this particular time in history, what technologies need to be engaged and expanded and how can we cause private-public projects in this area to flourish?
Most events connected with spatial data infrastructure (SDI) related projects and work involve government organisations and institutions. In principle, SDI are still very young and adapting – they have yet to form closer links and governance ties, although many existing projects have had some industry participation. Current worldwide economic conditions could act as a spark to begin broader private-public partnerships, shifting SDI from their government and political roots, toward enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities for a growing and widening base of younger people – many of whom are searching for work. What is it that we need from SDI at this particular time in history, what technologies need to be engaged and expanded and how can we cause private-public projects in this area to flourish?
SDI are of continuing interest to many people today. In spirit they embrace connected technologies, connected governance and connected goals in a coordinated fashion. While there appears to be many interpretations for what constitutes SDI, that is slowly improving as new projects, relationships and experience slowly mold, fashion and evolve SDI directions. The current economic situation worldwide is forcing governments to embrace alternate avenues for revenue. Like all other areas, SDI efforts will be impacted. And, since most of the current activity for SDI revolves around public bodies and agencies, narrowing budgets will require initiatives that embrace more private participation and partnership in new ways.
Because geodata and geoinformation drives so much of the SDI process, any effort that aims to increase the use and application of spatial data within SDI boundaries can have major benefits. Greater use and access to spatial information, particularly that involving higher quality data, can increase re-use and act to aggregate and integrate the wider population across borders and multi-disciplinary areas. In the publication ‘Digital Earth’s Nervous System for crisis events: real-time Sensor Web Enablement of Volunteered Geographic Information‘, the authors say, “ this perspective implies a need to engage with existing initiatives, such as Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI), Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). While SDI focuses on the distributed management of relatively static geospatial data (GSDI 2004), SWE concentrates on the observation of highly dynamic phenomena, such as weather and air pollution (Botts et al. 2008). It can be argued that VGI complements both, by involving geospatial content contributed by non-expert users (Goodchild 2007).”
While this concept is perhaps completely new, it remains to be realized, although we can see efforts involved along this kine today involving GIS, virtual globes and social media applications that include real-time observations and events. Further examples, where private participation can act to participate in wider networks and systems organised opportunities include Android apps and iPhone, iPad apps etc. In one sense we can acknowledge that these trends have been advanced largely due to the growth of smartphones rather than any effort of the geospatial communities – it would not have happened with cheap, quick, inter-connected technologies with wide availability.
But it does raise the question, how does the geospatial community now act to capitalise not only on pushing real-time observations through smarter and more intelligent devices, but to stimulate geo-governance of the kind related to SDI through greater private investment? We need more privately operated SDI together with publicly operated.
This is not a new model. From national parks to railways to postal services and health care, private industry and entrepreneurs are making their mark, creating millions of jobs, enhanced tax revenue and opportunities. This is of particular importance at this time because so many younger people are without work.
One thing that we do know, most younger people have access mobility products, seem actively engaged in digital networking and enjoy the chance to interact. On that basis we are already half way to the goal, so how do we inject more spatial concepts and data into the already existing projects, especially higher up the ladder into the governance of SDI?
