Precision farming with the Austrian Positioning Service

"The use of APOS in automatic steering systems for Austrian agriculture has become essential. BEV takes the next step towards innovative solutions by transmitting correction data (RTK correction signal) via mobile internet. Also, we are working on delivery of free correction data via broadcast systems for all users. This step should be realized by the end of 2021 and will thus ensure cm-accurate positioning even for the mass market."

Wernher Hoffmann, President of Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV)

The Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) is expanding the APOS (Austrian Positioning Service) satellite navigation service to serve real-time kinematic (RTK) signals to a large user base. In a first step, Austrian agriculture is using the RTK signal for precision farming.

APOS is a multi GNSS positioning service which utilises GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO. The reference station network used by APOS consists of 37 GNSS reference stations throughout Austria. Additionally, all border GNSS reference stations of neighboring countries are included. APOS is the RTK positioning service for Austria, providing nationwide homogeneous 3D coordinates in the European Terrestrial Reference System (ETRS89) with cm accuracy. In order to provide RTK signals to the masses, it was necessary to completely redesign the APOS system and the central IT infrastructure.

In a first step, the RTK correction signal from APOS will be made available to the agricultural sector free of charge. The utilisation of APOS for agriculture and forestry was defined in an agreement between the BEV and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism. The use of automatic steering systems is one of the most widespread digital applications in Austrian agriculture. In order to use APOS for automatic steering, in addition to the required hardware, the transmission of correction data (RTK correction signal) via mobile internet to the agricultural machine is necessary. Using APOS a lane accuracy of approx. 2cm can be expected.

In addition to the use of APOS by the agricultural sector, the BEV is working on enabling free correction data transmission via broadcast systems for all users. This step should be realised by the end of 2021 and will provide cm-accurate positioning for the mass market. As a government infrastructure, APOS forms a foundation for supporting and promoting the innovative strength of Austrian companies in the implementation of a large number of future applications. The area of smart cities or the Internet of things, are just some examples where APOS can be utilised.

Spatial data at centre of key initiatives in Armenia

"The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to unpredictable consequences in the world, however our cooperation with EuroGeographics has been very smooth with virtual events ensuring we remain connected. Our friendly and mutually beneficial relations will continue and have consistent development. Let me thank the Management Board, Secretary General and Executive Director and the entire staff of EuroGeographics for their best efforts in these difficult conditions to achieve the goals set by the organisation."

Suren Tovmasyan, Head of the Cadastre Committee of the Republic of Armenia

Specialists from the Center of Geomatics subdivision of the Cadastre Committee have supported the creation of electronic maps for the state to prevent and control coronavirus.

The maps use population figures to divide the country into zones with a responsible hospital. The corresponding subdivisions of the appropriate authorities were then separated for each zone. These electronic maps have contributed to the national response to Covid-19 and helped the relevant state bodies organise their work.

Creation of a unified address database

The Center of Geomatics geospatial data management unit is standardising both old and new addresses to create a unified platform for the address system. As a result of intensive cooperation with the local self-governing bodies, geographical names for the areas located inside settlements are being corrected.

Benefits

• Simplification of the address provision and registration process in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
• Public awareness of the creation of address maps for each settlement.
• Contributes to creation of navigation system and maps in the future.
• Availability of address registry through an automated information system.

Launch of National Spatial Data Infrastructure

The concept of an integrated cadastre was approved by the Government in May 2019 and envisages the launch of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) standards by 2023. The Cadastre Committee has already started work on the NSDI strategy and has developed a list of basic and custom (thematic) spatial data layers. Work is also focusing on developing standardisation documents for the NSDI, elaborating the integrated Cadastre strategy and the conformance of spatial data with the standards.

Benefits

• Facilitates the collection, processing and use of common spatial and cadastral data necessary for good governance.
• Contributes to the implementation of effective programmes for the economic development of marzes (provinces) and communities.
• Eliminates duplicate and conflicting cadastral data used in various sectors of the economy.
• Facilitates the process of creating backups of spatial data, increases operational efficiency and reduces costs.
• Ensures accessibility to spatial data and provides access to information for the public.
• Promotes the processes of developing internal mechanisms ensuring completeness, accuracy and reliability of data.
• Reduces time and working resources for provision of comprehensive spatial information to relevant bodies due to the availability of real-time access.

German geotopography becomes smart

"The Smart Mapping products will make the official geotopography sustainable and fit for future. The innovation of Smart Mapping lies in the implementation of a modular development platform for a fast, agile and economical generation of almost all cartographic products."

Tobias Kunst, Chair of the Working Committee of the Surveying Authorities of the Laender of the Federal Republic of Germany (AdV)

To address the challenges of digitalisation of governmental processes within the German mapping authorities the AdV recently launched the project "Smart Mapping".  

The aim of this project is the further development of the well-known AdV standard products, as well as to test and deploy new technology for future cartographic products, such as the new basemap.de, a web map service based on vector tiles technology.

Smart Mapping develops new processes, software and services at all levels of geospatial data processing for the deployment and integration of survey data with other sources. The project team members are state and federal government domain experts and software developers working together in a distributed agile environment.

Benefits

• Combination of official German survey data with other open geospatial data sources.
• Technical platform for agile development, continuous integration and deployment based on cloud technologies.
• Use of Free and Open Source Software.
• Simple user oriented data model for geospatial data and easy re-use options for users.
• Fully automated production processes for highly up-to-date products.
• New mobile web maps.
• High resolution printed maps on demand in any scale.
• Simple and flexible integration with user data

Putting data sharing platform at heart of national Covid-19 response

“When we look back in months to come, there will doubtless be many lessons that we can learn, as a country, from our experiences with COVID-19.  However, we can already appreciate the key role that geospatial data and apps have played in keeping people informed about a fast-changing situation, revealing patterns and trends and giving people the information they need to make confident, though difficult decisions.”

Colin Bray, CEO & Chief Survey Officer, Ordnance Survey Ireland

When a rapid response to the Covid-19 pandemic was required, the national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) was ready with data – and an easy way for everyone to access it.

GeoHive is an interactive, online platform that provides easy access to OSi data. By putting it at the heart of Ireland’s Covid-19 data hub, it enables vital collaboration through data sharing, visualisation and analysis.

The public dashboard receives an average of 10,000 hits per day and is updated daily to provide a visual overview of number of cases and deaths, as well as hotspots. A secure dashboard for users such as the National Public Health Emergency Team, Chief Medical Officer, and the Prime Minister’s office, provides daily insight on key indicators needed for critical decisions.

Benefits

• Collects, standardises and analyses COVID-19 data from a variety of sources to reveal insights, patterns and trends.
• Saves time and costs - data is collected once, updated daily and used many times.
• Delivers the data people need, in a format that they understand.
• Easy to use, visual overview of number of cases and deaths, as well as hotspots – receives an average of 10,000 hits public per day.
• Secure dashboard for Government & Public Health Services provides daily insight on key indicators for critical decisions.
• Enables people to take action to ensure their safety by seeing and understanding local risks.
• Enables the coordination and targeting of community support for vulnerable people by providing key data such as calls concerning social isolation.
• Reassured Government of the declining risks associated with reopening retail businesses and supports Ireland’s Roadmap for Reopening by showing the locations of retail units, their type, size and number of employees.

Delivering indispensable infrastructure and spatial data to manage disasters

“Digital services pre-developed by the State Geodetic Administration have proved indispensable to Croatia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as two devastating earthquakes. After the Croatian Government declared a state of disaster in the earthquake-stricken areas in and around Zagreb, the State Geodetic Administration in cooperation with the Central State Office for the Development of Digital Society, the Faculty of Geodesy and the Civil Protection Headquarters, established the Headquarters’ network geoinformation system for dealing with the consequences of the disaster. This system is based on NSDI data, the infrastructure cadastre and spatial unit register.”

Damir Šantek, State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia

Ensuring availability of data on existing infrastructure

Using a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, the State Geodetic Administration established an information system to function as a single information point (JIT) and infrastructure cadastre (SKI).

The system records utility lines and other facilities belonging to electricity, electronic communications, hot water, gas, oil, water supply and drainage infrastructure, and contains data on the types, basic technical characteristics, current use and location of existing infrastructure. By providing access to basic information to all other users under proportionate, non-discriminatory and transparent conditions, the aim is to allow the management, storage and distribution of infrastructure cadastre data. The system was put into operation in August 2020 for the areas of jurisdiction of two counties.

The single information point (JIT) constitutes the public part of the system available, allowing external users to search for infrastructure cadastre spatial data and metadata, provide notifications on ongoing or planned construction works, submit requests for data and public documents, and receive official documents. In addition, users will be able to submit infrastructure geodetic report to competent cadastral offices for review and confirmation electronically.

Benefits

• Maximises the use and efficiency existing infrastructure
• Reduces costs and removes obstacles in executing new construction works.
• Reduces costs incurred by direct and indirect damages done while executing construction works.
• Ensures the sharing of information on infrastructure digitally to all users who need data on infrastructure in their business processes.

Accessing spatial data sources

The State Geodetic Administration serves as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Contact Point and is, among other things, in charge of establishing, maintaining and developing the NSDI Geoportal, the starting point for accessing spatial data sources. The National Geoportal was created in 2014, and in September 2020, an improved and visually redesigned version was publicly released.

Benefits

• Greatly improves the user experience and interface.
• Enables access to 446 metadata items (218 of which are related to network services) on various sources under the jurisdiction of 38 institutions.
• Provides a simple and intuitive data viewer for professional users.
• Enables the additional manipulation of displays based on network services, including both those already present on the NSDI Geoportal and external ones, which users can add themselves.
• Modernises the Metadata Catalogues and facilitates system configuration through the administration interface using the open source cataloguing application GeoNetwork 3.4.4.

Provision of topographic and real estate cadastre data for 2021 Population and Housing Census

“The integration of geographical and demographic data is an important opportunity to strengthen the use and interpretation of data collected for statistical purposes. For the first time, the Population and Housing Census in Slovakia is using existing administrative data sources in the form of reference registers and only with minimal inquiries of the population.”

Ján Mrva, president of the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority of the Slovak Republic (UGKK SR)

The Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority in Slovakia is providing data for the preparation of the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

UGKK SR is delivering spatial data layers from the real estate cadastre and topographic database to the Statistical Office for the integrated and fully electronic census. The information will be used to identify all possible inhabited and habitable objects. It is also directly integrated to the Address Register and forms a spatial basis up to the level of the address point for the Population and Housing Census. 

Benefits:

• Contributes to territorial preparation data which is used during data collection, monitoring and processing after the implementation of 2021 Population and Housing Census.
• Spatial topographic layers enriched with layers of cadastral plots and the Orthophotomosaic enables quick orientation in the field using web and mobile applications for those conducting the Census.
• Flats from the real estate cadastre identified within the Housing Census are assigned to address points enabling residents to confirm their flat number during the Population Census.
• Topographic and real estate cadastre data contributed to the identification of all possible inhabited and habitable objects.

Development of Covid-19 Track and Trace System with real-time data

“The Hellenic Military Geographical Service (HMGS), consistent with its socially responsible role, developed real-time geospatial applications in support of state entities that battle COVID-19. These applications facilitated the decision making process and assisted in mitigating the spread of the pandemic by offering statistical analysis tools and qualitative data.”

HMGS Commander Col. Kalenterides Kimon, Hellenic Military Geographical Service

The Hellenic Military Geographical Service has developed a geospatial recording and monitoring system that relays Covid-19 data in real-time to scientific collaborators.

With the outbreak of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the Region of Attica in cooperation with the Athens Medical Association decided to conduct diagnostic sample testing. Samples were taken by mobile units consisting of medical and nursing personnel. The initial design was such that the mobile units that carried out sampling, recorded their results in an excel sheet, meaning that personnel had to stay in potential hotspots for large amounts of time. Additionally, a substantial amount of time was needed to process the data.

To improve the data collection process by the mobile units, the Hellenic Military Geographical Service, in cooperation with the Athens Medical Association and the Region of Attica, developed a geospatial recording and monitoring system for Covid-19 cases. The object of the application, used by medical personnel in the mobile units, is quick data collection and real-time relay of the data to scientific collaborators, so that appropriate measures can be taken.

Benefits

• Increases safety of medical and nursing personnel by reducing the time spent in outbreak hotspots.
• Reduces processing time for questionnaires given and collected by personnel.
• Any data put into the application is available real-time to the Operations Center of the Athens Medical Association.
• Offers a wide range of tools for statistical data analysis.
• Supervision of viral spread and epidemiological monitoring of the pandemic is achieved.
• Potential viral hotspots are viewed on a cartographic background.

Adapting and pioneering services to minimise face-to-face contact

“The COVID pandemic forced us to make a major technological changes, to quickly redesign our communication channels; our face-to-face appointments, internet services and hotline, and to implement new products and services.”

Fernando de Aragón, CEO, Spanish Directorate General for Cadastre

The Spanish Directorate General for Cadastre has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by adapting its services to citizens to minimise face-to-face contact.

It was already immersed in a strategic plan to evolve towards a new customer service model, redesigning its processes and reorganising provincial offices. By developing new products, services and channels, the aim was to avoid unnecessary travel by improving telephone and internet services.

When the Spanish State decreed the state of alarm and confinement of citizens, the Directorate General enabled a contingency plan to readapt its processes and services. For the first 6 weeks, the offices remained closed with staff teleworking. When offices were partially reopened, hygienic measures and social distancing installations were implemented.

Appointments are now made via telephone or internet, and enquiries are answered by telephone, videoconference and exceptionally in person in offices.

Benefits

• Pioneering service for the resolution of doubts by videoconference.
• Virtual assistant guides citizens and administrations in making declarations to the cadastre.
• Online graphical assistant enables the declaration of physical alterations of real estate.
• Virtual assistant helps users to navigate the electronic office.
• Allows the request of certificates by telephone and the submission of documentation and declarations via internet without the need for a digital certificate.
• Establishes new identification models (soft keys) that ensure data protection and access to information under the conditions established by the legislation.

Ukraine achieves long awaited step forward in NSDI development

“2020 can be considered as the year of geospatial data in Ukraine with the Ukrainian geospatial community facing a historic moment of digitalisation. We have introduced a ‘single window’ for natural resource management, which will help to save budget funds and develop territories, strengthen public control over the activities of state bodies and increase public confidence in the government.”

In April 2020, Ukraine’s law on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) was finally adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament after more than 10 years and 4 attempts. Although Ukraine is not an EU Member State, the law is fully in line with INSPIRE and also reflects the main principles of EU open data policy.

The Council on National Spatial Data Infrastructure has been established to provide the advisory support on NSDI implementation, which is of critical national importance. Together with the Research Institute for Geodesy and Cartography, StateGeoCadastre has developed the portal for the NSDI pilot project. This provides online integration of national, regional and local level geospatial datasets from 5 cities, 2 oblast administrative areas and 75 amalgamated territorial communities which can be accessed by the public.

Benefits

• Gradual full digitisation of all processes and data in Ukraine.
• Maintenance of a single topographic base.
• Avoids duplication of financial and human resources for similar work, reducing budget costs at national, regional and local levels.
• Provides a complete electronic picture of Ukraine in one place.
• Ensures effective public administration and public control.
• Deregulation of existing procedures, disclosure of information and creation of added value.
• Stimulates the investment climate through the  integration of all geospatial data in the one single, user-friendly portal.
• Enables integration of Ukraine to the European and Global Spatial Data Infrastructure.

Using trusted data as the foundation of underground asset registers

“Ordnance Survey was delighted to be a partner in this unique and ambitious project. The Geospatial Commission’s NUAR pilots have clearly demonstrated the value of bringing together multi-stakeholder data into a single register through which data can be shared and exchanged – delivering an immediate reduction in risk and a broader increase to efficiency. The importance of trusted geospatial data being at the foundation of the initiative has been widely recognised and builds on decades of valuable collaboration with the utility sector.”

David Henderson, Chief Geospatial Officer, Ordnance Survey

Together with the Geospatial Commission and the Greater London Authority, Ordnance Survey developed a communal register prototype integrating different types of underground asset data owned by utility companies. As UK utility providers are private companies, often in competition with each other and reluctant to share data, this will help them to operate more efficiently, reduce accidents, such as strikes on underground pipes and cables, and ultimately make data-sharing across organisations less challenging.

The UK’s Geospatial Commission, responsible for national geospatial strategy, invested in two pilot projects aiming to evaluate the feasibility and value of a National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) in enabling better data-sharing of trusted information across the utilities sector.

Ordnance Survey led the delivery of a pilot project across national and regional utility providers and local authorities in North East England. This included the design, development and configuration of a data sharing prototype, enabling stakeholders to view a comprehensive integrated map of underground assets and associated data. The technical solution provided a single, high-quality, accessible view of this trusted information, and complied with data sharing principles, ensuring the legal and technical security of data owners’ contributions. A bespoke data model was created to ensure interoperability.

The aim is to show underground assets from all relevant utility providers in a single area in relationship to the detailed national OS MasterMap, in an accessible solution that is easy for onsite excavation teams and construction workers to access on mobile phones, tablets and toughbook computers.

Benefits

• A data sharing platform on which all relevant parties share trusted underground data will reap significant operational and health and safety benefits in utilities, construction, local government and for citizens, including improved accuracy, usability and evidence-based decision-making.
• The Geospatial Commission estimated a £1.2 billion economic cost per year from accidental strikes on underground pipes and cables. This platform will help support the avoidance of future utility strikes and subsequent inconvenience caused to the public.
• Early trials have already identified where efficiency savings and safe working practices can be enhanced in back-end planning and operational response. A major utility provider commented ‘as a high-level estimate that they could save £1 million annually just on streamlining the planning process for obtaining utility plans’.
• In the future, NUAR will enable engineers to see what assets are underground which means less trial holes being dug, decreasing the margin for error and subsequent costs. NUAR would also contain additional utility assets and a user can widen the search area; this will assist the tracking of a leak and identify any potential escape routes – e.g. water flowing through a telecommunication duct before surfacing.
• Incident responders have highlighted increased confidence levels in putting safety first for their excavator teams, as they receive an instant integrated and reliable map view of all critical utility assets.