OME2 unlocks pan-European high-value data and calls for EU commitment to long-term funding

Sallie Payne Snell, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics addresses EU polcymakers at OME2 showcase.

Sallie Payne Snell, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics said: “The consortium is delighted that OME2, which has also enhanced the five existing datasets available via the Open Maps For Europe portal, has seen higher-than-expected user numbers. In fact, we have more than doubled our initial aim of attracting 150 unique users of the OME2 high-value large-scale prototype, with 600 registering for the dataset and almost 5,000 WFS transactions since its launch in 2024.”

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

Collaboration increases number of official national geospatial datasets available via CORDA

More than 100 new datasets, including seven targeting the update of the EU-Hydro product, are now available to Copernicus Services thanks to a collaboration that streamlines access to official geospatial information.

The Copernicus Framework Agreement between EuroGeographics and its members is a practical solution for overcoming legal barriers to accessing authoritative data for the Copernicus In-Situ component. It has significantly increased the number of national datasets available via CORDA, a centralised gateway for authorised users to access geospatial reference data from European countries participating in the Copernicus component of the EU Space programme.

Currently, 33 National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities are either making their open data easily accessible or have signed the agreement which covers the Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service (CEMS); the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS); and the Copernicus Security Service (CSS). As a result, in addition to the 117 newly available datasets, users of CORDA also have access to 42 updated datasets.

Angela Baker, Head of Partnerships and Sustainability, EuroGeographics: “We are proud to represent our members, Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, and committed to enabling easy access to both their data and their technical expertise.”

“This licence agreement ensures members’ data, which is an essential component of national, European and global critical infrastructure, is available for disaster response and recovery, security and land monitoring and increases its use through the Copernicus In-Situ Component. In addition, we have established a network of national technical contacts who are instrumental in trouble-shooting issues, improving coordination and ensuring the smooth delivery of data to CORDA.”

“Our approach respects the autonomy of our members whilst also laying the foundations for a future-proof framework for continued collaboration with the EEA to support Copernicus objectives and avoid duplication of effort to save costs and focus investment.”

Jose Miguel Rubio Iglesias, Copernicus In-Situ Data Expert, EEA added: “Copernicus relies on the availability of a wide variety of in-situ data, including high-quality, authoritative geospatial data which is essential for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Copernicus data, products and services. By facilitating access to geospatial information from official providers, our agreement with EuroGeographics strengthens synergies with its members to help us meet growing user demands for real-time, high-resolution geospatial information. This in turn ensures fit-for-purpose products that also bring valuable benefits back to the Member States.”

“We continue to build on this collaboration to address the evolving needs of the Copernicus component of the EU Space Programme and we ensure that National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities continue to be recognised for their essential contributions to Copernicus.”

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities.

OME2 adds five new countries to final release of Open Cadastral Map

Five new countries have been added to the final release of the Open Cadastral Map which has been enhanced by the Open Maps For Europe 2 (OME2) project.

The addition of Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Croatia, and Switzerland means the prototype map service now includes data from 15 of Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities.

The OME2 project runs until the end of 2025 and is being delivered by a consortium comprising: EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit membership association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities; National Geographic Institute, Belgium; National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information, France; Hellenic Cadastre; General Directorate for the Cadastre, Spain; and Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, The Netherlands.

Angela Baker, Head of Partnerships and Sustainability, EuroGeographics said: “Open Cadastral Map compiles and harmonises INSPIRE open data to provide an overview of what is available and where to find it via user-friendly links for direct download from national geoportals. The vision is that this will provide the foundation for a single access point for easily finding and using authoritative cadastral information in the future.”

“Thanks to the OME2 Project, which is co-funded by the European Union, not only have we been able to expand the Open Cadastral Map, but, together with our members, we are also developing the pan-European Cadastral Data Strategy. This will be delivered by the end of 2025 and defines stakeholders as well as the technology, processes, resources and best practices required to support the long-term delivery of official high-value data for addresses, cadastral parcels, buildings and administrative units.”

The Open Cadastral Map is available through the Open Maps For Europe interface and signposts users to data from Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and The Netherlands

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities.

The OME2 project is co-funded by the European Union. It is being delivered by a consortium comprising: EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit membership association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities; National Geographic Institute, Belgium; National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information, France; Hellenic Cadastre; General Directorate for the Cadastre, Spain; and Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, The Netherlands.  OME2 is developing a new production process and technical specification for free-to-use, edge-matched data under a single open licence. Authoritative 1:10 000 scale data for 10 countries will be delivered via the user interface built by the award-winning Open Maps For Europe Project. OME2 is also enhancing the five existing Open Maps For Europe datasets, including the Open Cadastral Map.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

Agreement significantly increases number of official national geospatial datasets available via CORDA

More authoritative geospatial information than ever before is now available to users of the Copernicus Reference Data Access (CORDA) database – including 102 new datasets from official national sources. CORDA provides authorised users with a centralised gateway for accessing geospatial reference data from the European countries participating in the Copernicus Programme.

The increase is made possible by the Copernicus Services Framework agreement between EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, and the European Environment Agency (EEA) – specifically the Copernicus In Situ component. By streamlining the licensing process, it provides a practical solution for overcoming legal barriers to data access for the Copernicus Services for disaster response and recovery, security and land monitoring.

Angela Baker, Head of Partnerships and Sustainability, EuroGeographics said: “We have worked extensively with our members to overcome any technical barriers in accessing their authoritative national geospatial data. This framework licence therefore not only improves access but also increases its use through the Copernicus In-Situ Component. Currently, 28 National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities have signed the agreement which covers the Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service; the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS); and the Copernicus Security Service (CSS). As a result, in addition to the 102 new datasets, users of CORDA also have access to 34 updated datasets.”

“Copernicus Services also have access to harmonised, value-added administrative boundary data through our agreement with Eurostat, as well as pan-European topographic, gazetteer and imagery datasets and services delivered through the Open Maps for Europe interface and the Open Maps For Europe 2 project (OME2).”

Jose Miguel Rubio Iglesias, Copernicus In-Situ Data Expert, EEA added: “Copernicus relies on the availability of a wide variety of in-situ data, including high-quality, authoritative geospatial data which is essential for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Copernicus data, products and services. By facilitating access to geospatial information from official providers, our agreement with EuroGeographics strengthens synergies with its members to help us meet growing user demands for real-time, high-resolution geospatial information. This in turn ensures fit-for-purpose products that also bring valuable benefits back to the Member States.”

“We continue to build on this collaboration to address the evolving needs of the Copernicus component of the EU Space Programme and we ensure that National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities continue to be recognised for their essential contributions to Copernicus.”

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities.

The OME2 project is co-funded by the European Union. It is being delivered by a consortium comprising: EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit membership association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities; National Geographic Institute, Belgium; National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information, France; Hellenic Cadastre; General Directorate for the Cadastre, Spain; and Cadastre, Land Registry and Agency, The Netherlands.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

EuroGeographics marks 25th anniversary with record-breaking gathering of geospatial leaders

Foto: Gatis Dieziņš (Aizsardzības ministrija)

Leaders from 47 European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities met in Latvia recently to share insights on delivering authoritative data in increasingly uncertain times.

Hosted by the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency with support from the State Land Service, the EuroGeographics 2025 General Assembly was one of the biggest gatherings of geospatial experts in the not-for-profit Association’s 25-year history.

During the two-day event, members re-elected Tomaž Petek from Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia, as President and Suren Tovmasyan, Cadastre Committee of the Republic of Armenia, to the Management Board.

Welcoming delegates, Tomaž Petek said: “EuroGeographics is a remarkable example of what can be achieved through Europe-wide cooperation. The Association celebrating its silver jubilee however is very different to the one established at the turn of the Millennium. Today, we are recognised as the point of contact for advice, comment, and supply of European geospatial and land information from official national sources, not only in Europe, but also at global level through our partnership with the United Nations Statistical Division and UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).”

“Bringing together, not only members’ collective expertise, but also their data across national boundaries is the Association’s primary strength and a powerful symbol of certainty and trust in a complex and uncertain world. We remain united by a common purpose to support the public good, and we have overcome many different challenges to ensure that official data is recognised as an essential component of national, European and global critical infrastructures.”

Sallie Payne Snell, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics added: “Welcoming us to Riga, the Minister of Defence recognised that members have long been trusted sources of geospatial information but that today a modern mapping agency must be able to operate under conditions of uncertainty.”

“This week, we have demonstrated why their data can be trusted, why it can be relied upon, and why it is fundamental resource that enables us to look to the future with confidence and certainty in challenging and unpredictable times.”

“As we take our next steps together in realising our vision of a society empowered by the use of trusted geospatial services, our focus must be on enabling access to members’ high-value data and expertise through its integration into the infrastructures we depend upon as a modern society.”

EuroGeographics General Assembly coincided with the publication of the Association’s latest Annual Review which features case studies demonstrating how members fulfil an essential role ensuring fundamental information about location is available for confident, informed decision making. Examples include security, climate change and environmental monitoring to economic growth and prosperity.

Read EuroGeographics Annual Review.

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities.