3rd International Workshop on Spatial Data Quality call for papers

Malta is hosting an International workshop on spatial data quality which will see producers, users, academia and software suppliers gather in Valletta on 28 and 29 January 2020.

Abstracts and papers are now invited for the two-day event organised by EuroGeographics and EuroSDR in conjunction with Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 211 Geographic Information (ISO TC211), and the International Cartographic Association (ICA).

“Technology is driving the geospatial information industry forward at an ever-growing rate with increasing recognition that quality is of paramount importance,” says Chair of EuroGeographics Quality Knowledge Exchange Network, Jonathan Holmes.

“As well as embracing new capture and quality assurance methods, we must also meet user expectations that data will be readily available, accurate, trustworthy and free. This presents new challenges for National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities who are the official sources of authoritative geospatial information.”

“Traditional methods of checking quality are now regarded as too expensive and the focus has shifted onto ways of ensuring that quality assurance is built into a method or process from the very beginning. In addition, many users know little about how the data is produced so we must find ways to communicate the trust, quality, provenance, and relevance of our content to all potential users – not just those in the professional community.”

“Previous events held in 2015 and 2017 provided valuable and innovative contributions to the ongoing debate on spatial data quality. We hope the 2020 workshop will prove just as successful and help to provide solutions to these issues.”

Papers are invited on all topics related to spatial data quality, including (but not limited to):

 • Quality evaluation of spatial data

• Quality certification and accreditation of spatial data

• Use of international metadata and quality standards

• Quality issues in spatial data infrastructures (e.g. national, INSPIRE)

• Communication/visualization of spatial data quality

• Spatial data usability/quality from the users perspective

• Impact of data quality on decision making

• Spatial data quality vs scales/resolution

• Applications of spatial data quality

• Quality of geospatial services

• Research trends in spatial data quality

• Practical implementation of spatial data quality assessment

• Quality Standards

• Software for measuring quality

• Quality of 3rd party data, crowdsourced/OSM etc.

• Authoritative data

Content must be submitted via this link by 1 October 2019.

Abstracts should be at least two pages long but no more than 3 to 4 pages whilst complete papers should be around 10 to 12 pages.

 All submissions will be independently reviewed by the programme committee members who will notify authors of their decision by 29 November 2019.

More information is available online here.

Programme Committee:

• Jonathan Holmes (Chair EuroGeographics – Quality KEN)

• Carol Agius (EuroGeographics)

• Tamás Palya (EuroGeographics Quality KEN)

• Karin Mertens (EuroGeographics Quality KEN)

• Antti Jakobsson (Maanmittauslaitos Finland)

• Bart De Lathouwer (OGC)

• Ray Patrucco (OS Great Britain)

• Joep Crompvoets (EuroSDR)

• Agneta Engberg (ISO TC211)

• Serena Coetzee (ICA)

• Franz-Josef Behr (ICA)

Authoritative geospatial information key to helping deliver UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development

Official digital mapping plays an important role in helping to address the key global and regional issues that affect society and the planet, such as poverty, climate change, sustainable development, a digital economy, migration, security and health.

National and international geospatial experts gather during the first week of August at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to discuss how digital geospatial information management can help address these global challenges. 

European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registries will be represented by EuroGeographics, an international not-for-profit association, highlighting the importance of their geospatial information in helping to address these important topics. 

“In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion in location-based services,”says Mick Cory, EuroGeographics Secretary General and Executive Director, who is participating in GGIM9 this week at United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

“Many of us have a digital map in our pockets.  Whether it’s maps, cadastral data or land registration, geospatial information is driving applications to realise social, economic and environmental benefits for us all.”

“In the age of ‘Big Data’ and the ‘Internet of Things’ it is even more important to know which data sources are reliable, accurate, and trust-worthy, particularly for decisions that affect all our lives.” 

Demand for trusted authoritative geospatial information from official national sources will continue into the next decade, with quality, value, reliability and ease of re-use remaining key requirements for users.

Responding to the UN-GGIM consultation on future trends in geospatial information, EuroGeographics also identifies disruptive technologies, funding, and historical, linked and open data, as important themes for its members, the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities (NMCAs).

Mr Cory continued: “As the national authorities for official geospatial reference data in Europe, high quality and reliability is the calling card of our members. In an ever-changing world, our members play an important and often critical role in helping to address national issues and challenges.  In New York we will be highlighting how the key global and regional issues do not stop at borders and require collaboration and cooperation to ensure an effective global response.”

“There is no doubt that government, businesses and citizens will continue to need their geospatial information, particularly in monitoring and delivering the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. However, we must do more to promote its value as quality assured data that meets high standards and specifications which ensures users can be confident that they are using the best available for their needs.”

EuroGeographics adds new administrative boundaries to its geospatial open data

EuroGeographics today (8 July 2019) announced the addition of NUTS 3 official boundary information in its European geospatial open data from official national sources.

As well as enabling socio-economic analysis of more than 1,300 administrative regions across Europe, the latest release of 1.1 million EuroGlobalMapopen data (EGM 2019) is also available as both a web feature service and a dataset. French overseas territories have also been added for 2019 and the hydrology, settlement and transport themes have been updated. The boundary data conforms to the agreed standard for administrative boundaries in Europe: Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or NUTS.

“Previously the NUTS 3 level data was only available in our premium dataset of official administrative and statistical regions, EuroBoundaryMap,” says EuroGeographics Sales, Marketing and Channel Manager, Angela Baker.

“By adding it as a feature class to our open data, which covers 45 countries and territories in Europe, we’re making it available so small-scale data users will be able to experience the benefits of integrating geospatial and statistical information to identify trends and patterns.”

“Three themes within EGM 2019 have been updated and the data has been fully generalised from our more detailed products, 1: 100 000 EuroBoundaryMap and 1: 250 000 EuroRegionalMap. We are also very pleased to offer access to the new EGM 2019 web feature service through https://www.euro-geo-opendata.eu/service/open-euroglobalmap-feature-service which demonstrates how high-value geospatial datasets can be used to support the wider digital economy.”

Since its launch in 2013, more than 7,000 individual users have downloaded EuroGlobalMap. Feedback indicates that they greatly value high quality, reliable data from official national sources and that open data provides a greatfirst step in discovering the wider benefits of pan-European map and land information.

EGM 2019 covers 45 countries and territories, and comprises five themes: Administrative boundaries, names locations, transport networks, settlements and the water network. Itis available free of charge under an open data licence and enables a wide range of applications, including mobile mapping, demographic and socio-economic analysis, hydrology, energy and environment modelling and in education and research. It is also ideal for cartographic visualisation across Europe.

EGM2019 is produced with support from The National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN France). EuroBoundaryMap and EuroRegionalMap are both managed by Germany’s Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) on behalf of EuroGeographics members.

For more information, please visit https://eurogeographics.org/products-and-services/open-data/.

About EuroGeographics

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. It currently brings together 63 members from 46 countries.

Completion of Open ELS project & next steps

European Commission funding for the Open ELS Project concluded on 30 April 2019 after two years of work. Without the engagement of all our project partners, and the skills and experiences of all our colleagues involved in the project activities, we would not have been able to achieve the project outcomes planned in our proposal. These play an important role in demonstrating the value of authoritative open geospatial data.

Open ELS test services were launched at Geospatial World Forum, in Amsterdam, and can be accessed via the Open ELS user interface, implemented during the project by ThinkWhere, a Scottish geospatial services company appointed following an open tender. We have already had very positive feedback on this user interface and available services from attendees at the Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam at the beginning of April. You can try it for yourself by registering at: https://www.euro-geo-opendata.eu.

Open ELS outcomes

The Open ELS project has achieved what it set out to deliver in our project proposal, including a survey of small and medium sized enterprises (SME), and the identification of Open ELS use cases; An appraisal of the potential economic and social benefits of open data from authoritative sources, carried out on our behalf by Deloitte.; A policy and legal framework for Open ELS that allows us to use members’ open data for Open ELS and defines the terms and conditions for use and re-use of this data; Guidelines for edge-matching and a policy for cross-border harmonisation for our members; and compliance with the Metadata Quality Assurance (MQA) tool of the European Data (EDP) Portal. The Open ELS services metadata are now being harvested by the EDP.

Lessons learnt

In carrying out this work we have, together, learned a lot. We now have a better understanding of the complexity and challenges to set up open geospatial data services, what is required and how to do so; and there is a better understanding about the challenges of creating an operational service – with wider recognition that we need more than a technical solution, and we have a better understanding of the gaps remaining, to inform the way forward.

Bid for CEF Funding

You will be aware that EuroGeographics, on your behalf, bid for EU funding to continue the Open ELS work. We have now been informed this bid has not been successful. Whilst we are very proud of what we have achieved together, not only through these projects, but also through past projects part-funded by the EU, feedback from the European Commission reflects our belief that we have delivered as much as possible through funded projects and we must now grasp the opportunity to adapt our activities and strategy to meet the challenges of our changing landscape. More information on this will be presented in Leuven.

Next steps

We also expect many opportunities to be created for members through the PSI Open Data Directive for High Value Datasets and the Commission’s expected move towards accessing more data directly from official national sources. We encourage you to ensure you are involved in developing the rules governing high value data at both national and EU level, through your national representatives. EuroGeographics is committed to supporting you and will be as involved as practicably possible in the development of policies and rules concerning NMCA data.

Under the direction of the Management Board we are reviewing, renewing and reviving our strategy to ensure that we, and our members, remain relevant in an ever-changing environment. In doing so, our representation and relationships will help further define EuroGeographics as a facilitator for your data and the high value it represents to the public good. We will bring a revised strategy for approval at the October General Assembly.

Head Office Changes

With the completion of the Open ELS Project, and with the ending of EC funding, there are a number of changes to the ELS team at EuroGeographics Head Office. Saulius Urbanas completed his contract the end of April; Helen Kaestner will conclude her contract at the end of May, and Abigail Page at the end of June. Jari Reini has already concluded his secondment and returned to NLS Finland.

I would also like to inform you that Dominik Kopczewski’s secondment to EuroGeographics as Policy Development Manager has also come to an end and he has returned to Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography, Poland.

I know you will join us in wishing them well for the future and in thanking them for their commitment and invaluable contribution to the success of the Open ELS Project.

Open ELS Project unveils first test services at GWF

Open data services developed using official national sources of geospatial information have been demonstrated for the first time at Geospatial World Forum  (2 April 2019).

Conference delegates received an exclusive preview of the first test services from the Open European Location Services (ELS) Project which is being coordinated by EuroGeographics, the membership association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities.

The services are being delivered through a customer interface developed by ThinkWhere and include pan-European topographic data (EuroGlobalMap), an Open cadastral Index map of property level information and a regional gazetteer of geographical names. 

Read more 

EuroGeographics at Geospatial World Forum

EuroGeographics is supporting Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam from 2-4 April 2019. 

As a strategic partner of this important event, we will be facilitating a panel comprising our President and five Management Board Members during the conference on 4 April 2019, from 0900 to 1030.  The panel will discuss how European NMCAs are leading the way to ensure geospatial data is an integral part of the growing digital economy, and will cover important topics such as the importance of authoritative data from our members, how geospatial and cadastral data contributes to the data economy, the democratisation of data and the importance of collaboration, nationally and internationally. 

EuroGeographics will also launch demonstration and test services from the Open European Location Services (ELS) Project on the 2nd April, with demonstrations available in the exhibition.  These services will include EuroGlobalMap as a web feature service, Open Cadastral Index Map from some countries and pan-European regional gazetteer of geographical names.

If you are there please come along and support our activity on Stand 34.  You will also  be able to follow events via social media using #openels.

EuroGeographics at DGI Europe 2019

EuroGeographics is delighted to be a media partner for DGI Europe 2019, the leading global geospatial intelligence conference.

Mick Cory, EuroGeographics Secretary General and Executive Director will moderate a panel on how National Mapping Agencies should plan to thrive in the future automated environment. 

He will be joined by Ingrid Vanden Berghe, Head of the NGI Belgium, Martins Liberts, Head of Latvian Geospatial Information Agency, Neil Ackroyd, Interim Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey Great Britain and Dorine Burmanje, Chairman Executive Board, Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency The Netherlands (Kadaster) to discuss how leaders of NMCAs from across Europe plan to transform their organisations so that they are better positioned to support their customers who are operating in increasingly more automated operational environments.

The debate will focus on:

  • How has the digital revolution already impacted the way national mapping agencies operate?
  • How are expectations from the user community for digital maps transforming the way mapping agencies behave?
  • What are different nations doing to adapt to a more automated operational environment?
  • What roles will the national mapping agency have in 5 years’ time?

More information is available here.

Strategic Partnership for Geospatial World Forum 2019

EuroGeographics and Geospatial Media & Communications have entered into a strategic partnership for Geospatial World Forum 2019.

Colin Bray, President of EuroGeographics and Sanjay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Geospatial Media & Communications signed the agreement during the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress in Deqing.

Through this partnership, EuroGeographics, the international not-for-profit membership association for European national mapping, land registry and cadastral agencies, will encourage its member network to attend the conference scheduled to be held in Amsterdam from 2-4 April 2019.

As a Strategic Partner, EuroGeographics will co-organize an Exchange Forum on “Growing Role of Geospatial Data Agencies in the Digital Economy” at the conference. The Exchange Forum will discuss the need for Geospatial Data Agencies to reorient themselves in order to stay relevant in the digital economy. Topics such as democratization of geographic data, open standards, and public-private partnerships, among others, will be of focus.

“As the official bodies responsible for national cadastre, land registration, geodetic surveying and mapping activities in Europe, our members fulfil an essential role providing official, definitive and detailed geospatial information,” says Mick Cory, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics.

“We believe in a society empowered by the use of their authoritative geospatial data and services. Our partnership with Geospatial World Forum is a great opportunity to show how they are driving applications to realise a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as quicker, more efficient, secure and reliable land registration in support of an equitable property market.”

"The common objective of this partnership is to facilitate greater industry insight into work of the national mapping, land registry and cadastral agencies via a business platform like Geospatial World Forum,” says Sanjay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Geospatial Media and Communications. “It has been a great endeavor for us at Geospatial Media to highlight how government and industry can work together. We’re delighted to have the support of an esteemed organization like EuroGeographics in bringing this endeavor forward,” he added.

About EuroGeographics

EuroGeographics is an independent international not-for-profit organization representing Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities. The organization currently brings together more than 60 member organizations from 46 countries. EuroGeographics supports the public good by representing our members’ interests, maintaining networks that help our members improve their capabilities and role, and by facilitating access to and use of our members’ geospatial data and services. By providing a single point of contact, we enable government, business and citizens to benefit from their collective expertise, products and services.

About Geospatial World Forum

Geospatial World Forum is a collaborative and interactive platform, which demonstrates collective and shared vision of the global geospatial community. It is an annual gathering of 1500+ geospatial professionals and leaders representing the entire geospatial ecosystem – public policies, national mapping agencies, private sector enterprises, multilateral and development organizations, scientific and academic institutions, and above all end users from government, businesses, and citizen services.

Co-hosted by the Dutch Kadaster, the 2019 Forum will carry the theme ‘#geospatialbydefault – Empowering billions!’ to demonstrate geospatial technology as ubiquitous, pervasive, and ‘default’ in our daily lives. Some of the topics to be discussed includes sustainable development goals, smart cities, construction & engineering, location analytics & business intelligence, environment; and emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, big data, cloud, blockchain and others. Learn more about the conference at www.geospatialworldforum.org

New product leaflets published

Did you know EuroGeographics offers four European geospatial data products, including open data? Each is produced using official geospatial data from our members, the National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities.

Our products are harmonised to standard specifications, so users can be confident that the information provided is consistent, comparable and easily shared – regardless of its national source.

We offer standardised, transparent pricing and licensing agreements. The data is updated annually and can be used in a wide range of applications including analysis, planning and research.

Find out more in our new product leaflet.

GSDI makes further investment in geospatial data infrastructure

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Association has announced a donation of almost US$40,000 to continue to stimulate the implementation and improvement of spatial data infrastructures globally. This  financial support, specifically targeted at low and lower middle income countries, will be administered by the Global Geospatial Information Management Section, of the UN Statistics Division.

Find out more