Open Maps For Europe wins BeGeo Best Project Award

Open Maps For Europe has been awarded the GeoSpatial 2022 Professional Best Project Award at the BeGEO congress in Brussels.

The seventh BeGeo Congress, organised by The National Geographic Institute Belgium and Agoria, with the support of TMAB Business Events, pulled together geo-information experts from government, academia and the private sector in the Benelux area.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Open Maps for Europe consortium and EuroGeographics members, Sallie Payne Snell, Head of Operations said: "We are delighted that the jury of experts recognised this innovative approach to unlocking the power of open data from official national sources, as well as the economic potential to be gained by realising the benefits of the Open Data Public Sector Information (PSI) Directive which specifically identifies geospatial as a category of high value datasets."

“Open Maps for Europe is the first time that pan-European datasets, created using our members authoritative geospatial information and EuroGeographics’ unique data integration process, have been easily discoverable, accessible, and released as open data under a single licence. This customised approach harmonises official national geospatial information to standard specifications so users can be confident that it is consistent, comparable and easily shared.”

“The easy-to-use online user interface addresses the challenges of accessing trusted geospatial open datasets created from multiple official national sources and includes topographic and height data, imagery, Open Gazetteer service and Open Cadastral Map prototype.”

The Open Maps For Europe online interface, developed by thinkWhere, an Idox company, enables users to discover, view, license and download the open datasets.

By October 2022, more than 3,000 unique users had registered to access the data at www.mapsforeurope.org; a six-fold increase since its September 2021 launch.

Open Maps For Europe, which is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union, demonstrates how National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities can work together to produce pan-European open data by sharing the lessons learnt and best practice, whilst also promoting authoritative national open data beyond borders.

The project shows not only what can be achieved through Europe-wide cooperation, but also the benefits that result for the wider public good, specifically in support of policy decision-making at the European level.

Users include the European Environment Agency (EEA) European Ground Motion Service (EGMS); the EU External Action Service for planning military mobility and investment; and a tactile map project for the visually impaired.

Open Maps For Europe runs until 31 December 2022.

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.

Open Maps For Europe is coordinated by EuroGeographics, the voice of European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, in partnership with the National Geographic Institute (NGI) Belgium.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of EuroGeographics and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

National providers of official geospatial data map out role in EU decade of action

Ensuring decision-makers understand the roles, capabilities, and concerns of national sources of official map, cadastral and land registration data is key to the success of the European Union’s decade of action.

EuroGeographics, the voice of Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, has highlighted how members’ Europe-wide cooperation forms the foundation for collaborations to realise a wide range of policies, including the EU’s Digital Decade and Green Deal.

Speaking after participating in the Society of European Affairs Professionals 2022 General Assembly, Stefania Bostan, EU Public Affairs Consultant, EuroGeographics commented: “Whether it’s geospatial or land information, data and services provided by our members are a fundamental part of our everyday lives.”

“From apps for exploring outside, to ordering food deliveries; from online gaming to ensuring we pay the correct amount of tax, many of us are using their information no less than 40 times a day, often without even realising.”

“To fulfil our vision of a society enabled by our members’ trusted geospatial data, EuroGeographics has to provide a credible and legitimate voice for official sources of national mapping, cadastral and land registration information.”

“We demonstrate our commitment to constructive participation in policy development and legislative programmes through our Membership of the Society of European Affairs Professionals, and our registration on the EU Transparency Register."

"This provides confidence to decision-makers that, in the same way as our members can be trusted to provide accurate reliable information, EuroGeographics can be trusted to support the public good by providing a single point of contact for government, business and citizens to benefit from members’ collective expertise, data and services.”

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.

EuroGeographics selected as friend of the EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change

EuroGeographics, the voice of Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, is delighted to be selected as a friend of the EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change.

The international not-for-profit association fully endorses the Mission’s charter and, together with its members, is committed to using its expertise and extensive network to strive towards climate resilience by 2030.

“Location is a powerful tool; it tells us where things happen but also provides the link between information and action so we can target action and coordinate responses,” says Léa Bodossian, Secretary General and Executive Director of EuroGeographics.

“As a friend of the EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, we will facilitate access to the wealth of expertise within our membership to support a range of actions that require the best available knowledge for adaptation to climate change and solutions.”

“Our members’ official data is already being used to realise national climate targets and biodiversity plans, and deliver smarter, sustainable, intelligent transport. However, climate challenges extend beyond national boundaries, and all too often borders prove to be obstacles in translating national benefits into international policy success.”

“In partnership with our members, we provide the only interoperable pan-European datasets created using official authoritative geospatial data. These include topographic data, imagery and a digital elevation model, which are released as open data through the Open Maps for Europe project, and can be used for cross-border action.”

“We are delighted to be selected as a friend of Mission and look forward to contributing to its success as part of a community committed to developing innovative solutions to adapt to climate change.”

EU Missions are a new way to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges. The main goal of the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change is to support at least 150 European regions and communities towards climate resilience by 2030. 

The mission will foster the development of innovative solutions to adapt to climate change and encourage regions, cities and communities to lead the societal transformation.

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.

Open Maps for Europe is co-ordinated by EuroGeographics in partnership with National Geographic Institute (NGI) Belgium, and co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of EuroGeographics and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

Collaboration with UN-GGIM focuses on knowledge exchange as a key to unlocking power of geospatial data

A new international collaboration will unlock the power of geospatial data to benefit people and planet by providing a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building.

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) – the Secretariat of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management’s (UN-GGIM) – and EuroGeographics, the international not-for-profit membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registry Authorities, will work together to address key global challenges, specifically capacity development for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Signing the letter of collaboration between the two organisations, Stefan Schweinfest, Director, UNSD says: “We share a common goal of using the power of geospatial data to benefit society. The collaboration with EuroGeographics’ enables UN-GGIM to benefit from its extensive experience in maintaining knowledge exchange and capacity-building networks.”

“This will be an important contribution to UN-GGIM’s leadership in ensuring that geospatial information and resources are coordinated, maintained, accessible and able to be leveraged by Member States and society to find sustainable solutions for social, economic and environmental development.”

Colin Bray, President, EuroGeographics says: “EuroGeographics and its members place tremendous value on collaborating to find solutions to common challenges and to build capacity. This willingness to share experiences and best practice is central to the success of our knowledge exchange activities.”

“This collaboration recognises our extensive experience and expertise in facilitating knowledge exchange, and we are delighted to extend our extensive programme, including case studies, meetings, webinars and workshops, to the broader UN-GGIM community through this agreement.”

“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.”

“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 global and regional issues that do not stop at borders and require collaboration and cooperation to ensure an effective global response.”

The collaboration will focus on common objectives, including:

• Sharing case studies demonstrating the power of geospatial information in addressing societal needs and challenges;
• Collaborating to develop knowledge exchange activities, including virtually, that promote and build capacity on items and topics that fall within the broad programme of UN-GGIM and the scope of EuroGeographics;
• Providing access to existing knowledge exchange libraries and knowledge bases to the wider global community; and
• Advocating, communicating and promoting the value and power of geospatial information for sustainable development and evidence-based decision making.

The collaboration agreement was signed during the recent twelfth session of UN-GGIM in New York, where EuroGeographics confirmed its continuing commitment to helping to strengthen the global geospatial infrastructure.

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.

EuroGeographics welcomes strengthened UN-GGIM

EuroGeographics has welcomed the strengthening of the United Nation’s Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management’s (UN-GGIM) mandate and Secretariat resources.

“The resolution adopted by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) recognises that a strong global geospatial infrastructure is an essential enabler for achieving a sustainable future for all,” says Léa Bodossian, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics.

“Many of our members contributed to the work of the Committee of Experts’ and we are delighted to see such high-level acknowledgement of the crucial importance of location data. We welcome the recognition of knowledge sharing, and we value the importance given to capacity-building to ensure no one is left behind.”

Léa Bodossian made her comments during the twelfth session of UN-GGIM in New York where the not-for-profit association made a series of interventions as an Observer organisation.

She also confirmed EuroGeographics’ commitment to using its unique expertise in authoritative data and its extensive and well-established regional knowledge exchange networks to support a range of international initiatives, including the UN Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Geospatial Roadmap, and the Framework for Effective Land Administration (FELA).

In particular, the Association offered its support to help strengthen the global geospatial infrastructure in building a bridge between the statistical and geospatial communities. Its aim is to facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication within the international geospatial community via its extensive membership of national mapping, cadastral and land registration authorities, and well-established network for sharing knowledge.

EuroGeographics continues to facilitate the provision of harmonised open data from official national sources for the United Nations Second Administrative Level Boundaries (SALB) initiative. The 1:1 million scale topographic open dataset, EuroGlobalMap is created using the Association’s unique data integration process and assists the project’s aim of compiling global administrative boundaries data from authoritative sources.

The Association reiterated the importance of trusted information from official national providers and was pleased to see that its research outlining the concept of authoritative data in Europe was the basis for the Working Group on Policy and Legal Frameworks for Geospatial Information Management’s initial thinking.

“Official, authoritative data is important because it supports a range of legal, fiscal, security and other public administrative purposes​,” says Léa Bodossian. “For example, cadastral authorities and land registries fulfil an essential role providing official, detailed, secure and reliable information on property rights and registration.”

“This trusted data is essential to meeting increasingly challenging national, regional and global demands, and EuroGeographics is committed to continuing to contribute to the public good through its vision of a society empowered by the use of trusted geospatial services from its members.”

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.

Official providers of geospatial data call for joint vision in implementation of high value datasets

National providers of official geospatial information have welcomed the European Commission’s Regulation proposal on high-value datasets (HVD) but caution that they must receive adequate support to implement it.

Responding to the consultation on behalf of its members, EuroGeographics, the voice of Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities says that the goal can only be achieved as a joint vision and action of policymakers, data holders and data users.

It identifies three main areas of concern: Clarification of technical aspects; sustainable funding; and coordination mechanism and vision to support the long-term development of EU data strategy.

“The value of data lies in its use and re-use, therefore our members are keen to effectively implement this Regulation and increase the availability of their data in the single market, and beyond” says Léa Bodossian, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics.

“As key contributors to the European data policy, our members are among the most experienced and relevant interested parties in the proposed Regulation, and are keen to have their data generate significant socio-economic benefits. Members’ data is recognised as a significant enabler of national and cross-border applications and services in earth observation, environment, and mobility, as well as the geospatial thematic category.”

“Our members’ informed opinion is that meeting the Regulation’s requirements is a substantial. challenge which extends beyond opening their data. Success, overall coherence and long-term sustainability are not possible without adequate technical, financial and organisational support.”

This requires investment in infrastructures as well as outreach and education. Finally, the full power of geodata cannot be achieved if the data is not made interoperable. To that end, a more operational coordination ought to be ensured.”

EuroGeographics already has first-hand experience in implementing the HVD Regulation through the Open Maps for Europe project (co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility programme). This provides easy access to free to use harmonised official geospatial open pan-European data and thus addresses the risk of fragmented implementation, which was specifically recognised as a key obstacle to the functioning of the single market for data.

Léa Bodossian concludes: “Our members' data serves as a basis for countless policies at national and European levels. We believe in a modern, digital and green society empowered by the use of trusted geospatial and other data from these official national sources, many of which are defined as high-value datasets.”

“We want to make sure that we can continue to serve, in the long term, data policies for the European greater good and are confident that dialogue with the legislator will help solve these issues.”

To read EuroGeographics full feedback on the Commission proposal, visit https://bit.ly/EGHVD

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 Open Maps For Europe project, which is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union, is coordinated by EuroGeographics in partnership with the National Geographic Institute (NGI) Belgium.

To find out more, please visit https://www.mapsforeurope.org/

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of EuroGeographics and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

Mapping a data-driven Europe

Providers of official national geographic information have pledged to continue their Europe-wide cooperation to underpin the data infrastructures that enable a sustainable, safer, and prosperous society.

Leaders participating in the General Assembly of EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, focussed their discussions on the user requirements that will form the foundation for future collaborations and realise a wide range of policies, including the EU’s Digital Decade and Green Deal.

Speaking at the annual meeting, Cristian Bușoi, MEP and Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy said: “Every data producer in the world, especially public data providers, must ensure that their data is ready to underpin this decade of action.”

“This is an immense responsibility for EuroGeographics and its members in ensuring that the data meets the needs and requirements of European Union's institutions and supports them in addressing the challenges they are facing. The quality of the data is utterly important – authoritative data that comes from official sources is crucial for decision makers. I'm confident that EuroGeographics members will help build this data driven society, and we encourage them to enhance the existing data infrastructure and support the creation of pan-European datasets.”

Knowing where to find and access accurate, high quality, reliable high-value data is essential for governments and decision-makers making critical decisions. The European Institutions already have access to the only official pan-European geospatial datasets created by harmonising EuroGeographics’ members’ national data through an agreement with Eurostat.

For example, the administrative boundary dataset, EuroBoundaryMap, is widely used for visualisation and analysis as the basis for decision making about funding such as showing the driving distance to the nearest healthcare facility to determine whether additional services are needed to meet the needs of local people.

Márta Nagy-Rothengas, Deputy Director, Eurostat says: “Whether we are speaking about migration, climate change, or demographical challenges, geoinformation is very important. We are facing increasing data needs to develop European policies.  For having the right statistics, it is important to have commonly defined methodology and coordination at European level, which helps ensuring comparability of data. Furthermore, it is necessary to offer data, which is satisfying the different user requirements.”

“As we need to serve different policy fields, collaboration across boundaries is important. We would like to have European coverage but we are not stopping at the border of the EU, we are also interested, for example, in EFTA and neighbouring countries data.”

“To support the integration of statistical and geospatial information at European and national level, we hope to continue the close collaboration between the national statistical agencies and national mapping and cadastral agencies in those countries where it is already has been established, and we are ready to help supporting those who would like to deepen it.”

Post-pandemic user requirements are foundation for future collaborations

As Entrusted Entity in charge of the implementation of the Land Monitoring Service and the cross-coordination access to in situ data within the EU Copernicus programme, the European Environment Agency (EEA) is another key user of official geospatial information from National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities. EuroGeographics is building upon the long-standing agreement with EEA that enables the Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service to use members’ authoritative data to quickly produce maps for crisis management.

This new era of cooperation is developing one licence agreement to benefit Copernicus services and increase the number of official national geospatial datasets available via the Copernicus Reference Access Data (CORDA) gateway. By streamlining the licensing process, it will also facilitate their use in services such as Land Monitoring, Emergency Management and Security.

“This is definitely for us a very, very important step in fostering and strengthening the collaboration between EuroGeographics’ members and Copernicus,” says Jose Miguel Rubio Iglesias, Geospatial Data Management Expert, EEA.

“Authoritative geospatial data is already making a difference, for example in responses to floods in Germany or Belgium, and supporting national monitoring and emergency management. We are also using this data in our CORDA database for the Copernicus services, which catalogues and provides a series of links to which are curated and monitored to enable quick access to official geospatial information.”

He continues: “Typically, geospatial data is relevant for all the different services, but we have identified three key services which require geospatial data: the Copernicus emergency service and its rapid mapping, and risk and recovery mapping; the Copernicus land monitoring service; and the Copernicus Security Service which supports, inter alia, the EU External Action Service.”

The EEA is also using multi-themed topographic open data at 1:250 000 scale as a selectable background map in their European Ground Motion Service. Available via Open Maps For Europe user interface, EuroRegionalMap is also used by EU External Action Service for planning military mobility and investment programmes. The project, which co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) of the European Union and coordinated by EuroGeographics in partnership with the National Geographic Institute (NGI) Belgium, enables users to easily discover, view, licence and download free to use maps created from official map, geospatial and land information.

“We need a coherent database, and we need data that we can trust and rely on,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Soenke Fischhoefer, Senior Geospatial Officer EUMS, EU External Action Service.

“We need authoritative geospatial information, quality controlled, preferably from governmental sources with borders and boundaries should reflect the EU view. We also need a common place where we can do planning. So, the 1:250 000 scale seamless open data is crucial for us in determining, for example, where we reinforce our bridges so that heavy trucks can cross them without breaking, or planning our routing systems.”

Connecting information to create data infrastructures fit for modern society

“Location is a powerful tool – it tells us where things happen but also provides the link between information and action,” says Colin Bray, President of EuroGeographics.

“In this ever-connected world, our members have moved from database production to providing data infrastructures to play a vital role in joining-up information from different sources to help provide insight and answers to address the key issues we face as a global society. Whether tackling climate change, managing Covid recovery, or maintaining security during times of conflict, these challenges extend beyond national boundaries and those making difficult decisions that impact on us all need the most accurate and up to date information available.”

“By working together to deliver pan-European data, our members are demonstrating not only what can be achieved through Europe-wide cooperation, but also the benefits that result for the wider public good, specifically in support of policy decision-making at the European level.”

“The data and technology are available, what we now need is a commitment from members, government, and indeed society as a whole to fund open and interoperable data. Our challenge now is to meet the needs of users in a way that can be sustained for the benefit of all.”

A call for sustainable funding to meet user needs

Márta Nagy-Rothengas adds: “It is important to have sustainably available and high-quality data in terms of completeness, currency, and comparability. We must communicate the added value, and why and how geo data can make a difference.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Soenke Fischhoefer agrees: “People have to understand this building up a stronger Europe, you need to invest in this.”

Colin Bray concludes: “Authoritative public sector information is a key building block for a successful digital transformation, which will result in a society empowered by the use of these trusted data and services. As demand for geospatial information from official national sources will continue to grow into the next decade, EuroGeographics is adding its voice to the call for all governments to recognise the value of location data and commit to funding and creating appropriate data infrastructures to help propel us all to a sustainable, safer, and fairer world.”

To find out more about EuroGeographics, please visit www.eurogeographics.org

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.

Post-pandemic user requirements are foundation for future collaborations

EuroGeographics President, Colin Bray (left), Zeljko Obradovic, Director, Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, and Léa Bodossian, Secretary General and Executive Director, EuroGeographics (right) discuss the importance of official geospatial data with Mr. Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Leaders of Europe’s national mapping, cadastral and land registration authorities met in Sarajevo last week to discuss the role of official geospatial data in reconnecting post-pandemic.

EuroGeographics’ General Assembly 2022 heard that user requirements for official geospatial data will form the foundation for future collaborations as a series of speakers demonstrated its importance in preparing for the decade of action, as well as in recovery and resilience programmes. Users from the United Nations, European Parliament, Commission and its agencies also expressed a strong desire to work in partnership with the Association and its members.

“In uncertain times, authoritative mapping, cadastral and land registration information provides certainty to those with responsibility for making critical decisions,” said Colin Bray, President of EuroGeographics.

“Reliable geospatial data is therefore crucial for reconnecting post-pandemic, and as national sources of mapping, cadastral and land registration information, our members have a key role to play in Europe’s resilience and recovery programme, and in addressing key issues that extend beyond national boundaries.”

“Achieving ambitions against a backdrop of change requires reconnection – reconnection with members​, reconnection with stakeholder​s, and reconnection with users – to ensure we continue to provide the high-quality data and services that underpin the infrastructures relied on by modern society.”

“Our challenge now is to meet the needs of users in a way that can be sustained for the benefit of all.”

Hosted by the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs in Sarajevo, the annual conference was opened by Mr. Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ms. Ankica Gudeljević, Minister for Civil Affairs.

During the formal business of the Association, Colin Bray, Ordnance Survey Ireland was re-elected to the Management Board and as the Association’s President.

Members also elected Denis Tabučić from the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, Bosnia & Herzegovina; Kristian Møller, Agency for Data Supply and Efficiency, Denmark; and Emilio López Romero, National Geographic Institute of Spain to the Management Board, and thanked Amalia Velasco Martín-Varés, Spanish Directorate General for Cadastre and Sanja Zekušić, State Geodetic Administration, Croatia who both came to the end of their term.

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.

To find out more about EuroGeographics, please visit www.eurogeographics.org