What is Marine SDI?
Potential symposium delegates may find the following text (compiled by Ian Russell) useful in understanding the importance of Marine SDI, and the rationale for holding the event:
HYDROGRAPHY and MARINE SPATIAL DATA INFRASTUCTURE
Latest IHO definition of Hydrography per EIHC-4 June 2009
“Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection”. (pers.com. Shipman/Russell 23 June 2009)
The term "Spatial Data Infrastructure" (SDI) is often used to denote;
"the relevant base collection of technologies, policies and institutional
arrangements that facilitate the availability of and access to spatial data."
The SDI provides a basis for spatial data discovery, evaluation, and application for users and providers within all levels of government, the commercial sector, the non-profit sector, academia and by citizens in general
Spatial Data Infrastructure Cookbook v2.0 (PDF) January 2004
Rationale
INSPIRE (INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in Europe) is an EU Directive that lays
down a general framework for a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the purposes
of community environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact
on the environment. It aims to improve the interoperability of, and access to, spatial
information across the European Union at a local, regional, national and international
level, facilitate improvements in the sharing of spatial information between public authorities nd provide improved public access to spatial information.
The objective of the Location Strategy for the United Kingdom is to maximise the value to the public, government, UK business and industry of geographic information. It will provide a consistent framework to assist national, regional and local initiatives and service delivery.
Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) is the component of a National SDI that encompasses marine and coastal geographic and business information in its widest sense. An MSDI would typically include information on seabed bathymetry (elevation), geology, infrastructure (e.g. wrecks, offshore installations, pipelines, cables); administrative and legal boundaries, areas of conservation and marine habitats and oceanography.
Features
• Metadata
• Interoperability of spatial datasets
• Network services
• Data and Service Sharing
• Monitoring, reporting and coordination
National Spatial Data Infrastructure
In the information age it is realised by governments that good quality and well managed spatial data are an essential ingredient to economic and commercial development, and to environmental protection. For this reason many nations are establishing national spatial data infrastructures, bringing together the services and data sets of major national spatial data providers, for example topography, geodesy, geophysics, meteorology, and bathymetry. The Hydrographic Service is an important part of the national spatial data infrastructure.
IHO PUBLICATION M-13 - Manual on Hydrography (2008)
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