Cost-Benefit Considerations in Establishing Interoperability of the Data Component of Spatial Data Infrastructures

The cultural, historical, and economical aspects are fundamental when making spatial data sets available as a component of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). Besides of technical feasibility the arrangements on interoperability of spatial data sets and services should be based on careful analysis of the related costs and the benefits gained. The task must be carried out with utmost attention, being data the most sensible and costly part of spatial information systems and infrastructures. It is prudent to take appropriate measures throughout the specification process of harmonised data to avoid excessive costs; on the other hand it is necessary to make the benefits visible to improve the acceptance of the necessary measures. This paper proposes the multi-criteria-based Cost-Benefit Considerations instead of the classical Cost-Benefit Analysis for evaluating the impact of the data harmonisation process. Using the example of INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information for Environment) it shows how cost-benefit aspects are considered at the different steps of data specification development. We conclude that such methodology yields balanced results in terms of objectives to be reached and the related costs.

TOTH Katalin;  SMITS Paul; 

2009-12-07

International Cartographic Association and Escuola Militar de Santiago

JRC53133

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC53133,