Spatial Data Infrastructure

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A Spatial Data Infrastructure or SDI is a framework of spatial data, metadata, users and tools that are interactively connected in order to use spatial data in an efficient and flexible way. Another definition is the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data [1].

Some of the main principles (contrary to a GIS) are that data and metadata should not be managed centrally, but by the data originator and/or owner, and that tools and services connect via networking to the various sources. To achieve these objectives, good coordination between all the actors is necessary and the definition of standards is very important.

Due to its nature (size, cost, number of interactors) an SDI is usually government-related. An example of an existing SDI is the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in the United States. At the European side, INSPIRE is a European Commission initiative to build a European SDI beyond national boundaries.

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