Introduction to GI

GI in Europe

Geographic Information (GI) is "information which can be related to a location on the Earth, particularly information on natural phenomena, cultural and human resources" ¹. The relation can be a specific set of co-ordinates, or can cover less precise locations or areas, such as addresses, postal codes or administrative boundaries, regions or even whole countries. Most geographic information also includes a time (temporal) dimension, since the world is not a static place.

Geographic information can be divided into two major classes : base data (sometimes called core data or framework data), which are necessary for most applications, and application-specific data, often referred to as thematic data.

Base data has long been collected and distributed in analogue form by national organisations, typically mapping agencies. Today, these data are widely available at national level in digital form. By means of computerised Geographic Information systems (GIS) this data can be exchanged, used, modified and combined with other spatial and non-spatial data in an unlimited number of ways, yielding new insights. However, such exchange, conversion and integration is not always a straightforward activity. Though new geographic information technologies and applications are developing rapidly, future growth in Europe is hampered by major differences in the way geographic information is collected, stored and distributed in the different countries and in the different sectors of government and commerce. In fact, there is no European policy on digital geographic information, nor is there a single operational European standard for data definition and exchange, nor readily available basic data sets and supporting technology and knowledge infrastructure.

Thus there is a need to establish a European policy framework for geographic information which will permit data to be created, marketed, used, reused and shared in a cost effective manner for the benefit of the information society. In particular, such a framework must have the potential to enable better and more efficient government, improve quality of life, and increase employment and new business opportunities for the geographic information industry.

Much still remains to be done to achieve the European GI policy framework and strong support is needed from national Member State governments, from national associations related to the GI/GIS sectors of the wider information market and from pan-European organisations which represent thousands of vendors, data holders and GI user. "GI2000" is the label DG XIII/E has attached to the range of actions now underway to help achieve the required policy framework.

Applying GI

The actual and potential uses of GI are many and varied. For example :

• GI is used by government offices from local councils to the European Commission (EC) itself - in areas including housing, public services, transport, agriculture and environmental protection - to monitor present conditions and for planning and forecasting.

• In the public and private sector, GI is now integral to planning use of resources for civil and national defence, crisis management and emergency procedures.

• GI is widely used by public and private suppliers of utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewerage and telecommunications.

• In travel and transport, GI contributes materially to functions such as route-planning and onboard navigation, freight and fleet management.

• Many business sectors also use GI (geo-demographics) with other tools for marketing and planning - for example, to find the best available site for a new industrial park or shopping centre.

• Academic uses of GI range from teaching in physical and social sciences to research in disciplines including environmental science and public health.

GI in DG XIII-E3

Within the framework of INFO2000, DG XIII-E3 supported the definition phase of 13 GI projects identified as being important to the further development of use of GI in Europe, at local, regional (cross-border) and pan-European levels (cross-many-borders). In the first Call for Proposals relating to multimedia content projects under INFO2000, five projects were selected for 2nd round (implementation phase) funding in September 1997. A further Call for Proposals was published at the end of 1997 focusing on exploitation of public sector information resources. From this Call, six further GI-related projects were selected for part-funding across a range of application areas. These projects will begin their work in the latter part of 1998.

In 1995, DG XIII-E initiated a consultation process across Europe to identify, and propose ways to remove, the major impediments to the widespread and successful use of GI in Europe. One conclusion of this consultation is that current barriers are not technical, rather they are political and organisational. From the consultation process, by sponsoring numerous meetings attended by government, GI experts, academics, users and vendors/suppliers, DG XIII-E3 created an initial draft policy document for wide discussion. The initial meetings and ensuing discussion have produced valuable information for the Commission for drafting a proposed Communication to the Council of Ministers and European Parliament. The title of this communication is "GI2000: Towards a European Policy Framework for Geographic Information" which is expected be finalised in 1998.

GI in Other EU Institutions

At JRC, GI and GIS are also widely used by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (JRC-ISIS) and its unit for Software Technologies and Automation (STA) as well as in the SAI  Environment and Geo-Information Unit (EGEO), in the ARIS Unit - Agriculture and Regional Information Systems (previously, the Agricultural Information System Unit - AIS).

Another major programme funded jointly by the Member States and the EU, focusing primarily on GI and GIS tools, products and services relating specifically to earth observation is the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO).

GI is also extensively used by various programmes within the European Commission itself, such as the MARS - Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing programme of DG VI (Agriculture), or the many environmental monitoring and research programmes of the Environment and Climate Programme of DG XII (Science, Research and Development), in transport-related projects of DG VII (Transport) and by EUROSTAT, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Another major sponsor for collection of GI and its use is the European Environment Agency (EEA), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.