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The most common problems are that
of the users demands for consistent data not being met by suppliers. The basic
requirement for edge matched or seamless data across national boundaries in a
common standard is not fulfilled.
The day may come when full
interoperability will be a reality in the world of GI1, and when data coming
from any source can merge together exactly and harmoniously. But that day of
seamless GI has not yet arrived, while the world is facing more and more
trans-border issues. There is today an urgent need for Global and Regional GI
Infrastructures, which allow for planning sustainable development as well as
dealing with crisis situations without unnecessary delay.
Both technical
and licensing/supply issues urgently need to be considered by cross-border data
users. On the technical side the most common problems are that of the users
demands for consistent data not being met by suppliers. The basic requirement
for edge-matched or seamless data across national boundaries in a common
standard is not fulfilled. Furthermore, the available scale, inconsistent
accuracy and detail, poor matching of data from different sources, out of date
data and problems with language differences, are still to be overcome. Licensing
and supply issues add to the technical problems. Lack of awareness of what data
is available where, is another key issue in the rapidly developing global
world.
The European NMAs2 have become aware of these issues, and decided
to address them collectively through the creation of a two-level organisation,
CERCO3 and MEGRIN4. This paper will describe this organisation and its
achievements in creating the foundations for the European RGII5, in terms of
networking, seamless GI datasets, and Internet information services. We will see
that the European experience is a pioneer in terms of RGII. As such it may be
used as an example for emerging RGII, and may help stimulate interoperability
between different RGIIs i.e. between European GII and Asian GII, in a pragmatic
vision of GSDI (Global Geographic Information Infrastructure).
The
origins
In 1979, the then Director General of Institut Geographique
National of France (IGN-France), Mr. Mayer had the following reasoning: “All my
best staff are attending world-wide symposia, conferences, workshops, etc. They
meet with their foreign colleagues, exchange ideas and create common new
concepts, while me, sitting at the top of the pyramid, do not even know who my
immediate neighbours are”.
Consequently, IGN-France invited the heads of
its neighbouring NMAs to a meeting in June 1979. Enthusiastic discussions
followed, and all participants agreed on meeting regularly in order to set up an
effective and long lasting collaboration in the field of cartography.
The next step was made in June 1980 in Madrid, where Directors General
of the NMAs of Belgium, France, Germany and Spain agreed on the text of the
bylaws that were to be registered, and that would make CERCO an official body,
whose main goal was defined as being:
“Mutual information, consultation
and co-operation in the field of cartography as defined by the United Nations,
with the exception of military mapping and hydrography”.
Membership
CERCO started as a very small club of neighbours.
It has developed to include today representatives of most European countries,
from Russia to Poprtugal, and from Iceland to Cyprus. In principle, CERCO
members are the Heads of the National Mapping Agencies. However, each country
has it own specific setting and NMA a country may greatly differ from NMA of a
country B in nearly all aspects, i.e. size, remit and mission, regulatory
authority etc.
Exceptions also exist. For example the United Kingdom in
represented by Ordance Survey of Great Britain and by Ordnance Survey of
Northern Ireland. A different set-up exists in Germany, a federal states, which
is represented by three organisations, BKG (Budesamt fur Kartographie and
Geodasie) the federal mapping agency, one LVA (Landes-vermessungsamt: a state
mapping agency) of Northrline-Westfalia, and the AdV (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der
Vermes-sungsverwaltungen: association of the LVA of the 16 German states).
Member organisations are grouped into four categories, according to
their financial contributions, and potential new members are accepted as
Observers for two years, before decision on membership is made.
The
actual total budget of CERCO is in the range of 100,000 EUROs, that covers
mainly : travels costs (Management Board, Working Groups,…) and administration
(Secretariat etc,.)
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