
What is the NGDF?
NGDF is a national forum of data providers and data users seeking to
facilitate and encourage widespread use of geospatial data which is fit
for purpose. Its objectives are:
- To facilitate and encourage collaboration in the collection,
provision and use of geospatial data.
- To facilitate and encourage the use of standards and best practice
in the collection, provision and use of geospatial data.
- To facilitate and widen access to geospatial data
The
Challenges
- Information about data sets is difficult to obtain;
- Information about available data sets varies in quality among different
organisations;
- Valuable data sets are held, but are not currently available for many
reasons;
- There are many data sets, but collected to different specifications;
- Data is not always easy to access; nor is it easy to integrate data
from multiple sources; and
- Few services are based on data combination, so users must shop around
for individual data sets.
The
Benefits
- An expanding and liberalised market for geospatial data, based on widely
accepted standards;
- Improved data quality as the market expands and becomes more competitive;
- New derived data sets created by combining data from two or more sources;
- Lower data costs as competition increases and data collection and processing
costs fall;
- Less duplication of effort and more one-stop shops for would-be data
users.
NGDF
Deliverables
- Fully linked metadata (descriptions of data) services;
- NGDF - compliant data sets which can be easily linked and integrated;
- Commercially driven, compliant services focusing on user needs;
Supported by:
- New and pragmatic best practice guidelines
- An NGDF accreditation service
- NGDF education programme and web site
- A coherent framework for core geospatial data initiatives
Forging
a Global Framework
NGDF is exchanging information with those responsible for similar initiatives
in other parts of the world. These include:
- The National Geospatial Data Framework mission is To develop
an over-arching framework to facilitate and encourage efficient linking,
combining and widespread use of geospatial data which is fit for purpose.
- United States National Spatial Data Infrastructure
- Australian National Spatial Data Infrastructure
- European Geographic Information Infrastructure
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