Geographic data is becoming increasingly valuable as GIS technology is adopted around the world, across diverse industries. The ability to share the dynamic information leads to efficient decision making and effective operation. The presence of spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) used to build a policy framework around GIS infrastructure has greatly increased with the amplified investment in GIS technology. SDIs are defined as the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data.

This book provides an overview of the developments that have taken place with SDIs over the last 10 to 15 years. Author Ian Masser focuses on the new policy options and the institutional structures associated with the formulation and implementation of SDI initiatives. “The importance of SDI has grown as our capacity to handle large quantities of spatial information has increased exponentially over the last 20 years as a result of developments in GIS technology,” said Masser. “At the same time, our power to access this information has been transformed by the development of the Internet and the World Wide Web.”

About the author:

Ian Masser, one the world's leading experts on the subject of spatial data infrastructures, was educated in geography and town planning at Liverpool University where he received his PhD in 1975 and was awarded a LittD in 1993, by the same University, for his contributions to the fields of planning methods, information management, and comparative planning. He co-directed the European Science Foundation's GISDATA scientific programme from 1992 to 1997. He also served as founding chairman of the Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe (AGILE) from 1998 to 1999 and president of the European Umbrella Organization for Geographic Information (EUROGI) from 1999 to 2003. From 2002 to 2004 he served as president of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI). His publications include sixteen books and over 250 contributions to conference proceedings, books and major journals.