WORKSHOP TALKS

WORKSHOP 1.6

Sensors as base for dynamic maps in water management (54}
Jan Jellema, TNO Built Environment anD Geosciences, Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: The major scientific institutes of the Netherlands have cooperated in investigating the feasibility of
Sensor Web Enablement in order to create dynamic maps. The following domains are covered: Meteorology, Hydrology, Groundwater, Agriculture, Geo-engineering and Data-communication
This two-year project is now ended and the conclusions are presented.

Applying OGC Sensor Web Enablement to Risk Monitoring and Disaster Management (96}
Simon Jirka, 52 degrees North Initiative for Geospatial Open Source Software GmbH, Arne Bruring, Christoph Stasch
[paper]

Abstract: The Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) activities of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) have led to a powerful set of standards allowing the integration of sensors and sensor data into spatial data infrastructures. The OGC SWE architecture comprises standardized encodings as well as service interfaces which can be used on the application level. The SWE encodings provide data formats for encoding sensor measurements (OGC Observations & Measurements) as well as sensor metadata (OGC Sensor Model Language). Furthermore, web service interfaces for accessing sensor data (OGC Sensor Observation Service), subscribing to alerts/events (OGC Sensor Alert Service) and controlling sensors (Sensor Planning Service) are available.
Within our paper we will present two projects in which the OGC SWE architecture is used for building risk monitoring and disaster management systems. We will show how SWE concepts can be integrated into spatial data infrastructures and how the practical architecture is designed. Especially the benefits of being able to integrate real time sensor data into spatial data infrastructures will be illustrated as this is an essential requirement for reliably dispatching time critical alerts. In addition experiences and lessons learned from the practical implementation will be discussed.
The first project which was conducted in cooperation with a German water body authority (Wupperverband) concerns the monitoring of flooding risks caused by rivers. Within the system architecture of this project, SWE services are used for monitoring precipitation as well as water levels and for sending alerts if critical situations occur.
Furthermore, the OSIRIS project (Open architecture for Smart and Interoperable networks in Risk management based on In-situ Sensors, http://www.osiris-fp6.eu) will be introduced. The complementary OSIRIS uses cases illustrate the flexibility of the SWE framework: SWE components are used within scenarios ranging from forest fire fighting, water and air pollution assessment to the avoidance of false fire alarms in industrial environments.
As a conclusion, our paper describes how existing spatial data infrastructures can be enhanced by the OGC Sensor Web Enablement concepts so that they can be more efficiently used for applications in risk monitoring and disaster management.

Registries for the OGC Sensor Web Enablement Architecture (97}
Simon Jirka, 52 degrees North Initiative for Geospatial Open Source Software GmbH,
[paper]

Abstract: The Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) initiative of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) provides an important foundation for integrating sensors and sensor networks into spatial data infrastructures. Within the last two years the SWE architecture has reached an advanced and stable state. Several web service interfaces for accessing and controlling sensors as well as dispatching of alerts have been published as standards. Furthermore, encodings for sensor data and metadata have been specified.
However, discovery mechanisms within the Sensor Web Enablement framework are still missing. Although there are already existing catalogue standards (i.e. the OGC Catalogue Service), the specific characteristics of sensors and sensor networks are not sufficiently taken into account. On the one hand this concerns the highly dynamic structure of sensor networks (e.g. mobility of sensors, addition of new sensors, defective and removed sensors), on the other hand the specific metadata formats, especially the OGC Sensor Model Language (SensorML), have to be considered.
Within our paper we want to address the two aspects mentioned above. We will show how SWE services can automatically be integrated into a registry by harvesting the relevant metadata. This includes an approach for extracting discovery relevant information from SensorML descriptions. Such a selection of metadata out of a SensorML document is necessary because only certain parts of a typical SensorML document are useful for discovery purposes. As a result, we present a profile for SensorML that defines which information should be provided about a sensor in order to make it discoverable.
Further on, we address the topic of dynamic sensor metadata. This comprises properties like sensor position and sensor status information (e.g. battery state). A special focus will be put on time-dependent data availability. This means that moving sensors might provide data for completely different areas depending on the time. For a reliable and precise data discovery it is necessary to consider this relationship within the design of an according sensor registry.
In summary, this paper presents an approach for creating registries for the sensor web which allow the discovery of sensors, sensor data and SWE services. Specific characteristics of sensor networks are taken into account as well as a future alignment to already existing solutions like the OGC Catalogue Service.

WORKSHOP 3.5

Measurement of the added value of geographic information in disaster management (117}
Patrick Brooijmans, IVENT, Arda Riedijk, Chris Jacobs, Lassche Ronnie, Henk Scholten
[paper]

Abstract: Geographic information supports disaster management in many ways. The analysis and visualization of static and incident specific dynamic geographic information is for the build-up of a common operational picture and shared situational awareness. The concept and capabilities of geographic information systems and the development of spatial data infrastructures to support disaster management in the Netherlands are just evolving. The hypothesis in this research was: what is the added value of the use of geographic information in disaster management' The research focused around five questions:
1. Does geographic information improve the timeliness of the information processing?
2. Does geographic information improve the quality of the information?
3. Does the geographic information improve the quality of the decisions?
4. Is there a state of shared situational awareness and what is the role of geographic information in this process?
5. Do disaster managers use geographic information in their workflows and what are the factors that enhance the use?
The theoretical framework of the research was based on the theory of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) (Alberts, 2002; Alberts et al., 2000; Alberts et al, 2001). NCW has three key components: technology, information and people. The complexity of NCW and disaster management is such that there is not one research method that covers all of these aspects. The component technology was measured using the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989). The component information was measured using the concepts of richness and reach of the NCW theory (Alberts et al., 2001). The component people was measured using the theory of Shared Situational Awareness (Nofi, 2000) and the Command Team Effectiveness Method (Essens et al., 2005).
The method was tested during the disaster management exercise Eagle One in March 2008. This exercise was the first time that a SDI was available on regional disaster management level in the Netherlands. The actors in the exercise were able to share all of their information through a peer-to-peer network. During the exercise the actors have been observed on how they used the geographic information and questionnaires have been conducted after the exercise.
Results show that the use of geographic information in disaster management has an added value. There was an active sharing of (geographic) information between the actors as a result of the peer-to-peer network. The build-up of a common operational picture enhanced the situational awareness of all actors. The ability to do advanced spatial analysis on the spatial datasets present in the SDI speeded up the decision making process considerably. All respondents to the questionnaires had a positive feeling about the use of geographic information.

Geo-information and Spatial Data Infrastructure in use by the Safety Regio IJsselland in the Netherlands (136}
Jaap Smit, Safety Regio IJsselland
[paper]

Abstract:
The result of a multidisciplinary inventory indicates there are almost 600 datasets of which approximately 85 % exist somewhere and 35% are already available in the Safety Regio IJsselland. This list will be available on internet. Information gathering to be discussed includes: Participation in GDI (an infrastructure that offers crisis and disaster management organisations directly access to web services with geo-informatie of several ministries and national registers), Pilot consumer of BAG (a national project for basic registration of address and buildings) where the addresses and buildings are stored on the local services and replicated by web services and the use of the databases is integrated in the working procedures and Gathering more (geo-)information sources just like the municipal and the national sources.
Information sharing by the Regional "GEO Program" to be discussed includes:
- Storage of data in a geodatabase on high available servers (double with load balancing and replication).
- Confirming to he Dutch standard for geo-information and metadata.
- Sharing by Internet technique:
- web service: WMS, WFS, WCS;
- Web viewer: standard (Next-Next-Finish), Google Earth, Virtual Earth, OOV Earth (for Public order and safety), based on GeoWeb.
- The development of a data portal, for the integration of the services in a national SDI.
- Shared plot with simple text for daily use and for crisis and disaster management.
- Digital accessibility map (preparation for vulnerable and risky objects).
- Digital diving maps (preparation for safe diving search and rescue actions).
- Sharing knowledge and experience (Dutch wiki: www.BrandweerExpert.nl).
Information using: Examples of use include: different working procedures on a daily basis; special purposes including mobile situations; and crisis and disaster preparation and management.
Information system developments to be discussed include: Sharing (geo-) information with the emergency vehicles /units in the field and the main target for the next time is the integration of information, especially for the crisis and disaster management, from action and decision list, situation reports and plots in one geodatabase. Changing of information in one user platform results in a actualisation of the information in the geodatabase and also in the other user platforms.
Topics and Experiences to be discussed include: Applications, Geographic Data, Clearinghouses, Web-based services

WORKSHOP 3.6

Development of a Central Spatial Infrastructure embedded in the Enterprise Architecture of the Ministry of Agriculture (203}
Jeroen Baltussen, Ministry of Agriculture, Marcel de Rink, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: At almost all organisations GIS is a special system and the quantification of the added value for the impact on the business and the ICT architecture of the organization is not present. As a result the awareness of GIS at Management and Policy levels will not change. General Application Development is also not aware of the business benefits of GIS, which creates problems that GIS specialists are involved at the end of the application development period. Besides the awareness at business and information level also at the technical level GIS has some specific requirements, which has to be taken into account for an optimal use of Geospatial data and services.

The main issue is communication about added value for the business and information supply. The main goal of the CRI project is to realise a strong, open and standardised geo-architecture for the whole Ministry, which has impact on all the levels of the existing ICT architecture. During the CRI project, the GIS Competence Center of the Ministry of Agriculture developed an architecture document based on a framework which is used by concern-, information-, process-, organization- and database-architects. First goal is to create a communication document (by using Architecture models like the Department Enterprise Architecture) to show the added value of GIS and how it can the impact on the business, information and technical levels. Secondly, as a result, "rules" will be defined between the systems because of choices, which have to be made. Using this Architecture model it will be easier to communicate with the standing ICT organisation and spatial issues can be addressed at the right level. The effect will be that spatial thinking and geo-ICT comes in the mainstream of the ICT and business of the ministry. The business shall be more effective by using spatial concepts and technology which gives added value by integrate more information from a spatial view. Using this Architecture model it will be easier to use and combine all kinds of data in the Ministry to develop more knowledge about the environment. Secondly it will be easier to use data outside the Ministry to get more insight into the environmental issues to develop better environmental policy.

During this presentation the Architecture Model will be presented and the process how this has influenced the "non-geo" persons and issues at the Ministry. Also it makes clear what kind of issues has to be solved for using a optimalised Geospatial Infrastructure with a quantification of the results.

SDI assessment from an organizational perspective (362}
Wilbert Kurvers, Provincie Limburg, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: Municipalities are under pressure to improve the services they provide to companies and citizens. An efficient information exchange is a requirement for supporting local processes such as e.g. the spatial planning process.
At the European level, INSPIRE is being developed but the question is whether the municipalities are willing and able to implement a Spatial Information Infrastructure?
Theory shows that organisational rather than technological aspects will determine whether the municipalities will be able to implement a Spatial Information Infrastructure (SII). Based on the key factors for SII implementation, this research has developed a model to determine SII maturity of the studied municipalities from an organisational perspective. Besides, the Technology Acceptance Model was applied to measure whether the municipalities are willing to implement SIIs and GII theory was used to measure the current implementation status in the municipalities.
Based on these models an assessment model was developed. With this model, we have determined whether the municipalities are willing and able to implement a SII.
The conclusion is that municipalities in the Dutch province Limburg (as a whole) are not willing and/or able to implement a Spatial Information Infrastructure. Research in the adjacent German Kreis Heinsberg yields similar results.
Indeed, the principal obstacles when implementing a SII have turned out to be of an organisational rather than of a technological nature. Finance and culture were important aspects.
At the same time, municipalities had insufficient knowledge of what a SII is and what it can mean for them.
Particularly the smaller municipalities have difficulties to implement a SII. Collaboration, possibly in a shared service center, could be a solution to share the necessary knowledge and experience and gain efficiency.
The research outcomes suggest that the real challenges for GII implementation are at the local level!
This abstract is based on the M.Sc.Thesis from Wilbert Kurvers (2007), Implementing Local Spatial Information Infrastructures: ?Are Municipalities Inspired?? Manchester Metropolitan University (UNIGIS).
www.home.versatel.nl/w.kurvers/Spatial_Information_Infrastructures_W.Kurvers.pdf

Intermunicipal cooperation to improve the quality of geographical data registrations (365}
Johan Ruijten, DataLand, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: Municipalities in The Netherlands become more and more responsible for the management, quality and distribution of fundamental geographical datasets. This development can be explained by an increase in the demand for high-quality data by a growing number of users. Alongside this development there are a number of parties which translate this demand into concrete projects, to stimulate the process of building high quality, geographical data registrations.
One of these parties is the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, whose legislation forces the municipalities to put quality management, and the setting up of fundamental geographical data registrations, high on the local agenda.
Another party is DataLand, a municipality owned foundation, whose tasks include the distribution of real estate information of over more than 325 municipalities and assisting these municipalities in quality management.
In performing these tasks, DataLand cooperates with these municipalities on an individual level but also more and more in collaboration with multiple municipalities. DataLand is currently involved in a project with the municipalities of Flevoland (one of twelve Dutch provinces) to investigate the added value of intermunicipal cooperation with respect to quality improvement of geographical data registrations.
The underlying question to be answered within this project is described as follows:
Does intermunicipal cooperation lead to a demonstrable improvement in quality, of the following national geographical data registrations in the Netherlands: GBKN/Large scale topography and BAG/Building information (administrative information of buildings/addresses)
First of all, to answer the above question, the current datasets of the individual municipalities are investigated on several criteria regarding quality, completeness, and conformity to RSGB (information architecture describing the content and relations of municipal data). These investigations include automatic and manual processing of (parts of) the datasets.
Secondly, insight is given in the working processes preceding the final products i.e. GBKN/Large scale topography and BAG/Building information - by means of interviews with the responsible persons of the individual municipalities.
Thirdly, the results of the analyses and interviews are discussed in workshops with the municipalities, leading to possibilities for intermunicipal cooperation regarding quality management of the geographical data registrations.
On the one hand, the results of this project provide insight in the processes originating from the municipal autonomy, regarding geographical data registrations. On the other hand, this project shows how working together in managing geographical datasets, leads to added value for the municipal autonomy itself, but also to a higher quality of the datasets involved, which benefits the large diversity of end-users.
Finally, this project aims to offer practical advice for all Dutch municipalities, so they together can reach for an improved information facility on behalf of public e-government. After all, municipalities, as first public authority, form the information facility to citizens on behalf of the entire government.

WORKSHOP 4.5

Napoleon's registration principles in present times: The Dutch System of Key Registers (101}
Yvette Ellenkamp, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM), Bart Maessen, The Dutch CadastreCountry, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: Napoleon's registration principles in present times: The Dutch System of Key Registers is a government that: does not ask twice, is customer oriented and pro-active, is not fooled around with, knows what it is talking about, is properly organised, does not spend more money than is necessary, must have access to reliable, high quality digital information. Key registers form the basis for this.
Developing key registers aims to achieve what Napoleon's paper registration system did two centuries ago: create a clear system of unique data whereby 'one-stop collection, multiple use' improves the availability and quality of the data.
The key registers are amongst others the registrations of: Buildings, Addresses, Cadastral Parcels, Persons, Companies
Some of the key registers contain spatial data, others have a more administrative character. The key registers that contain spatial data (e.g. Addresses, Buildings and the Cadastral Registration) together contribute to the Spatial Data Infrastructure and are part of the implementation strategy of GIDEON (the Dutch Key geo-information facility).
The characteristics of a key register are amongst others: Regulation by law; The content is well defined, Quality assurance; The whole government is by law obliged to use the key register to prevent the multiple gathering of the same data. Think of the number of times a citizen is forced to fill in forms with the same the same information (e.g. address, tax information, company information); If a user of the key register detects a mistake in the register, the user is by law obliged to report it to the source which then by law is obliged to do research and improve or repair the data; Protection of privacy
The paper will describe the way key registers are designed, implemented and supposed to operate. To explain the characteristics further the paper will describe the Key Registers of Addresses and Buildings in more detail. These are peculiar in the sense that they are represented by 443 decentralized agencies plus one central agency. These agencies are the municipalities and one central service operated by the Dutch Cadastre.
The key registers themselves are already useful, but the system of all key registers together makes the Information Infrastructure very strong. The paper will describe the relations between key registers. The Person's Register will for example no longer independently describe the address where a person lives, but the Person's Register registers the relation to the Key Register of Addresses and Buildings with which the actual address is found. In the system of key registers there are many more relations between key registers with which single collected information is multiply used throughout the government. In the paper this 'Excellent Data Flow of Key Information' will be described.
The Cadastre now runs a pilot to realise the data flow between addresses and cadastral parcels. This will be described in the paper to give a good example of the advantages reached by the Dutch System of Key Registers.
The article will conclude with lessons learned so far and what steps are necessary for the future.

Electronic exchange of cable and pipeline information (141}
Caroline Groot, Barbra Janssen, Kadaster, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: Motive for the information exchange Act: Since 1 July 2008 the Underground Cables and Pipelines Information Exchange Act has taken effect in the Netherlands. Reason for this Act was the reporting in several newspapers concerning growing chaos in the underground because the knowledge of the position of 1.75 million km (underground) cables and pipelines in Dutch soil was not sufficient. In Parliament questions were asked how the unfamiliarity with the position of cables and pipelines could be solved and how the number of incidents with and damages to cables and pipelines could be reduced. Despite an existing private initiative of the cable companies ensuring that excavators received information (on paper) about the position of underground cables and pipelines, the participation to this initiative was voluntarily and the number of incidents continued to be rather high. Therefore the obligation for excavators and cable companies to participate to the information exchange process about underground cables and pipelines will be regulated by means of an Act. This Act will also introduce (around the end of 2009) an electronic system so the process of information exchange will take place on an entire electronic basis. This electronic system (KLIC-online) will be managed by an intermediary (the Kadaster).
The aim of the act is to prevent possible incidents with and damages to cable and pipelines. The Act implies obligations for excavators and cable companies which should contribute to the process of careful digging.
Electronic system for cable and pipeline information: The Kadaster will run the electronic system and process the information requests of excavators to more than thousand cable companies in the Netherlands. A user-friendly portal should be available for requesting and collecting information on certain areas of interest within the Netherlands. Based on a specific search mechanism the information request is sent to a selected subset of databases of cable companies who are involved in that area of interest. All cable companies have to deliver their information to the portal based on a national wide standardised information model while using standardised geo web services. As a result it is possible to combine these standardised information sets to a layered digital map. It is expected that this new SDI will lead to less damages and will stimulate new innovations in the whole sector. Interesting new possibilities are the combination of the combined map data with gps based excavation vehicles and the new possibilities for municipalities to improve the spatial planning process of the subsurface.
Conclusion: In spite of large interests of the parties in the excavation chain, the content of this (innovative) Act is the result of intensive consultation between the legislator, the excavators, the cable companies and the Kadaster. The result of this Act will be a unique SDI that is accessible for the parties in the excavation chain and provides standardised information about the position of underground cables and pipelines.

The map that took 25 years to complete, becomes a key registration (267}
Martin Peersmann, LSV GBKN, Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract:The Dutch GBKN project is only part of a SDI but a number of lessons can be learnt from its experience that are of more general application for SDI development and implementation. Firstly, the project would never have been completed without the willingness of a number of very different types of organisation in both the public and private sectors to form a public private partnership to share the costs of database creation and its subsequent maintenance. Secondly, those organisations had to commit themselves to work to agreed standards to derive the maximum value from the project as a whole. Or, put another way, they would have not benefitted very much from a plethora of large scale maps for different parts of the country produced according to different standards. Thirdly, some form of top level management was essential to ensure the smooth running of the whole project. The costs of this tier of management are miniscule by comparison with the overall costs involved. Finally, the case shows how the enlightened self interest of the participants has resulted in a win-win situation for them in this case. They have access to a detailed large scale database for the whole country that is necessary for their operational work at a fraction of the costs they would have to pay if they had decided to go it alone and build their own large scale database.

WORKSHOP 4.6

The Development and Usage of Geo-Services for Land Use Planning (202}
Ebrahim Hemmatnia, Netherlands Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, Thijs Brentjens, The Netherlands
[paper]

Abstract: Information plays a key role in urban land use planning. The organizations that are concerned with urban land use planning such as municipalities and provinces, use and need access to geo-information as well as administrative information on which they can rely in planning of land use. Obtaining information on who purchased or exchanged a plot of land through web services will facilitate the identification of the owners by the planning organizations. Restrictions that apply to a plot, ranging from restrictive rights to physical restrictions (for example the soil is hard to build on), have a negative effect on the value of a plot. Lack of restrictions makes a plot more attractive, thus creates a higher value. Knowing the restrictions provides a more accurate view on financial aspects, but also on the formal procedures to be followed, enhancing the speed of urban land use planning. Combining and analyzing the relevant (geo-)information therefore is essential for organizations involved in land use planning.
However, not all information is available within one organization. Organizations like municipalities and provinces therefore need to get up-to-date and reliable data from other organizations. Having a nationwide SDI (spatial data infrastructure) is essential for providing this up-to-date data. This paper describes the process whereby the municipality of Almere obtains the cadastral data from Dutch cadastral geo-services and combines it with other relevant geo-information. The solution provided heavily relies on elements of a SDI.

Google Earth based visualization of Dutch land use change scenario studies (251}
Ron van Lammeren, Wageningen University; Joske Houtman, University Utrecht; Maarten Hilferink, Objectvision bv; Arno Bouman, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Netherlands
[slides]

Abstract: This contribution describes GESO, a tool to prepare a Google Earth visualization of the Dutch land use scenarios as created by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. This Google Earth (GE) for the Sustainable Outlook tool, named GESO aims to be an effective, easy and low cost way to study Sustainable Outlook data via an interactive 3D visualization that integrates the land use icon and landscape feature approach as presented in the VisualScan study.
The concept, implementation and usability of GESO are explained, concluded and discussed. The paper starts to explain the context of GESO and the intention to visualize 3-dimensionally land use changes (Al-Kodmany, 2001; Borsboom- van Beurden, 2006; Lammeren, 2004). Out of this context the concept of GESO is presented (architecture). It combines two Dutch authorized datasets (AHN and Top10Vec) into a semi-3D dataset. The impact of the tiling of these data is discussed as well. Secondly the tool transforms these semi 3D data and the Sustainable Outlook results, as created via LUMOS, and linked with 2D- and 3D-objects, into KML files. The KML files, to be viewed by GE, offer the user different levels of detail and combinations of current and future land use to be presented 2D and 3D (visualization).
The usability (Sheppard, 2001, Hudson-Smith, 2005) of GESO is explained via the questionnaire that has been offered to many policy makers on different administration levels. The preliminary outcomes of this questionnaire will be presented as well. The type of application and its results will be discussed with reference to comparable approaches.
References:
Al Kodmany, K. (2001) Supporting imageability on the World Wide Web: Lynch's five elements of the city in community planning. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2001;, 28, 805-832.
Borsboom,-van Beurden, J.A.M. (2006), Linking land use modelling and 3D visualisation. A mission impossible In: J. van Leeuwen and H. Timmermans, Innovations in Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning, pp. 85-102.
Hudson-Smith, A., S. Evans and M. Batty, 2005, Building the Virtual City: Public Participation through e-Democracy, Knowledge, Technology & policy, (18)1, pp.62-85.
Lammeren, R. van, R. Olde Loohuis, A. Momot, and S. Ottens, 2004,, VisualScan: 3D visualisations of 2D scenarios, CGI-report 2004-09, ISSN 1568-1874, Wageningen
Sheppard, S.R.J., 2001. Guidance for crystal ball gazers: developing a code of ethics for landscape visualisation. Landscape and Urban Planning 54 (1-4): 183-199.

Spatial data infrastructures in pratice: Saxony's governmental forest organisation makes intensive use of Saxony's spatial data infrastructure inside their web GIS, FGIS-online (403)
Martin Stocker, con terra GmbH, Andreas Hergert, Germany