Mailing Address: P.O. Box 205007; D 53170 Bonn
E-mail Address: knabenschuh@lverma.nrw.de

Yes, several initiatives

**** POLICY ISSUES****

All kind of Geodata and core data. In Germany the official core data themes being developed are geodetic control, elevation, topography, digital aerial survey, administration boundaries and land ownership.

The vision is that these core data sets of the cadastral, surveying and mapping agencies will provide a current base which anyone may use to collect, register or integrate other thematic spatial information. But only core spatial data sets are being made available through the German NSDI.

Official core data are provided by the cadastral authorities, the surveying and mapping agencies of the German states, and the Office of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG.) Metadata and means for finding spatial data sets may be found on the web sites of AdV and BKG. This is the first step to establish a clearinghouse.

This is also planned for geodata at all.

Spatial data are collected by the surveying, mapping and cadastral administration and by other official and private companies. Citizen, businesses or other may use the data whether for non-profit or profit on payment of charge determinated by AdV. Intellectual property and copyright of spatial data are protected by making a contract of right of usefruct with any user.

Official core spatial data are collected by the surveying, mapping and cadastral administration of the German states. This data collection is coordinated by the AdV. Some private companies collect and offer their own geodata.

DDGI and IMAGI try to organize and effective and transparent data collection and exchange.

Each data provider makes his own prices.

Official core data that are supplied by the surveying, mapping and cadastral adminstration are made available at the costs of economic value and dissemination. The costs are determinated by the AdV, fixed by balanced relation between benefit and expense of production.

Framework to get comparable prices for similar geodata and to get suited prices will be done by IMAGI in cooperation with DDGI.

The NSDI in Germany for official core data is developed by the surveying, mapping and cadastral administration. Commercial firms are collecting their own data, because they need NSDI as soon as possible. All GI-disciplines try to improve the GI-situation by membership and common activities within DDGI.

Public domain spatial data sets are not available.

Although the NSDI in Germany is complete provided by public administration or government, users have to pay for spatial data. AdV and BKG offer information for finding and obtaining spatial data free of charge.

All spatial data sets, that contain information of individuals, are subject of the German laws of protection of privacy.

YES

If YES, please provide citations to those laws or orders?

If YES, to whom has authorithy been granted and for what tasks?

The AdV is an organization of the surveying, mapping and cadastral authorities of the German states. It was established by executive branches of government.

Surveying and Cadastral Acts of the German states include the order to the surveying, mapping and cadastral administration to develop and maintain a basic information and providing system of official core data.

The government of the FRG has recognized the importance of spatial data and has organized - initiated by DDGI - a committee of some ministries for geo-information (IMAGI). One order to the IMAGI is to improve the building up and coordination of a spatial data infrastructure.

If YES, please describe the purpose of the funds and the amounts.

NSDI activities on official level are financed by the surveying and mapping administrations. On DDGI-level it is done on level of public weal. To realize a Geo Data Service Centre (GDSC) several partners will make investments into a new common company.

The surveying and mapping agencies of the German states, the cadastral authorities and the BKG are involved in building the official NSDI (core data). The AdV coordinates their activities in building up that NSDI.

DDGI is active in the field of NSDI in general as interdisciplinary, official and neutral organization (public weal and non-profit organization).

IMAGI deals with this theme on political level.

A. METADATA. Yes (AdV, DDGI)   
B.CLEARINGHOUSE:   Yes (AdV, DDGI)
C. DATA STANDARDS: Yes (AdV, DDGI)  
D. CORE DATA Yes (AdV)
E. Thematic and value added data Yes (DDGI)

YES

If YES, please describe the types of projects that have been funded. The universities pursue research to those themes. Concrete projects for market-analysation are planned to be done in relation to the building up of GDSC. There exist a lot of initiatives on local level and single discipline to develop, realize and improve SDI solutions.

The NSDI has not adopted any information and communication technology standards. The GDSC initiative is on conceptional level this time, but it is planned to adopt it to EGII and GSDI solutions.

If YES, which data sets and how may access to these data sets be achieved?

Not for geo-data at all. Exists only for single disciplines (e.g. remote sensing).

Meta-data (official core data) are integrated into the European Meta-data information system MEGRIN.

CERCO CEN/ISO EUROGI GSDI initiative

If YES, how may a copy be obtained?

The AdV plans to establish a geo-data-centre by the BKG. DDGI is developing a concept for GDSC. Similar activities exist for smaller regions and single disciplines.

Demand of data-provider and user with the same intensity to get more transparency on the geo market (usefulness and availability of geo data).