Innovative Solutions
for a Complex World
Case Study
European government agency
employs geospatial conferencing
system to manage emergency events
and mitigate disasters using a
common operation picture system,
shared private data, and an Internet
infrastructure.
Background … the Inspire Directive
In May 2007, the European Union (EU) passed the Inspire Directive designed to establish shared standards
between the various European countries, accompanied by web viewing of rendered map data, and an
unspecified license framework for geographic data. Inspire relies on the infrastructures of the 27 Member
States of the European Union and addresses over 30 spatial data themes required for environmental
applications with key components specified through technical implementing rules.
To ensure that the spatial data infrastructures of the member states are compatible and usable in a
community and transboundary context, the Directive requires that common implementation rules be
adopted in a number of specific areas (including, metadata, data specifications, network services, data
and service sharing, as well as monitoring and reporting). The Directive is assisted in the process of adopting
rules by a regulatory committee composed of representatives of the Member States.
Denmark
Denmark proved to be an early adopter of the Directive. A background
paper on Denmark’s readiness to engage in Inspire based on its existing
spatial infrastructure notes that development of spatial data, metadata,
and data discovery services in Denmark was ongoing prior to the Inspire
Directive (albeit on an informal level).
In the early 2000s, however, several public sector initiatives, coupled
with a positive outlook for the geo-data market, resulted in voluntary
partnerships between various public actors at the national, regional
and local level, as well as the private sector.
The Danish Land Survey and Cadastre/KMS
Established in 1989, the Danish Land Survey and Cadastre
(also known as KMS) is Denmark’s public authority for the
management and distribution of geographic information.
KMS is the national authority for surveying, topographic
mapping, hydrographic charting, and land registration
for the authorization of surveyors.
KMS is ultimately responsible for Denmark’s national
geographic infrastructure. Its vision is to provide the public
sector, private companies, and the general public with
accurate and updated geographic information about
the territories and waters of Denmark, Greenland and
the Faroe Islands. Accordingly, the KMS was identified by
government and tasked with the Danish implementation
of the Inspire directive. KMS is Inspire’s national contact
point in Denmark, its technical nucleus, and represents
the country in this role.
Selection of GeoConference
By 2009, KMS had developed several map service
portals, but
Homeland Security requirements
suggested a collaborative, geospatial software
solution that enabled common information to be
shared between the various stakeholders over the
Internet. This requirement was especially imminent
in the event of major incidents that could not be
resolved by the individual Homeland Security
actors (for example, oil spills, forest fires, floods,
terrorist acts). The required software would allow
staff to create and maintain clarity and overview
of a situation as a basis for decision-making in
the different sectors and on a national scale.
Furthermore, due to its sensitivity and various points
of origin (that is, the various agency databases
and information warehouses)—data needed to
be fully-protected and never duplicated, moved,
or altered in any way. Data was to be “read only”
and merely shared in a common, virtual space for
the time necessary to be displayed.
After reviewing several options, KMS selected PCI Geomatics GeoConference software to solve the need for
communications of maps over internet and in general improve the use of geospatial information according to
the Inspire principles. KMS recognized the value of the solution, including its interactive environment, common
workspace, virtual meeting environment, data security, ease-of-implementation and use, and relatively low cost.
During 2009 and 2010, GeoConference was tested in nationwide exercises, including oil spills at sea, national
security and nuclear safety.
Challenges
The challenges associated with using a geocollaboration solution in Denmark
are many. While a relatively small country, Denmark has a complex structure
of state-level and local governments in 98 municipalities; and because the
challenges presented by the Directive necessarily involved the co-operation
of many government agencies and the public sector, the logistics of the
implementation of GeoConference presented a serious challenge for all
parties.
The greatest challenge faced by the government in this project was the result
of its unique marine geography.
Denmark’s land mass includes the Jutland peninsula, Greenland and the
Faroe Islands—as well as
hundreds of small and medium size inhabited islands. Because it
sidelines both the Baltic Sea and the North Sea along its 8.000 km
coastline, flooding is a threat in many areas of the country (e.g.,
parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland);
furthermore, as a major exporter of energy and transportation thru
the sounds and belts by oil tankers from the Baltic Sea, oil spills are a
constant risk to the ecologically sensitive environment.
Dealing with marine disasters, then, was one of the principal goals
of KMS and why a geocollaboration tool was required to deal with
potential problems occurring along the long coastline of the country.
Solution and Benefits
KMS reviewed several bids/solutions and found PCI’s
GeoConference solution to meet all its operation and security
requirements—all at an affordable cost to the government.
Initially purchased specifically to support the National Operational
Staff (NOST), GeoConference is now being used on a regular basis
by eight Danish national agencies, including the Navy, Police, and
Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).
The Danish Police has praised GeoConference, stating that since
its integration, GeoConference has “become an integral tool with
a permanent role to play in day to day activities, allowing the force
to cooperate with local authorities, schools, and associations.”
The Danish Navy has backed up this opinion, adding that since
using GeoConference, “information moves faster and is more
accurate and up-to-date.”
About PCI
Testimonials
PCI Geomatics’ award-winning technology is
used by GIS professionals, scientists, researchers,
educational institutions, and image analysts
around the world and addresses a wide variety of
industry applications, including the environment,
agriculture, security and intelligence, aerospace
and defense, and satellite receiving stations.
PCI Geomatics is headquartered in Toronto,
Canada with worldwide facilities in Gatineau,
Quebec, Canada; Arlington, Virginia, United
States; Redlands, California, United States;
Alexandria, Virginia, United States; Edinburgh,
Scotland; and Beijing, China. PCI products and
solutions are distributed through a direct sales
force, international resellers, and third party
partners.
“
The government agencies have experienced
improved coordination between the agencies and
far better overview over the situation for all parts
of the organizations. GeoConference has been
used in different situations like ocean exercise for
oil pollution, police coordination for search after
people and secure the society.
“
PCI Geomatics Headquarters
50 West Wilmot Street
Richmond Hill, Ontario
CANADA L4B 1M5
© 2010 PCI Geomatics Inc. All right reserved.
”
— KMS
GeoConference has enabled Danish authorities
to cooperate across agency borders without having to change the way they work or replace their
existing management solutions. The different
agencies are able to proceed with work as usual.
GeoConference offers a very cost effective and
time effective cooperation tool with a minimal
investment.
”
Phone: 905 764-0614
Fax: 905 764-9604
Email: [email protected]
URL: www.pcigeomatics.com