Definition of a spatial data infrastructure
A Spatial Data Infrastructure, commonly referred to as SDI, is in essence a data infrastructure that enables the efficient use and management of spatial information. Although the manifestation of an SDI is ultimately a technology platform of loosely coupled servers and services, at its heart there is a core set of four guiding principles: people, standards, policy, and data.
People are an integral part of any SDI, as they will use it to deliver services and analysis to stakeholders. Within a corporate environment, one can categorize people into three broad types:
Data creators / originators: These are the people who use powerful desktop GIS tools to create, manipulate, and maintain spatial information.
Data users: These are the people concerned with the analysis and interrogation of spatial information to provide answers. They use a combination of web-based and desktop-based tools.
Data consumers: These are the people concerned with the consumption...
