Orietta Gargano
Basi Territoriali e Sistema Informativo Geografico, ISTAT - Istituto Nazionale di Statistica, Via A. Ravà 150, 00142 Roma, tel (+39-6) 54074399 fax (+39-6) 5943011, gargano@istat.it

Antonello Iacobelli
Olivetti Ricerca, Contrada La Marchesa, S.S.271 Km.8.680, 70020 Bitritto - Bari, tel (+39-80) 6352059 fax (+39-80) 6352089, iacobelli@olivettiricerca.it

Giovanni Biallo
MondoGIS, Via Montevideo 4, 00198 Roma, tel (+39-6) 85354740, fax (+39-6) 85354727, g.biallo@mondogis.it

Abstract

The project GeoServe aims to develop a network of Geo-data Access Services for Data users and Data Providers. The Services shall support the identification, selection, and timely access to geo-data for data users at European and regional scale. For the provider of geographic data the system will enable the marketing of geo-data to a large international user group.

Figure 1

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FOURTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DGXIII

FIELD: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT "TELEMATICS APPLICATIONS PROGRAMME"

SECTOR: ADMINISTRATIONS

Starting date: January 1996
Ending date: December 1990
Duration: 36 months

SHORT OVERVIEW OF PROBLEMS EXISTING AT EUROPEAN LEVEL

WHO PRODUCE WHAT?
The first problem on access geodata and alphanumeric geocoded data comes from the lack of a reference centre to ask at European and often national level. Additional to surveying institutes, which perform data acquisition of geographic basis data (raster and vector data, satellite images, aerial photography) there are many other data providers on the market who are involved with enhanced data: e.g. they produce thematic data packages or convert data to various GIS.

WHAT DATA AND WHAT QUALITY?
In Europe there is a big pool of geodata already collected from different member states. Europe has the excellent quality and variety of data but there is no co-ordination between the different suppliers. Since surveying institutes operate off-line, it is difficult to collect complete information about existing database. This results in lack of awareness of existing data and in a redundancy in data acquisition and data storage. On the other hand there is an insufficient update of data. Thus when a potential user might find background topographical maps for a county the information requested might not be the most actual version produced.

HOW CAN A USER GET THE DATA AFTER IDENTIFYING THE REQUIRED DATA POOL? WILL THE INFORMATION BE DELIVERED ON TIME?
Communication procedures are inefficient and systems for data requirements and data supply are inadequate. Today ordering is through telephone and fax and delivery uses snail mail for data stores.

WHAT DATA HARMONISATION?
Numerous de jure and proprietary de facto standards for data formats are in use in Europe. Numerous projections, national regulations and legal obstacles make data exchange difficult between systems and even more crossing borders.

THE GEOSERVE PROJECT TRY TO GIVE ANSWER TO SOME OF PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE

ADVANTAGES:

• central source for geographic data information
• accessibility for everyone by WWW
• availability to get original data direct from the World Wide Web
• easy to use access to the information on available geodata via public information kiosks or networked PCs
• availability of enhancement services as conversion of geographic data into the requested format or projection transformation.
• the system enables a brokering market

WORKPAKAGES AND DELIVERABLES

The work in the GeoServe project will be carried out in the frame of 8 main workpackages:

Figure 3

To enhance the clarity of the overall work structure, each main WP is split into several specific WP’s.
For each WP (main/specific) a final document (Deliverable) will be drew by the responsible partner.
Deliverables already closed and further information on the project are available on the Geoserve Web site: http://www.geoserve.de

PARTNERS ROLE

Data user
Potential data users are public administrations, private companies and citizens who should like access to geo-data or geo-service for territorial/urban planning, business location planning, geocoded data etc.
For the data user the system contains powerful functionalities to retrieve information on available geo-data sets. The user may select data by a combination of a browser on a meta-database and a geographic access. The system supports added value services like conversion and compression to make the data directly usable in the target system GIS or viewer. Conversion will be offered between a set of transfer formats. This will enable an open system supporting various national standards and de-facto standards used in today's market GIS. Additional enhancement functionalities are provided for spatial join of different maps. For enhancement services that include interaction with GIS or specialised knowledge and capabilities users may select services offered on the network by specialist companies.

data provider
Public or private companies who produce and process geo-data.
For data providers the system offers management and delivery functionalities for advertising the data, for actively distributing it, and for selling it effectively. Through the data provider user interface on the data provider client geo-data may be brought to the network. The data provider will specify the related meta-information for the data and its marketing. On delivery of geo-data billing and bookkeeping functionalities provide for effective marketing.

data enhancer
Data enhancers on one hand are data users of primary geo-data. On the other hand they are providers when they distribute and market the enhanced geo-data, and carry out geo-services as production of thematic maps (added value maps by overlaying, intersecting etc.), format conversion, scale and/or co-ordinate transformation.

SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITIES

Whole process, from data access to final data ordering, is served by a set of functionalities which allow:

GEO-DATA SEARCH AND SELECTION

At European level by consulting the metadatabase in which geographic and alphanumeric data (metadata), and geographic services (metaservices) are described, users get information about identification, location and contents of geo-data and geo-services available at national level.
Is it possible to identify and also to select the required datasets by two different ways:

• thematically, by metadatabase navigation, identifying the objects and related attributes described inside. Additional information regarding data contents, formats, convertibility, standards, and pricing schemes may be obtained before specifically order the required data.

• geographically, by naming the area or by zooming on maps. Using a viewer system and zoom facilities, the location and geographic coverage of maps may be selected. The specification of the maps may be viewed via examples.

The present MDB navigation at European level involves access to a selected information set from metadata collection:
the Meta Data Kernel (MDK), got by each national provider for its demonstrator. The user verify dataset characteristics and availability on national site, by connecting with European site and consulting the MDK.
The MDK contains information about data set and their identification keys (ID): data set group, name, language, abstract and purpose of production; scale, projection, and spatial schema of cartographic data set; temporal and geographic extent, units of distribution, format and price of data; company and country reference.
After have defined the ID’s list the user can consult the required data, by connecting with national sites. On national site, the Italian demonstrator, will support the MDB navigation for access to the complete metadata collection (standard CEN TC 287).

Metadata
Metadata, as database info-document, are a basic tool to describe to users the available data set and their characteristics.
Data model used in GeoServe project concerns only database structure, and not the content: the database entities and their relationships are described according to European standard established in CEN TC287 Metadata Standard (document no. prEN 287009), that deals with metadata about geo-datasets. A geo-dataset can be a simple raster map as well as a huge vector geo-database. Both of them have been described in the Italian metadatabase.
The model proposed in CEN TC287 is composed by different sections: Dataset id, Dataset overview, Dataset quality elements, Spatial reference system, Extent, Data definition, Classification, Administrative metadata, Metadata reference and Metadata language. The sections have been identified as entities, while the different sub-terms have been assumed as the corresponding attributes. The following is a brief description of the different entities (objects) in terms of their attributes (entries of the tables).

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On the regional sub server, metadata about regional geodataset are described in deep detail (MDB), while the European site contains only a subset of metadata entities (MDK).
Metadata are going to be implemented and managed in a standard RDBMS on a telematic network (Internet).

SHOPPING BASKET AND DATA ORDERING

Each user can manage functions of data and/or service searching, selecting, changing request, etc. by the shopping basket module. By this module, specifically developed for functions above described, all requested data and geo-service are registered and can be checked by users before defining and mailing the final order form to national Data provider.
When the user have defined the complete list of the data is interested to, the system will calculate an estimated price for the whole amount of data requested.

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

Off-line the system administrator define different kind of contracts. One of these will be automatically associated to data selected in the shopping basket.
A disclaimer contract , which the user just have to agree upon, is setted for free data the user will not use in commercial application.
All other contracts needs of signature by the user who require data. A traditional contract (paper form) will be sent to user from system administrator. When the user will send back to server the signed contract, the data delivery will be activate.

LEGAL CONTROL

The legal control is carried out by data and/or service provider. Defined procedures and rules assure the correct and lawful access to data as well as the data safety and confidentiality. The whole procedure let the user know if the data are available for shopping; shows the contract version associated to data requested with peculiar provisions (ex copy right provisions); shows a summary page listing all data required; calculates the data price for unit; ask the user to accept all the conditions of contract.

DELIVERY

Three kind of delivery are available in the system:

• on-line delivery by Internet HTTP and FTP via mail box (disclaimer contract)
• deferred delivery via mail box by user’s resident directory on HTTP server (standard contracts);
• off-line delivery via traditional mail (standard contracts).

At the end of delivery phase the real final price of data will be calculated in static and dynamic way:

• static way: data price, a priori fixed, will be calculated in relation to total request of data extraction and delivery on selected support;
• dynamic way: variable data prices in relation to global amount of requested data;

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR FUNCTIONALITIES

• Off-line contracts set up
• User administration: accounts management; payment instructions; statement of banking transactions; ordering list and state; etc.

DATA PROVIDER ADMINISTRATOR

• Metadatabase updating (by Internet connection between providers and sub-server HTTP);

DEMONSTRATORS

The GeoServe system will provide a set of regional Geo Data Service Nodes (GDSN) providing detailed metainformation, regional specific geodata, geo-services and broker functionality. A European GDSN will guarantee the overview and coordination of the network of regional GDSNs.
The European GDSN will be located on Denmark; the regional GDSN’s will be setted for the demonstrators of Greece, Italy, Germany and Denmark.
The content of the demonstrators is based on implementation of the GeoServe products in the representative user environments. The implementation includes installation of the GeoServe application and realisation of the data distribution aimed for the specific markets.
The demonstrators will support different geo-clients, for Data users in administrations, based on PC / Windows and citizen info kiosks.
A variety of geo-clients support the specific needs for casual as well as for a professional users who link the system to their local GIS. The openness of the concept is underlined by linking a variety of GIS systems, geo-viewers, and geodatabases. Within the project these will be ArcInfo/ArcView, SICAD, GeoView etc.

Figure 5

Partners DSL and IGN will co-operate by providing applications and data, which will be integrated into demonstrators.

AVAILABLE DATASET SCHEMA

Figure 6

ITALIAN DEMONSTRATOR

Olivetti Ricerca, Istat e MondoGIS will build up the Italian demonstrator; at Bari’s site Olivetti Ricerca will provide a public Web server. The user connected via Internet link, can verify the availability and characteristics of data by consulting the metadatabase catalogue and activate all functions of searching, selecting, sampling etc. above described.
Since users have defined the final order of geodata selected, the server will activate an automatic procedure. By connecting to Istat (Data provider) via ISDN dedicated link, the requested geodata will be extracted and mailed to client.
If even geo-service are enclosed, the request will be sent to MondoGis company (Data Enhancer) which will operate in off line mode.
Moreover MondoGis will register and pigeon-hole requests, by classifying for different users, geo-services, etc.
The access to demonstrator will be possible by each client (personal computer) connected to Internet.

Istat, as Data user in the demonstration phase, will install:

• a public Info-kiosk (provided by Olivetti Ricerca) with an Internet browser, available at Istat Data shop of Rome (Via Depretis)

• a personal computer with router for ISDN link to Olivetti Ricerca server in Bari, available at Istat office of Rome (Via Ravà).

ISTAT DATASET

As Data provider, Istat will furnish about the Milan and Bari provinces the following dataset:

• geographic dataset:
  Municipalities administrative boundaries
  Inhabited areas boundaries
  Enumeration areas boundaries
• alphanumeric dataset:
  set of 87 statistical variables collected at 1991 Census, available for Municipality and Provinces by Enumeration areas and Inhabited areas.

Data are grouped in 19 dataset and described into the Metadatabase. For each dataset a sample (thematic map) is available.
For Bari’s Municipality and Province samples of thematic maps are placed at the end of this paper.

DATASET SCHEMA for Italian demonstrator

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Figure 7a

Figure 7b

GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE

The MondoGIS company play the Data enhancer role into Italian demonstrator. A set of geographic services will be provided to users. Metadatabase contains information and descriptions (standard CEN/TC 287) about several geo-database which users can decide to see and/or buy, in addition to ISTAT data, to produce thematic map based on more than one layer. Samples of such other geographic databases will be presented into metadatabase.
Moreover the MondoGIS will provide a wide group of "traditional" geographic service which include:

• co-ordinate transformation Gauss Boaga/UTM;
• format conversion for the most common GIS tools (Esri, Intergraph, MapInfo, Autodesk);
• format conversion from vector to raster (TIFF, IF, JPEG, etc.); pre-defined scale transformation (1:100.000, 1:250.000, 1:500.000);
• integrate view (added value maps by overlaying, intersecting etc.) of Istat data and other database.

By means of a mapserver tool (Esri product) it will be possible to look at data sample of each available database; to select different thematic layers; to check the scale value; to identify and get information about geographic data selected.
Moreover MondoGis will register and pigeon-hole requests, by classifying for different users, geo-services, etc., to build up a file describing the user typology.

SET OF STATISTICAL VARIABLES AVAILABLE FOR INHABITED AREAS AND ENUMERATION AREAS, DESCRIBED AS ATTRIBUTES INSIDE ISTAT METADATABASE

Source: ISTAT - 13° General Census of Population and Houses -

Figure 8

Figure 8a

Figure 8b

ISTAT contact persons:

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