Abstract

Benefiting from INSPIRE - The Northern Ireland Approach
Track: Spatial Data Infrastructure
Authors: Michael Byrne, Trevor Steenson

The European INSPIRE Directive is regarded by some in the public sector as an additional bureaucratic burden imposed at a time when resources within Geographic Information teams are already stretched.

In Northern Ireland the Directive is providing a step change in thinking that, in combination with the ESRI INSPIRE platform, is leading to the effective deployment and use of spatial data throughout Government Departments.

Whilst there had been substantial progress in implementing the Northern Irelands GI strategy many Departments were slow to realise the strategic benefits of GI and the potential for reduced costs through data sharing and improved data management.

In 2011Northern Ireland implemented an INSPIRE compliant technical platform which not only meets the INSPIRE requirements but has also created the necessary catalyst for sharing of non-INSPIRE data.

The Northern Ireland approach demonstrates that efficiencies can be delivered by taking a broader approach beyond that mandated by INSPIRE.