General information on geoinformation and geodata infrastructure

Geoinformation or geodata is data about objects and circumstances that can be localised by specifying coordinate values in a spatial reference system. Their processing with powerful software tools (geoinformation systems) makes it possible to organise numerous planning and decision-making processes in business and administration more quickly, simply and transparently and to present them in a clear form. Geodata is therefore indispensable for the efficient fulfilment of tasks in public administration and also has considerable potential for added value in commercial applications. They also support electronic interaction and communication processes between administration, business and citizens (e-government) through functions for spatial navigation, selection and presentation of information.

Categories

Geodata is divided into the categories of geodata and specialised geodata. Basic geodata is extracted from the databases of the Official Topographic-Cartographic Information System and the real estate cadastre and thus provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of all landscape objects, land and buildings in a standardised spatial reference system. They thus form an ideal reference basis for the collection and management of thematic specialised information (geodata) from a wide range of administrative and economic sectors (e.g. urban land-use planning, environmental and nature conservation, internal security, supply and disposal, transport).

Objectives

The aim of establishing a geodata infrastructure in Hessen (GDI-Hessen) is to optimise the availability and possible uses of geodata held in distributed sources and by different authorities. To this end, a Geoportal Hessen has been set up which, with its functions for searching, visualising and downloading geodata, bundles the various information offerings from the user's perspective. The corresponding measures are also integrated into the development of a spatial data infrastructure for Germany (GDI-DE) and also serve to implement the normative obligations to create a spatial data infrastructure in the European Community (INSPIRE).