Implications of INSPIRE

INSPIRE binds the Member States to set up and maintain a Spatial Data Infrastructure which is compliant to the INSPIRE Implementing Rules.  In particular it lays the statutory foundation to enforce an interoperable provision of environmental data and its metadata. Due to its open nature, new user communities will evolve and existing ones will expand and increase their influence.

An SDI development and particularly the implementation of INSPIRE – is, by its nature, a complex change process, which will affect all or most parts of the heterogeneous information society (governmental authorities, organisations, private industry, private citizens) and not only those public bodies which already produce, use and disseminate spatial and environmental data, respectively. INSPIRE will cause significant alterations of the status quo. New business opportunities for spatial data producers, integrators and providers will emerge and it can be anticipated that many organisations will utilise INSPIRE as a vehicle to streamline their IT and to replace outdated and inadequate GIS.

GI and GIS Technology providers must also adjust their business according to the emerging INSPIRE market. Particularly an intransigent and prompt support of required open standards will become a crucial prerequisite for playing a significant role for INSPIRE.

INSPIRE requirements will increase and challenge technology providers to keep pace with evolving specifications or even to contribute to and influence the IR drafting and maintenance process.  Against that background a fast and effective migration path from research to a well-supported product roll-out might become a fundamental factor of success.