FAQ’s around Data and INSPIRE
What must we we do to be INSPIRED compliant?
If you are holding any spatial data described in Annex I you have an obligation to compile and publish metadata describing that spatial data in accordance with the Implementing Rules.
Practically this means that you must:
- Catalogue all spatial data created or maintained by your organisation
- Create compliant metadata for each data holding so catalogued
- Publish that metadata catalogue so that others can find it
- Maintain that metadata in synchronisation with the spatial data as it is maintained
Will we need to rework the data which we are already collecting?
The Directive specifically states that no new data will need to be collected. However it does require that two years after adoption of the Implementation Rules (IR) for data sets and their related services each Member State will have to ensure that all newly collected spatial data sets are available in conformity with the IR. Other data sets must conform with the Rules within 7 years of their adoption.
Will users have to pay to use the Data and Services?
Searching for spatial data sets will incur no cost. In most cases viewing them will also be free of charge. Payment for the downloading of data will be at the discretion of the Member State concerned. The Directive provides scope for those public sector data or service providers to make charges where their remit requires them to derive income from the sale of their data or services (e.g. national mapping agency).
The Commission will not have to make payments to access any data or services which are provided by Member States where they are required to provide such data or services as part of their statutory reporting function. The Commission may however be charged for data or services which fall outside the ambit.
Who is most likely to use the data and the related services?
Use of the INSPIRE’s infrastructure will probably be relatively limited initially as only a few data sets will be immediately available as prescribed. Given the deadlines set in the Directive it is likely that initially the infrastructure will be used mainly to find out what data exists and where it is located. However, as more data is incorporated into INSPIRE its usefulness will expand rapidly.
Can we get assistance in order to become INSPIRE compliant?
Yes. As part of b-inspired, we at ESRI Ireland have tools and services available, depending on where you are in your efforts to meet your obligations under INSPIRE. Please see “b-inspired – how to become INSPIRE compliant” for more details. Alternatively please contact Paul Synnott at +353 (1) 8693900 or psynnott@esri-ireland.ie.
Do we have to be an ESRI Ireland Customer to avail of the b-inspired initiative?
No not at all. If you can provide your ISO standard metadata in XML format then we can import your metadata into the hosted metadata service to facilitate the “serve” and “search” function of the metadata catalog.
