Requirements of the INSPIRE  Directive

There is a requirement on all public bodies holding any spatial information principally related to the environment to advertise the fact that they have data and its origins (metadata) (or that the data is available from them).

  • Private organisations are currently exempt from INSPIRE compliance.
  • Data that is not related to the environment is not applicable.
  • Data that is not in digital format is exempt (for now, there is a five year window to convert this non digital data).
  • All public bodies must comply.

The Directive provides four sets of Implementing Rules which set out how the various elements of the system (metadata, interfaces, network services, access conditions, etc) will operate.

Metadata

Member States shall create metadata and keep them up to date

Metadata should include:

  • Conformity with IR on interoperability
  • Conditions for access and use of data sets and services
  • Quality and validity
  • The public authorities responsible and
  • Limitations on public access

An Implementing Rule for metadata shall be adopted within one year after the entry into force of the Directive.

Once the Implementing Rule for metadata is adopted, metadata must be created:

  • Within 2 years for Annex I, II, spatial data themes
  • Within 5 years for Annex III spatial data themes

Network services

Member States shall operate a network of the following services available to the public for data sets and services for which metadata has been created:

  • Discovery Services – No charge
  • View Services – No charge
  • Download services
  • Transformation Services
  • Services allowing spatial data services to be invoked

Moreover

  • Member States shall ensure the technical possibility, for public authorities, to link their spatial data sets and services
  • Access to services may be restricted
  • Services shall be available to request to 3rd parties under conditions
  • An INSPIRE Geo-portal at Community level shall be established

An Implementing Rule shall be adopted for the different types of service according to the INSPIRE Roadmap in section 2.6

Data Sharing

Member States shall adopt measures for the sharing of data and services between public authorities for public tasks, relating to the environment without restrictions occurring at the point of use.

Public authorities may licence and/or charge other public authorities and Community institutions provided that:

  • It is compatible with the objective to facilitate sharing between public authorities
  • It is restricted to the minimum necessary to ensure sustained availability and quality of the data and services

When spatial data or services are provided to Community institutions for reporting obligations under Community law relating to the environment then this will not be subject to charging.

Member States shall provide the institutions and bodies of the Community with access to spatial data sets and services in accordance with harmonised conditions.

Interoperability of spatial data sets and services

An Implementing Rule shall be adopted for interoperability and where practical for harmonisation of spatial data sets and services.

The Implementing Rule will be adopted within two years after entry into force for data sets corresponding to the data themes in the Annex I to the INSPIRE Directive and within 5 years for those covered in Annex II and III.

Required for harmonised data specifications are
For Annex I, II, III

  • Definition and classification of spatial objects
  • Geo-referencing

And for Annex I, II:

  • Common system of unique identifiers for spatial objects
  • Relationship between spatial objects
  • Key attributes and corresponding multilingual thesauri:
  • How to exchange the temporal dimension of the data
  • How to exchange updates of the data

3rd Parties shall have access to these specifications at conditions not restricting their use. Cross border issues shall be agreed on.

Monitoring and reporting

Member States shall:

  • Monitor the implementation and use of their infrastructures for spatial information, and make the results accessible to the Commission and to the public on a permanent basis
  • Send, no later than 3 years after the entry into force, to the Commission a report including summary descriptions of:
    • Co-ordination between public sector providers and users
    • Relationship with third parties
    • Organisation of quality assurance
    • Contribution by public authorities or third parties
    • The use of the infrastructure
    • Data sharing agreements between public authorities
    • Costs and benefits of implementing the Directive
An implementing Rule governing the monitoring process and the reporting obligation shall be adopted within one year after the entry into force of the Directive.