The new European Open Data Directive affects geographic data

Major changes in the distribution of open geospatial data are coming. According to an article recently published by Frédérique Coumans for GIM International, the geospatial market will take a 360° turn when approximately one and a half years from now the transposition period of the new EU Directive ends. This will dictate the obligation to give open and free access to geospatial and geographic data of the Earth.

The two most important European organisations working with geographical data, EuroGeographics - representing European Geographical Institutes, Cadastres and Land Registers - and EuroSDR - bringing together data producers, universities and researchers, have reacted positively to the new situation. In the article, their respective general secretaries, Mick Cory and Joep Crompvoets, emphasize that "this change will give a significant boost to the private geomatics sector, thanks to the high quality and constant updating of data that will generate new applications and services in the future that we do not know at the moment".

New geospatial data distribution

The new EU Directive provides that data in the high-value category will be published by the public sector free of charge and in open way. Those data can also be managed using machine-processable formats and completely downloaded via API. 

Although it is not yet defined which datasets are part of the high-value data, geospatial and earth observation data are mentioned in the different approaches (including the annex to the directive itself), together with data related to the environment, meteorology, statistics, business and mobility. During this year 2020, a list with the specific dataset will be formulated through an Implementation Act issued by the European Commission. 

What are the advantages of opening up geospatial data?  

Geospatial high-value data is often owned by mapping agencies, cadastres or public records. Both EuroGeograpchis and EuroSDR fully agree with the free accessibility of these data for various reasons that can considerably accelerate the emergence of new products and services, many of them with an Artificial Intelligence component.

According to the 2019 report entitled 'Data allowed in a European context', thanks to the new directive there will be an increase in employment, the creation of new companies and also an increase in tax revenue. It's simple: as the amount of data available increases, so will the number of use cases, and with them the companies involved in this business. In addition, the demand for professionals in the public services themselves, who are responsible for executing the processes required to open data, will also grow.

This report also highlights that accuracy, frequent updates, transparency and continuous availability are the most appreciated characteristics of open geospatial data. Because of these characteristics, the options for the private sector are increasing. Mapping, topographic mapping, GIS, GNSS, etc. will benefit from the confidence generated by the use of accurate data. Many companies see in this distribution of geospatial data the perfect opportunity to give greater responsibility and reliability to their data by belonging to recognized public authorities, thereby increasing their information value and their confidence in the product they offer.

But in addition to its economic aspect, these data also have a great social value: "they are fundamental for the citizens, since they will be able to exercise their fundamental rights, with all the guarantees thanks to more reliable data". In other words, citizens will have greater legal certainty as they will have accurate information about their properties, administrative boundaries, land use, etc.

In summary, we can say that the opening of geographical data will bring improvements in the creation of wealth and will promote improvements in citizens' access to information, key aspects for achieving a fairer society and recovering from the current economic uncertainty.