Geographical information systems and

spatial data infrastructures can

enhance planning.

case of Flanders

by

Greta Deruyter

greet.deruyter@hogent.be (University College Ghent)

greta.deruyter@ugent.be (Ghent University)

Issues in planning

�Availability of “good” spatial data

infrastructures (SDIs)

general ⇒ Europe ⇒ European

member states ⇒ Belgium ⇒ Flanders

�Tools and expertise to analyse, combine and �Tools and expertise to analyse, combine and

visualise spatial data

The use of GIS in planning

�Case study

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AVAILABILITY OF “GOOD” SPATIAL DATA

INFRASTRUCTURES (SDIS)

Part 1

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (in general)

�In essence SDIs allow

� the sharing of spatial data sources (from ≠disciplines)

� saving of resources, time, and energy

� better government � better government

�SDIs imply

� implementation of standards

� support by national policies

�Interconnection of sub national and national SDIs ���� supranational SDIs

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (in general)

� Remaining obstacles for efficient use of spatial data

� Ad hoc production of data (limited problem definition)

o Incompatible with other datasets

o As a rule not kept up-to-date.

o Multiple production of similar data sets

o Waste of time and resources. o Waste of time and resources.

� Use of various reference systems

o Leads to unintended overlaps or “holes” in the data

� Lack of adequate meta data

o Which geospatial information is available?

o How to acquire the data?

o How is the data to be used?

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (in Europe)

�Europe: the INSPIRE Directive

� INSPIRE = ‘INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in

the European Community’ � create European SDI

� Five main principles of INSPIRE

o Data acquired and maintained at most suitable level o Data acquired and maintained at most suitable level

o SD from ≠ sources is to be seamlessly combined

o Data must be usable at different scale levels

o GI needed for good governance must be readily and

transparently available.

o Adequate meta data must be available

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (in Europe)

� INSPIRE timeline

o into force on 15 May 2007

o implemented in various stages

o full implementation required by 2019

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (national)

�National SDIs must comply with INSPIRE

�Member states are responsible for

� Implementation of INSPIRE Directive

� Creating or adapting own SDIs

� Integration of member states’ SDIs ���� European

SDI

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (Belgium)

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (Belgium)

�Translation of INSPIRE Directive into legislation

���� partially transferred to the Regional

Governments

� Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital Region

�Collaborations between regional SDIs and �Collaborations between regional SDIs and

federal agencies are formalised

� National Geographic Institute (IGN/NGI) �

coordinates the reference systems and geographical

names

� General Administration of Patrimonial Documentation

(AGDP / AAPD) � deals with cadastral parcels

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (Flanders)

� Time line

� 1995: framework and partnership “GIS-Flanders”

o Goals in the field of geography

• Coordinate, control, guide and support initiatives

• Improve collaboration between authorities on all levels

� 2000: framework was further institutionalised by decree

� 2006: the Agency for Geographic Information in Flanders (AGIV – FGIA) became the successor to GIS-Flanders

� 2009: ratification of the decree on the Geographical Data Infrastructure Flanders (GDI-decree)

o Assigns responsibility to the FGIA for

• The coordination and development of the Flemish GDI

• The transposition of the European INSPIRE Directive

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Spatial Data Infrastructure (Flanders)

� GDI-decree: concept of ‘authentic geographical data’

� The Flemish Government has certified the topicality, accuracy and exhaustiveness of these data.

� Decentralised management

� Multiple access (network access)

� The interest grouping GIS-Flanders is � The interest grouping GIS-Flanders is

o transformed into the interest grouping GDI-Flanders

o enlarged towards

• Flemish inter-communal interest groupings

• The local police

• Educational institutions

• ...

o free access to the FGDI

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TOOLS AND EXPERTISE TO ANALYSE,

COMBINE AND VISUALISE SPATIAL DATA

Part 2

The use of GIS in planning

�Software used to build, store, manage, integrate, analyse and visualise data with a spatial component

�Vast evolution

� image classification, visualisation techniques, analysing tools, compatibility between data formatsanalysing tools, compatibility between data formats

�Use of GIS in planning activities has increased significantly

� an increased access to datasets

� software developments

� the promotion of geospatial technologies through higher education

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The use of GIS in planning

�Not used to full potential planning

� not used for high level tasks e.g. as modelling, spatial analysis

� used as “map generator” for illustration or inventory purposes

�Main barriers to the use of GIS in planning �Main barriers to the use of GIS in planning

� In the past

o The technical possibilities of software

o The cost of generating /obtaining spatial data

� Today

o Training, funding, and data issues

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CASE STUDY FLANDERS

Part 3

Case study Flanders

�Case study: The role of higher education

� GDI-decree � higher educational institutions

have free access to the FGDI

oToday’s data and funding issues are addressed

� Higher education� Higher education

oLower the thresholds for the use of GIS

• Use GIS to full potential

• By delivering well trained graduates

oToday’s issue of training is addressed

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Case study Flanders

�Planning context: spatial decision problems

imply

� a large set of evaluation criteria

� to be assessed by several stake holders

� with (often) conflicting interests and preferences� with (often) conflicting interests and preferences

with respect to the relative importance of the

criteria

� which form the basis on which different possible

alternatives are evaluated

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Case study Flanders

�Example of a low level assignment given to

students enrolled in the MSc in Land Surveying

(Industrial Engineer in Land Surveying)

Assignment context: A project developer is in search of

10 suitable parcels for a housing development project in10 suitable parcels for a housing development project in

the community of Laakdal (Flanders)

� Constraints (criteria):

o Stringent constraints (must be fulfilled)

• free of constructions

• situated in zones allocated for habitation

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Case study Flanders

oLess stringent constraints (preferences)

• surface area between 750 and 1000 m²

• within a maximum distance of

�2,0 kilometers to an outdoor recreation area

�500 meters to a park or forested area

�3,5 kilometers to a motorway

• outside a minimum distance of

�2,0 kilometers to an industrial zone

�150 meters to a river, stream or canal.

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Case study Flanders

� To find a solution

oDifferent data sets

• provided by the FGIA

• data sets (source: FGIA)

�Large-Scale Reference Database�Large-Scale Reference Database

�Development plan

�Streets database

�Hydrographical atlas

oAnalysis tools

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Case study Flanders

� To find a solution

oDifferent data sets

oAnalysis tools

• GIS software: ArcGis (Esri)

• Selection methods

�Select by location e.g. “are within a distance”, “intersect”, “are completely within”I

�Select by attributes: SQL-statement

• Selections can be done

�Manually or by creating a model

�All criteria are applied one at a time

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Case study - Intermediate results

� In red the parcels

o free of constructions

o situated in zones allocated for

habitation

� Data sets (source: FGIA)

o Large-Scale Reference Database

o Development plan

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Case study - Intermediate results

� In orange the parcels

o free of constructions

o in zones allocated for habitation

o with a distance to

• motorways < 3,5 km• motorways < 3,5 km

• to outdoor recreation areas < 2 km

• to parks or forested areas < 500 m

• surface area ≥ 750 and ≤ 1000 m²

� Data sets (source: FGIA)

o Large-Scale Reference Database

o development plan

o streets database

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Case study - Final result

�Empty selection!

�Changing the preferences is necessary

oManual selection: Change one or more

preferences until the goal is reached

• Iterative process � time consuming• Iterative process � time consuming

o Introducing a model

• Model builder tool in ArcGis

• The criteria are parameterised � highly flexible

work flow

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�Using a model

� Introduction of selection

criteria in the model as

variable parameters

� One or two minutes

Case study - Model

� One or two minutes

needed to

ochange the selection

criteria

oproduce a new

alternative.

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Case study - Model: final result

� A few test runs (changed parameters) � final

result: exactly 10 parcels

• parcels in dark blue

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Case study - Model: final result

� Changing criteria demands

oThorough motivation

oAssessment of the weight of each criterion in the

decision tree

oExpertise of the planneroExpertise of the planner

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Conclusion

�GIS is essential for

� Building, managing, analysing and visualising

spatial data

�GIS not always used to their full potential in

planningplanning

� unavailability of adequate spatial data

� shortage of well trained GIS experts

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Conclusion

�INSPIRE: Europe moves in the right direction

� Positive effects are already visible

� Case study � analysis of spatial data is “easy”

oThorough knowledge of GIS

• Task for education

oAvailability of compatible, area covering, reliable

spatial data sets

• Covered by INSPIRE

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Thank you for listening.

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