Geomatics and Environmental Engineering, vol. 17, no. 5

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 5 (2023): Geomatics and Environmental Engineering

Date Log

Submitted
Feb 22, 2023
Accepted
Jul 10, 2023
Published
Aug 29, 2023
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Challenges and Issues in Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Development in Iraq

https://doi.org/10.7494/geom.2023.17.5.87
Maythm Al-Bakri
University of Baghdad, College of Engineering, Department of Survey Engineering, Baghdad, Iraq
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9237-4784
David Fairbairn
Newcastle University, School of Engineering, Geospatial Engineering, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2277-9150

Corresponding Author(s) : Maythm Al-Bakri

m.albakri@coeng.uobaghdad.edu.iq

Geomatics and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 17 No. 5 (2023): Geomatics and Environmental Engineering

Abstract

This paper addresses the nature of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), considered as one of the most important concepts to ensure effective functioning in a modern society. It comprises a set of continually developing methods and procedures providing the geospatial base supporting a country’s governmental, environmental, economic, and social activities. In general, the SDI framework consists of the integration of various elements including standards, policies, networks, data, and end users and application areas. The transformation of previously paper-based map data into a digital format, the emergence of GIS, and the Internet and a host of online applications (e.g., environmental impact analysis, navigation, applications of VGI data, governmental efficiency drives) have led to huge leaps forward in SDI development. However, SDI progress can be held back by numerous challenges, both technical and non-technical. The paper outlines these challenges from the perspective of the country of Iraq, where there is an absence of a clear direction towards efficient SDI operation and a lack of knowledge for establishing and managing effective SDI. These challenges could be met by considering and resolving generic issues, identified by the experiences of other nations, by researchers, and by organisations. These issues are investigated and assessed by means of a questionnaire survey and interviews, directed towards important participants in the field of SDI development in the country. The results present the SDI issues in order of relevance to assist developers and users in solving potential SDI and data integration problems within Iraq.

Keywords

SDI data sharing Iraq spatial data questionnaire survey technical issues
Al-Bakri, M., & Fairbairn, D. . (2023). Challenges and Issues in Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Development in Iraq. Geomatics and Environmental Engineering, 17(5), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.7494/geom.2023.17.5.87
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Nebert D.: Developing Spatial Data Infrastructures: The SDI Cookbook. Global Spatial Data Infrastructure, Version 2.0, 2004.
  2. FGDC, Federal Geographic Data Committee Website: A strategy for the NSDI. http://www.fgdc.gov/policyandplanning [access: 15.04.2022].
  3. Craglia M.: Introduction to the International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Research. International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Research, vol. 1, 2006, pp. 1–13.
  4. Ahsan S., Bulbul R., Mirza J.: Towards National SDI in Pakistan: The Challenges. [in:] FIG Working Week 2019: Geospatial information for a smarter life and environmental resilience Hanoi, Vietnam, April 22–26, 2019.
  5. Coetzee S., Steiniger S., Köbben B., Iwaniak A., Rapant P., Cooper A., Behr F.J. et al.: The Academic SDI – Towards Understanding Spatial Data Infrastructures for Research and Education. [in:] Peterson M.P. (ed.), Advances in Cartography and GIScience: Selections from the International Cartographic Conference 2017, Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, Springer, Berlin 2017, pp. 99–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57336-6_8.
  6. Vaccari L., Shvaiko P., Marchese M.: A geo-service semantic integration in Spatial Data Infrastructures. International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Research, vol. 4, 2009, pp. 24–51.
  7. Pashova L., Bandrova T.: A brief overview of current status of European spatial data infrastructures − Relevant developments and perspectives for Bulgaria. Geo-spatial Information Science, vol. 20(2), 2017, pp. 97–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2017.1323524.
  8. Goodchild F.: Citizens as sensors: The world of volunteered geography. GeoJournal, vol. 69(4), 2007, pp. 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9111-y.
  9. Al-Bakri M.: Development of Spatial Data Infrastructure based on Free Data Integration. Journal of Engineering, vol. 21(10), 2015, pp. 133–149. https://doi.org/10.31026/j.eng.2015.10.09.
  10. Bordogna G., Carrara P., Kliment T., Frigerio L., Sterlacchini S.: Spatial data infrastructures empowered by interoperable volunteered geographic information. [in:] The XIX European Colloquium in Theoretical and Quantitative Geography (ECTQG2015), Bari, Italy, 2017.
  11. Gomarasca M.A.: Basics of Geomatics. Springer, New York 2009.
  12. Sorenson M., Abdo J., Krishnan U.: SDI 3.0 – Transforming Government. [in:] Proceedings of 2012 ESRI User Conference, San Diego, 2012.
  13. Bohme R.: Inventory of World Topographic Mapping. Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd., Pergamon Press, Oxford 1993.
  14. Ministry of Water Resources: http://www.mowr.gov.iq/ [access: 18.01.2022].
  15. Ahl Al Bayt University: https://abu.edu.iq/news/2017-2016/11944 [access: 10.04.2022].
  16. Ministry of Construction, Housing and General Municipalities: https://alaskan.moch.gov.iq/en/category/news/ [access: 23.01.2022].
  17. Iraq Geological Survey: http://en.geosurviraq.iq/pages?id=12 [access: 10.01.2022].
  18. Williamson I., Enemark S., Wallace J., Rajabifard A.: Land administration for sustainable development. ESRI Press, Redlands 2009.
  19. Mohammadi H., Rajabifard A., Binns A., Williamson I.: Geo-Web Service Tool for Spatial Data Integrability. [in:] 11th AGILE 2008 Conference on GI Science, 5th–8th May 2008, Girona, Spain, pp. 1–17.
  20. Mohammadi H., Rajabifard A., Williamson I.: Development of an interoperable tool to facilitate spatial data integration in the context of SDI. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, vol. 24(4), 2010, pp. 487–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658810902881903.
  21. Bryman A.: Social Research Methods. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2008.
  22. Boin T., Hunter J.: What communicates quality to the spatial data consumer? [in:] Stein A., Shi W., Bijker W. (eds.), ISPRS 2007: Vol. XXXVI-2 pt C 43 WG II-7 Proceedings of the 5th International symposium on Spatial Data Quality SDQ 2007, Modelling qualities in space and time, ITC Enschede, The Netherlands, 13–15 June, 2007, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, 2007, pp. 1–8.
  23. Kotsev A., Minghini M., Tomas R., Cetl V., Lutz M.: From spatial data infrastructures to data spaces – A technological perspective on the evolution of European SDIs. ISPRS Journal of Geo-Information, vol. 9(3), 2020, 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9030176.
  24. Thomas R., Lieberman J.: Modernizing SDI: Enabling data interoperability for regional assessments and cumulative effects. Open Geospatial Consortium Public Engineering Report, 2021. http://www.opengis.net/doc/PER/Mod-SDI-CDS.
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Download this PDF file
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 141 Download : 98

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.