For this reason, INSPIRE guidelines can be considered mandatory for all future activities of NSDI. INSPIRE is a framework Directive. More detailed technical instructions are defined by implementation rules and technical guidelines. INSPIRE is based on existing spatial data infrastructures of the Member States and demands no new gathering of data, but it does demand harmonization of existing data.
Main principles of the INSPIRE directive:
- Data should be collected only once and kept where it can be maintained most effectively,
- It should be possible to combine seamless spatial information from different sources across Europe and share it with many users and applications.
- It should be possible for information collected at one level/scale to be shared with all levels/scales; detailed for thorough investigations, general for strategic purposes.
- Geographic information needed for good governance at all levels should be readily and transparently available.
- Easy to find what geographic information is available, how it can be used to meet a particular need, and under which conditions it can be acquired and used.
Main components of the INSPIRE directive:
- metadata,
- interoperability of spatial data and services,
- services (discovery, viewing, downloading, transformation and invoke),
- joint use of spatial data and services,
- coordination and supervision and reporting measures.
Data included in the INSPIRE directive:
- 34 themes of spatial data arranged into three annexes (Annex I, II and III), necessary for a successful construction of an environmental information system,
- Spatial data owned by government bodies or by other institutions for government bodies and spatial data used by government bodies for the completion of their public duties.
For more information on the INSPIRE directive, go to https://inspire.ec.europa.eu/
INSPIRE geoportal
In order to assist with the integration of national infrastructures into INSPIRE, Member States need to provide access to their infrastructures through the EU geoportal (INSPIRE geoportal), managed by the European Commission, as well as through other access points which Member States decide to manage.
For more information on the INSPIRE geoportal, go to https://inspire-geoportal.ec.europa.eu/
Importance of the INSPIRE directive for the construction of a Croatian NSDI
The INSPIRE directive is a part of a National Programme for the Integration of the Republic of Croatia into the European Union. In accordance with this program, the INSPIRE directive will be transferred into the Croatian legislature by the time the Republic of Croatia joins the EU. Further implementation will be in accordance with the INSPIRE development plan.
