Sharing and coordinating SDIs in the age of crowdsourcing and mobile technologies

Abstract

Every spatial data infrastructure (SDI) reflects an evolving concept related to the facilitation and coordination of the exchange and sharing of spatial data and services. Today, SDIs are evolving in response to the mushrooming of cloud-based and location-based services, neogeography, crowdsourcing and volunteered geographic information (VGI). In this paper we consider the underlying and fundamental changes for SDIs arising from crowdsourcing and mobile technologies. We take SDI development in support of common needs in government and society as reference frame for the discussion on SDI evolution. We also provide evidence that SDIs will continue to play significant roles as sources of authoritative data for web-based services. The development of facilitation and coordination capacities can come at different phases of development. In fact, SDIs less encumbered by complex institutional arrangements may be able to leverage crowdsourcing and mobile technologies more readily and support cartographic activities.