Greta Deruyter on "Geographical information systems and spatial data infrastructures can enhance planning. Case of Flanders"

1. 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)

2. Issues in planning
Availability of “good” spatial data
infrastructures (SDIs)
general ⇒ Europe ⇒ European
member states ⇒ Belgium ⇒ Flanders
Tools and expertise to analyse, combine and
visualise spatial data
The use of GIS in planning
Case study
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3. Part 1
AVAILABILITY OF “GOOD” SPATIAL DATA
INFRASTRUCTURES (SDIS)
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4. 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
SDIs imply
implementation of standards
support by national policies
Interconnection of sub national and national
SDIs supranational SDIs
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5. 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.
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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6. 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 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. Spatial Data Infrastructure (Belgium)
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10. 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
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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11. 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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12. 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
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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13. Part 2
TOOLS AND EXPERTISE TO ANALYSE,
COMBINE AND VISUALISE SPATIAL DATA

14. 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 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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15. 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
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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16. Part 3
CASE STUDY FLANDERS

17. Case study Flanders
Case study: The role of higher education
GDI-decree higher educational institutions
have free access to the FGDI
o Today’s data and funding issues are addressed
Higher education
o Lower the thresholds for the use of GIS
• Use GIS to full potential
• By delivering well trained graduates
o Today’s issue of training is addressed
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18. 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 respect to the relative importance of the
criteria
which form the basis on which different possible
alternatives are evaluated
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19. 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 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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20. Case study Flanders
o Less 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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21. Case study Flanders
To find a solution
o Different data sets
• provided by the FGIA
• data sets (source: FGIA)
Large-Scale Reference Database
Development plan
Streets database
Hydrographical atlas
o Analysis tools
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22. Case study Flanders
To find a solution
o Different data sets
o Analysis tools
• GIS software: ArcGis (Esri)
• Selection methods
Select by location e.g. “are within a distance”,
“intersect”, “are completely within”
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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23. 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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24. 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
• 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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25. Case study - Final result
Empty selection!
Changing the preferences is necessary
o Manual selection: Change one or more
preferences until the goal is reached
• 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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26. Case study - Model
Using a model
Introduction of selection
criteria in the model as
variable parameters
One or two minutes
needed to
o change the selection
criteria
o produce a new
alternative.
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27. Case study - Model: final result
A few test runs (changed parameters) final
result: exactly 10 parcels
• parcels in dark blue
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28. Case study - Model: final result
Changing criteria demands
o Thorough motivation
o Assessment of the weight of each criterion in the
decision tree
o Expertise of the planner
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29. Conclusion
GIS is essential for
Building, managing, analysing and visualising
spatial data
GIS not always used to their full potential in
planning
unavailability of adequate spatial data
shortage of well trained GIS experts
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30. Conclusion
INSPIRE: Europe moves in the right direction
Positive effects are already visible
Case study analysis of spatial data is “easy”
o Thorough knowledge of GIS
• Task for education
o Availability of compatible, area covering, reliable
spatial data sets
• Covered by INSPIRE
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31. Thank you for listening.
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