This document discusses advancements in next generation spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) that are domain agnostic. It proposes a linked data approach called the Spatial Identifier Reference Framework (SIRF) to reconcile feature identifiers across different SDI domains and systems. SIRF implements a globally scalable approach using unique resource identifiers and semantic services from the Spatial Information Services Stack to link and integrate autonomous national and regional SDIs in a domain-agnostic way. An example illustrates how SIRF can link representations of the same real-world feature (a bus station) across different Indonesian gazetteers and applications.

1. Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of
Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures
Pavel Golodoniuc | Computer scientist
8 April 2013
CSIRO EARTH SCIENCE AND RESOURCE ENGINEERING
Pavel Golodoniuc1, Terry Rankine1, Paul Box2, Rob Atkinson2 and Laura Kostanski3
1
CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, Australia
Land and Water, Australia
3 CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics, Australia
2 CSIRO

2. Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs)
What are they?
“Yet Another Portal” (YAP) syndrome
What do we get?
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

3. Semantics
Semantic aspects are often neglected:
– Need to know a lot about data before it can be accessed: FeatureType and
vocabularies in use
– Top-down semantics (e.g. INSPIRE) leads to islands of interoperability
Interoperability between autonomous SDI domains?
More importantly, how are SDI s to be used?
– spatial representations relevant to GIS
– citable identifiers for business data: geostatistical information
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

4. What else is missing?
Inadequate handling of feature level metadata
Features are insufficiently integrated with other systems
Interdomain cross-walks
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

5. Spatial Identifier Reference Framework:
Linked Data approach
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

6. Linked Data approach
Proposed Linked Data approach reconciles “data set” view and feature level
identifiers
– Allows linkage from data in “business” systems to SDI information resources
Relies upon Unique Resource Identifiers (URIs) to access feature information
using traditional SDI data access interfaces
“Spatial bookmarks” link multiple representations of the same feature in
different layers of a traditional SDI
“Lineage” metadata in an executable form – semantics of dataset
dependencies
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

7. Spatial Identifier Reference Framework (SIRF)
SIRF implements an approach for identifying spatial features in a Linked Data
context.
Globally scalable approach that can link and integrate autonomous national
and regional spatial data infrastructures (SDIs)
– including those with domain-specific functions
SIRF allows discovery of the feature type and the source service for data
Schema and content mapping of source data models to the SIRF standard
model provides vital provenance metadata
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

8. Same identifier different views
SISS provides capability to
map multiple sources into
one structure.
SISS is assisting in building
national SDIs.
SIRF is using it to link
between the layers of SDIs
and between SDIs.
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

9. Example:
Indonesian Gazetteer
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

10. Example
One real world feature:
a bus station
Merak bus station
BIG
National Gazetteer of Indonesia
Feature Type
Identifier
Merak, Stasiun Bis Transport
Department of Transport
Gazetteer of Bus Terminals
Identifier Feature Type
Terminal
Merak
Footprint
Point
Footprint
Polygon
Represented in multiple systems
using different names, and classified
and represented in different ways
Currently systems are disconnected
and difficult to integrate
Merak
Merak, Stasiun Bis
Terminus Dataset
Gazetir Indeonesia
Merak, Stasiun Bis
(Gazetteer Entry)
Gazetir Indonesia
(Gazetteer)
Same as
Used in
Navigation application
Linked Resource
Merak
(Gazetteer Entry)
Terminus Dataset
(Gazetteer)
Used in
Online Public
Transport Map
Linked Resource
Passenger Travel Stats
Application
Linked Resource
GAZETTER FRAMEWORK
Links gazetteers (based on same
feature in different gazetteers)
used in web applications and other
online resources.

11. SIRF and Spatial Information Services Stack (SISS)
The Spatial Identifier Reference Framework specifies open standards
– Accessibility demands free reference implementations
Two components of SISS are being used:
– Vocabulary management provided through semantic services (SISSVoc)
– Linked Identifiers delivered through a flexible URI redirection tool:
– the Persistent Identifier Service
Feature Type Catalog
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

12. The Spatial Information Services Stack
Pavel Golodoniuc et al. | Technology Advancements in the Next Generation of Domain Agnostic Spatial Data Infrastructures

13. For more information
See the SIRF API:
https://wiki.csiro.au/display/UNSDI/The+SIRF+API
How standard APIs can be used in semantic context
New APIs to standardised access to semantic content
UNSDI Gazetteer for Social Protection in
Indonesia | Paul Box | Page 13

14. Thank you
CSIRO ESRE
Pavel Golodoniuc
Computer scientist
t +61 8 6436 8776
e pavel.golodoniuc@csiro.au
w www.csiro.au/cesre
CSIRO LW
Paul Box
Spatial Identifier Reference Framework (SIRF) for
Social Protection in Indonesia Project Leader
t +61 2 9325 3122
e paul.j.box@csiro.au
w www.csiro.au/clw
CSIRO EARTH SCIENCE AND RESOURCE ENGINEERING