The Large-scale Reference Database (LRD) is a geographical base map and object-oriented database for Flanders that contains information on buildings, roads, parcels, and other infrastructure. It is maintained through a public-private partnership and aims to be the single authoritative source of geospatial information. The LRD undergoes regular updates through various processes to integrate new or changed objects based on data from public works, surveys, and other sources. Its data is freely available through download and web services and is used widely in both public and private applications. Officials are working to develop the LRD into interconnected base registries that can serve as foundational geospatial references.

1. www.vlaanderen.beinformatievlaanderen
the uniform topographical reference
voor geo-information in Flanders
The Large-scale
Reference
Database (LRD)
Liesbet De Wolf
Hendrik Van Hemelryck

2. Flanders
Information
Agency
308
municipalities
2068
private
partners
978
public
partners
6,4 M
citizens
3 regions
Federal
government

3. > Large-scale Reference Database
 Geographical Base map of Flanders
 Object oriented database
 Authentic data source since 1/1/2016
What is the LRD?

4. What is the LRD?
The LRD contains among others :
4.300.000
buildings
64.000
km roads
4.700.000
parcels
40.000
km curbstones
1.300.000
poles
1.000.000
manholes
20.000
km canals
11.000
bus shelter

5. > Public-private partnership
 Flemish government - utility companies
 50/50 financing
 Production cost: about 93 million Euro
 Update cost (annually): about 7 million Euro
> LRD-decree (2004)
 Management and update
 Financing
 Mandatory use and error reporting for public bodies
What is the LRD?

6. LRD-product
Error reporting and update
> Localisation of errors or
missing objects
 reported by external users7160
10072
14472 12985
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of errors reported by external users / year

7. LRD-product
Error reporting and update
> Localisation of errors or
missing objects
 reported by external users
 detected during internal
control processes
> Validation
> Validated errors drive
different interlocking
update processes
LRD update processes
…
UPDATED

8. Update processes
Update public domain Update private domain
As-built drawingsAlignment parcels -
buildings
Update parcels
Screening + update public
domain
• public domain +
20m
• field
measurements
• every 6 months - 1
year
• areas not
accessible for
surveyors
• photogrammetric
measurements
• every 2 - 3 years
• public domain +
20m
• screening for
errors + update
• field
measurements
• every 4 years
• topological
alignment of
buildings and
parcels
• update of parcels
• merge, split,
redivision
• every year
• at the end of
road works
• mandatory for
the promotor of
public works

9. Update processes
1.700
24.000
370.000
88.000
57.000
900.000
2015
1.400
26.000
190.000
85.000
55.000
510.000
2016
new building, demolished building,
renovated building by surveyors
road-related changes
(eg new pole, new bus shelter, …)
km construction and reconstruction of roads
new building, demolished building,
renovated building by photogrammetry
merge, split, redivision of parcels
topological alignment of buildings- parcels
Situation05/09/2016

10. Distribution
• GIS-format (shp, gml)
• CAD-format (dxf)
• 3D buildings (shp, kml)
• WMS
• one layer/object
• base map
• base map grey
• selection
• 3D buildings
• WMTS
• WFS• Central portal for
geographical information
• Online viewer
(www.geopunt.be)
DOWNLOAD
SERVICES
VIEW
INSPIRE compliant
MetadataINSPIREcompliant

11. > Every day new version of the LRD
> WMS en WFS deliver most up-to-date information
> WMTS (map tile service)
 intelligent change detection system
> for updating and deleting of cached files
 timeshift between WMS and WMTS is minimal
> Monitoring and logging services
Webservices

14. Update proces LRD webservices

15.  Available for free (use and re-use)
 Registration necessary
The LRD is Open Data
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Number of orders / month
number of orders increased from 600/month to 2500/month on average
LRD Open data

16. User applications and examples (1)
 LRD as a uniform reference for
mapping underground cables and
pipes
 Platform for exchange of plans of
underground infrastructure
between utilities companies and
contractors

17. User applications and examples (2)
 Online application to
request for a building
permit
 LRD parcel and building
geometry are selected and
can be downloaded using
WFS to make a site plan

18. User applications and examples (3)
 GIS analyses: e.g. calculation
of evacuation zone when a
freight train loaded with
toxic chemicals derailed on
04/05/2013

19. User applications and examples (4)
 Used by police services as a reference background to make accident reconstruction
drawings

20. User applications and examples (5)
 Real estate platform, trying
to quantify housing and
neighbourhood parameters
 Using LRD cadastral
information (parcels and
buidings) to make rough
estimates about real estate
value

21. Parcels
 Registries contains core information
 Different registries work together
From the LRD to base registries
> 2015: project ‘(geographical) base registries’
Buildings
RoadsAddresses

22. From the LRD to base registries
 Modelling based on well-known
business processes and rules
 Validated by stakeholders
 Semantic compliance with INSPIRE
data specifications allows for data
harmonisation
 Coordination on an interfederal
level between Flemish Region,
Walloon Region, Brussels-Capital
Region and federal entities

23.  Registries contains core information
 Different registries work together
 Persistent identifiers and well defined lifecycle
 Compulsory use and error reporting
 Free open data
 Combination of centralized and decentralized
management
From the LRD to base registries
> 2015: project ‘(geographical) base registries’
design
authorised
under
construction
functional
decommissioned
demolished

24. LRD
From the LRD to base registries
 Authorized users can add registry objects and update attribute information
 When present on the terrain, the LRD will provide the most accurate geometry for each
object
ParcelsBuildings
RoadsAddresses

25. Questions?
 liesbet.dewolf@kb.Vlaanderen.be
 hendrik.vanhemelryck@kb.Vlaanderen.be
 https://www.agiv.be/international/en/products/grb-en