X-Border Reference Data Web Services: Creating a basis with geodata

The X-Border Reference Data Web Services team aims to implement a shared geometric basis and develop topographical data. Project Director Ko van Raamsdonk says: “Societal problems do not end at the border. The provision of cross-border geographic information can help authorities resolve these issues.”

Holidaymakers who drive across the Dutch-German border with the ADAC Road Atlas on their laps don’t notice the different geometric basis used by each country. This is because ADAC has reproduced the data from each country in the form of a cartographic product, a map. Nevertheless, the cartographic infrastructure in Europe varies in a number of ways. Due to the various geometric standards used, the maps used on both sides of the border do not correspond to each other (in other words: You cannot simply tape the ADAC and ANWB maps together). Cartographers work with a variety of reference systems. The maps are projected in different ways, and the symbols (legend) used may differ from country to country. The inconsistent geometric standards have consequences for socio-political topics such as regional planning, water management, tourism, nature, risk management, transportation and transport. In order to overcome cross-border social issues, the X-Border Reference Data Web Services (XRDWS) project aims to develop a reference system for use on both sides of the border.

The different geometric data used in European countries causes inconsistency in information systems, which makes cross-border co-operation more difficult. “This is just the tip of the iceberg”, comments Ko van Raamsdonk, XRDWS Project Director on behalf of the Katasteramt in Apeldoorn. “Basic data end at the border, but social problems do not. In the event of a natural disaster, for example, discrepancies between information systems can prevent suitable measures from being taken. This can have major consequences for countless different regions.”

Economic damage
Consequences caused by different types of geodata can vary. During the bird flu outbreak along the Dutch border, poultry farmers on the other side of the border also had to deal with its effects. The varying geodata reference systems can make it very difficult to determine the infection radius of this type of epidemic across borders, for example. Maybe the farmer will have to stop transporting his poultry, or maybe he will have to clear out his farm entirely. Van Raamsdonk: “During the bird flu outbreak, for example, it was very difficult to make decisions on cross-border measures. If a disaster should occur, however, there is no time for discussion. The wrong decision can cause major economic damage.”

Co-operation without borders
The four institutions working together on this effort are the ordinance survey offices of North Rhine-Westphalia and Niedersachsen as well as the Katasteramt, the Dutch geographic institute, and the “Grootschalige Basiskaart Nederland” foundation. These organisations are doing more than adapting their data to one shared geometric standard. They are also developing topographic data via the internet using so-called “Web mapping services”.

Van Raamsdonk: “The Dutch and German topographical data are displayed next to each other using a Web viewer (webpage). The X-Border projects use this service by taking this topographical data as the starting point for several thematic data, such as cross-border disaster protection or water management.” The public organisations involved with the X-Border projects aren’t the only ones to benefit from this viewer. “Companies and private citizens can also use it”, explains Van Raamsdonk. “Think about the cycling route project in the eastern part of the Netherlands and the consultation of regional plans on both sides of the border as done in Limburg.”

Ko van Raamsdonk: “Physical borders are becoming increasingly blurred, but they still exist when it comes to the supply of information. Communities can barely come together because of the border that separates them and the fear of cultural or language barriers.”

Future politics
When asked about the future, Ko van Raamsdonk imagines that several providers will use Web services to supply data on demand. “For example, a fire chief can check his PDA on the way to a fire to find out where the building is located, how many people need to be rescued, whether or not hazardous goods are stored there and where the hydrants are positioned.” Van Raamsdonk expects that this type of Web service-based data will be supplied to Dutch and German fire stations in the next few years. “In this way, all rescue services will know immediately what measures need to be taken – on both sides of the border. Hopefully, this will help us to contain major problems and keep them from escalating, which is often a problem today.”

(Article: Annemieke Voeten)