Lessons for the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure

Geospatial data, information, and technologies are becoming more important and more common tools throughout the world because of their capacity to improve government and private-sector decisionmaking. Geospatial information is developed, used, maintained, and shared in a range of application areas, including transportation, environment, natural resources, agriculture, telecommunications, mapping, health, emergency services, research, and national security. Sharing geospatial data in such applications helps improve the management of public infrastructures and natural resources and produces numerous other benefits. This report presents an analysis of international collaboration for the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI). Ten in-depth international and regional collaboration case studies were conducted to assess lessons learned for GSDI development and implementation. This report provides useful information to the GSDI and to regional spatial data infrastructure organizations. It should also be of interest to national governments, nongovernmental organizations, researchers, and others who are interested in international collaboration, geospatial data sharing, and geospatial technologies.