Evaluating the application of the multi-view spatial data infrastructure assessment framework

Abstract

As a response to the growing interest in assessing Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) the Multi-view SDI assessment framework has been proposed. The Multi-view SDI assessment framework collects multiple assessment approaches and methods with the aim to assess many different aspects of SDI in a comprehensive and unbiased way. Despite the potential strengths of the framework, its complex design raises concerns about its usability and applicability for SDI assessment. In this article we evaluate the application of the Multi-view SDI assessment framework. In addition, we ask the potential users of the framework to evaluate its applicability to assess SDIs. The results show that the framework could be applied to 21 National SDIs. Evaluation of the application process reveals that the completeness of assessment data and time needed to measure indicators depends strongly on the assessment methods used. It is recommended to use those methods that need less time to measure assessment indicators. The results also show that a significant part of the measurements could not be done due to survey questions not being filled in by the respondents. The results also show that the users tend to agree with the applicability of the Multi-view SDI assessment framework to assess SDIs.

Keywords:

• Spatial Data Infrastructures assessment
• assessment framework
• meta-evaluation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the SDI coordinators who filled in the survey and provided us with information on their SDIs. The authors of this study would also like to thank Space for Geo-information (RGI) – Dutch innovation program, for providing the necessary resources to conduct this research.