In the heart of Europe, a silent revolution is underway, one that’s reshaping how we interact with geospatial data. At the forefront of this transformation is M. Minghini, a researcher at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy. His recent work, published in the International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences (translated as “International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences”), offers a compelling narrative on the journey towards making geospatial data more FAIR—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
The FAIR principles, introduced to tackle the challenges of data discovery, access, and reuse, have become the cornerstone of geospatial data infrastructures worldwide. But how are they being implemented, and what can we learn from the European Union’s experience? Minghini and his team have been monitoring the EU’s geospatial data infrastructure, driven by the INSPIRE and Open Data Directive requirements, for the past six years. Their findings are illuminating.
“Maximising the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to measure the FAIRness is not enough,” Minghini asserts. He argues that the way KPIs are defined steers the development of an infrastructure in specific directions. The team’s analysis suggests a shift towards more user-centric monitoring approaches, which originate from user needs and assess the actual value generated from data reuse.
This shift could have significant implications for the energy sector. Imagine a world where energy companies can seamlessly access and reuse geospatial data to optimise their operations, from planning renewable energy projects to managing infrastructure. The potential for efficiency gains and cost savings is enormous.
But the journey towards FAIR data is not without its challenges. Minghini emphasises the importance of employing automated, transparent, and reproducible monitoring processes powered by open-source tools. He also stresses the need for an inclusive governance approach, grounded in continuous involvement, dialogue, and trust with the affected stakeholders.
So, what does the future hold? As we move towards a more data-driven world, the lessons learnt from the EU’s experience could shape the development of geospatial data infrastructures worldwide. By embracing the FAIR principles and adopting user-centric monitoring approaches, we can unlock the full potential of geospatial data, driving innovation and growth in the energy sector and beyond.
In the words of Minghini, “The ultimate goal is to create a data infrastructure that truly serves the needs of its users, generating real value from data reuse.” With the insights gained from this research, we are one step closer to achieving that goal.