• Background
• Scope of the workshop
• Potential topics for the workshop
• Registration

Background

National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies and other spatial data infrastructure (SDI) content providers are facing increasing demand for making well documented data in known data models available as standardized web-services. National e-government initiatives require spatial data to be modelled seamlessly with non-spatial data, INSPIRE puts requirements on GML application schemas and web-service standards, and the European Location Framework (ELF) project brings the national SDIs together in a Pan-European context.

Data modelling and implementation of a data distribution environment adhering to the data models are disciplines that must be mastered when operating in this area. Good methods and tools supporting these disciplines are critical for the efficiency with which you can work and for the quality of the result. Methods and tools are under rapid development.

Data modelling according to a shared set of rules and subsequent model driven implementation of the data distribution environment should be considered. The advantages of such approach are:

• uniform and well documented data models
• faster implementation cycles
• taking away some of the tedious and time consuming work of implementing the data distribution environment adhering to the data models
• assurance that the data models documented and the distribution services are in sync

Scope of the workshop

Data modelling and model driven implementation of data distribution services are being worked on in different environments. Data modelling as such is a mature discipline, but how best to handle a number of specific modelling issues is challenging – and the potential benefits of automating implementation of the data distribution environment are obvious.

Automated generation of GML application schemas based on UML data models is widely used (e.g. in INSPIRE context). However, many considerations need to be taken into account when making the data model, and automating the process of making the physical implementation of database schemas and web-services based on UML data models adds an extra level of complexity.

The workshop aims at identifying challenges in order to identify relevant research topics and encouraging development of best practise recommendations.

Potential topics for the workshop

• Modelling geodata from different sources to form one shared, multi-functional data infrastructure. Making sure that the multitude of data packages forms a consistent, multi-purpose data infrastructure addressing the user needs.
• Modelling geospatial data as an integral part of an e-government data infrastructure. How to model a data infrastructure based on user requirements from public administration and dealing with both spatial and non-spatial data.
• Handling code-lists – including maintenance. How to handle entities with objects referred to by many, e.g. a registry of government bodies. And how to handle maintenance of such registries – including the ripple effect a change can cause.
• Handling the time-aspect of data. How the historical dimension of data should be handled. In e-government traceability of the data, decisions were based on, is crucial.  When were data valid – and when did we know. Temporality, bi-temporality, ….
• Data models for maintenance vs. for distribution of data. Traditional data base wisdom is to allow for different data models for maintenance and for distribution of data in order to accommodate the distinct different requirements in the two environments. What are the consideration regarding this topic in the geospatial domain?
• Modelling geodata for distribution – intelligent structures vs. usability in GIS. Use a deep or a flat data model for spatial data – or a combination? Should the flat data structure, that most GIS systems require, be reflected in the data model? And if so, should dual viewing data structures be supported for some data (e.g. roads): one with a view that can be used by GIS and one with a deeper structure (e.g. linear referencing) that can carry the data model in a robust way?
• Building on INSPIRE – or having INSPIRE as “just another view” on data. Should all data models dealing with data covered by the INSPIRE directive be established as profiles of the INSPIRE data specifications, or should the data models be established side-by-side.
• Model driven implementation of data distribution services. How to implement it-tools to distribute data adhering to the UML data model. How much can be automated and what are the advantages / disadvantages / trade-offs when using a model driven implementation approach. Tools are offered to support such approach (e.g. ShapeChange from ‘interactive instruments’). What is the experience deploying model driven implementation of data distribution services – using standard tools and/or implementing own solution?
• Keeping the world informed about data changes. Change packages, notifications, Event Driven Architecture, push/pull, Atom Feeds, GeoRSS, …. How are users of the data best made aware of changes that might affect them?
• Linked Data – how does it affect the data distribution environment? Everybody talks about linked data – but there is a lack of solid recommendations on how this method of publishing structured data should affect our data distribution environments in practical terms. What is the practical experience that can help establish best-practise recommendations in this area?

Registration

NOTE that this workshop is fully booked. If you register, you will be put on a waiting list, and we will let you know a.s.a.p if room becomes available.

Please register via: http://www.geonovum.nl/workshop-eurosdr

Participants can book a room at the conference hotel at the price of 651 DKK (approx. 88 €) per night including breakfast.

There is no cost associated with workshop participation.

The maximum number of participants is 40.

More information about the venue of the workshop and hotel booking will be send to registered participants.

Data portal owners, Base Registers owners/ administrators, semantic interoperability experts.

The target group consists of public, private and non-governmental sector.

For more information regarding the organisation committee please visit: http://www.eurosdr.net/workshops/eurosdragileogcjrcelf-workshop-%E2%80%98data-modelling-and-model-driven-implementation-data