National geospatial strategy – part of the digital agenda for Norway

The strategy builds on and complements the Digital Agenda for Norway – ICT for Simpler Everyday Life and Increased Productivity, cf. Report no. 27 to the Storting (2015 – 2016). This white paper presents the Government's primary objectives and main priorities of the ICT policy. Many actors contribute to the geospatial data infrastructure; first and foremost municipalities and central government authorities, as well as research institutions, private and other public enterprises.

Geographic location is one aspect of the information base. Often there will be other aspects that require greater attention. An example here would be the statistics for road traffic accidents. This is information that would in most contexts be considered transport information. The collection, management, analysis and disclosure of such information will first and foremost be the responsibility of the authorities and actors in the transport sector or other actors with tasks related to such accidents. However, every single accident “happens somewhere”. Localised spatial information can therefore be used to support the identification, analysis and understanding of the primary information, and, secondly, to convey this knowledge further. The intention of the national geospatial strategy is to support the various sectors, so that they can see and exploit these opportunities across each individual sector. The national geospatial strategy does not delve into the specific challenges in the individual specialist or sectoral areas. This responsibility lies with the sectoral authority in accordance with the sectoral responsibility of the central government.

The individual enterprises are responsible for their own data, regardless of whether it represents geospatial information or not. At the same time, the users would like to have a consolidated and comprehensive knowledge base, especially so that they can compare data from different sources of information. The responsible agencies must make the information available through shared solutions that make it easier for the users to gain access to the entire knowledge base in an economical and technically sensible manner. Cooperation on shared solutions requires that the ownership of and responsibility for the information is made clear.

Based on the Digital Agenda Report and the needs of the individual sectors, strategies have been prepared for several areas. The Ministry of Transport has prepared a strategy for the disclosure of public data for the transport sector1, and the Ministry of Culture has prepared a strategy for open cultural data.2 Other relevant strategies include the Ministry of Climate and Environment’s “ICT Strategy for Environmental Management 2016-2020”3. Environmental data is an example of data that essentially has a direct or indirect reference to a particular location or geographic area.

The Research Council of Norway has developed a strategy for “Innovation in the Public Sector”.4 This strategy emphasises the need for more efficient interaction between the knowledge environment and innovation actors.