3 Interaction

Geospatial information will concern more and more actors and must be seen in a broader perspective than in the past. In order to develop content and technology for the benefit of the public sector, trade, industry and society as a whole, there is a need for greater cooperation between all actors than has previously been achieved.

Figur 3.1 Data sharing

Kilde: Illustration photo: www.colourbox.com

Norway Digital cooperation must meet new needs

Many public enterprises have long-standing experience with cooperation and joint efforts in this area through the Norway Digital cooperation. This has been an agreement-based and well-functioning form of cooperation, across many sectors and with a total of 600 agencies and municipalities involved. In the future, there will be a need to further develop cooperation and open up for broader participation within the public sector, trade and industry and organisations. It is, for example, necessary to better adapt to the needs of the marine and maritime sectors. Moreover, universities, colleges and research institutions should be more active as data providers and contributors to the infrastructure. Data collection and knowledge production are part of this sector’s societal mission.

Private sector must participate to a greater extent in the infrastructure

The private sector has been an important contributor to the development of the geospatial area, as data producers, technology providers, service innovators and end users of geospatial information. Many private companies produce their own data and make extensive use of geospatial information in their own activities. Some people refine and increase the value of open public data, or provide services based on this data. Private consulting firms use geospatial information in surveys and analyses. The general public is both a user and producer of data. Contributions by the general public may increase significantly. The private sector must be regarded to a greater extent as an important contributor to the national infrastructure for geospatial information.

Everything is connected

Geospatial information will become an important matter for far more than just today’s public data producers in central government and municipalities. The established cooperative structures cannot automatically adapt to greater demand, new data needs, a more complex actor situation and new technological opportunities. Geospatial information will increasingly be used through integrated and comprehensive digital services – which will say something about where everything is, what it is, what is going on and how things are connected. In the Digitalisation Directive, such connected services are referred to as “service chains”. All the ministries are responsible for evaluating services within their own sector that should be viewed in the context of the services of other enterprises, and whether the services are suitable for the development of service chains. In the future, different specialist models in the geospatial area will be interconnected, not just nationally, but across borders as well – for a total model of reality, both indoors and outdoors. The growing amount of data captured by the general public and internet-connected devices will be utilised across the actors. Such a coherent landscape of data and systems will require closer cooperation between the relevant actors and contributors than is the case today.

Knowledge is needed at all levels

Another prerequisite for good utilisation of the geospatial data infrastructure is knowledge at all levels – knowledge of the opportunities, limitations and challenges. The use of geospatial information is changing in step with the available technology, but the lack of user expertise and the data providers’ adaptation for use may be an obstacle to good utilisation of the opportunities. The expertise of data producers, data managers, innovators and users will be challenged. Broad cooperation on a national boost of knowledge in this area is necessary. The education sector should play a more central and long-term role in this context.

Good interaction will be a success factor for this strategy

The actors must cooperate to ensure the implementation of this strategy. Even though the actors still have different roles as data owners, data collectors, distributors and service innovators, it is about having a common knowledge base and the utilisation of this base. Good interaction means that data, services and solutions are reused. For small municipalities and other minor actors, access to shared solutions in the infrastructure will entail economies of scale and provide efficient digital management and use. This will benefit everyone and ensure well-functioning computer systems and services. The ministries must follow up their underlying agencies who are responsible for their own sectoral data.

Interaction sub-goal

3.1 There is good interaction and cooperation across the public sector

Cross-sector cooperation is important and has proven to provide substantial gains in the geospatial area. Many agencies and enterprises have a tradition of cooperation through Geovekst and Norway Digital. There should be good arenas in the future as well, but these arenas must be further developed to formulate and make decisions on measures regarding data content, standards and shared solutions. It is important that this cooperation supports the municipalities’ public duties in relation to the citizens and the responsibility for important data in the infrastructure. The municipalities shall be involved in the development of shared solutions in the infrastructure. This cooperation shall also contribute to ensuring robust financing of the prioritised data in the infrastructure. The national geospatial coordinator will be the facilitator and assume special responsibility for the cross-sectoral cooperation structures at the agency level.

3.2 There are appropriate arenas for public-private cooperation

It is imperative that the private sector’s contribution to and use of the infrastructure be strengthened. This cooperation revolves around contributions at multiple levels: technical solutions, data deliveries and the development of new user applications and services. The establishment of common arenas for the clarification of responsibilities and coordination of measures between the public and private sectors shall be facilitated.

3.3 Cooperation models are adapted to all the contributors and users

The Norway Digital cooperation should to a greater extent generate broadly established obligations for further development of the geospatial data infrastructure. The model should allow the entry of sectors and smaller agencies who have previously not been involved, so that they can also increase their use and become contributors. The possibilities for differentiated terms and membership in Norway Digital shall be studied. It is also important to have clearly defined responsibilities related to the priority data sets (core data) in the infrastructure. The responsibility for the individual data sets in the Norwegian Public Base of Geospatial Data (DOK) will be clarified in connection with the Ministry’s regular approval processes for this base of geospatial data.

Many sectoral laws establish work processes that require the use of geospatial information. Some sectoral laws also require the establishment of specific geospatial information, but without sufficient instructions. When such laws, regulations and rules are revised, requirements for the quality of and responsibility for the data must be specified, so that the data collected can be used efficiently on a broad basis.

3.4 There are active environments and initiatives for innovation and R&D

More innovation and R&D in the geospatial area shall contribute to better utilisation of the realm of possibilities. Public and private actors in the infrastructure must cooperate on this, and include, for example, the Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi) – which performs the role of a promoter of digitalisation work in the public sector – with regard to the development of appropriate innovation arenas. Research communities should also contribute to the development of the infrastructure. There is a need for research and development in the areas of data capture, efficient data management and technologies for the use of data (data analysis, visualisation, etc.). Geospatial innovation and R&D can be facilitated together with the public policy system (Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway and others). Actors in the public and private sectors must to a greater extent be encouraged to submit joint applications and participate in related national and international research programmes.

Expertise on geospatial information and the associated solutions is widespread

Knowledge of geospatial information and geospatial methods is important for the realisation of this strategy. Sufficient knowledge and expertise on geospatial information in the educational sector should be facilitated through cross-sectoral cooperation. This will contribute to expertise on the use and development of user solutions based on geospatial information that can promote innovation and the creation of value in society.