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Plan4all Newsletter, Issue 4, December 2010
1. Plan4all Newsletter
Issue 4, December 2010
The harmonisation of spatial
planning data according to
the INSPIRE Directive based on
the existing best practices in EU
regions and municipalities and
the results of current research
projects
May 2009 - October 2011
co-funded by the
Community programme
eContentplus
3 ... Plan4all Metadata Profile
5... Plan4all Data Model Definition
7... Plan4all Networking Architecture
10... Plan4all Thematic Workshop
12... Project consortium
Each newsletter introduces several partners of the
Plan4all consortium in more detail. This newsletter
introduces CEIT ALANOVA, NASURSA, GIJON
and HYPERBOREA
16... Upcoming events
2. 2Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Dear Reader
Welcome to the 4th
issue of the Plan4all Newsletter. The aim of this newsletter is to introduce you with
the results of the Plan4all project. In particular with the Plan4all metadata profile, Plan4all data
models and Plan4all networking architecture.
Plan4all is a European project co-funded by the Community programme eContentplus. The main aim
of the project is to harmonise spatial planning data and related metadata according to the INSPIRE
principles.
The Plan4all project should contribute to the standardisation in the field of spatial data from spatial
planning point of view. Its activities and
results will become a reference material
for INSPIRE initiative; especially for
data specification. Plan4all is focused
on the following 7 spatial data themes
as outlined in Annex II and III of the IN-
SPIRE Directive.
Please visit the Plan4all geoportal and
find more information about the imple-
mentation of the Plan4all solution in pi-
lot regions.
Cordially
The Plan4all Team
http://www.plan4all.eu
project-board@plan4all.eu
Join us on the INSPIRE Forum:
http://inspire-forum.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pg/groups/1892/plan4all/
Linked-In:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/-bm0vvw-gdq6g3bo-1p/vgh/3374366/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Plan4all/144291828941248?ref=search
3. 3Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Plan4all Metadata Profile
Štěpán Kafka (HSRS), Radek Fiala (UWB), Tomáš Mildorf (UWB )
This article highlights the main features of
the metadata profile for spatial planning –
the Plan4all metadata profile. It is a candi-
date for European spatial planning metadata
profile that would make metadata consistent
throughout Europe. The profile is compliant
with the INSPIRE Metadata Regulation and
reflects the requirements given by national
legislation. The Plan4all profile was done
within the frame of work package 3 of the
Plan4all project (http://www.plan4all.eu).
Metadata are defined in the INSPIRE Direc-
tive as “information describing spatial data
sets and spatial data services and making it
possible to discover, inventory and use them”.
In other words, to be able to find spatial data
sets and services and to decide whether they
may be used and for what purposes, spatial
data sets and services providers secure their
descriptions in the form of metadata.
Discrete units of metadata are metadata el-
ements [EN ISO 19115] (e.g. resource title,
keyword, spatial resolution, responsible or-
ganisation). In order to have the metadata
compatible and usable in trans-boundary
context, it is necessary to lay down rules for
metadata. There are several initiatives that
set out these rules. One of them is the IN-
SPIRE Metadata Regulation. The Plan4all
metadata profile is compliant to this Regula-
tion. Above that, the profile is compliant to
ISO 19115/19119/19139 standards.
The Plan4all metadata profile reflects the re-
quirements given by national legislation on
metadata and spatial planning and user re-
quirements for spatial planning metadata. It
is presented as platform independent list of
metadata elements in tabular form, ISO19139
and INSPIRE mapping. There is no extension
beyond ISO 19115/19119 to enable users to
Fig. 1: UML model of metadata model components relationship
maximise the interoperability across differ-
ent software platforms.
The Plan4all metadata profile is intended not
only for discovery but also as documentation
of spatial plans (evaluation, use), its compo-
nents (datasets) and corresponding services.
Particular components are logically related /
coupled and some links are set to map these
relations.
Plan4all metadata records may be multilin-
gual. From the perspective of European spa-
tial planning activities it is recommended to
provide metadata at least bilingual – in na-
tional language and in English.
The profile is divided into three components
including spatial plan metadata, dataset meta-
data and spatial service metadata (see Fig.
1).
Spatial plan metadata contain metadata of
spatial plan as a whole. It is useful for cata-
loguing spatial plans on any level (region-
al, national, European) even if they are not
confirmed yet. We are aware that spatial
plan consists of many components – docu-
ments, maps in paper and digital form and
4. 4Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
corresponding spatial data which maps are
constructed from. Individual components
may be optionally described by independent
metadata records with links to corresponding
spatial plan.
Dataset metadata are intended to hold meta-
data of particular datasets used in digital spa-
tial plan. Profile may be also used for other
datasets used in spatial planning.
Spatial service metadata profile is very close
to the INSPIRE profile for spatial data serv-
ices.
It is important to keep links between Plan4all
metadata components. Generally, there is
M:N relationship between spatial plan meta-
data, dataset metadata and spatial services
metadata. In spatial data infrastructure end
users must have possibility to get informa-
tion to all related components, address them,
browse them, transverse between them and
access corresponding spatial services if avail-
able (see Fig. 2).
For more details please see the deliverable
D3.2.2 – Plan4all Metadata Profile - Final
version at: http://www.plan4all.eu/simplecm
s/?menuID=37&action=article&presenter=
Article
Fig.2: Possible links between different Plan4all SDI components.
5. 5Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Plan4all Data Model Definition
The aim of the WP4 Plan4all data model def-
inition was to define conceptual data models
for the following spatial data themes defined
in the INSPIRE Directive (INSPIRE, 2007):
• Land cover
• Land use
• Utility and Governmental services
• Production and industrial facilities
• Agricultural and aquaculture facilities
• Area management/restriction/regula-
tion zones and reporting units
• Natural risk zones
The work of the second part of WP4 – Task
4.2 Conceptual data model definition for se-
lected Themes was a design and construction
of conceptual data models based on analyses
of data models for selected themes used in
single countries and on results of previous
project task. The definition of Plan4all con-
ceptual data models results from the meth-
odology used for INSPIRE data specification
(see the figure below). This methodology is
described in the documents D2.5, D2.6 and
the INSPIRE Consolidated UML Model.
Otakar Čerba (UWB)
6. 6Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
An example of the UML Class Model for Land Cover:
The final deliverable D4.2 Conceptual Data Models for Selected Themes is available at:
http://www.plan4all.eu/simplecms/?menuID=37&action=article&presenter=Article
7. 7Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Plan4all NETWORKING ARCHITECTURE
The intended objective of Plan4all Task 5.2 was to define the interfaces by which the different parties (the
public sector and all the user groups involved in the planning process and results) can exchange the spatial
planning data. The defined architecture is platform neutral and it is intended to provide the following serv-
ices:
discovery;•
access to data and visualisation;•
machine-to-machine communication;•
work flow following the “publish-find-bind” design pattern;•
processing services;•
Geo-RM services.•
The adopted approach is based on the standard Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP)
(which is the architecture reference model used also within ISO/TC 211 “Geographic Information – Refer-
ence model”) and on the Open Geospatial Consortium Reference Model (ORM). The following diagram
gives an overview on how some reference standards and specifications play a role in the Plan4all reference
model.
Flavio Camerata, Giuseppe De Marco, Giuseppina Pellegrino, Runar Bergheim
Overview on how some reference standards and specifications play a role in the Plan4all reference model.
The RM-ODP allows to define an overall conceptual framework for building distributed systems in an in-
cremental and coordinated manner. It is a widely used international standard for designing open, distributed
processing systems. It provides a short, clear and explicit specification of concepts and constructs that define
semantics, independently from the representation, methodologies, tools and processes used for the develop-
ment of open distributed applications.
8. 8Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Relationships between the five RM-ODP viewpoints within the Plan4all Networking Architecture.
The ORM is based on RM-ODP and provides an overall conceptual framework for building geo-processing
services. It describes the OGC Standards Baseline focusing on the relationships among the baseline docu-
ments. The OGC Standards Baseline (SB) consists in the approved OpenGIS Abstract and Implementation
Standards (Interface, Encoding, Profile, Application Schema) and Best Practice documents.
The Plan4all Networking Architecture describes a system able to ensure the interoperability and security of
provided data and services. In particular, since an integration with the INSPIRE initiatives is needed, it is
based on:
a methodological approach able to define a system architecture that is scalable and adaptable to the•
specifications and standards currently being defined;
the adoption of a Service Oriented Architecture based on WebServices and SOAP technology.•
As shown in the image below, the system is configured as an architecture made of levels or functional layers:
presentation layer (Plan4all portal, INSPIRE portal, other users);•
application layer (services and business logic, metadata, DRM policies);•
data access layer (the nodes are the content providers).•
RM-ODP identifies five viewpoints, or perspectives, which address different aspects of a system: the Enter-
prise, Information, Computational, Engineering and Technology viewpoints.
9. 9Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
The deliverable D5.2 Plan4all Networking Architecture is available at:
http://www.plan4all.eu/simplecms/?menuID=37&action=article&presenter=Article
Plan4all technical architecture.
The image also shows how the system components are distributed.
As made clear by this diagram, the Plan4all Architecture is a “metadata system”, and it implements the IN-
SPIRE principles, according to which:
the data are to be collected once only and managed where this can be done in the most efficient way;•
it has to be possible to combine data coming from different sources and to share them among many users•
and applications;
one has to be able to easily identify which geographic information is available, to assess its usefulness•
according to his goals, and the conditions according to which it is possible to obtain and use the same
information.
The planning data, once produced, can be either provided to the Plan4all Architecture by the same data
provider, through his own Spatial Data Infrastructure, or by a third party (service provider), on behalf of the
data provider.
The service provider will have to expose OWS interfaces to the Internet, to be consumed by Plan4all, IN-
SPIRE, or other users through the pan-European registry.
The functionalities (Invoke, View, Download, Transfer, Discovery, DRM Services) provided by the Plan4all
Architecture will allow for the search for data through queries on the metadata resources; the access to the
resources will be managed according to DRM policies.
10. 10Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
PLAN4ALL THEMATIC WORKSHOP AT LAZIO REGION
On October 13th
, the day before the Plan4all
project consortium meeting in Rome, Lazio Re-
gion hosted a national thematic workshop on the
project, named “Geographic Information Sys-
tems and spatial governance – Strategic action,
planning, management”.
The workshop was aimed at reporting the latest
project results, in order to stimulate the discus-
sion, among the national stakeholders, on the
interoperability of spatial data and the search for
new solutions.
Invited speakers are experts at local, regional
and national level, coming from institutions
including:
regional, provincial and municipal adminis-•
trations;
universities;•
the Italian interregional committee for the•
geographic and statistical information sys-
tems (CISIS);
Agenzia del Territorio (the national body•
dealing with cadastre, cartography and real
estate taxation);
the national association of municipalities•
(ANCI);
ASITA, the national federation of scientific•
associations for spatial and environmental
information;
the national spatial planning institute (INU).•
11. 11Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Some of the Plan4all partners (AVINET, DIP-
SU, ISOCARP, MEEDM) were also invited to
speak, and simultaneous translation was provid-
ed: so other project partners, already in Rome
for the project meeting that was to be held in the
following days, could also attend the workshop.
The discussed themes spanned from the national
standards for the interoperability of spatial data,
to the role of the public administrations in the
process, their interactions and the related prob-
lems, and the needs of the planning profession-
als and practitioners.
Examples of state-of-the-art practices were
given by the public administrations, and the in-
vited Plan4all partners illustrated also the latest
results of the project.
A summary of the interventions will soon be
published (in Italian) on the Lazio Region’s
website (http://www.regione.lazio.it) and on the
Plan4all website.
12. 12Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Urbanism, Transport, Environment, Information Society
CEIT ALANOVA is an applied research institute which acts complemen-
tarily with existing organizations and in close cooperation with scientific
and research
institutions, enterprises and public administrations to ensure the flow of
knowledge between research and practical application. The team consists
of planners, geographers and technicians. All of them have worked in in-
ternational teams, have published in international journals and magazines and are committed to the
vision of CEITALANOVA to advance the City of Schwechat the “mobility hub“ to become a “knowl-
edge hub“ in the near future.
Fields of action
Urban, Environmental and Transport Technologies•
Information Society•
Sustainability and Resource Management•
Urban Planning and Regional Development•
Geographic Information Technologies and Spatial Scientific Management , GIS•
CEIT Alanova Projects
CEIT Alanova has been involved in several projects both at the EU and at the national level. Relevant
projects:
AIRCLIP –A research study Airports and Climate Preservation.•
Busstop 3.0: Project on the future of public transportation stops.•
Airport Cities: Study on airport’s strategic role in regional development.•
CentropeMAP/CentropeSTATISTICS: Portal with datasets from local authorities of Centrope•
Plan4all: The harmonisation of spatial planning data according to the INSPIRE Directive•
Hlandata: harmonization of spatial planning data for Land Use and Land Cover•
AmauroMap: interactive digital map for blind or visually impaired.•
MAI: Mobility Pass for Residential Real Estate•
Holodeck: Measures and steps for technology based instruments and methods in urban and trans-•
port planning
Contacts
CEIT ALANOVA gemeinnützige GmbH
Institute of urbanism, transport, environment and information society
Concorde Technology Center Schwechat (concorde.tcs)
Concorde Business Park 2/F
A-2320 Schwechat, Austria
Tel. +43 664 854 43 90
Fax +43 1 90360-1299
Email: alanova@ceit.at
Website: http://www.ceit.at
13. 13Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Navarra de Suelo Residencial, S.A.-
NASURSA is a company specialized in
spatial planning and urbanism, promot-
ing the sustainable development of the
region of Navarre. In 1999, NASURSA
was established as a public society of
the Government of Navarre. The com-
pany exists of four sections, each cover-
ing a different working area:
LAND DEVELOPMENT•
SPATIAL PLANNING•
NETWORK OF LOCAL OFFICES•
FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TERRITORIAL OBSERVATORY OF NAVARRE - Established in 2006, the• Territorial Observ-
atory of Navarre-OTN constitutes a research centre dedicated to the promotion of a Territorial
Culture in Navarre and the orientation of political decisions on territorial development.
Investigation projects
Plan4all. Harmonizing spatial planning data in Europe.
Ulysses. Planning instruments for cross-border areas.
Report on the validity of the Territorial Strategy of Navarre-ETN.
INTERREG III C: RePlan - Re-assessing Planning Instruments, Cu.T - Cultural & Tourism Nets and
Grisi for Soho.
Participation in networks related to spatial planning and urbanism
ESPON – European Spatial Planning Observation Network.
AEBR– Association of European Border Regions.
OSE – Spanish Observatory for Sustainability.
CTP – Working Commission of the Pyrenees.
SITNA – Territorial Information System of Navarre.
More details at: http://www.nasursa.es
14. 14Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
Gijón is a city located in Asturias, a region in the North of Spain, bathed by the Cantabric Sea. The
city was born in the 2nd century a.C., when the Romans chose the peninsula of Cimadevilla to set a
new city called Gigia.
Gijón has a population of 280000, distributed among the 25 parishes, though the 90% of the popula-
tion is concentrated in the centre of the city.
The city of Gijon has very good transport infrastructure: it has a good road and transport network, it
is located at only 45 km from Asturias airport, and it has a big port as the Musel is, one of the most
important ones in the North of Spain.
After a period rapid expansion up until the
late seventies, Gijón´s economy was devasted
by the restructuring of the steel, shipbuilding
and coal industries. In response, the city took
a leading role in negotiating a series of ambi-
tious strategic plans and pacts for employ-
ment with both local and external actors. The
organizations and programmes forged in this
period contributed to a new phase of employ-
ment growth and urban regeneration in the
late nineties and early parts of this century.
They also formed the foundation stone for
Gijón´s response to the current crisis.
Gijón has evolved from an industrial to a technological society, an example is Gijón´s Scientific and
Technological Park promoted by Gijón´s City Council. The main objective of The Scientific and
technological park is the support to the creation and installation of companies and institutes dedi-
cated to the science and technology. Nowadays, there are 48 companies in this park and work over
1880 people.
Since the eighties till today, Gijón has actively joined the European project.
In this sense, the City Council has joined in numerous initiatives and, nowadays, it is one of the
most active city councils in the European scene of cities.
The main fields of external local action of Gijón City Council are the following:
Promoting participation in European calls and International initiatives among the different mu-1.
nicipal services and areas, as the use of the project Plan4all (eContentPlus)
Organizing the participation of different municipal departments in city networks and other fo-2.
rums of interest, as the participation in EUROCITIES
Dissemination of European information in the municipal scope, recently incorporated into the3.
social networks world (Facebook, Twiter, blogs, …)
For more information visit http://www.gijon.es/
15. 15Plan4all Newsletter Issue 3, June 2010
PROFILE
Hyperborea is a company that operates since 1995 in the ICT sector, applying computer technologies
to the environment and cultural heritage fields. It is formed by a group of dynamic people able to adapt
their competences to continuously evolving domains. The interdisciplinary know-how, improved dur-
ing the years, defines the company‘s offering and it is able to satisfy any kinds of needs coming from
very different marketplaces. Hyperborea has built a business model oriented to quality, becoming the
partner of public and private organisations: the company manages an integrated offering for different
production contexts, from the cultural heritage field to the environmental field through the Informa-
tion & Communication Technology sector.
OFFERING
Hyperborea has a flexible company structure in order to manage a diversified offering and a team with
different skills and competences. The company organizes its activities and its offering through differ-
ent divisions: 3 business units which are able to operate with complete autonomy under a production
and commercial point of view.
The “Environment Business unit” works for the application of ICT technologies to environmental
sector matters; the “Cultural Heritage Business unit” is engaged in the realisation of software and
services for archives, museums and libraries; finally the “System Integration Business unit” plans
technological solutions in the domain of enterprise content management, knowledge management and
business process reengineering, mobile solutions.
Hyperborea‘s value-added is the ability to mix different competences in an integrated offering, which
is able to satisfy the needs of different markets: from the environmental sector, to the cultural heritage
sector through the Information&Communication Technology.
R&D
Hyperborea has a structured R&D department: an opportunity that provides the possibility to face up
to a high level innovation context, searching the best practices to manage the internal process and the
design of new solutions for the market.
Hyperborea‘s R&D department, engaged in EU and international projects activities, aims at follow-
ing the development of international competitive context and current innovation tendencies and at
enriching its competences and its know how through activities managed with high standard of profes-
sionalism: participation in international activities and EU projects; management, consolidation and
expansion of the partnership network in EU context; management of EU projects, in areas with high
level of innovation and technology.
Hyperborea can rely on the collaboration of a consolidate international partnership, with which it co-
ordinates various projects: the focus is the definition and the development of innovative ICT systems
and services, which can be applicable in both public and private contexts.
Head office: Tel. +39 050 754241
Hyperborea s.r.l. Fax +39 050 754240
Via Giuntini 25 int. 6 marketing@hyperborea.com
56023 Navacchio (PI) http://www.hyperborea.com