In 2010 the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) was the first thematic strategy launched under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The European Commission launched the Europe 2020 Strategy with a vision to achieve high levels of employment, a low carbon economy, productivity and social cohesion. The Digital Agenda for Europe is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
The Digital Agenda is the European Commission's strategy for using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the benefit Europe's society and economy for the period 2010-2015. The Digital Agenda is linked to various other EU policies, such as the single market, consumer protection, research and innovation, industrial policy, regional and rural development, environmental sustainability, skills and culture, or healthcare. It is expected to contribute to major challenges such as climate change and the aging population.
In 2010 the Digital Agenda for Europe was the first thematic strategy launched under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2011 the Digital Agenda Scoreboard reported on the first year of implementation of actions as well as on progress on performance targets.
As of 1st July 2012, the DAE is being managed by the European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT).
EUROGI's submission to the DAE mid-term review
Given what we know about the contribution of geospatial technology to GDP from Australia and New Zealand, it is surprising that the DAE does not directly reference geospatial data and technology. And given the importance of sustainability in the goals of the DAE and the recent EC prioritization of energy efficiency, it is also surprising that it does not mention the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and geospatial. In response to the geospatial gap EUROGI, which is the umbrella organization for European geospatial organizations, has offered recommendations as part of the mid-term review of the DAE currently taking place.
EUROGI's recommendations are
Open geospatial data and services
Identify types of public sector generated geospatial data which should be made available within a range of access models, from no cost and no restrictions on usage to those requiring payment and with access restrictions. Across Europe barriers to the use of the data still constitute constraints. INSPIRE and the PSI Directives aim to remove these barriers, but further measures are needed.
Geolocating digital public sector information
Geotagging the huge volume of digital data, such as text documents, spreadsheets, pictures, videos, remote sensed data, and tweets, that is produced daily by state bodies at all levels would contribute to transparency about public policy, implementation, monitoring and review.
Building information modelling and geospatial information/services
Produce an outline of how best to promote building information modelling (BIM) and its full and seamless integration with geospatial data and services. One of the most important technology advances transforming the EU construction and building industry is BIM. Sustainability programs like BREEAM and LEED require natural lighting, solar radiation, wind, renewable energy, and noise analyses all of which require integration of geospatial information with the building design information which is contained in BIM models. BIM also enables greater understanding and transparency between public client stakeholders and citizens.
Integrated property information service
Develop an outline for a comprehensive European property information service. Trillions of Euros are invested in property across Europe and yet there is no overall integrated multi-lingual property information service which facilitates seamless tracking of trends based on location, identifies financial flows, provides property details, explores the impact of natural hazards (eg flooding, landslides etc) and other factors. It could be argued that the presence of such a service may have contributed at least to some extent to predicting the disastrous property market collapses which have taken place in certain European countries.
European location strategy
A strategy for location is required to unlock the potential of location information for supporting the objectives set out in Europe 2020 such as job creation, social inclusion and environmental and development sustainability.
Realizing the potential of spatial data infrastructures
Establish a program to support sub-national and focused thematic Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) and set out minimum and desirable specifications to facilitate interoperability between these SDIs through open APIs.
Geospatial sector in a global context
Identify ways in which European geospatial companies can better compete in the global geospatial information and services market place. The INSPIRE initiative is recognized throughout the world as a global leader in the SDI field and yet the increasing and deepening experience in harmonization processes across different cultures and languages is not fully being exploited internationally.
Developing the geospatial skills/knowledge base
The Commission should develop a strategy for supporting the expansion and deepening of geospatial skills. Employment in the geospatial sector is expanding at a rate which exceeds overall economic growth levels but skills shortages remain. This creates an opportunity in memeber states with high rates of unemployment.
Emerging trends and new opportunities
Support a process of regular reviews of emerging technology trends such as Internet of Things,
remote sensing, cloud computing, open data initiatives, seamless indoor/outdoor positioning, and social media which will impact the geospatial sector in order to identify opportunities for the EU ICT sector and the public sector.
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