Understanding Governance Dynamics: The Governing System of Spatial Data Infrastructures

摘要

The importance and influence of spatial data has risen in all kinds of governmental and non-governmental processes, giving Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) a key role in spatial data sharing and dissemination. SDIs are nowadays challenged by new technologies and user demands. Proper SDI governance seems essential, but it is a question to which extent current SDI governing systems are fully equipped to deal with the dynamics and complexity of Spatial Data Infrastructures. This research proposes a governing system framework for analysing the governing system of SDIs, adapted from the concepts of Kooiman. This framework is applied on two Dutch SDI cases: the Risk Map and the New Map of the Netherlands. With the help of the framework, more insights on the strong and weak aspects on the governing system of SDIs become apparent and insights emerge on which interactions, images, instruments, actions and structures enable or constrain SDI governance. By comparing governing systems over time, the changes and dynamics of it become visible. The governing system framework brings a new perspective to SDIs and SDI theory and is a potentially useful analytical tool for SDI governors.