Evolution of Environmental Information Models

摘要

Access to environmental data, based on standardized data models and services, is becoming ever more prevalent, providing stakeholders with access to a wide range of standardized environmental data from diverse sources. However, exactly this success brings new problems, with thematic extensions based on these standardized models being created by disparate thematic communities based on their specific requirements. In contrast to the traditional standards development process, which includes mechanisms for maintaining alignment of concepts across different sections of the standard, once these standards are extended by a larger and not so strictly structured community, the alignment process becomes increasingly difficult. This position paper sketches this problem, as illustrated by example of the European INSPIRE process, and serves as a basis for the conference workshop discussion that aims to capture both further facets of the problem as well as possible solutions.