Roger Longhorn holds BSc and MSc degrees from M.I.T. (Ocean Engineering and Shipping Management) and has been involved in the ICT industry since 1976. He developed marine information systems globally (1976 to 1986), then worked as an expert in information services for the European Commission until 1999, and has remained involved in several EC R&D programmes since then. Roger assisted in developing the European Spatial Data Infrastructure strategy (now called INSPIRE) since 1995 to the present. He authored a practical guide to spatial data legal issues (2002) and co-authored a book on value, pricing and consumption of geographic information (2008), plus chapters in books dealing with SDI and marine/coastal information (1999, 2003, 2005, 2009). He is Chair of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association’s Legal and Socioeconomic Committee and Information Policy Advisor to EUCC – the Coastal and Marine Union, which has 2700 members and member organisations in 40 countries. At EUCC, Roger also leads the Information and Data Management Working Group, which is now participating in developing the data harmonisation and services interoperability specifications for several marine data themes covered by the INSPIRE Directive.

Contact details:

Roger Longhorn, Marine Information Systems Expert (ral@alum.mit.edu)
Information Policy Advisor, EUCC – Coastal and Marine Union (www.eucc.net)
Chair, GSDI Association Legal & Socioeconomic Committee (www.gsdi.org)

ABSTRACT:

Global warming, sea level rise, pressure on fresh water resources, coastal population expansion, increased coastal economic development (urban, agricultural, industrial) threatening water quality and marine biological environments – to address such issues, coastal and marine zone managers face the need for improved access to myriad types of information as never before. Decision makers at all levels, in both government and the private sector, need access to relevant, evidence-based analyses prepared by responsible experts. This presentation examines the role of information standardization, harmonization and interoperability in helping those responsible for coastal zone management to do a better job – including development and sustainability of ecosystems and urban systems located off shore, near shore and on shore. Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is the framework within which geospatial data (geographic, cartographic, hydrographic, bathymetric) is made shareable and interoperable – across disciplines, across sectors and across jurisdictional boundaries. The challenges to achieving the goals underpinning most SDI visions and strategies are many – political, organisational and technical. The geospatial industry is making rapid progress in the technical arena – but sadly the political and organisational goals are proving much more difficult to achieve. During this presentation, we will visit some successes – and some failures – relating to marine and coastal information needs included (or not) in national SDI developments, both here in Australia and abroad.