Evolution of the access to spatial data for environmental purposes

This study investigates how different user communities in Europe are accessing and using spatial data, the problems they are facing and how they see the impact of various policy initiatives on improving the accessibility and usability of data. The study looks at the past, present, and future of accessing and using spatial data in Europe from a user-centric perspective by collecting information on different user groups' experiences, views, and opinions. The study is based on a survey of spatial data users and practitioners in the spatial data community in Europe. This survey was primarily targeted at persons and organisations using spatial data for environmental purposes and particularly at practitioners involved in preparing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) reports. However, also other stakeholders in the geospatial domain participated in the survey. The results and findings of the survey enhance our understanding of how Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) and INSPIRE, in particular, should evolve towards data ecosystems and contribute to establishing data spaces.The study shows that while past and ongoing European policy initiatives clearly contributed to improving the accessibility, usability, and sharing of spatial data in Europe, certain barriers and problems remain and hinder the access and use of spatial data. The establishment of data spaces should ensure that particular user communities have access to all the data needed to support their core processes.