Évaluation des impacts d’une infrastructure de données satellitaires. Application à la gestion des coupes rases forestières en France

This paper proposes an exploratory framework for assessing the economic impacts of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) based on the example of the GEOSUD SDI and clear-cutting maps related to forest management. The valuation is based on an online survey covering the Ministry of Agriculture services in charge of controlling clear-cutting operations carried out by forest operators. The approach developed crosses two complementary points of view. On the one hand, it is based on an economic logic to estimate certain effects at the scale of the value chain related to the production and the use of satellite imagery and derived thematic products and services. The main effects measured concerned the cost and productivity savings, the added value created at the scale of the value chain linked to these clear-cut maps. In total, it appears that for one euro invested in the operation of the SDI (excluding initial investment), the added value created directly and indirectly amounts to a maximum of ?63 and the transaction costs avoided to ?24. On the other hand, it is also part of a management logic to understand the effects of IDGS linked to innovation processes at the level of a community of practice. SDI enable coordination and pooling gains to be made in order to co-construct knowledge leading to new products and/or processes. The study showed that nearly two-thirds of the structures surveyed observed qualitative effects in terms of networking and a strengthening of skills linked to the training and support services offered by the GEOSUD platform. Qualitative effects on the properties of forest policies and more generally on territorial development dynamics are also considered.