A sustainable society

Geodata in society and globally

Open, available and usable geodata together with a joint infrastructure are necessary parts for the society to get full use of digitalization and its possibilities. Geodata also plays an important part in the realization of the government’s intentions for the global goals for a sustainable development in Agenda 2030 as well as for the national goals for a sustainable environment.

Access to data is a part of the inclusive society

The vision for the government’s politics for digitalization is a sustainable Sweden that is world leading in using the possibilities that digitalization brings. The government’s strategy for digitalization includes all citizens in Sweden:

• Everyone shall be able to develop and use his or her digital competence regardless of where you live or what the conditions are
• Everyone shall, in a safe way, be able to take part of, take responsibility for and have faith in the digital society.

The goals above are in coherence with Agenda 2030, that aims for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable societies.

See how the geodata strategy connects with the government’s overall digitalization strategy

Geodata help us understand the surrounding world

The need for information about the surrounding world and our physical environment runs like a red thread through nearly all the future challenges our society will meet. This also comprise risk reduction for disasters in coherence with the Sendai framework. Issues that are raised are the supply of water and energy, transports and road systems, safety and risk prevention climatization as well as the development of land, cities, coastal areas and sea.

A factor for success as well as a challenge is the fact that different actors must be able to easily exchange geodata and refine geodata as well as that geodata are open, available and usable in many ways. For this to be possible open interfaces, open services and open standards is needed, as is the cooperation between national and local authorities and the private sector.

A joint infrastructure for efficient exchange of information

The government has given several authorities an assignment to create a joint, digital infrastructure for the exchange of information. The goal is to create conditions for actors in the public sector to exchange information in a safe and efficient way.

Among other things it includes the creation of a framework for how authorities handle security, analysis, requirements, development and management of infrastructure. Another part consists of creating the necessary organizational prerequisites for a well-functioning cooperation between authorities.

It is important that registers and databases contain data of known quality. To avoid faults and double work the information needs to be stored and collected from the same place.

Available geodata open innovation

With a well-functioning infrastructure for open, available and usable geodata a solid base for more actors to refine data is created. This will create conditions for the development of innovative products and services.

What we want to achieve:

• Sweden has an established, national framework for fundamental data where geodata is a fundamental data domain.
  
  
• Within the fundamental data domain “Real estate information and geodata” there are several established quantities of information from different producers of geodata.
  
  
• The authorities producing geodata are collaborating and coordinating the collection and provision of data.
  
  
• Profound changes in the legal framework are made in order to facilitate digitalization and take advantage of the possibilities that digitalization offers.
  
  
• Universities, colleges, authorities and private companies cooperate around the supply of competence. There is at least one seat of learning that offers an attractive environment for bot higher education and opportunities for research within the geodata field.
  
  
• The society’s need for both new and changed geodata are well known by both producers and users.
  
  
• Geodata are available on a national level to the expected extent. Known deficiencies have been identified.
  
  
• Access to geodata is secured in order to ensure the society’s ability to manage crisis

This is how we achieve the goals

• Several authorities cooperate regarding framework and specifications in order to be able to do the necessary adjustments in their own data. The goal is to create services for the best possible public use.
  
  
• Authorities producing geodata identifies possibilities and take necessary actions in order to cooperate and coordinate the gathering and provision of geodata, for example mapping of coastal- and shorefront areas.
  
  
• Authorities cooperate, with a common agenda and in dialogue with decisionmakers, to create an understanding for the legal changes that are necessary to be made for digitalization in the geodata field.
  
  
• Public producers of geodata are open and transparent with plans and implementation.
  
  
• The authorities that produce geodata together bring forth a plan that describes how they will cater for the users need for both new and changed geodata.
  
  
• Work for different systems and techniques for gathering and managing geodata for different targets groups.
  
  
• Work for finance models to support open geodata.
  
  
• Authorities, businesses and universities actively work together for creating and supporting a collected educational center within the geodata area.
  
  
• Produce the information needed for analysis and decision making with access to geodata.