SDI 4 Apps - Uptake of open geographic information through innovative services based on linked data

Project partners

Click headers to read about each SDI4Apps project partner:
The University of West Bohemia (UWB), Czech Republic
The University of West Bohemia (UWB)

The University of West Bohemia (UWB), established in 1991, has 8 faculties with more than 60 departments and three institutes of higher education. Nearly 19,000 students can choose from a wide range of Bachelor, Master and PhD study programmes. The Geomatics (geos: Earth, matics: informatics) section under the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, is one of the lead research groups in Geomatics in the Czech Republic. The Geomatics section provides education in the following specialisations: Geodesy, Geographic Information Systems (GIS),Cadastre, Cartography and Spatial Planning.

The research activities of the Geomatics section at UWB are supported by experiences and knowledge gained from international or national projects (e.g. Plan4all, plan4business and BRISEIDE). The main expertise of the Geomatics section is in collecting, storing, processing, analysing and presenting spatial data and spatial information. The research group has a vast experience in spatial data modelling (including 3D), data harmonisation and integration, SDI building (e.g. INSPIRE, GMES, GEOSS), using ontology in spatial domain, and in implementation of ISO and OGC standards for spatial information.

UWB is the coordinator of the SDI4Apps consortium. UWB is responsible for ensuring effective quality and risk management. It has previously coordinated successful eContentplus project Plan4all (24 partners) and Leonardo da Vinci project SDI-EDU. UWB is specifically tasked with:

  • linking spatial and non-spatial data and their publication using RDF, SPARQL and other techniques(WP5), as well as providing support for external developers (WP7)
  • implementation of the OGC, INSPIRE, EEA, ISO, DCMI specifications, integration of the system components, data integration, semantic annotation, sensor technologies (WP3, WP4, WP5)
  • dissemination through publications and conference presentations (WP8)
Hyperborea SRL (Hyberborea), Italy
Hyperborea SRL (Hyberborea)

Hyperborea S.r.l. (Hyberborea) is an Italian SME based in Pisa with more than 30 employees and a long history of cooperation with Research Centres and Academic institutions. Hyperborea has achieved a pre-competitive technological maturity over recent years, focusing primarily on developing innovative solutions in collaboration with international and national partners and within research projects. Hyperborea is a co-founder and member of the association Linked Open Data, Italia (LKDI), created to publish and make available free, open and linked data; it is also deeply involved in the exploitation of public (Linked) Open Data in GIS and tourism application domains.

Hyperborea is compliant with OGC standards and has duly adopted INSPIRE directive. In particular, it developed complex software for environmental system, object-oriented middleware and databases, Internet GIS applications. The company took part in Plan4ALL and is carrying out national bids dealing with (Linked) Open Data in both publishing and exploitation.

The company is a major technological partner of SDI4Apps. It specifically contributes to:

  • Basic cloud and extended functionality, design and integration of the software components testing of the platform
  • (Linked) Open Data publication; harmonisation and semantic annotation; Pilot application testing and support – Easy data Access and Open Smart Tourist Data
  • Dissemination and Business Planning (WP8), support for external developers (WP7) and API development (WP3)
Asplan Viak A/S, Norway
Asplan Viak

Asplan Viak AS is a Norwegian consultancy group. Their division for digital services (Avinet) is specialized in the development of spatial data-driven web solutions for e-government, natural and cultural heritage as well as e-learning.

Avinet has particular expertise in interoperability and RESTful Web Service APIs. Avinet is a key solution provider within Web GIS in Norway, offering deployments of GeoPortals to local servers and Cloud-based Software-as-a-Service. Avinet’s main activity is the sale of commercial services in Norway and beyond, most notably the implementation of geo-portals and the establishment of spatial databases in Moldova, Serbia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.

Avinet will play a leading role in integrating the basic cloud with extended functionalities (WP4) by utilizing its vast experience in design, implementation and system integration. Avinet will also be involved with setting up the cloud-based infrastructure at MU. Avinet will support external developers and assist in WP5 with semantic data harmonisation, data publication and advanced visualisations.

Czech Centre for Science and Society (CCSS), Czech Republic
Czech Centre for Science and Society (CCSS)

CCSS is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organisation. CCSS is a type of virtual Centre of Excellence with the focus on the implementation of new communication and information technologies which have potential for agriculture, food, environment and rural sustainable development. The CCSS cooperates with a wide range of institutions and individuals, home and foreign ones.

Research and innovation activities of CCSS include: – SDI, INSPIRE, GEOSS, Copernicus, sensors, water management, environment protection, Co-operation SMEs – university/research institutes – large firms, intensive, trans-border co-operation in RTD programmes, with strong focus on CEE, Rural Development methodology, Information technologies and consultancy; Development of IS applications in the area of: spatial planning forestry, agriculture, agrotourism, precision farming, energy saving technologies, land management and modifications, risk management.

CCSS will bring expertise and knowledge mainly from projects Naturnet, Redime, Naturnet Plus, EnviroGRIDS, and Apps4Europe.

The main role of CCSS in SDI4Apps project is to provide support for external developers (WP7). In the technical components, CCSS contributes to the overall design, to the integration of multilingual tools, as well as to the design and development of API.

Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR), LATVIA
Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR)

Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR) is a regional public authority under monitoring of the Ministry of Environment and Regional Development of Latvia, which provides region development planning, coordination, cooperation of municipalities and state administration institutions.

ZPR brings in its extensive project management experience. It has particularly been involved with projects relating to GIS and SDI including the Norwegian grant project Capacity Building of Zemgale Region for Strengthening the Economic Activities and Cooperation with Norwegian Institutions and eContentPlus “Plan4all”. ZPR also has a strong participation in policy making working groups on the national level.

ZPR will be mainly responsible for the implementation of the Sprint Code I as well as for the management of the pilot applications activities. It will specifically contribute to the following areas:

  • land use, spatial planning – provision of spatial and non-spatial data
  • piloting activities in the framework of WP 6 (internal piloting applications)
  • dissemination through different stakeholders presentations and business planning (WP8)
Masaryk University, Czech Republic
Masaryk University

Masaryk University, established in 1919, is the second largest Czech university with more than 40,000 students and 4,500 staff in 9 faculties and 2 university Institutes. Project partner is Centre CERIT-SC (CERIT Scientific Cloud), part of the Institute of Computer Science dedicated to the development and management of a grid/cloud combined experimental facility and performing research in areas where this facility is used in a wide range of sciences.

CERIT-SC is an officially recognized part of the national e-infrastructure, complementing CESNET (NREN) and IT4Innovations (HPC) facilities.

CERIT-SC operates some 4500 cores and 4 PB of storage and is involved in research collaboration ranging from pure Computer Science (grid and cloud computing, planning and scheduling, security) through computational sciences (Computational Chemistry and Physics) and specific areas like signal processing (in, e.g. EEG analysis).

It has wide international collaboration in grid and cloud computing, being national leader in advanced and experimental use of R&D in research e-infrastructures. The project related expertise lies in the deep knowledge of distributed computing and storage infrastructures (grids) and in the clouds, including the federated (i.e. collaborating distributed) clouds. It has also some expertise in providing secure mobile interfaces.

MU (CERIT-SC) is the leader of WP3 concerned with cloud functionality deployment, and is responsible for the implementation and primary deployment of the cloud enablers. It will also provide support for the advanced visualisations API and mobile interfaces as part of WP4 and will contribute to the security background for the whole SDI4Apps project. MU will also provide basic testbed for early experiments (WP3).

In particular, MU will contribute with the following expertise:

  • Cloud interfaces and standards like rOCCI, access to federated distributed environment
  • Tactile multiuser interfaces
  • Publications and conference presentations
The National Microelectronics Applications Centre (MAC), Ireland
The National Microelectronics Applications Centre (MAC)

The National Microelectronics Applications Centre (MAC), www.mac.ie, was established in 1981, by the Irish Government, to provide consultancy and complete innovative electronic, software and e-business/e-government technological solutions. MAC is an SME with a 30 year track record of delivering to tight schedules with industry, SMEs and public agencies to assess and assist entrepreneurial and innovative technical solutions. MAC is particularly strong in managing distributed development teams in various organisations for on-time and on-budget delivery of technical developments, building on its strong project management, experience of productising technology applications and distributed systems development expertise.

Its track record includes various projects on Spatial Data Infrastructures: HABITATS, Plan4all, Citizenscape, Waterbee.

MAC leadsWP8 on Dissemination, Business Planning, and IPR Management. It will also lead tasks concerned with Social Validation Methodology (WP2) as well as the tasks on Easy Data Access (WP6).

Baltic Open Solutions Center (BOSC), Latvia
Baltic Open Solutions Center (BOSC)

Baltic Open Solutions Center (BOSC) is a young R&D company based in Latvia with a focus on both directional transfer of expertise between Latvia and Czech Republic and participation on European Research. BOCS specialists are with more than seven years work experience in 5th and 6th framework projects and other, and more than 30 years’ experience in scientific work. Main partner in research and solutions development is IMCS. BOSC participates in new development, new models of collaboration, testing and exploitations of new systems and technologies for data collection, data analysis and communications.

Its main specialization falls in the areas of Rural Development, Sensors and ICT for Agriculture. Main goals of BOSC are to participate in research activities, new development, new models of collaboration, testing and exploitations of new systems and technologies for data collection, data analysis and communications.

BOSC will be focused on sensor integration in SDI4Apps. Its main role will be on the Enablers for Mobility and Sensors (WP3) as well as in pilot implementation of OpenSensorsNetwork (WP6).

Slovak Environment Agency (SAŽP) – Slovakia
Slovak Environment Agency (SAŽP)

SAŽP is a professional organisation of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (MoE SR) with a focus on environmental protection and landscape planning in accordance with principles of sustainable development. In the field of environmental monitoring and informatics SAŽP is actively involved in the area of design, development and implementation of environmental information systems with focus on geoinformatics, driven by legislation, relevant standards, IT evolution and stakeholders requirements.

The geospatial context plays a significant role in order to support decision-making and increase information access for experts as well as for general public consumers, including added value contributors. In order to support the fulfilment of the abovementioned objectives, SAŽP is actively participating in the preparation and implementation of a wide portfolio of activities and projects e.g. SmeSpire, HlanData, NatureSDIplus, NESIS, contributing to harmonization of exchange of digital spatial content on European as well as on global level.

The main role of SAŽP will be in data and services provision, ensuring that relevant spatial content will be harmonised according to the target specifications and integrated with the contribution of consortium partners via pilot applications (WP5). Furthermore, SAŽP will support SDI related activities (WP5 and WP7) and will be involved in the identification of user requirements.

European Regional Framework for Cooperation Association (ERFC), Greece
European Regional Framework for Cooperation Association (ERFC)

ERFC is established in a converge region (Western Greece), with an ever expanding network of offices in other Greek & EU Regions. ERFC aims to serve as a best example of bottom up Institution Building effort towards EU Integration and regional competitiveness by playing a key role with regard to implementation of EU Regulations and Directives through its participation in EU funded networks & projects, at interregional level. Mainstreaming EU project recommendations into National & Regional policies is its ultimate goal.

Further structuring of ERFC is expected to take place in the frame of EGTC European Grouping for Territorial Co-operation. ERFC is by now developing two Territorial co-operation projects pertaining to APPS AND PORTAL development for:

  1. SILK ROAD BLACK SEA – a Tourism Promotion portal for an area 3.000 KM from Thessaloniki to Yerevan
  2. TPNM – a Tourism Promotion Portal for Corfu Epirus and South Albania being promoted in Japan, China and Russia

ERFC will be mainly involved in dissemination (WP8) and will support external developers through an organisation of a Sprint Code events and developers’ workshop (WP7). ERFC will organise the final conference with pilot showcases (WP8) and cooperate on stakeholder management (WP2).

e PRO Group (e-Pro), Slovakia
e PRO Group (e-Pro)

The company e-PRO Group is on the market since 2007. e-PRO delivers comprehensive custom- made products and services for tourism, with close relations to Regional Tourism Associations, IT Association IT Valley, Kosice Self-governing region, Regional Chamber of Commerce etc. It has many years of experience in the preparation and implementation of projects financed by EU funds. The company’s other activities include education in the field of Information and Communication Technology. The company is providing quality training programs and consultancy.

e-PRO group is the development partner of mobile application for Tokaj Wine Route by Bike. The company has implemented information kiosks in various public bodies (ZOO Kosice, Kosice City, Kosice Selfgoverning Region, Regional Tourism Associations, Agencies of Regional Development) providing interactive data to end users. It has participated in many European projects like Leonardo da Vinci: 2005/2007 – CelGas – Conventional and e-Learning Gas Engineering Center, 2003/2005 – EVI Portal – European Virtual Incubator, 2004/2007 – TRADIE – Innovative Training System for SME Support Institutions, 2004/2005 – TRANEE – Transport in e-Europe, 5. Framework Program: 2002/2004 – WEBOCRACY – Web Technologies Supporting Direct Participation in Democratic Processes, INTEREG IIIC: European Network of Mining Regions / ENMR.

e-PRO foresees a threefold role in the project. The first area concerns the GeoICT related activities (WP5 and WP7) Secondly, it aims to contribute to the development and effective utilisation of the technologies for mobile devices (WP4) as well as to support the communities of developers (WP7). The third dimension of the e-PRO involvement is focused on ICT security related aspects of WP3 as well as on identification of suitable business models (WP8).

Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR), Latvia
Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR)

The Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) is a regional public administration institution. Its mission is to coordinate and promote long-term and well-balanced development in the Vidzeme region by providing effective services to local inhabitants, NGOs, entrepreneurs and municipalities. VPR ensures regional strategic and spatial planning and coordination, as well as cooperation between municipalities and governmental institutions.

VPR provides planning services on national, regional and local level; it comprises 26 local municipalities. It coordinates more than 16 European Union structural funds, cross-border and national-level cooperation projects in strategic and spatial planning, entrepreneurship and vocational training, culture and tourism, landscape protection and management, environment and energy, information technology development in the region.

VPR has gained experience in geomatics through participation in international projects and cooperation with local researchers and institutes. It has accumulated valuable experience in improving the effectiveness through modernizing development policies in Vidzeme by increasing the use of geographical information and geomatic tools. Furthermore, VPR has significant expertise in communication management and stakeholders engagement in the region and internationally.

In the framework of SDI4Apps project, VPR coordinates the activities on Community Building and Social Validation (WP2) and takes an active role in defining the promotion campaigns foreseen. It also acts as a data provider and organizer of crowdsourcing activities during development of the pilot applications (WP6).

STEPIM, Italy
STEPIM

STEPIM is a company specialized in the determination and realization of strategies for rural areas development through the development, the realization and the coordination of productive activities which are mainly addressed to young people.

STEPIM has important experience with EU- funded projects. It has been involved with the EU LEADER programme since the early 90s, and began work with the IST programme in 2002 with two projects: “Rural Wins: Road map for ICT solutions for Rural Areas and Maritime Regions” (FP5) and “Naturnet” IST (FP6). Currently STEPIM is working in the framework of LEADER IV.
STEPIM has a notable experience in the area of social and economic development. In this area it has coordinated the implementation of numerous productive activities especially in the tourist sector and has achieved the active involvement of tourist operators and the public administrations.

STEPIM will be mainly involved in dissemination (WP8) and will support external developers during the foreseen Sprint Code events (WP7). STEPIM will be also involved in stakeholder management and validation process by involving local and regional stakeholders (WP2). STEPIM is assisting in the execution of the Open Smart Tourist Data pilot (WP6).

Úhlava o.p.s., Czech Republic
Úhlava o.p.s (Úhlava)

Úhlava o.p.s (Úhlava) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 in Klatovy (Czech Republic, Pilsen), which focuses on educational, advisory and information activities with a focus on regional development, environment, agriculture and rural development. Úhlava o.p.s. promotes education in the field of Public Administration and Regional Development. It organizes a number of educational events, seminars and courses, supports the Information Consulting Centre focused on environmental protection and sustainable development (ENVIC). In cooperation with the Bavarian partner (Amt für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten Cham), it provides consultancy on agriculture, rural development and tourism in the country.
Since its founding, Úhlava o.p.s. realized dozens of smaller projects focused on regional development, tourism and education. It achieved experience in coordination and management of EU co-financed projects, especially ERDF, ESF, EAFRD. Uhlava o.p.s. is an active member of Pošumavi Local Action Group.

Uhlava will be mainly involved in the pilot application Open INSPIRE4Youth (WP6) by utilizing its links to target user groups and development of solutions based on GI data. Uhlava will be involved in validation and dissemination activities (WP2 and WP8).

Help Service Remote Sensing (HSRS), Czech Republic
Help Service Remote Sensing (HSRS)

Help Service Remote Sensing (HSRS) is a Czech SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) that has been for more than 18 years involved in the Czech and European Spatial Data market. HSRS offers a wide variety of services dealing with the creation of geoinformation systems. HSRS is one of the two Czech members of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). HSRS has also a representative in the INSPIRE drafting team and is also a member of the Czech Living Lab. HSRS is actively developing a range of SDI products as well as spatial applications. It has developed its own products including Metadata catalogue Micka.

HSRS participates in the development of Czech National INSPIRE Geoportal. It is also involved in the development of the Slovak National INSPIRE Geoportal.

Furthermore, it cooperates in the development of several European project portals including Plan4all and Habitats. HSRS has large experience in the implementation of SDI for different application domains including transport, tourism, agriculture, environment, risk protection and urban planning.

HSRS is a major technological partner in the framework of SDI4Apps project. It contributes significantly in the activities concerned with the deployment of the Basic Cloud Functionality (WP3). Furthermore, it contributes to advanced visualisation implementation (WP4) as well as to the Open Smart Tourist Data pilot (WP6).

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (SSSA), Italy
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (SSSA)

Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, founded in Pisa in 1987, is an autonomous, special-statute public university institute, active in the field of applied sciences (engineering, economics and management, life sciences, political science). Research activities are performed by six Institutes. Among these, the Institute of Management (IdM) operates in the field of management of private and public organizations, with particular focus on the management of innovation (MAIN), sustainability (SUM) and health (MES).

Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna’s Management of Innovation department (MAIN) builds upon a long tradition of ?usiness Studies in Pisa under the leadership of Prof. Riccardo Varaldo. It has evolved from a collection of key projects, such as the Link National Project (1998-2001) which has led to the establishment of a new science and technology pole in Pontedera, near Pisa.

Business Model Innovation is a key research and teaching topic inside the Institute of Management. Business Modelling courses are taught every year to Master and PhD students and to many employees, during several training sessions in small and medium enterprises. Thanks to the multidisciplinary approach of the Institute, the topic is continuously investigated through multiple perspectives of analysis. Strong links with other institutes of research inside the school (like bio-robotics and communication technology institutes), allow researchers to work on real products and services development, in order to identify possible business opportunities starting from innovative technologies.

Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA) will contribute to the project mainly by defining possible business models (WP8) for the proposed solution (new generation cloud-based SDI), through inspecting the available literature and performing interviews with experts working in this technological field. SSSA will play an important role in Community Building and Social Validation component of SDI4Apps project (WP2) through communication with potential stakeholders.

PRONATUR, Slovakia
PRONATUR

PRONATUR is a non-profit organisation operating in the field of environment and nature protection and sustainable society development. It focuses on balanced regional development, support of marginalized communities as well as support of healthy lifestyle. In order to support these aims, PRONATUR utilizes geoinformation technologies and services, allowing effective spatial information collection, processing and distribution.

The main expertise of PRONATUR lies in the domain of biodiversity with a focus on nature protection, ecosystem services (ESS) and tourism as well as in the domain of geoinformatics, mainly in spatial data infrastructures. Relevant domain expertise is underpinned by experience from projects focused on development of methodologies for ESS, their evaluation and mapping as well as aspects related to Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES).

PRONATUR will contribute to the evaluation of ESS (WP6) and particularly to the identification of the spatial dimension and the utilisation of the outcomes concerned with tourism. It will also contribute to geoinformatics with reference to testing and validation of SDI components as well as with INSPIRE data harmonisation (WP4).

RTD TALOS LTD (TALOS), Cyprus
RTD TALOS LTD (TALOS)

TALOS is an SME offering high quality services in the field of project management both at European and national level. It is being considered among the biggest consultancy firms in Cyprus. TALOS has years of demonstrated experience in project management being involved since its foundation in more than 50 European research projects and having taken the responsibility for managing administrative and financial tasks, reporting, maintenance of agreements between the consortium members and handling overall legal, ethical, financial and administrative issues.

TALOS is an active agent of the innovation system in Cyprus and Europe. It is the coordinator of Cyban- Cyprus Business Angels Association in Europe and a member of EBAN and can directly link with the innovation eco-system in Cyprus and Europe. Moreover, TALOS is an expert in exploiting and disseminating project results and has prepared numerous successful Exploitation Agreements with special emphasis on proper IPR management among the partners.One of its strong assets is to organize and convey well-structured dissemination activities which help the partners to fully benefit from the project results.

TALOS will be mainly involved in dissemination and exploitation activities with an emphasis on social network sites. (WP8). It will also be involved with the management of IPR issues management (WP8).

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