Call for Participation: INSPIRE Annex I data specifications testing

According to the INSPIRE methodology, testing is an integral part of data specification development, which supplies important information about the technical feasibility, the cost occurred, and the benefits gained. Specification testing plays a crucial role in shaping the Implementing Rules on Interoperability of Spatial Data Sets and Services, as required in Art 7(1) of the Directive.

The INSPIRE Consolidation Team has started the organisation of testing data specifications related to Annex I data, which covers coordinate reference systems, geographical grids, geographical names, administrative units, addresses, cadastral parcels, transport networks, hydrography, and protected sites. The Call for Participation published on the INSPIRE web-site invites projects, organisations, companies, consortia, and other interested parties to provide in-kind contribution to the task. It is expected that the testing process provides benefits both for the participants and the larger INSPIRE community. This is a unique opportunity to actively influence the final content of Implementing Rules, (which will be binding for the Member States after their adoption), to demonstrate usefulness of harmonised specifications, as well as the readiness of relevant methods and software tools. Thus data owners and providers, users and solution developers are equally welcome in this testing.

The testing period spans from mid-October 2008 till mid February 2009. Preliminary expression of interest for participation by 1 September to Freddy Fierens (freddy.fierens@jrc.it) is highly appreciated. The formal registration for the testing will be available through the INSPIRE web-site (http://www.ec-gis.org/inspire/) from 15 August and will close on 15 September 2008.