Understanding SDI; complexity and institutionalization

Abstract

Notwithstanding impressive developments in SDI in exchange, sharing, accessibility, and use of spatial data, its operational implementation appears sometimes problematic. This paper explores conditions and factors for effective and sustainable use of SDI and suggests that the inherent complexity of SDI requires a multi‐faceted way of monitoring and evaluation rather than confinement to the limited scope of objective oriented performance only. Critical issues, challenges, and dilemmas can be identified while looking at SDI as facilitator of communication, as networked infrastructure, as socio‐technical actor‐network, as common‐pool resource, and as community of practice. Finally, the paper suggests institutionalization of SDI within a spatial data community as a unifying concept towards effectiveness and sustainability of SDI initiatives while recognizing their inherent complexities. Institutionalization is the process in which the SDI will gain an institutional (structural) role within the spatial data community in which it is embedded and consequently contributes to effective exchange, sharing, accessibility, and use of spatial data. The paper also discusses some operational conditions to this end.