Workshop: Data Network Building

Transnational data harmonization and requirements (based on the BaltSeaPlan data model) were subject of detailed discussions within the pilot cases in PartiSEApate. This workshop brought together INSPIRE contact points as well as the various maritime data providers throughout each country, in order to explore possible a process for making data networks compatible with each other.

Title: Workshop on data network building for MSP in the Baltic Sea
Date:  15-16 October, 2013
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Host: German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)
Contact: Bettina Käppeler
Downloads:  Agenda, Summary report

Background:

  • The Baltic Sea marine environment is a highly complex system regarding physical, hydrological, chemical and biological parameters, but also functionality with regard to the ecosystem or human activities.
  • Knowledge and availability of data are often not as detailed and comprehensive as for terrestrial areas, gaps and uncertainties have to be dealt with and available data often is scattered and not comparable on a national level but even more so at the regional level.
  • Maritime Spatial Planning needs a broad though also quite specific knowledge of the marine space and environment to be able to analyse former, current as well as future human activities, assess actual or potential conflicts and cumulative environmental impacts of certain activities and to identify areas best suited or needed for specific activities or nature conservation.
  • On a national as well as pan-Baltic scale a multitude of potential data sources and providers for Maritime Spatial Planning exists.
  • For a consistent and sustainable Maritime Spatial Planning for the Baltic Sea a transnational, comprehensive, efficient and focused infrastructure is needed, which links those data sources, providers and users and offers access to adequate data sets and tools required and useful for Maritime Spatial Planners.
  • How this data network and data MSP infrastructure for the Baltic Sea could and should look, be set up and be managed will be discussed at this dedicated PartiSEApate workshop.

Objectives:

  • Introduce MSP principles and Baltic Vision for the use of marine space.
  • Get an overview on activities at a pan-Baltic scale and related initiatives on European level.
  • Learn about interests of maritime spatial planners, data holders and providers, problems and attitudes towards MSP.
  • Explore and discuss the feasibility of developing a Pan-Baltic data network.
  • Identify main organisational, legal, technical and content related issues for a Pan-Baltic MSP data network to be addressed and respective framework to be developed

Presentations

Recommended reading

BaltSeaPlan Project’s “Recommendations for the development and implementation of a data exchange network and infrastructure for Maritime Spatial Planning and Management purposes in the Baltic Sea Region” (taken from BaltSeaPlan Report #20)