SDI as holistic framework: Integrating natural and built environments

Abstract

Monitoring and controlling the environment requires its natural and built components to be integrated within an inclusive model. Integration of multisourced spatial data plays an important role here. However, fragmentation among the institutions involved results in inconsistency in data co-ordination and makes integration costly and time-consuming. The remedy is to address all the issues, institutional, legal, social and policy, within a holistic framework. The authors argue that a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) can provide this.