Metadata Matters, What Role Does Linked (Meta)Data Play in the Geospatial World? – 6 September 2023, Sound and Vision, Hilversum, the Netherlands

Knowledge Symposium in Collaboration with EuroSDR, GeoE3 and PLDN

• Date: Wednesday 6 September 2023
  
• Time: 9:30-16:00 uur, followed by drinks
  
• Location: Sound and Vision (Beeld en Geluid), Hilversum
  
  

Registration

Event ended, registrations are closed now.

• Main event: Registration is closed
  
  
• SPARQL & GeoSPARQL Course: Registration is closed
  
  

The event and the workshop are all free of charge.

Event description

Metadata Matters is a collaborative event organised by GeoE3, EuroSDR and PLDN on Wednesday 6 September 2023 at Beeld en Geluid in Hilversum. The event serves as an opportunity for the organisers to both share the results of ongoing projects, inspire new initiatives and actively engage members of all communities to work towards innovative solutions to improve the linkability and findability of datasets in Europe. The programme includes three tracks and a plenary session to close the day. The general track includes a morning session showcasing the results and use cases investigated by GeoE3 during the two year project and an afternoon sessions looking at ongoing innovation projects and developments across the geospatial world. The technical track provides an opportunity for EuroSDR to discuss ongoing activities around the development of the Metadata Knowledge Graph in the morning and the afternoon session will include presentations by national cadastres and national mapping agencies on their linked (meta)data activities. The third track provides participants with the opportunity to follow a course by Triply.

Event program

Block 1 – 9:30-10:45 uur (plenary)

Timeslot

Theatre 1

9:30-10:45

Opening Address Dorus Kruse, Kadaster Keynote 1: Geospatially Enabled Europe (slides), (Destination Earth video on slide 4) Antti Jakobsson, National Land Survey Finland With the GeoE3 project in its concluding stages, it is possible to reflect on what the goals of the project were and what was achieved over the course of the past three years. Major steps have been taken towards realizing a geospatially enabled Europe, including a spatial data platform supporting the integration of heterogenous data sources, and we are now looking forward to potential future steps. This includes both new innovations developed as part of the European Core Data and Service for European Data Spaces project and our continued work on the Location Innovation Hub. Keynote 2: Answering Geo-Analytical Questions with QuAnGis (slides) Simon Scheider, Utrecht University Geographic question-answering (GeoQA), answering questions based on geographic data resources, has recently become an area of interest. Progress of QA systems in the area of AI has also triggered corresponding research in GeoQA. A particularly challenging task remains to answer geo-analytical questions, where answers are given indirectly, i.e., generated from data sources using GIS workflows. In the QuAnGIS project at Utrecht University, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), researchers have been investigating this problem and developed a GeoQA system that retrieves answers to geo-analytical questions in terms of workflows. The core of QuAnGIS is a conceptual transformation model, a meta-data model that can be used to form workflows over geodata sources and GIS tools, as well as to interpret questions. The talk introduces QuAnGIS meta-data and includes a demo. Keynote 3: Why Metadata Matters (slides) Jonathan Holmes, Quality Knowledge Exchange Network – Eurogeographics An introduction from the perspective of the user as to why metadata is so important. Jonathan Holmes is the current Data Management Lead of Ordnance Survey GB and the Chair of the EuroGeographics Quality Knowledge Exchange Network. He has been involved with Data for over 20 years and held a variety of positions including Data Quality Manager and Data Governance Manager. He is an acknowledged expert in the field of Data Quality and is an advocate for ‘putting the customer first’. Outside of work he is married with two grown up children and he spends most of his free time either cycling or volunteering with Scouts.

Block 2 – 11:00-12:30 uur (3 parallel tracks)

Timeslot

Theatre 1

11:00-12:30

Towards a Geospatially Enabled Europe (GeoE3) Semantic Search and Search Engine Findability (slides) Lexi Rowland, Kadaster A key deliverable in the GeoE3 project was the improvement of metadata availability and quality in support of search engine findability and semantic search functionality in applications. A first proof of concept was delivered for metadata pertaining to the GeoE3 use cases, including steps that could be taken by NMCAs toward the implementation of this functionality in their own infrastructures. Interoperability Map (slides) Morten Borrebaek, Norwegian Mapping Authority The interoperability map is a key factor in making digital transformation possible. As part of the GeoE3 project, such an interoperability map provides guidelines for the project to ensure the best possible interoperability and is based on the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) which describes four levels of interoperability. Blueprint recommendations are made based on the findings of this map in five focus areas: policy and strategy alignment, digital government integration, standardisation and reuse, return on investments as well as governance, partnerships and capabilities. OGI API Records (slides) Jari Reini, National Land Survey Finland A draft version of the OGC API - Records standard is now available. This standard severs to provide modern API patterns and encodings in order to facilitate the findability of spatial resources on the web and provides discovery and retrieval functionality comparable to the OGC Catalogue Service standard (CSW). An experimental implementation of this standard is available in the GeoE3 platform. GeoE3 Platform and Use Cases (slides) Lassi Lehto, Finnish Geospatial Research Institute Geospatially Enabled Ecosystem for Europe (GeoE3) provides a platform to consistently access spatial data from heterogeneous sources and different countries. Via the geoe3platform.eu platform, it is possible to access and browse datasets including Buildings, Buildings3D, Roads, Roads3D, DTM, DSM, Temperature, Wind speed and Sunshine information for the countries involved in the project: Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway. The data are retrieved from the respective National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies’ datasets via OGC APIs, and they are made consistent with respect to semantics so that they can be used consistently for several use cases by means of the same tools. This is a relevant step forward for many applications, including the development of data spaces and digital twins use cases.

Timeslot

Theatre 2

11:00-12:30

Tooling, Technologies and Applications Engaging the Different Experts in a Metadata KG Design: Experience from EuroSDR LD Project (slides) Benedicte Bucher, IGN France The knowledge domain about geographical metadata is very vast and concern different expertises. There are : different standards, different data production processes, different applications,quality management. An important stake adressed by the presented project is to engage representatives of the different fields of expertise in the adoption of KG technologies to adress unsolved issues in the GI domain. This is done through the writing of specific use cases that can be read by these different categories of experts. These use cases illustrate the expected benefits and complexity of such a KG. It is very important that these benefits and complexity can be understood and aknowledged by the different categories of experts mentioned above. Termennetwerk (slides) Enno Meijers, CTO Dutch Digital Heritage Network (NDE) The Network of Terms is developed as a simple search api to query one or more terminology sources in real time. To build meaningful linked data we want URIs in stead of strings in our data. To find the best matching URIs for our string we query external sources like the Getty AAT, Wikidata, EuroVoc or any other terminology source configured for searching with the Network of Terms. In this session we will present a tutorial that helps you to run your own version of the Network-of-Terms and configure your own set of terminology sources. Dataset Register (slides) Ed de Heer, Nationaal Archief The Dataset Register provides insight into the availability of datasets in the heritage field and, thus, encourages the use of these datasets in further contexts. In order to include your dataset in the Register, your metadata (or dataset descriptions) should be conformant to a specific dataset description standard. Along with the publication of dataset descriptions in the Register, a validation tool supports the validation of your dataset descriptions using a SHACL file. The Geodata Wizard, Interactive Demonstration (Laptop Recommended) (slides) Wouter Beek, Triply The Geodata Wizard is a program that converts tabular data containing geospatial information into Linked Data With this tool, it is also possible to enrich the converted data with geospatial information maintained by Kadaster, the Dutch Land Registry. New functionality is now available for the GeodataWizard and this will be demonstrated during this interactive session.

Lunch & Demo Tables – 12:30-13:30 uur

During lunch you can visit the demo tables of the following organizations:

• GeoE3
• Kadaster
• Triply
• Taxonic
• KOOP

Block 3 – 13:30-15:30 uur (3 parallel tracks)

Timeslot

Theatre 1

13:30-15:30

Birds of a Feather: Ongoing Innovation Across the Geospatial World Kadaster’s Tactile Map (video, article, proceedings) Vincent van Altena, Kadaster Topographical maps provide insight, help navigate and much more. However, if you are blind or visually impaired, you cannot take in this valuable information. Kadaster, Stichting Accessibility, Esri Nederland, and Stichting Dedicon are working on the automated production of tactile topographical maps. The collaboration focuses on the development and standardization of tactile maps, in which data from Kadaster is combined with Dedicon's knowledge of tactile usable maps. Linked Data for Smart Neighbourhoods: Making Urban Energy Use More Meaningful using Semantic Digital Twins (slides) Sander de Meij, Eindhoven University of Technology There is great potential in urban energy modelling for mitigating the effects of increasing energy consumption in cities. However, there is limited integration of traditional building information and urban data in general. Therefore, this project suggests a novel data integration structure, the Neighborhood Energy Ontology (NEO). This ontology aims to connect urban data from different domains and scales to provide more intelligible insight to the end user. In order to assist with this goal, a dashboard was created which allows the end-user to interact with the data and come to new insights. Using this dashboard, a variety of use cases is explored relating to urban energy use. It is suggested that the created ontology, in combination with the dashboard, is a suitable proof-of-concept to show how semantic solutions can aid in improving the potential of urban energy modelling to mitigate the adverse effects of increasing urbanization. Towards Automated Permit Checking in the City of Rotterdam for New Building Proposals Using Linked Data (slides) Hans Schevers, Building Bits A prototype software system has been constructed for the city of Rotterdam testing the feasibility and complexity of a Linked Data approach for automated permit checking for new building proposals. The key concept is to have a 3D linked data model of the environment, aka a 3D city model, where 3D building information models (BIM) can be inserted enabling automated permit-checking processes. The prototype contains 5 different permit checks. Each permit check is implemented using a simple workflow: a sequence of SPARQL updates queries in combination with a (generic) knowledge-based system that enriches the linked datasets. This presentation shows the results of this project, explains the technical approach and discusses the merits of using LD in this context. Data-Driven Predication and Reduction of Excavation Damages (slides) Jiarong Li, University of Twente Excavation damages to underground cables and pipelines have serious economic and societal consequences. Data-driven analysis and prediction methods for such damages have not fully been explored and exploited but are promising since excavation and damage data are collected fairly systematically. This EngD project aims to develop a machine learning approach that accurately predicts utility strikes and build a Damage Prediction System to be applied by Kadaster Kabels en Leidingen Informatie Centrum (KLIC) in order to reduce damage occurrence.

Timeslot

Theatre 2

13:30-15:30

Linked (Meta)Data developments by NMCAs Geospatial Linked Data Proliferation in NMCAs: Systematic Literature Review (slides) Marjan Ceh, University of Ljubljana In order to assess the reasons for the relatively slow adoption of geospatial data publication as linked data, a systematic literature review was conducted on geospatial linked data publication at NMCAs published between 2014 and 2023. Nineteen papers were extracted and analysed with twelve issues identified. This presentation provides an overview of the challenges identified and best practices that could be implemented in order to support the better proliferation of linked data in NMCAs. Sharing, Transforming, and Visualizing Data through RDF Cubes (slides) Adrian Gschwend, Zazuko The Swiss government's LINDAS platform publishes various types of data—environmental, statistical, energy-related—using RDF-based OLAP cubes. This data is then visualized on the visualize.admin.ch platform. Data owners can transform their CSV data into well-structured OLAP RDF cubes with extensive metadata. This presentation offers an introduction to both the backend and frontend components, both of which are open-source software. Kadaster’s Metadata Infrastructure: In Support of the ‘Platform of the Future’ (slides) Lexi Rowland, Kadaster A new approach to the design and implementation of Kadaster’s metadata infrastructure is necessary in order to support the increasing need of the organisation to harness the potential that metadata has to improve findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability of its data products. Designs and first demonstrations of this approach are made available as a result of the EngD research carried out on this topic. Data Lineage in the IMX Orchestration of Federated Data Sources (slides) Pano Maria, Kadaster Geonovum and Kadaster have developed the concept of IMX: an approach for model-driven data source orchestration to combine data from federated sources. A key aspect of this approach is providing accurate data lineage for each resulting data element, affording the ability to trace back to the underlying data sources and transformations that were used. Behind the Scenes in Flanders: using GeoNetwork as Metadata Management Tool improving Domain Compatibility in Publishing (Linked) (Meta) Data (slides) Geraldine Nolf & Joachim Nielandt, Digitaal Vlaanderen We take a closer look at the Flemish implementation, Datavindplaats. Geonetwork, an Open Source Software package, is used under the hood to handle metadata. Apart from including the Geospatial domain, it was extended to make both the Generic Open Data and even the so-called Closed Data and APIs findable as well. This is done in a standardised way through an ecosystem of metadata and nodes, bridging the different domain-specific standards through their semantics. We also focus briefly on the future architecture of the Flemish components.

Timeslot	BenG Labs
13:30-15:30	SPARQL & GeoSPARQL Course (Laptop Required) Triply Link to the GeoData Wizard Link to the Kadaster Knowledge Graph and Kadaster Labs Slides for the SPARQL & GeoSPARQL Course Link to the PLDN Lab Environment

Block 4 – 15:30-16:00 (plenary)

Timeslot	Theatre 1
15:30-16:00	Closing Keynote: Spatial Metadata Matters - Vision & Wrap Up (slides) Friso Penninga, Geonovum Chair’s Closing Comments Dorus Kruse, Kadaster

Event organisers

GeoE3 - The Geospatially Enabled Ecosystem for Europe (GeoE3) project runs for two years with the overall objective to exploit existing national geospatial platforms and develop a cloud-based ecosystem of generic services integrated with geospatial data. Website: https://geoe3.eu/

EuroSDR - The Linked Data Working Group from EuroSDR recently launched a project titled Linking Data in Europe with the overall objective of improving the linkability and findability of datasets in Europe. Website: http://www.eurosdr.net/research/project/linking-data-europe

PLDN - Platform Linked Data Netherlands (PLDN) is a meeting place for linked data experts and a guide for those interested in linked data. PLDN organizes knowledge sharing and community building events, has several working groups, has its own open and free-to-use lab environment, produced a number of linked data publications and also developed the linked data game Play-a-LOD. Website: https://www.pldn.nl

Metadata Matters, organised as a collaborative event between EuroSDR, GeoE3 and PLDN, to showcase ongoing innovation projects across the geospatial domain with a particular focus on the role that linked metadata plays in this innovation.

Platform Linked Data Nederland (PLDN)

GeoSPARQL is zowel een beknopte ontologie voor geo-informatie als een uitbreiding op SPARQL met functionaliteit voor ruimtelijke vragen (in de buurt van, overlapt met, etc). GeoSPARQL is gestandaardiseerd bij het Open Geospatial Consortium.

Een gegevensverzameling is een verzameling RDF-triples, die wordt gepubliceerd, onderhouden of geaggregeerd door één aanbieder.

Een usecase in software engineering en systems engineering is een beschrijving van een gedrag van een systeem, dat reageert op een verzoek dat stamt van buiten het systeem. Met andere woorden, de use case beschrijft "wie" met het betreffende systeem "wat" kan doen (bron: Wikipedia).

Artficial Intelligence (AI)

Geografisch informatiesysteem (GIS).

Het Enterprise Interoperability Framework (EIF) is ...

Een usecase in software engineering en systems engineering is een beschrijving van een gedrag van een systeem, dat reageert op een verzoek dat stamt van buiten het systeem. Met andere woorden, de use case beschrijft "wie" met het betreffende systeem "wat" kan doen (bron: Wikipedia).

Linked Data is een internettechnologie waarmee je gestructureerde gegevens op een uniforme manier kunt beschrijven, modelleren, opslaan, publiceren en onderling kunt koppelen via het internet met behulp van RDF-gebaseerde open standaarden en URI's (bijv. W3C-aanbevelingen en vocabulaires).

Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed (NDE).

Een Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), is een internet-protocolelement, gebaseerd op eerdere voorstellen van Tim Berners-Lee. Het is een unieke benaming van een bron, een stuk informatie, data of dergelijke.

Weergave van een feit, begrip of aanwijzing, geschikt voor overdracht, interpretatie of verwerking door een persoon of apparaat

EuroVoc is een meertalige, multidisciplinaire thesaurus voor de activiteiten van de EU, met name het Europees Parlement

Linked Data is een internettechnologie waarmee je gestructureerde gegevens op een uniforme manier kunt beschrijven, modelleren, opslaan, publiceren en onderling kunt koppelen via het internet met behulp van RDF-gebaseerde open standaarden en URI's (bijv. W3C-aanbevelingen en vocabulaires).

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is een digitale representatie van alle fysieke en functionele kenmerken van een gebouw. Een BIM-model is een gedeelde kennisbron of bestand met informatie over het gebouw dat dient als een betrouwbare basis voor het nemen van besluiten tijdens de gehele levenscyclus van het gebouw.

Informatie over de herkomst en de bewerkingen van data

Resource on the internet with a URI

Weergave van een feit, begrip of aanwijzing, geschikt voor overdracht, interpretatie of verwerking door een persoon of apparaat

Open Source Software (OSS) is software waarvan de broncode beschikbaar is met een open source licentie

Informatie gepubliceerd als Open Data en dat aan andere data linkt, wordt Linked Open Data (LOD) genoemd. Data wordt nog beter ontsloten, omdat men zoveel mogelijk verwijzingen aanbrengt naar andere kennisbronnen en anderen gemakkelijk naar informatie kunnen verwijzen.