[SDI-Europe] SDI Implementation Strategies

[Asmat Ali]

More than half the countries in the world are developing NSDI (Masser, 2005). However, research made by Georgiadou (2006), Crompvoets (2006) and Masser (2005) shows that such initiatives are partially successful and lack in systematic benefits. This situation challenges the usefulness of such initiatives as well as doubts in NSDI implementation strategies adopted and poses question, what are the strategies to implement NSDI? 
   
  The purpose of this paper is to address this fundamental question as no consolidated document exists at the moment to answer it. This part of the paper will focus only on socio-technical approaches to implement NSDI. 
   
  It is argued that no universal blue print to implement NSDIs exist but it depends largely on the perception and understanding of its stakeholders. As a matter of fact, there is not yet a generally agreed upon definition of SDI due to its multiplicity, complexity and dynamic nature because, “
.. understanding SDI is (still) in its infancy”, (de Man, 2007). Therefore, technical people such as engineers and scientists for example define it in technical terms and propose technical solutions for SDI implementation. Where as, journalists, vendors and economists emphasize on its economic benefits. Researchers interested in social impacts underscore political, institutional, organizational and information sharing aspects. For example, Georgiadou (2006, p.247) finds “Implementation of SDIs is inherently complex for both technical and institutional reason”. Therefore, to successfully implement NSDI requires knowledge of implementation strategies which would be the core of the paper.
   
  Asmat Ali
  asmatali at yahoo.com

       
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