Press release - Geoportal.DE activated at the CeBIT

Date: 2012-03-06

The Geoportal.DE (www.geoportal.de) has been established through the federal and state governments by the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG) (Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy) as the common information and communication platform of the GDI-DE in the internet. Federal Minister Dr. Friedrich stressed that "Geodata have become a guarantor and engine of our knowledge society. There is hardly any decision without requiring such information. The Geoportal.DE allows simple and comprehensive search for geodata of the Federal State of Germany, the Federal States and local authorities".

A "Map Viewer" integrated into the portal enables presentation of digital maps, which can be interconnected and combined with each other as needed. The relevant geodata are not only stored in the portal but, as a rule, are via standards and interfaces directly queried from the data providers. To utilize geodata and services as a data holder the technical recommendations as specified in the current GDI-DE must be observed, which are principally based on internationally accepted and valid standards.

The now realized networking of geodata across the Länder (states) and administrative areas will improve or even make possible increased use of official geodata serving decision-making processes in many fields of economics, administration and politics. "However, activation of the portal is only the beginning of a development. The Geoportal will continue to grow within the framework of its further networking and offer with every year a variety of other information", Minister Friedrich said.

The GDI-DE is a joint project initiated by the Federal State of Germany, the Federal States and the local authorities with the aim of putting to use, via the internet, geodata of the public administration independently of technical systems and formats with valid standards. The Steering Committee of the GDI-DE was established as a decision-making body. It is composed of representatives of the Federal State of Germany, the Federal States and the Local Central Associations under the chairmanship of the Land Berlin for the years 2011and 2012. Also, during these two years the chairmanship of the Steering Committee is assumed by the Land Berlin, which is represented by Mr Thomas Luckhardt of the Senate Administration for Urban Development and Environment.

The Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG) (Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy) is an authority within the scope of business of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. It provides a uniform spatial reference system (coordinate system) for the entire Federal territory as well as a variety of spatial base data for federal institutions, public administration, economy, and the citizens. For these tasks it maintains a GeoDataCentre and geodetic observatories at which the movements of earth satellites are observed with different techniques. The GDI-DE Coordination Office is located at the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie.

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