ESPON Database 2013 Phase II (2011-2014)
Multi Dimensional Database Design and Development (M4D)
Theme
Thematic scope
Taking as starting point the achievements of the Project “ESPON Database 2013” (Phase I) and the results and discussions from the ongoing ESPON Project on “Territorial Indicators and Indices” (INTERCO), this project shall maintain, update, develop and further expand the ESPON 2013 Database.
In this framework, the main European activities carried out to promote data comparability and data quality, in particular the INSPIRE Directive and the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) initiative will be taken into consideration.
In general, the ESPON 2013 Database shall supply different users (ESPON community and general public), including researchers, policy makers and stakeholders at regional and local level, with data, indicators and (visualisation) tools in the field of European territorial development and cohesion needed for policy formulation, application and monitoring at different geographical levels. The data managed by the project originates from European institutions such as EUROSTAT and EEA, and from all ESPON projects. By doing this, the ESPON 2013 Database shall contribute to better understanding of territorial structures, the current situation and past and future trends of different types of European territories in relation to the various geographical contexts (from local to global) and within a large variety of themes.
Please read more about the main research areas and main results envisaged on the next page.
Lead Partner
University of Paris 7 Denis Diderot on behalf of UMS2414 RIATE, France.
Budget: € 1 300 000,00
Project’s lifetime: February 2011 - December 2014
Delivery of Reports
Inception Report: 22 July 2011
Interim Report: June 2012 (1st), June 2013 (2nd)
Draft Final Report: June 2014
Final Report (including the Database Portal and background documentation): December 2014
Publishing
Reports will be published once they are approved by the ESPON Monitoring Committee
More information
Please contact the Project Experts at the ESPON Coordination Unit:
Sandra DI BIAGGIO, e-mail: [email protected]
Marjan VAN HERWIJNEN, e-mail: [email protected]
Main activities during project implementation
- Data storage: Database design following the four basic dimensions: spatial scale, different data sources, time series and thematic fields; Ensuring a continuous updated database; Data quality control; Integration of data and metadata delivered by all ESPON projects, including local data and data from other sources.
- Data diffusion: A user-friendly interface via the ESPON website; Easy accessibility of data via various types of queries; Data accessibility in compliance with the INSPIRE recommendations; Enlarging visibility of the Database itself.
- Time series: Reconstruction of time series of the most important indicators and data and estimation of missing values.
- Various geographical objects: Integration of data for various geographical objects, such as grids, NUTS, cities, functional areas at different scales and networks; Conversion from grid to NUTS data and vice-versa.
- Support: Efficient data and information flow within the ESPON 2013 network; Cooperation with the ESPON web service provider; Updating of the Map Kit tool; Supporting the ESPON CU; External networking.
Main results envisaged
- Regular delivery of an updated version of the ESPON 2013 Database to the ESPON CU and the ESPON website service provider according to the agreed proposal for maintenance and continuous updating of the ESPON 2013 Database (at least 2 updates per year to be delivered before each ESPON Seminar).
- Regular delivery of an updated inventory of available data (statistical and geographical) for the ESPON programme should be made and provided to the ESPON CU (at least 2 times per year to be delivered before each ESPON Seminar).
- Continued guidance and recommendations to ongoing ESPON projects in relation to data and metadata issues, building up indicators, data quality control, outlier detection and integration of data into the ESPON database.
- Implementation of regular updating procedures in relation to maintenance and continuous updating of the ESPON Map Kit tool for Priority 1 and 2 projects according to the agreed proposal.
- Special support upon request from the ESPON CU related to ESPON reports, ESPON publications, press releases, presentations, etc.
- SWOT analysis of the various possibilities to improve the visibility and accessibility of the ESPON Database and as a second step the implementation of one of these options.
- Proposal on how to ensure the updating and maintenance of the ESPON 2013 Database in the future (beyond 2014).
