MSP for Blue Growth in the Gulf of Finland
Metadata inventory was conducted in Estonia, Finland and the Russian Federation in spring of 2014. The data coverage was assessed and reported with emphasis on the thematic variety of the existing data, as well as the challenges of the international data exchange.
Questions this practice may help answer
- How to conduct a spatial data inventory?
- What is the purpose of such an inventory?
Implementation Context
The Gulf of Finland Year 2014 brought together experts, decision-makers and citizens from Finland, Estonia and the Russian Federation to work together for the creation of a healthier and safer gulf. Extensive collaboration among the three countries is crucial to ensure the sustainable use of the Gulf of Finland. The celebratory year comprised of research, public events and influential decision-making.
The main aim of the Gulf of Finland Year 2014 was to advance trilateral cooperation (Estonia, Finland and the Russian Federation) in the Gulf of Finland, foremost regarding research, in five themes. One of the themes was Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).
Within the MSP theme a spatial data inventory was conducted in the Gulf of Finland.
Aspects / Objectives
Spatial data can be used to describe a large variety of phenomena relevant to Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), and they play at least three roles in the MSP process:
- Input: information about the existing situation of different phenomena in the planning area;
- Process: primary information in the analysis of spatial relationships of the background information and planning objects;
- Output: as map data when the planning results are communicated visually.
Method
The analysis of the spatial relationships of the planning areas and units depends on the availability of spatial data (digital maps). A metadata inventory was conducted in Estonia, Finland and the Russian Federation in spring 2014. The data coverage was assessed and reported with emphasis on the thematic variety of the existing data, as well as the challenges of the international data exchange.
Main Outputs / Results
The main findings of the inventory are the following:
- 247 datasets were identified, covering around 60 themes
- Only about one fourth of the datasets cover the entire GoF area
- Most of the datasets cover the sea area of one country
- The data were classified into three main thematic categories: “Bounderies”, “Environment” and “Human activities”. Out of these, “Human activities” was best covered by spatial data.
Based on those results, few recommendations were delivered:
-The data gaps identified in this study should be acknowledged and verified, and new data collection and production should be focused on the high-priority themes with missing information;
-Data for Maritime Spatial Planning should be collected in harmonised manner to ensure technical and semantic interoperability in international cooperation;
-Communication between planners from different countries is encouraged to establish a common understanding of the planning practices and data management principles.
Contact Person
Anita Mäkinen
Finnish Transport Safety Agency (TraFi) and Co – Chair of HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG.
anita.makinen
trafi.fi (anita[dot]makinen[at]trafi[dot]fi)
Responsible Entity
HELCOM-VASAB
Costs / Funding Source
Cost: Unknown
Funding Source: National Funding