Geodata as a basis for trustworthy data spaces

The study analyzes the importance of geodata as a central basis for building trustworthy data spaces in Switzerland. Geodata, which provides information about geographic locations and their changes in space and time, is essential for numerous applications in areas such as mobility, agriculture, urban planning and environmental protection. Switzerland is planning to create a national data ecosystem based on the use of interoperable data spaces. In these data spaces, actors from business, administration and research will be able to share and use data securely and efficiently. Geodata and the associated and existing geodata infrastructures play an overarching role in this, as geodata usually describes a physical reality regardless of a specific topic and can serve as a cross-sectional infrastructure for various data spaces.

Code of conduct of the federal government

The code of conduct for trustworthy data spaces, which was adopted by the Federal Council, sets out central principles such as transparency, control, fairness and efficiency, which are also relevant for the use of geodata. These principles are intended to ensure that data spaces are not only technically, but also legally and ethically trustworthy. The study emphasizes that many of the requirements of the code are already met by existing laws, particularly in the area of data protection and public geodata. Nevertheless, the code can help in the cooperation between public and private actors to maintain data sovereignty and promote the trustworthy exchange of data.

An important aspect of the study is ensuring the interoperability of geodata. This interoperability is an inherent quality of geodata, regardless of the subject matter, and is particularly related to the centuries-long use of common projection systems and spatial reference frameworks. In Switzerland, the technical, syntactic, and semantic interoperability of geodata at all government levels is guaranteed by the Federal Act on Geoinformation. It emphasizes that geodata must be documented, semantically described, available in uniform formats, and via uniform services so that it can be used by various systems and sectors. The quality of geodata, especially in terms of completeness and timeliness, plays a crucial role. Geodata must not only be reliable but also updated in real-time to enable a wide range of applications, such as in navigation systems or infrastructure monitoring.

No dedicated data space required

The study concludes that the urgency for a dedicated data space for geodata in Switzerland is not currently present, nor is it foreseeable in the near future. The existing legal foundations and the geodata infrastructures of the federal government, cantons, and municipalities based on them are sufficient for the use of official geodata in future data spaces and can be gradually expanded if necessary, such as with regard to the Swiss transport network for the MODI mobility data infrastructure or the mobility data space.

In the international context, initiatives such as Gaia-X and the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) are primarily responsible for the development of standards and reference models for data spaces. These projects aim to promote the secure exchange of data across national borders and sectors. In Switzerland, there are also initial steps in this direction, such as the mobility data infrastructure (MODI), which is intended to enable a standardized exchange of mobility data. Another example is the agridata.ch project, which is building a data space for the agricultural and food sector while safeguarding the digital self-determination of farmers.

National Geodata Infrastructure

The Federal Office of Topography, together with the Coordination Body for Geoinformation at the Federal Level (GKG) and the Conference of Cantonal Geoinformation and Cadastral Offices (KGK), play a central role in the provision, standardization, and interoperability of nationwide geodata and the development of the National Geodata Infrastructure (NGDI) in Switzerland. This enables the provision and uniform use of nationwide geodata of national interest and facilitates its interoperability between various organizations and administrative levels (federal government, cantons, municipalities, etc.). Swisstopo, GKG, and the KGK can ensure the coordination of the provision and use of official geodata in various data spaces and develop guidelines for their use. Clear standards and guidelines are particularly necessary in sectors such as mobility, agriculture, and environmental monitoring to ensure the trustworthy and efficient use of geodata.

Recommendations of the study

The study's most important recommendations are, on the one hand, that swisstopo, GKG and KGK should continue to actively work on the provision and management of geobasis data and geobasis services, as well as on the definition and implementation of standards for geodata in data spaces. The national geodata infrastructure ensures interoperability between systems and stakeholders and supports the preservation of data sovereignty of the stakeholders involved. It is also recommended that pilot projects support the joint use of geodata in data spaces and strengthen cooperation between public and private stakeholders. On the other hand, the Community of Practice created by the Federal Chancellery at national level would be a concrete opportunity to get involved in the developments. The Swiss Data Alliance would also recommend and welcome the inclusion of swisstopo as the bearer of an essential cross-sectional infrastructure in the so-called «core team data spaces».