Linked Data in SDI or How GML is not about Trees

Abstract

There is increasing interest in shared geospatial information spaces. In the context of Spa- tial Data Infrastructures (SDI), heterogeneity of legacy systems and variety in existing standards are central challenges. Linked Data has been suggested as a potential solution in both cases. In this paper, we explain why the Linked Data approach provides no novelty to the geospatial community, as the principles are isomorphic to structures which were introduced to SDI standards ten years ago. How- ever, while transformation from these to conventional Linked Data representation is trivial, key ele- ments of the standards have not been widely implemented in the SDIs. Shared information spaces based on linked data can provide a motivation for implementation of the principles. THE UNUSED POTENTIAL OF GEOSPATIAL DATA ENCODING