Geospatial Information (GI) utilization needs acceleration in conjunction with the unprecedented improvement of GI technology infrastructures. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is one instance that demonstrates some advantages by enabling on demand flexible geospatial data acquisition. However due to the frequent use of non-metric camera such as consumer grade cameras, it requires the calibration procedure in order to fulfil the acceptable geometrical accuracy. The relatively simple procedures and high resolution produced data are the major advantages of the UAV data acquisition. With a land area approximately five times of the Federal Republic of Germany, the provision of GI in Indonesia requires innovative acceleration strategies that also considers cost production efficiency moreover due to the preparation of human resource in GI as its primary component. In this case, certification and accreditation in GI area are still mandatory especially in conjunction with technological improvements and weather situation (cloud coverage) as the main constraints to be considered for the geodata acquisition in Indonesia. This process includes knowledges, skills and/or advancements as well as working behaviour relevant with the tasks and conditions in a so-called Competency Working Standards of Indonesia (SKKNI). In addition to the SKKNI, GI competency standards can also use relevant international standards or specific standards as a reference. Competency standards are the basic requirements for any activities related with the national GI provision. Based on analysis of the national interests, the qualification identifications can be performed by specific study in the context of business process and GI industry from the scope of above mentioned national/international view as well as particular (GI) industry. Finally, this paper discusses and formulates the competency standards that can be used by corresponding stakeholders involved in the national GI provision from the actual regulation as well as technological/industrial perspectives. The standards of GI empowerments are fundamental especially in a situation where there are various technology and method available in the society as well as GI industry. For this purpose, the proper professional certification must be essentially well defined in order to prepare excellent GI human resources as the primary source for the provision of reliable GI data and information in a favour of the Large Scale Topographic Mapping (LSTM) and Updating acceleration program.

Due to its large area Large Scale Topographic Mapping (LSTM) for Indonesia requires acceleration strategies that must be innovative enough to take into account the production efficiency. Satellite-based technologies are still a preferable choice especially in conjunction with the security clearance and weather. Standards for the Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery (VHRS) utilization are essential, especially in a situation where there are so many available sensors and processing methods implemented. Hence, the selection of a proper geometric correction method is fundamental in order to utilize the VHRS imagery as one source of geospatial data especially for LSTM production and updating purposes. For CSRT geometric correction, an orthorectification process is required, where this process requires input data from the Ground Control Point (TKT) and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Therefore, the Least Square Adjustment (LSA) method is implemented to be able to include 8-9 GCPs per-scene (orbital and sensor parameters) and the DEM with a maximum resolution 4 times of the VHRS imagery’s Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) in the process of producing VHRS orthoimages. In addition, the role of orbital and sensor parameters is also essential for the geometric correction because its relation to the Direct Georeferencing (DG) of each pixel by Rigorous Sensor Model (RSM) approach. However, in the situation where the reliable orbital and sensor parameters are not available, the Rational Function Model (RFM) can be used as an alternative solution for the geometric correction of VHRS imagery. This paper discusses the VHRS utilization with a comprehensive approach that can be implemented in a local coordinate system i.e. the Indonesian Geospatial Reference System for the production of the reliable VHRS imageries.

Abstract. Collaborative custodianship refers to an arrangement where a number of custodians work together to produce integrated datasets for a spatial data infrastructure (SDI), e.g. local authorities contributing address or street data to a national SDI dataset. Collaborative cloud mapping allows for ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand, configured and tailor-made mapping with resources shared between various entities collaborating on a specific initiative, such as an SDI or for disaster management. This paper presents the results of a workshop in South Africa during which case studies from the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria of collaborative custodianship of address data were presented, and OpenStreetMap as a case study of collaborative cloud mapping. Subsequently, challenges and opportunities for implementing similar initiatives in the context of the South African SDI were debated in break-away sessions. The results from these sessions were analysed using the PESTEL framework.

The demand for geospatial data across different disciplines and organisations has led to the development and implementation of Spatial data infrastructure spatial data infrastructures (SDI)SDI and the theory and concepts behind them. An SDI is an evolving concept about facilitating and coordinating the exchange of geospatial data and services between stakeholders from different levels in the spatial data community. Universities and other research organisations typically have well-established libraries and digital catalogues for scientific literature, but catalogues for geospatial data are rare. Geospatial data is widely used in research, but geospatial data produced by researchers is seldom available, accessible and usable, e.g., for purposes of teaching or further research after completion of the project. This chapter describes the experiences of a number of SDI implementations at universities and research institutes. Based on this, the Academic SDI, an SDI for research and education, is defined and its stakeholders are described. The purpose, scope and stakeholders of the Academic SDI Academic SDI are described based on the formal model of an SDI developed by the International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on SDIs and Standards (formerly the Commission on Geoinformation Geoinformation Infrastructures and Standards). The results contribute to understanding the state-of-the-art in SDI implementations at universities and research institutes; how the Academic SDI differs from a ‘regular’ SDI; and which role players need to be involved in a successful SDI implementation for research and education.

The European INSPIRE directive introduces a legal framework and general rules to establish an infrastructure for spatial information in Europe primarily with focus on policies and having an impact on the environment. In this context 34 spatial data themes are listed comprising general geospatial base data, i.e. cadastral parcels, administrative units, and more ecological data themes, i.e. geology, species distribution, energy resources, etc. The data are supposed to be provided through spatial data infrastructures (SDI) in the 28 Member States of the European Union and in the corresponding politically mandates organisations, i.e. the 16 federal state surveying authorities in Germany.

Over the past decades geospatial information technology has reached a significant level of maturity and is widely implement in industry as well as public agencies. Lately, we have witnessed the rise of free and open source software in this area, flanked by open standards and the the open data movement. This special [issue/section] of Transactions in GIS comprises five research papers selected from the submissions to the Academic Track of FOSS4G 2013, the global conference for Open Source Geospatial Software, which took place in Nottingham (UK), from 17 to 21 September 2013. The FOSS4G conferences, billed as “the annual gathering of Open Source