Angela Baker Programme Manager, Data Access and Integration
EuroGeographics
Belgium

BiographyAngela Baker is Data Access and Integration Programme Manager for EuroGeographics, an independent not-for-profit organisation representing Europes National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities. She has particular responsibility for facilitating access to members data by managing the production and provision of pan-European datasets, including the CEF-Funded Open Maps For Europe Project - an online gateway connecting users to free to use maps from official national sources. Previously Angela was the Community Programmes Manager for Esri UK focussing on promoting and enabling the use of GI through the Tertiary, Charity and Community sectors. She has a MA in Human Geography from Aberdeen University, an MSc in Cartography and Geo-information Technology from Glasgow University and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society where she sits on the Professional Advisory Panel. AbstractOpen Maps For Europe - a key for unlocking the value of authoritative geospatial information Authoritative public sector information is a key building block for digital transformation and the realisation of a dynamic digital society. By providing an easy-to-use online user interface for discovering, viewing, licensing and downloading open datasets, the Open Maps For Europe project addresses the challenges of accessing trusted geospatial data from multiple official sources. In doing so, it unlocks the value of official geospatial information to support Digital Europe, the Open Data Directive, and the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Directive.

As of January 2022, almost 1,000 users have accessed the datasets, which include topographic and height data, imagery, and an Open Gazetteer service, via the interface developed by IDOX. All are available under a single open data licence to ensure a level playing field for all users, and will also be discoverable and available via the European Data Portal.

The value of the reuse of open geospatial public sector information is demonstrated in a series of case studies. Open Maps for Europe is coordinated by EuroGeographics in partnership with the National Geographic Institute (NGI) Belgium and co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union.