I am in the process of writing a "Why SDI?" guidebook for non-technical middle management types and cannot help but wonder why we put a millstone of an expression like "spatial data infrastructure" around our necks?
As a barrier to communication with an instant-glaze-over factor of 100% "SDI" is hard to beat. It is simultaneously pompous and intimidating while conveying very little information to anyone outside inner circle. The term gives little impression of what gets done or what improves if SDI's in place. And just how much SDI planning and development these days is about 'just' data, compared to discussion about value-adding services, chaining, mash-ups and the likes. I appreciate that term is (or at least was) technically accurate and has built up recognition over the past 10+ years, that it's associated with well-respected individuals and organizations. I can but wonder whether it's not worth some effort to come up with something snappier and zingier that even my mother might have a chance of understanding, or at least being curious about. I have no suggestions I'm willing to make at this stage but would like to gauge the level of in taking some of the terminology in new directions. Cheers _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
