Yeah, I've dropped use of the term except when talking to those who already know the word. I use Geospatial web or Geo Web, it's a bit more intuitive and easy to explain, and I can use it to emphasize the parts of SDI that I like. When I was writing a paper I ran across some other academic paper that had 7 different definitions for SDI. It does have some decent recognition, but those who do know what it means have different understandings of what it is, so I don't find it all that useful. The Geo Web to me gets at the same end goal as SDI's, but in a bottom up instead of a top down way - which is definitely my preferred mode.
Chris On Fri, December 28, 2007 7:34 am, Mick Wilson wrote: > 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 > > > !DSPAM:4005,4774ed67122575409313003! > > > -- Chris Holmes The Open Planning Project http://topp.openplans.org _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
