User-centric SDI: Addressing Users Requirements in Third- Generation SDI. The Example of Nature-SDIplus

Today, Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) play a key role in spatial information sharing. Since their beginning, SDIs undertook tremendous changes. Product-based (first-generation)models evolved to process-based (second-generation) SDI models. Now we face shift to user-centric, third-generation SDI. Compared to former SDI concepts, the development of third-generation SDI is increasingly driven by users. Within the framework of the EU project Nature-SDIplus, we proposed the application of the interdisciplinary and wide-ranging concept of usability relating to commonly known software development processes as solution to design a user-centric SDI. Based on the results of a Europe-wide user survey, the status quo on nature conservation’s spatial data use was described, user requirements were specified,target user groups of a domain specific SDI were identified, and recommendations made to contribute to user-centric Nature-SDI.