Spatial data management priorities for assessment of Europe’s coasts and seas

Systemic understanding of marine and coastal
environment needs data integration following a respective
concept e.g. multi-dimensional and functional mapping. A
number of new activities will improve data supply for
coasts and seas. This data needs to be integrated and
combined with socio-economic drivers and resulting pressures.
Resulting knowledge base should be able to inform
effectively ecosystem-based management actions, such as
integrated coastal zone management, maritime spatial
planning, extension of Natura 2000 areas or climate change
adaptation in coastal regions and maritime sectors. Assessment
that aims to inform such processes will require
rethinking of priorities for spatial data collection and
analysis, in particular building on data sharing and
standardization, improved spatial data integration, promoting
interoperability of relevant information systems and possibility
of assimilating different data types in to models. Different
aspects of spatial data should be addressed in coherent
implementation of spatial data infrastructure.