Dutch NGII on course: a practical approach on implementing a vision

Many countries are developing or starting to develop National Geographic Information Infrastructures (NGIIs). The Netherlands Council for Geo-information stimulates the development and further implementation of the NGII in the Netherlands. The publication of the visionary Ravi-document Structuurschets in 1992, promoting the establishment of four uniquely defined and interlinked core datasets (registration of parcels, natural persons, enterprises, and buildings) pushed the development of the Dutch NGII. In 2001 the original vision has almost completely been brought into practice. This accomplishment may be explained by the close interaction between the geo-information sector and the broader
national political arena. This paper presents an overview of the interaction between policy makers within the national government and the geo-information sector. It will show that the geo-sector's focus should not only be on creating consensus within the sector but also should be aimed at influencing the national political arena at large. The paper will give attention to the concept of Authentic registers (registers of core datasets). This concept is to a large extent based on the framework of the Dutch NGII and is now a key component of the national egovernment policy.