The political economy of spatial data infrastructures

Abstract

This article explores the political economy of spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) by focusing on three key elements: (1) legal framework, (2) politics, and (3) their potential for economic impact. Empirically, the article draws specifically from the experiences of Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community, in the European Union and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, in the United States, which are representative of projects in advanced stages of implementation that nonetheless have evolved within very different legal regimes and political-administrative contexts. The article argues that SDIs are both technical and political projects that simultaneously respond to interscalar political dynamics characteristic to particular administrative arrangements. These dynamics are reflected in their respective legal frameworks governing SDIs in each jurisdiction, which are in flux due to the technological changes in geographic information and its role in society. The combination of these factors influences the role played in politics, government, and society by each SDI, while shaping its potential for economic impact.

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