1 Enabling Spatial Data Sharing through Multi-source Spatial Data Integration

The dynamic environment of SDIs and the involvement of diverse spatial data providers present uncertainty for involving organizations. This pushes organizations to focus on cooperative data sharing relationships to deliver their objectives. Spatial data sharing provides transactions in which individuals, governments and businesses obtain access to spatial data and services from other stakeholders. However, spatial data sharing goes beyond simple data exchange and requires the provision of usable datasets. It is specifically important at multi-national level and Global SDI (GSDI). One of the most significant and demanding characteristics of usable datasets is the readiness of spatial datasets for integration with other datasets. However it is often difficult or even impossible for users to sensibly integrate datasets from different sources. This is because of the diversity of data standards, specifications and arrangements which have been utilized by organizations. Data providers adopt spatial data standards and specifications and establish data sharing arrangement based on their requirements which may differ form other organizations. Therefore