Geo-Infrastructure platform of Prešov region
About this good practice
The Geo-Infrastructure Platform of the Prešov Region was created as a part of the Catching-up Regions initiative with support of the European Commission, the World Bank and the Ministry for Investment and Informatization SR. The PSGR in cooperation with University of Prešov are participating on activities towards the creation of regional spatial information structure. The solution is based on building a comprehensive database of high-quality and up-to-date open data. The aim of the platform is to bring high-quality knowledge of region, effective information exchange among institutions and simple view on important information to the public, municipalities, academic or private sector.
It strives to collecting and publishing high-quality spatial information, publishing metadata information, providing information referenced by other levels, extending platform with other partners thus building data connections in the region.
The administration, development and partnerships of the Geo-Infrastructure of the Prešov Region are coordinated and ensured by the Office of the Prešov Self-Governing Region through the Department of Development Institute of PSK in the Department of Strategic Development and Project Management in cooperation with the Department of Geography and Applied Geoinformatics of University of Prešov.
Resources needed
Geoportal was developed in cooperation with EC and World Bank as a part of Catching-Up Regions Initiative. The expertise provided by experts suggests an investment in knowledge transfer and capacity building. The human resources needed include the GIS team of the PSGR with expertise in GIS and data.
Evidence of success
Geoportal integrates, stores, and publishes diverse (especially spatial) data from national, regional, and self-collected sources. Currently there are 244 datasets published. It caters to the public for viewing, downloading, and processing, aids Regional Government Offices in strategic planning and data-driven decisions, and supports Local Authorities in using and contributing to regional databases.
Potential for learning or transfer
The practice outlined underscores the importance of data in governance, offering valuable lessons for other regions:
Data-Driven Decision Making: Prioritizing data quality and availability enables informed decision-making.
Data Catalog: Establishing a centralized repository fosters transparency and standardization, enhancing access and trust.
Map Viewer: Interactive tools democratize spatial data access, promoting insights.
Thematic Maps: Enhance communication through digestible data presentation.
Data Partnerships: Collaborate to enrich the data ecosystem.
This framework supports evidence-based policymaking and governance improvement. Other regions can emulate these principles to enhance their own data ecosystems.
