Swisstopo – geodata as the basis for trusted data spaces

The study by the Swiss Data Alliance analyses the importance of geodata as a central basis for building trustworthy data spaces in Switzerland. The study concludes that geodata is an important basis for data rooms and serves as a cross-sectional infrastructure. The existing legal basis and the federal, cantonal and communal geodata infrastructures that are based on it allow the use of official geodata in data rooms; they can be gradually expanded as needed.

The Swiss Data Alliance was commissioned by swisstopo and the Federal Chancellery to analyse the importance of geodata as a central basis for the development of trustworthy data rooms in Switzerland. These data rooms are intended to enable actors from the private sector, the administration and research to share and use data securely and efficiently. Geodata and the associated and existing geodata infrastructures play a major role in this, since geodata usually describes a physical reality independently of a specific topic.

Results of the study

The study concludes that geodata is an important basis for data spaces and serves as cross-sectional infrastructure. The existing legal basis and the federal, cantonal and communal geodata infrastructures that are based on it allow the use of official geodata in data spaces; they can be gradually expanded as needed.

The main recommendations of the study are that both swisstopo and the Federal Coordinating Agency for Geoinformation (GCG) and the Conference of Cantonal Geoinformation and Cadastral Survey Directors (KGK) should continue to work actively on the provision and management of official geodata and geoservices, and on the definition and implementation of standards for geodata in data spaces. The national geodata infrastructure ensures interoperability between systems and actors and supports the preservation of the data sovereignty of the actors involved. The study also recommends the use of pilot projects to support the shared use of geodata in data rooms and the strengthening of cooperation between public and private actors.

Documents

Swisstopo study – geodata as the basis for trustworthy data spaces (in german) (PDF, 1 MB, 23.01.2025)