Tutorial: EU INSPIRE Initiative

Introduction to INSPIRE GML & FME

FME simplifies the process of achieving EU INSPIRE* compliance - without any coding - through its abilities to:

• Read INSPIRE data using a number of readers, including the INSPIRE GML Reader
• Prepare data for contribution to INSPIRE through data transformation and schema mapping
• Write INSPIRE GML using the INSPIRE GML Writer, with built-in application schemas
• Validate INSPIRE GML to ensure compliance with EU standards
• Share INSPIRE data using FME Server’s web services

FME supports all aspects of INSPIRE requirements from consumption to publication:


*EU INSPIRE, or Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe, is a EU directive that aims to create a spatial data infrastructure of EU data. The infrastructure will enable policy making across boundaries, especially environmental. The directive also aims to improve public access to spatial information. Data specifications must be followed by EU member countries when submitting data, including providing data in INSPIRE compliant GML format. For more information please visit the INSPIRE website.

INSPIRE Samples & Demos

The following demonstrations illustrate how to read and write INSPIRE GML data. However, these examples are pertinent to handling any application schema based GML, and the web service examples are to any OGC web service. These INSPIRE examples are built on recent improvements in FME’s application schema based GML reading and writing capabilities, and require FME 2014 or later. FME endeavors to support the latest release of application schemas for INSPIRE. In FME 2014 SP2 these were updated to version 3 for Annex I, II and III released by JRC in March 2014 - see: http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/schemas/ .
 

Read INSPIRE GML

INSPIRE GML Format Basics

FME supports both reading and writing INSPIRE GML data. INSPIRE GML reading is as simple as pointing at the source dataset and choosing among a range of options for selecting and flattening. It is also easy to write INSPIRE GML using the INSPIRE GML Writer with built-in application schemas (XSDs). Validation helps you determine whether or not your data is compliant with the INSPIRE schemas. FME uses certain conventions to represent the nested structure of GML within our feature model. For OGC services, you can either consume INSPIRE GML via WFS or publish it to an FME Server hosted WFS data streaming service.

Consuming INSPIRE Data

This demo (from the INSPIRE January 2014 webinar) covers how FME is able to read INSPIRE GML. The Data Inspector is used to read INSPIRE GML from a WFS. INSPIRE data is also obtained from an ATOM feed. FME has no problem reading any INSPIRE compliant GML.
 

Write INSPIRE GML

INSPIRE GML Basic Writing Example

This example discusses the general process to transform data into INSPIRE compliant GML. INSPIRE workspaces usually contain similar steps. However, these steps can be modified, and the order altered, to suit the INSPIRE theme. This example represents a very basic workflow for producing the minimum requirements necessary to satisfy a given INSPIRE schema for one record. It is also a good starting point if you don't have any sample data and need to generate data directly from the destination GML schemas.

INSPIRE Cadastral Parcels Writing Demo

If you are new to INSPIRE, the Cadastral Parcels writing demo is a good place to start. It covers the typical workflow to write INSPIRE compliant GML, which can be applied to other INSPIRE themes, such as schema mapping and ID generation. Geometry transformation from simple single-part geometry to complex multi-part geometry is also discussed.

AIXM Airports to INSPIRE Air Transport Networks

This example demonstrates how simple it is to move data between two different open standards using FME. The demo highlights the use of the Schema Mapper transformer, as well as geometry transformation in which AIXM data is restructured to match INSPIRE geometry requirements.

INSPIRE Protected Areas

In this demo, three different regional sources of data - Natura2000, Helcom and Swedish EPA - are mapped to meet the INSPIRE Protected Sites model requirements. This transformation is based on the actual workflow used by the Swedish Environment Agency to map from multiple national and regional sources to the European INSPIRE standard.

INSPIRE Geographic Names Demo

The INSPIRE Geographic Names demo generates INSPIRE compliant Geographic Names GML 3.2.1 data from UN gazetteer shape files. This example includes combining multiple feature types, as well as illustrates two different methods of schema mapping.

INSPIRE Natural Risk Zones (Annex III)