Defra GI Strategy
In December 2002 Defra issued a Strategy statement for the use of GI in the department. The Strategy covered the use of GI across core Defra along with Defra Executive Agencies, English Nature the Environment Agency and the Countryside Agency. The Strategy covered the period from 2002 to April 2006 and is now being refreshed.
Approach
The 2002 Strategy statement was based on a detailed analysis of Defra business requirements and relevant technical issues, and set out an overall vision of where Defra should be in terms of the use of GI. This was followed by a summary of the current position and factors driving change. The statement then described the main changes that identified as being required in order to achieve the stated strategic vision.
The key elements of the strategic vision were:
- GI will be used to underpin improved service delivery to customers.
- Where and how GI is used to support Defra objectives will be determined by business areas within an overall corporate framework that secures harmonised and co-ordinated development.
- Key GI datasets of importance to many business areas will be recognised and managed as corporate resources.
- Definitive corporate datasets of known quality and fit for purpose will be made available to users throughout Defra, irrespective of their location.
- Defra will develop an active and leading role in Government and with partners in the use of GI.
- Defra will maintain access to the necessary skills and knowledge in the use of GI and how GI can be used to support business priorities.
- The use of GI will be fully recognised and supported in Defra for the contribution it can make to meeting business objectives.
Progress
CIOD leads the development and assures the implementation of the GI Strategy, working closely with Defra stakeholders. The Strategy is an integral component of the overall IT Strategy.
The Spatial Information (SPIRE) Programme is key to the implementation of the GI Strategy. SPIRE will enable the use of consistent, concise and up-to-date geographic information to support the objectives of Defra, its Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies by developing a culture of active data management and the provision of appropriate information technology. Through a three-year programme, SPIRE will implement a set of shared Spatial Information Services and will build on the principles and architecture set out in the Defra IT Strategy and Geographic Information Strategy. SPIRE will enable the use of geographic information as a corporate resource and support the Department's strategic sustainable development objectives for land, coastal and marine environments.
Future
The GI Strategy is now being refreshed to reflect the changed environment within which the Strategy needs to operate, the progress made to date in implementation and the additional focus needed in some areas to move forward. For example, the current Strategy is based around a need for strong co-ordination and the actions required to address the issues around information sharing that had been highlighted by the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. These areas are still relevant and important but there now needs to be more thought about how the Defra family will collaborate on GI and a new focus on use of the data and analysis of the evidence base.
In the current financial climate the focus will need to be on the costs and benefits of a strategy and on the opportunities to ensure services are delivered in the most cost effective way ensuring there is no duplication of resources across the family. Defra family members have agreed to work together to develop a refreshed strategy that meets our shared and common interests. The strategy refresh is being carried out under the governance of the SPIRE programme board and a smaller working group has been set up to ensure there are sufficient opportunities for family members to discuss and agree the approach.
The Strategy refresh will need to consider:
- The priorities of the new Ministerial Team and the Defra Business Strategy refresh
- The developing Defra Information Services Strategy
- The Transformational Strategy for Government
- The Evidence and Innovation Strategy
- Organisational changes since 2002
- Progress to date on SPIRE
- UK GI Strategy development
- The INSPIRE directive and other European initiatives such as GMES
The GI Strategy refresh must driven by business needs. For example, the new business strategy provides opportunities to drive forward the use of GI so that it underpins delivery of Defra’s strategic outcomes. For example, Climate Change will require global action but we also need to make sure that the public understand the impact at the local level. GI is a powerful tool that can be used to visualise and communicate messages and the strategy needs to focus on key issues such as what data, tools, skills and awareness-raising is needed to ensure GI can be used to its full effect across the family.
Please contact the GI Co-ordination Team if you’d like any more information about the GI Strategy refresh.
Page last modified: 7 February 2007
Page published: 7 February 2007