INSPIRE Knowledge Base
ddsdssd

WISE

Description
Organisation: 
Water Information System for Europe
Acronym: 
WISE
Details
Mission and Objectives: 
The Water Information System for Europe (WISE) is a partnership between the European Commission (DG Environment, Joint Research Centre and Eurostat) and The European Environment Agency, known as “the Group of Four” (Go4). WISE addresses several user groups: - EU institutions as well as Member States national, regional and local administrations working in water policy development or implementation - Professionals working in the water field from public or private organisations, with a technical interest on water - Scientists working in the water field - General public, including in this group those working in private or public entities not directly related to water policy but with an indirect interest in water (regular or sporadic)
Formal Mandate: 
European Commission
Mandate: 
In November 2003 the Water Directors endorsed the document “Reporting for Water - Concept Report Towards a Shared Information System for Water” (the WISE Concept Paper) . This document identified the need for streamlining reporting and the development of a system to allow the different European bodies to more easily collect and share information. The document included a commitment from the Group of Four (Go4), the European Commission (DG Env, JRC and Eurostat) and the EEA, “to continue to development of a new, comprehensive and shared European data and information management system for water, including river basins, and following a participatory approach towards the Member States, in order to have it operational as soon as possible, and to implement it, including all the various elements by 2010”. With the adoption of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in 2008, WISE will now be significantly expanded via a WISE-Marine module; the term 'water' in this paper applies equally to the marine environment, although specific marine aspects are indicated where appropriate. see also: http://circa.europa.eu/Members/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/w-wise_background/wise_gis_workshops/wise_january_2007/reporting_final/_EN_1.0_&a=i
Activities: 
WISE was launched for public use as a web-based service on 22 March (World Water Day) 2007 providing a web-portal entry to water related information ranging from inland waters to marine. The web-portal is now grouped into sections for - EU water policies (directives, implementation reports and supporting activities..) - Data and themes (reported datasets, interactive maps, statistics, indicators,..) - Modelling (now - and forecasting services across Europe..) - Projects and research (inventory for links to recently completed and ongoing water related projects and research activities..)
Membership: 
The Group of Four institutions: EC DG Environment, Eurostat, Joint Research Centra - Ispra, and European Environment Agency
Comments: 
WISE web portal:http://water.europa.eu/
URL: 
http://water.europa.eu/
Typology: 
Thematic
PROPOSED ROLE IN INSPIRE DEVELOPMENT

Which role(s) do you foresee for the SDIC in INSPIRE development

  • submit reference material as input to the Drafting Teams
    • yes
  • participate in the review process
    • yes
  • collect and describe user requirements related to Environmental policies
    • yes
  • register a project to test/revise/develop the draft Implementing Rules
    • yes
  • contribute to awareness raising and training
    • yes
  • be kept informed
    • yes
    Geographic Domain
    Europe
    EU27 + other EIONET members
    Societal Sector
    public sector
    Specific Expertise
    Specific Expertise: 
    Metadata
    Network Services
    Monitoring and Reporting
    Data Specifications
    Data and Service Sharing
    Previous Experience relevant for INSPIRE development
    - Providing reference material and user requirements for Annex I (hydrography), annex II and III - Participating in consultation process in all annexes
    Environmental application domains
    water
    Primary Business
    water issues, policy support, environmental monitoring, modelling and reporting
    INSPIRE Data Themes
    Coordinator
    Hydrography, Geology, Statistical units, Utility and governmental services, Environmental monitoring Facilities, Area management / restriction / regulation zones & reporting units, Natural risk zones, Oceanographic geographical features, Sea regions
    Producer
    Geographical grid systems, Geographical names, Hydrography, Geology, Statistical units, Utility and governmental services, Environmental monitoring Facilities, Area management / restriction / regulation zones & reporting units, Natural risk zones, Oceanographic geographical features, Sea regions
    User
    Coordinate reference systems, Geographical grid systems, Geographical names, Administrative units, Addresses, Hydrography, Elevation, Land cover, Orthoimagery, Geology, Statistical units, Buildings, Soil, Land use, Utility and governmental services, Environmental monitoring Facilities, Production and industrial facilities, Agricultural and aquaculture facilities, Population distribution and demography, Area management / restriction / regulation zones & reporting units, Natural risk zones, Meteorological geographical features, Oceanographic geographical features, Sea regions, Energy Resources