OGC SensorThings API as an INSPIRE download service

To date, the OGC Sensor Observation Service (SOS) has been utilised for direct access to measurement data in INSPIRE. In the quest for simpler access methods, use of the OGC SensorThings API (STA) is proposed as an alternative, pertaining both to the data and service specifications. It is shown to be in full compliance with the data requirements ensuing from both the INSPIRE EF Theme as well as the underlying Observational Model from the GCM as described in a dedicated publication .

In order to show the practical applicability of a STA-based INSPIRE download service, several STA systems are deployed by MS. At present, STA endpoints have been created for multiple following environmental and related domains, thus showing the degree of flexibility available when utilizing STA. While initially designed to bridge the gap between the spatial and IoT domains, the potential for reuse far beyond sensors becomes apparent.

INSPIRE Components:
This Good Practice pertains to data encoding as well as to network (download) services, while greatly enabling data sharing. 

Pertaining to data encoding, the underlying STA data model, while isomorph to the OGC O&M data model upon which the INSPIRE observational models is built, does have some subtle differences, requiring reconfiguration of the O&M based INSPIRE data specifications. However, due to the isomorphism between these data models, the fact that the STA data model was derived from the O&M model, a lossless transposition of data can be assured.

Pertaining to network (download) service requirements, STA utilises a REST-based API approach modelled on the OData standard. In addition to fulfilling the core requirements laid down by INSPIRE pertaining to download services, the OData approach allows for the formulation of complex queries tailored to the complexity of the underlying data model, thus allowing users more direct access to the data they require than previously possible.