The View From Here

Because the Open GIS Consortium's headquarters is in the United States, and because I live in the United States, it's easy to imagine this corner of the world has a "lead" on geospatial interoperability. Of course, in today's world of real-time collaboration and a new Europe, that idea would be hard to defend.

So, it's with some pleasure that I introduce the first issue of OGC User of 2004 which takes a look at the role of standards within the spatial data infrastructure work of INSPIRE and a European prototype for coastal zone management.

We are interested in the use of OpenGIS Specifications in all corners of the world (and beyond). We encourage you to share what's going on where you are.

Adena Schutzberg
Editor