A Local-State Government Spatial Data Sharing Partnership

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Chapter 2 – Spatial Data and SDI in Context
Figure 2.7 Model for spatial data sharing based on theory of planned behaviour (Wehn de
Montalvo 2002)
The framework proposed by Wehn de Montalvo was employed using a two stage process
in a systematic fashion to arrive at a model of willingness to engage in spatial data sharing.
The first stage was a qualitative study involving a semi-structured interview process which
complemented existing insights and theory. The second stage, a quantitative process,
operationalised the model using a questionnaire to local, provincial and national
governments, para-statal organisations, the private sector, academia and non-governmental
organisations in South Africa. The verification of the model in this “mixed methods”
approach provided strong statistical support for this methodology.
The internet has significantly improved the access of spatial information for business,
governments, NGOs and the community (National Research Council 2004). Since the
1990s many state and local governments have experimented with the pricing and access of
data through licensing agreements designed to generate revenue. However, as the US
National Research Council report observed, these efforts have been largely unsuccessful
due to the cost of administration and their negative impact on facilitating economic
development.
The Creative Commons licensing model is increasingly being utilised to share scientific,
cultural and education works (http://creativecommons.org/). For sharing of spatial
information the goal of the National Commons model proposed by the NRC report is to
create a broad and continually growing set of freely usable geographic data and products at
local scales (National Research Council 2004). Although this model illustrates