Act on an infrastructure for geographical information (Spatial Data Act)

Translation for information use only.

Cf. EEA Agreement Annex XX no. 1j (Directive 2007/2/EC).

Section 1. Purpose

The Act shall promote good and efficient access to public geographical information (spatial data) for public and private purposes.

Section 2. Scope

The Act applies to undertakings in the Realm, including Jan Mayen. The King may issue regulations on the application of the Act to undertakings on Svalbard and the Norwegian dependencies.

The Act applies to specified spatial data in electronic format and appurtenant spatial data services relating to Norwegian land territory, including Svalbard and Jan Mayen, the Norwegian dependencies, Norwegian territorial waters, the Norwegian continental shelf and maritime zones created pursuant to sections 1 and 5 of Act No. 91 of 17 December 1976 relating to the economic zone of Norway. The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on the spatial data and spatial data services that are to be included, including the data's substantive and geographical demarcation.

Section 3. National spatial data coordinator

A national spatial data coordinator shall coordinate efforts with the country's infrastructure for geographical information, including sharing of specified spatial data between participating undertakings. The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions concerning the duties and organisation of the national spatial data coordinator.

Section 4. Participating undertakings

The following undertakings shall, as far as they produce, use or administrate specified spatial data, participate in infrastructure for geographical information under this Act:

a) state, municipal and county administration bodies

b) other administrative and public advisory bodies

c) other legal persons performing public administrative functions according to law.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on participating undertakings, including deciding that other undertakings that perform administrative functions or have spatial data or spatial data services that can improve society's access to geographical information, shall be covered by the provisions of this Act.

Section 5. Public spatial data services

Participating undertakings shall, for specified spatial data, create and maintain a joint network of public discovery services, view services, download services, transformation services, and services allowing spatial data services to be invoked.

Participating undertakings may by agreement permit others to establish and operate the services on their behalf.

The discovery services shall be freely available to the public.

Access to spatial data from public spatial data services is subject to the restrictions imposed by the provisions prescribed in or pursuant to law.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on public spatial data services, including access to the services and charge for use of the services.

Section 6. Sharing of spatial data

Participating undertakings shall take the necessary measures to share specified spatial data through a common infrastructure for geographical information. These measures shall enable participating undertakings to access, exchange and use spatial data sets and spatial data services.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on sharing specified spatial data, organising and regulating the collaboration on the sharing of spatial data, including payment between participating undertakings, monitoring of the geographical infrastructure and reporting on the implementation of the Act.

Section 7. International data sharing

The national spatial data coordinator may enter into agreements with public authorities from other EEA States and the EU and EEA institutions on sharing specified spatial data and related services. Similar agreements can be entered into with bodies created by international agreements to which Norway is a party.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on sharing spatial data with international institutions and undertakings in other countries.

Section 8. Harmonisation, interoperability, and documentation of data and services (metadata)

Participating undertakings shall make specified spatial data and related public spatial data services available in harmonised form so that data and services can interact.

Participating undertakings shall produce associated documentation (metadata) and keep this updated.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on harmonisation, interoperability, and documentation of data and services (metadata).

Section 9. Relationship to the Public Administration Act

The Public Administration Act shall apply, as far as appropriate, to activities under this Act.

The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions on administrative procedure and appeal, including whether decisions may be appealed even when they are not considered individual decisions.

Section 10. Entry into force and transitional provisions

This Act comes into force from the date decided on by the King.

The Ministry may issue further transitional provisions.

Section 11. Amendments to other Acts

From the date this Act enters into force, the following amendments shall be made to other Acts: - - -