The Value of Performance Indicators to Spatial Data Infrastructure Development

The successful implementation of the next generation of spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) will, in part, depend on the ability of SDI program coordinators to comprehend and report on the success or failure levels of the previous generations of SDIs. This is important from both a funding and an effectiveness perspective. From an effectiveness point of view, the performance of a system can only be improved if it is measured. While, in terms of recapitalization, the attraction of new investment (both private and public sector) depends on past, present, and projected performance of the infrastructure. Therefore, it is imperative that SDI coordinators develop metrics to assess, evaluate, and report on the performance of their initiatives. If the previous generations of SDIs are to attract future investment they must demonstrate that SDIs can and are achieving their objectives. This requires that the objectives of an SDI are well defined and clearly stated. The assessment of the performance of an SDI should be in a format that illustrates both the economic and social benefits of the infrastructure. This is necessary, since, in some cases an SDI is not only required to support the provision of public goods but also to generate surplus on investment. Similar to other infrastructure, assessing the performance of an SDI is a very complex task. This task is difficult because of the multifaceted and intricate structure of an SDI, coupled with the qualitative and external benefits it generates. In infrastructure management, Performance-Based Management is a tried and proven technique used by managers to evaluate, demonstrate and improve on the performance of an infrastructure. Therefore, based on the concept that an SDI is an infrastructure, it should be possible for SDI program coordinators to apply performance-based management to an SDI in order to assist in, evaluating, analysing and reporting on its performance. An important step in the application of the performance-based management style to SDI sustainability is the development of Performance Indicators (PIs). PIs can be simply defined as some quantifiable measures of the degree to which the objective(s) of a program/initiative is being achieved. It is important for SDI program coordinators to develop PIs—based on their objectives—since, PIs can be used to measure, articulate, and display the performance of an SDI. In an economic sense, PIs can be used to illustrate to the stakeholders the performance level—in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and reliability—at which the SDI is operating. The paper will explore the above concepts in terms of an SDI.