Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Access To Geographic Scientific And Technical Data In An Academic Setting, Bastiaan Van Loenen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data availability is a key issue affecting society's social well being. Information technology has increased the availability of and improved access to data. The academic community that uses spatial data is one of the groups that has taken advantage of fast and inexpensive opportunities to share data and knowledge in a relatively unfettered fashion across digital networks. However, pressure by the private sector to increase protection for databases through database legislation, self-help measures (contracts, licensing and technological methods for limiting access) and movement by some local governments towards revenue generation from sales of data are decreasing or threatening to decrease …