Spatial Information Systems in the Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract

In this paper it is noted that the way in which spatial information systems are used varies with the spatial level of the planning systems which use them. In West Germany very few systems with high spatial resolution are found at federal level, whereas at lower levels the areal coverage is smaller. Meanwhile the spheres of competence of planning, and the number of information systems, are growing. Specific obstacles to the development of spatial information systems involve the use of computers, problems of confidentiality, and problems of data exchange. In this paper the reasons for the marked lack of data with spatial detail in the fields of energy and ecology are discussed, and the relationships between missing data and bottlenecks in political action are pointed out.