A Geospatial Foundation Public, private, and military applications flow from SDI By Miguel Bessa Pacheco, Instituto Hidrografico, Portuguese Navy The marine spatial data infrastructure (SDI) developed by the Portuguese Instituto Hidrografico (IHPT) provides information to decision makers and information products for environmental protection activities, research and development, private industry, military activities, and public information. IHPT is the naval organization responsible for producing official nautical paper and electronic charts as well as conducting studies and research in marine-related disciplines such as physical oceanography, hydrography, marine geology, chemical oceanography, and navigation safety. For the last several years, IHPT has been developing an SDI called IDAMAR (an acronym in Portuguese for spatial data infrastructure for the marine environment) to support the production of technical and scientific data and information product management. It began as a departmental GIS named SIGAMAR, but the scope of the GIS was subsequently broadened, and the IDAMAR SDI now also provides the institute with the ability to respond to ad hoc requests for information from decision makers. IDAMAR SDI Architecture To conform with military communications security rules, the IDAMAR SDI is actually composed of two similar systems: one connected to the Internet and one connected to a private military network. The public portion, available to all users, includes communications networks, databases, metadata, software, hardware, specialized human resources, outreach and support, data policy, internal data management processes, distributable information products, and online services. Communications networks Three communications networks support data transfer and online access to the SDI: an Internet connection, a private unclassified military network, and a private classified military network. The Internet connection supports 18 ArcUser Spring 2009 Information products are publicly disseminated and are available from the public Web site at www.hidrografico.pt. data acquisition from several environmental sensors (e.g., wave buoys, radar stations) and the public dissemination of information products through www.hidrografico.pt. The private military networks provide access to the full system and support specific data and information requests. These networks support all internal processes for data and information product management. Databases and data models Several databases were developed using either DBMS- or file-based systems. The choice of system was based on the type of data stored and how that data could be most efficiently used. Data models for DBMS storage were internally developed for information processes except for chemical lab analysis data. A commercial laboratory information management solution, Thermo www.esri.com