Network for testing GI services

The use of standards is essential when building a SDI. Today we have a number of standards and specifications from organizations like W3C, OGC, ISO etc. In addition, the European Commission is specifying implementing rules related to the INSPIRE directive. In order to comply with all these standards and specifications, testing procedures has to be developed and utilized. Some organizations like OGC, develop their own suite of testing applications. In other cases, for instance for the INSPIRE service specifications, no guidelines for testing are provided by the EC. As a result, we have a variety of development initiatives across Europe, aiming to develop testing procedures related to SDI development in general and INSPIRE specifically. The Persistent Testbed is an initiative by AGILE, EuroSDR and OGC. Its aim is to act as research test-bed for collaborative European research in geospatial interoperability. The Persistent Testbed has now taken the initiative of creating a testing network. The aim is to coordinate the current widespread development of INSPIRE related testing procedures and software development, in an effort of making more efficient use of limited resources. In addition to just testing if a certain service complies to a certain set of standards and specifications, the network also develop other procedures. One such procedure is to integrate INSPIRE tests with the monitoring and reporting scheme as specified by the EC. Another development is related to usability tests, which is focusing on the user’s perception of the services. These tests can also be used to test to what degree the INSPIRE implementing rules fulfill the user requirements.