The Digital National Framework

SeaZone Extends the DNF Offshore

For the marine environment, base reference information is being provided by SeaZone using definitive source data from the UK Hydrographic Office and other agencies.

SeaZone HydroSpatial provides both base and associated reference information that is at the foundation the DNF. For users of marine data, this is a huge step forward as previously this information has either been unavailable or collated on an individual basis.

By establishing base reference information for the marine environment, SeaZone has created a consistent, definitive baseline that will reduce project set up time and costs and ensure that replication of effort is avoided.

SeaZone is working closely with Ordnance Survey to ensure that its marine base reference information is inter-operable at the coast with OS MasterMap. By adopting the OS MasterMap Mean High Water shoreline as the Base Reference Shoreline for Great Britain, and by creating bathymetry and marine topographic datasets that fit to it, SeaZone is ensuring that GB has the basis of a spatial data infrastructure that extends from land to sea. By adopting this approach elsewhere, the economically important, yet environmentally sensitive, coastal and sea areas are included and the Infrastructure for Spatial Data in Europe (INSPIRE) is of wider benefit and is much more likely to succeed.

What is DNF?

The Digital National Framework (DNF) is an industry standard for integrating and sharing business and geographic information from multiple sources. Geographic information increasingly needs to underpin mainstream information services. To do this, we need to transform the data we use from simple and relatively unintelligent maps and pictures, to computer records that information technologies can recognise and handle easily, reliably and in increasingly automated processes. Through this transformation we see our investments in information systems being realised in significantly better end-user services, based on improved data integrity, and through greater business advantage coupled with lower operational costs.

The principles, guidelines and models that make up the DNF can equally be applied to the marine environment and coastal zone. At its lowest level the DNF comprises a Geodetic Reference System that defines the horizontal and vertical datums to which all locations (co-ordinates) are referenced, and the co-ordinate transformations. Reference information may be defined as any feature that is used as a locational reference for application information or is used in geographic analysis by number of different organisations.