Areas of Action in Data Governance – Metadata Catalogue, Data Protection, Data Literacy

Content

Data governance provides a framework that organises access to and the handling of data. It comprises various processes, roles, guidelines and standards that enable data to be used effectively and in the public interest. Thematically, data governance can be divided into various areas of action. In the CUT project, 13 areas of action for data governance were identified and the six most important areas for us were prioritised. In this second webinar on data governance, the last three areas of action addressed in CUT will be presented: The ‘Metadata Catalogue’ area of action deals with information about digital resources, the associated metadata standards and metadata catalogues. The ‘Data Protection’ area provides a brief overview of the topic and situates it within the context of Urban Digital Twins and Urban Data Platforms. Finally, the ‘Data Literacy’ area explains how municipal data literacy can be initiated and further developed, using a process model published by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development in 2024 and specific practical tools.

The Key Learnings

Avoiding media disruptions

Metadata catalogues require standardised and comparable schemas (ISO standard, DCAT-AP) to prevent data inconsistencies when exchanging metadata across different platforms. Solutions such as GDI-DE or DCAT AP Bridge can provide support in this regard.

Documentation and extensibility are essential

Consistent documentation and the ability to flexibly extend the schemas are important for supporting new areas of application (e.g. smart city infrastructure).

Data protection is essential

Data protection is central to the operation of GDIs, UDPs and UDZs and must be continuously developed in light of new technologies and the increasing use of data and AI. This is achieved, for example, through monitoring, anonymisation, clear access restrictions and the appointment of a data protection officer.

A strategy for improving data literacy

The six-step process model, comprising the following elements, should be used as a starting point for strengthening local authorities’ data literacy:

Initialisation,
Analysis of the current situation,
Use cases,
Data quality,
Data lifecycle,
Strategy development.

Involvement of operators and specific support services

As local data literacy is regarded as a key foundation for the success of UDP/GDI/UDZ, it is advisable to involve their operators in the process model and to provide concrete support, for example through dashboards, guidance materials, training programmes and forums for exchange.

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Contact

Maja Richter

“Urban Data Platforms and Digital Twins”, Urban Data Hub, State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying of the City of Hamburg

cut@sk.hamburg.de

Mathias Boedecker

“Urban Data Platforms and Digital Twins”, Office for Geoinformation and Land Management / Geodata Service of the City of Leipzig

cut@leipzig.de

Stefanie Thiele

“Urban Data Platforms and Digital Twins”, Municipal Department of Geodata Services, City of Munich

cut@muenchen.de

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