Jan van Est

Louis Smit

GEOCODING

The spatial dimension

of an information system

for the MVRO

lanologischdiecentrum TNO

earch centrephysical planning TNO

5 J? D

0..\-5 e \)t!J-Ve(ob -,

-.- ." 1"~ E

GEOCODING

The spatial dimension of an information

system for the MVRO

"r~o

Delft. june 1981

Planologisch Studiecentrum TNO

Schoemakerstraat 97 /Postbus 45

2600 AA Delft

Tel. 015 - 569330 Bib ! iot.heek. TU De lft.

1111111111111C 1995968

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This naper is the summarlzlng result of a projecton geocoding, charged by the tlinistry of Hous in gand Physical Planning. The material contained in

this paper does not necessarily reflect the viewsof the Ministry. All errors remain the responsibility

of the authors.The authors gratefully acknowledge the useful remarks

of the steering comnittee of this project, viz. drs.ing. A.J. Driesen, ir. N.A. Claessen, drs. P.F. deNoord, ir. J. Brouwer, prof. dr. ir. M.J.M. Bogaerts

and drs. A. Elsenaar . eens tructi ve comments andsuggestions were received from Hugo Geusebroek,Hans Heida, Michel Horrevoets and Frans de Vroege.The manuscript was carefully prepared by Brigitte

Andoetoe and Trees Jordaan.

Summary

One of the major Droblems of research and planning and

policy making is the lacking of the availability of

information. Modern analysis is of ten hampered by this,

due to the fuzzy locational identification of the data.

Many variables and attributes are only measured (i.e .

available) on geographical areas of different sizes,

which are overlapping as well. If the data are available

and if they can be linked to each other then it still is

a. very time consuming process to derive the required

information.

The above reveals some evidence that gives rise to a new

line of thinking, in which the existence of a spatial

dimension is accounted for: geocoding. The spatial

structure, described by points (addresses) and segments

(streets) and polygons (zonal areas) , can be combined

with locational data files within the framework of a

spatial oriented information system.

The existing data files remain the source of information

and the segments of the network structure function as data

carriers for manipulating the data. Hith new methods and

techniques administrative data systems can now be used in

a much more efficient and decentralized way.

Started in 1967 in New Haven, USA, many countries are

benefitting from this new concept. For that reason the

Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning wanted to draw up

an inventory of possible geocoding methods. In 1979 and

1980 the project has been carried out. In this paper a

summary is presented.

3. METHOOS OF GEOCOD ING. 10

3.1. General. 103.2. The three basic methods of geocoding . 12

3. 3. Aggregation procedures. 153.4. A spatial-oriented information system. 16

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INFORMATION RE QUIREMENTS OF IMPOR- 2TANCE TO THE MVRO.

2. 1. Gene ral. 42.2. Departments within the MVRO. 52. 3. Conclusions regarding the information require-

ments of the MVRO. 7

PAGESCONTENTS:--- -----

1. PROBLEM FORMULATION AND OBJECTIVE OF THE INVESTIGATION.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (FOR A SPATIAL-ORIENTEDIN FORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE MVRO). 20

Final Remarks. 28

Appendix A: The Unique Property Reference Number, UVRN. A-I

Al. Propose of the UVRN . A-IA2. Applications of spatial identificati ons. A-2A3. The integration of property administrations . A-4A4. Appl ication of the UVRN . A-6A5. Summary and conclusions. A-8

1

1. PROBLEM FORMULATION AND OBJ ECTIVE OF TH E INVESTIGATION .

Physical planning has on occasion been described as an activity whichi s directed towards "the best-imag inable mutual adaption of space andenvi ronment and socite ty". The aspect of "mutua 1ity" in thi 5 descri p­tion is essential. On the one hand, social processes result in pat­terns of activities and interactions which almast always have a spa­ti al component in the farm of a demand on land and a particular loca­tion for the activities concerned. On the other hand, those socialact ivities are influenced by the characteristics of the area in whichthey ta ke place, the activity space. Because of this, physical plan­ning is concerned with the activities of individuals, groups and in­stitutions as well as the characteristics of the activity space it­self .

In the Netherlands, physical planning is to a large degree out of thetas ks of the central government. The policy regarding planning assu­mes a deliberate involvement in social developments which concern theuse of the land, and it therefore requires clear definitions duringpolicy-making process. The continuous management and control of deve­lopments always requires reliable and extensive data. Within theMi ni st ry of Housing and Physical Planning (MVRO) there are a numberof information systems which are concerned with the activities of thegovernment and of r eal property owners. They are partly concernedwi th the activ ities of the Ministry itself and partly intended forothe r official bodies at various level s of government.- One of the most important tasks of the Mi ni s t ry l ies in the fieldof space destination and activ ity allocations. This concept can bedescribed as the establishment of the aims of land usage. For thispu rpose, facet and sector plans, amo ng othe rs, are developed. In thedes tinat ion and allocation, a number of developments have taken placewhich entail an increased need for data. In addition to the changedattitude towards planning, there is an increase in the scale of phy­si cal-planning activities which is illustrated, for example, by agrowing co-ordination of developments between planning units of vari­ous scales, which formerly pursued their own developments in relativei ndependence . The approach to process planning requires informationconcerning not only the initial situation and the desired end situa­tion, but also the time-scale connecting the two stages. Well moni­toring apracess (progress analysis) - which is inherent to the newconcept of planning - requires a continuous flow of information re­garding the spatial developments taking place.- The Ministry has an important task in the field of planning anddesigning the spatial structure. In the case of urban developmentsthe information is indispensable for public housing. Sa far as allo­cation and design is concerned, it involves the setting up and main­tainance of land re-allotments administrations. The latter are in­tended to assist in the planning of changes in legal status. Goodco-ordination with the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture andits information systems is necessary.- Where spatial management is concerned, the Ministry has its owntas k with regard to public housing. The management of governmentbu i ldi ngs is a di rect responsibility of the MVRO. The MVRO provides

- 2 -

information for the needs of spatial management i n general . For exam­ple , the large-scale basic map of the Net her l ands is becoming an un­missable feature for proper management of distribution networks aboveand below ground.- An important task of the NVRO is to secure legal property rights .This is provided via the Services of the Register of Real Propertyand Public Registry (KADOR), which make the legal status of propertyaccessible to the public. This requires the maintainance of a goodinformation system covering land lots, real entitlement and realrights. Developments in this field are to be expected due to an in­creased demand for information regarding the status of property inpublic law and its use.In addition to these important functional aspects of the real estatesituation other topics can be mentioned, such as property rates, thecharging with the waterboard rates, etc. for which the MVRO is an im­portant source of information. A number of information systems existwithin the Ministry, such as those of the Central Directorate ofHousing (CDV), the Government buildings Service and the InformationSystem for Physical Planning in the Netherlands (Insyron) maintainedby the National Physical Planning Agency (RPD). For the properfunctioning of the MVRO it is important that there should be theoptimum transfer of information between these services.The investigation described here arose out of the need of the MVROto draw up an i nvent ory of possible geocoding methods. The core ofthe matter is the requirement for methods of location identificationwhich will permit the most effective recording of the data involvedand required so that the various streams of information can be rela­ted to each other and, as far as possible, can be integrated.In other words, the GEOCODING investigation deals with the spatialaspect of an information system which is of importance for the func­tioning of MVRO. The manner in which location identification is in­corporated in a spatial -oriented information system determines thepossibil ities of t hat system so far as the provision of spatial in­formation is concerned . It is not acceptabel that the application ofa particular method of geocoding should block the use and/or couplingof other methods, so that certain needs for information could not bemet. For this reason, it is necessary to investigate the possibilitiesfor and consequences of several methods of geocoding. The objectiveof the investigation was therefore defined as:

The aequisition of an insight into the eharaeteristies ofinf ormat i on requirements and t he possibilities of datas t orage and proeessing so t hat t he ehoiee of an optimumgeoeodi ng method is possible for th e different levels ofgeographi ea l seale whi eh are of importanee tothe f unet i on­i ng of t he MVRO.

To attain the objective it is necessary to consider the characteris­tics of MVRO's information requirements and the possibilities of geo­coding in meeting them. The two components are indissolubly bound to­gether. An information systems does not exist for its own sake; it isintended to provide answers to existing and future questions. Thefunctional usefulness of t he system is therefore determined by theextent to which it can supply such answers, or by how far the systemmeets the needs for information. In the case of a spatial-oriented

- 3 -

information system for the MVRO, this means that the informationsystem must be able to answer questions concerning the allocationdesign and management of environment and in relation to the secu­rity of legal property rights.Investigations, and acquaintance with methods developed and put intopractise elsewhere, make it possible to arrive at a justified choiceof an effective method of geocoding, which will make optimum use ofthe data collected and recorded by many departments and organisationsfor meeting information requirements in the field of Physical Planning.Due to the wide-ranging and complex nature of the investigation it hasbeen divided into th ree phases:1. The preliminary investigationIn thlS phase an lnventorizatlon is made of on the one hand the charac­teristics of the existing information requirements, and on the otherhand the characteristics and possibilities of various methods of geo­coding which may be of importance for the funct ioning of the MVRO. Theinformation requirements arise at various spatial levels of physicalplanning, so that it is necessary to examine how that can be assembledat each level, how different data files at such levels can be integra­ted with each other and how the data concerned can be processed toyield the information requested. In this analysis, only the technicalaspects and methodology are considered. Organizational and economicaspects are beyond the scope of the preliminary investigation; theyform a discussion point in the succeeding phase (see also p. 27).This investigatory phase will result in a further elaboration of theproblem-definition and concrete proposals for the following phases ofinvestigation.2. A comparative investigation of geocoding methodsIn thlS phase a number of geocoding methods selected in the prelimina­ry investigation will be more-closely compared as regards their poten­tial for meeting the needs of various demands for information, and thepossibilities for (dis)aggregation as necessary for different policylevel s.3. The preparation of a number of case studiesSeveral case studles wll1 be made ln order to support the results ofthe 2nd phase of investigation. They will include practical tests ofthe utility of specified geocoding methods in different possible appli­cations.

In 1979 the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning commissioned theResearch Centre for Physical Planning to carry out the first phase ofthe investigation. The report describes the i nvest i gat i on and the mostimportant results are given in t he Summary.

2

2

- 4 -

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS OF IMPORTANCE TOTHE MVRO.

2.1. GeneralWithin the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning (MVRO) informa­tion is collected, processed and disseminated for several purposesand at different locations. Usually, information with a spatial di­mension is involved. In the first phase of the study the questionposed was that of the optimum method of spatial references in thevariously-oriented collections of data . A background factor was thedesire to arrive at a spatial-oriented information system whichcould meet the information requ irements of the MVRO. In the analysisof the information requirements it was decided, mainly for practicalconsiderations, to perform a funct ional analysis of the MVRO i n ge­neral and of the departments invol ved - RP D, CDV and KADOR - in part­icular, since they can be regarded as impor t ant users and publishersof information within the Min istry.The starting points are the existing organization and departmentswith their explicit and implicit (policy) objectives. Subsequently,a description and first analysis of the various possible methods ofgeocoding were made. Comparison of the results from these two start­ing points led to a number of conclusions regarding the method oflocational identification which would offer optimum possibilitiesfor use in a spatial-oriented information system for the MVRO .The total of the spatial units forms an entity. This is the spatialsystem, and can be described as "a collection of connected elementsof the built-up and unbuilt -up areas, and the activities and actorstherein contained with their mutual relationship and interactions".The spatial system has, therefore, aspects of location and relation.The policy with respect to physical planning is thus also concernedwith the locational and relational aspects of the spatial system.It is the concern of on one side various levels of government andon the other of various departments on the same level . Each levelhas its own primary responsibilities, subject however to the exami­nation and management powers of the higher levels of government. Theintervention of Government in one sphere of activity usually has aneffect on other spheres. This introduces the need for horizontal andvertica l co-ordination.The Ministry is responsible f or the central co-ordination of act iv­ities regarding physica l planning and housing : the facet policy forphysical planning and the sector policy for housi ng. Co -ord inationof both the sector and facet poli ci es i s essential . In order to im­plement such co-ordination properly, it is necessary that therequired information should be obtained and transmitted. The infor­mation to be acquired and supplied by that process is of essentialimportance for the degree to which such co-ordination can be achived.Due to the independent relationships regarding the provision of in­formation, the acceptance of a uniform spatial-oriented informationsystem is precisely the major factor in the functioning of physicalplanning in the Netherlands. The possibility of participating insuch a uniform information system would stimulate further acceptanceby the lower levels of government and the social and economic part­ners.

- 5 -

The argument for this is two-fold:- the importance of unity of information for government departmentsconcerned in the preparation and execution of a given policy;- the incidence for the information suppliers (local government)since they could themselves make use of the information system or apart of it .

2.2. Departments within the MVRO

The National Physical Planning Agency (RPD) is charged with policypreparation at the national level: the policy of creating conditionsin the long term, and the policy of regulation in the short term.For this purpose, it carries out investigations and gives adviceregarding physical planning, and is active within the framework ofthe general supervision of the observance of the Physical PlanningAct. The groundwork for the task, which is laid on the RPD, is thecollection, analysis and evaluation of information concerning deve­lopments in Netherlands' society in which a spatial component can berecognized. For the national policy, the national developments areof primary importance, together with regional differentiations (pro­vinces, regions), followed by developments in urban areas (urbanregions). Information concerning this multiplicity of scale levelsis required. Among others which can be mentioned are information inthe field of urban renewal, living and environmental conditions,growth centres, intraregional and interregional migration, popula­tion figures etc. Great attention is paid to investigations sup­porting policy preparation, as well as to the policy preparation it­self.On the one hand the investigations are directed towards relation­ships within the spatial system, such as migration phenomena andwelfare provisions, and on the other hand towards the proceduralaspects, such as the decision-making and planning processes. An in­formation-supply system is being developed to gather and processthe required information within the RPD.The sub-division Information System for Physical Planning of theRPD is responsible for the development of an Information System forPhysical Planning in the Netherlands (INSYRON). This aims at "thecreation of a central point from which relevant information can besupplied to support investigative, planning and policy activitiesin the field of Physical Planning". Started in 1968 as a ~o-ordi­

nation of infrastructure programmes, it must now form a basis forthe acquisition of more insight into the function of the spatialsystem as regards research, planning and policy. For this purpose,data of a demographic, economic, socio-cultural and ecologicalnature are recorded at regional and national levels. As far as pos­sible, the aim is to achieve decentralized data storage and cen­tralized co-ordination of the data files. Since it is not intendedto include all necessary and desirable information in INSYRON it­self, significant effort is made to trace information held by thirdparties, to make it accessible and, 50 far as possible, to harmonizeit. Precisely because of the facet character of the service, everyattempt is made to hold the methods of geocoding open and to makethem compatible with each other, with the object of making the in-

- 6 -

formation suitable for planological objectives.

The Central Directorate of Housing (CDV) is charged with the prepara­tion and execution .of housing policy: "the promotion of an optimumliving situation for every inhabitant". The general policy is formula­ted at national level, the practical execution of it is at municipallevel.This requires good co-operation between the various levels of govern­ment, for which an efficient exchange of information is of fundamentalimportance. The wishes of the individual as regards living and housingconditions are the starting point for the policy to be formulated. Inorder to establish the requirements for housing and living space, regu­lar investigations are made by means of opinion surveys.The municipalities are also requested to carry out a census as necesa­ry. On the basis of this sort of data, building forecasts and program­mes can be drawn up. For the formulation of the CDV policy it is desi­rable and necessary to link the individual dwelling/inhabitant anddwelling quality living conditions etc. to the more general (macro­scopie) starting points and applications of policy. This generallyrequires information regarding population, births, deaths, migrationand dwellings. The character of the CDV's information requirementswith respect to the RPD is less multilateral, but more specific. Forthis reason it is particularly unfortunate that, for example, dataare available on the total number of dwellings but not on the compo­sition of th at total. This phenomenon can also be observed in thecase of other parameters, such as migration. It is therefore of essen­tial importance for the functioning of the CDV, that the supply ofinformation should be improved, and from the source onwards - frommicro to macro.

The Department of the Register of,Real Properties and Public Regis­tries (KADOR) is a governmentally-established public record of pro­perty, or alternatively, a government service for performing tasks ofa public legal nature in the sphere of Physical Planning, land re­allotment, water boards, levying of taxes etc.The main objectives of the cadaster are:- promotion of legal security and protection of real rights concerningproperties. '- to make a contribution to an optimum policy for Physical Planning.The working unit of the cadaster is usually the parcel. Data concer­ning this are collected and issued for the benefit of government orthird parties in cases of title registry, (land), re-allocations, ur­ban and rural land use and similar . In this case the geographicalscale-level is mainly large scale, or the micro-level and, in the ag­gregate, the regional level.

The cadastral map, the cadastral ledger and the registers form thebasis for the activities of the cadasters. They provide a frameworkfor the administration of property. Since, together, theyreveal thelegal status and the constitution of property, they perform a keyfunction in the administration of data concerning real rights anddues. In addition, they are used for public and private legal purpo­ses (levying of taxes and clearance on endorsements).When the KADDR was set up the department had a two-fold objective:

- 7 -

in addition to providing a basis for ta x levies i t also provided acont ribution to legal security. However , the f iscal purpose of regis ­tration has in the course of time retreated into the backg round . TheKADOR has become a department for the collection, process ing anddissemination of localized information. The KADOR can now be regardedas an important souree of information regarding real estate, and forboth private persons and government department. In the activities ofKADOR, the stress lies on the provision of data and services , incontrast with the CDV and RPD which request in formation i n order t oprepare and execute spatial policy. The data wh ich can be providedare concerned with the use of land (cul t i vat i on) , the ty pe of bui l­di ngs and the real rights to the land which were and are exercised.These data are used in the designation of property, land re-al lotment,rural and urban provisions and the provision of major in f rastructu ralworks, the determination and management of the legal situation con­cerning properties. The parcel register of the cadaster is thus animportant souree of data, for both the CDV and RPD. Incoperat i onof these data into spatial-oriented information systems can t hereforebe considered as of extreme importance.

2.3. Conclusions regarding the information requi rements of the MVROSince the National Physical Planning Act came into force, it has beenpossible to observe th at a gigantic acceleration has ta ken place i nthe consideration of the approach to socio-economie developments ofspace, bottlenecks and possible solutions. Also observable are an in­creasing interlocking of spatial-oriented facet policies and spatial­affecting sector policies, and the consequent need f or co-ordinatio n.The funct i ons descriptions of the MVRO services involved show t hatt hese t asks diffe r not only in the content of t he rel evant data, but al soin the spatial scale-levels at which the data were processed and i s­sued. Within the scope of this study it is therefore concluded t hat ,in order to satisfy the information requirements and the co-ordina­ting functions of the MVRO, a "common spatial-oriented language"isnecessary, and that the data concerned should be made useable forseveral purposes.

Although the differences in the three MVRO departments can be la rge ,they also have much in common. Great similarities can be seen withregard to information requirements concerning inter al ia mi grati on,number of dwellings and urban renewal. In general it can be statedthat all three departments, in spite of their differences, have aninterest in and a need for a more-integrated form of informationregarding the spatial system and its functioning.What is involved is the spatial dimension of society as a whole andsociety's space organization in all its pluriformity.

It is not intended, within the scope of this study, to indicate pre­cisely which elements should be included in a spatial-oriented infor­mation system. Because of the complex nature of the spatially socio­economie problems, and the in principle inexhaustible needs for in­formation (still unknown so far as the future is concerned) this i sin fa ct impossible.

- 8 -

Any geocodi ng met hod considered must be so f lexi bl e that all localizeddat a and any of the l r rel at i onal aspects which are relevant to theMVRO, now or in the fut ure, must be in principle be enterable in thei nf ormat i on sys tem. In addition, it is essential that optimum pro­cessing of the dat a must be possible, so that the various informationrequirements can be met; t hat is to say, it must be possible to des­cribe the spatial system as such, to perform statistical calculations,to prepare topographical and thematic maps, to draw up forecasts andestimates, to evaluate possible alternative developments and to fol­l ow , to analyse, to interpret and to evaluate systematically (i .e. to monitor)t he actu al developments of the spatial systems.

It is not practisable to i ncl ude all disaggregated or micro data inone comprehensive central and integral information system.What is important is the linking of disaggregated items of data to aaggregated spatial scale-level. The optimum usefulness of a spatial­oriented information system for the MVRO therefore demands that thestarting point should be, not one data base or geocoding method fora more-or-less aggregated spatial scale-level, but to maintain thepossibilities of aggregation by various relevant divisions and oflinking methods. It is proposed in general that, for the functioningof the MVRO i n the sphere of housing, land registration and PhysicalPl anni ng, it is of great importance to set up an information systemsuch that it remains possible to interrelate data from the differentsources at the level of the individual dwelling/and or occupant, andat the various aggregated scale-levels such as housing market areas,urban agglomerations , provinces, etc, such data concerned with popul­ation, number of dwell ings, housing needs, migration, births, deathsand suchlike.

If , at the start, when an item of data is generated (e.g. parcel,address etc.), it is given a geOgraghical key identification and appro­priate aggregation procedures are a ded, the lnformation can, in prin­ciple, be derived at all spatial scale-levels. In othe r words, a con­sistent and uniform aggregation/disaggregation taxonomy is requirea-­ln order to permit mutual adjustment, reconclllatlon and compatibili­ty, so that unity is preserved along the micro-macro data line. Inthat event , the co-ordinating function of the MVRO can be satisfied,together with its extentions at various spatial scale-levels with dif­ferent area divisions relating to its management and planning activi­ties.Introduction of the geographical key in the common spatial-orientedlanguage must make it possible to include relational aspects as wellas locational aspects in the information system. The purely locatio­nally-dlrected data links are suitable for administrative purposes;for planning and policy, however, it is a necessary requirement thatthe relational aspects should be added to those files . The combi na­tion of these aspects in a spatial-oriented information system musttherefore be considered as essential. These necessary conditions forthe establishment of a suitabel spatial-oriented information systemalmost speak for themselves.It should be remarked here that a spatial-oriented information systeminvolves not only the incorporation of a spatial dimension; suitable

- 9 -

processing programs are of equal importance. On the basis of givencriteria it must be possible, for example, to characterize (new)areas, such as areas in which there is a shortage of dwelling of aparticular type.Existing zonal divisions of ten fail to satify the requirements ofplanners and researchers. The definition of new areas such as housingmarket areas must be possible in order to meet those requirements. Newdata files must be built up for newly-created zonal divisions. Inaddition to the ability to form the required areas and the creationof data files, different analyses must be capable for application. Toname a few: accessibility and feasibility analyses, allocation ana­lyses, network analyses, progress analyses (process monitoring ).The results of these analyses must then be publishable in the form ofthematic maps and tables, etc . These present the information reques­ted. In practise, the above-named are far from satisfied, due to theabsence of the spatial dimension in existing information systems . Itis therefore useful and necessary to discover which gaps and problemsexist, and whether it is possible to find solutions. For this purpose,the possibilities of the various methods of geocoding should be exa­mined.

3

3

- 10 -

3. METHOD5 OF GEOCODING.

3.1. General

For the description of locational and relational aspects it is of im­portance to link a spatial dimension to the data, as far as it isrelevant. This also offers the possibility of including the spatialstructure (a map) in a spatial-oriented information system. Thisstructure can be defined by means of the structural relationships be­tween the pysical objects by using (infrastructure) networks. In thisway the relational characteristics as well as the locational charac­teristics can be linked to a infrastructure network. The relationalcharacteristics in particular must be regarded as fundamental for theinformation system, since the physical spatial policy is to an impor­tant degree determined by spatial separation, the relative locations.For object reference, two types of relationships can be recognized:1. geometrical relationships, in which the ·l ocat i on and the form of

the objects are lncluded in a common co-ordinate system (the abso­lute location or co-ordinate structure),

2. toeological relationships, in which the location of the referenceobJects are established with respect to each other (the relativelocation or relationaT structure).

Networks are providing the means of connecting the two types of re­lationships in practice. With these, particular spatial operationscan be performed either separately or together. The topological op­erations, based on graph theory, offer the possibility of 'pathfinding' , allocation programming, zonal formation and zonal circum­scription. Geometrical operations make it possible to localize his­tori cal data, whereas the topological identification no longerexists. The two types of relationships therefore supplement eachother. In combination they will provide, in principle, the spatialdimension in a spatial-oriented information system. The question isthen: in what manner can these relationships be included in a spatial­oriented information system?With the aid of geocoding methods, a reference system can be builtup with which property objects and (socio-economic, statistical)data can be localized. Various data can then be established andlinked together on a spatial basis; spatial-related statistical ana­lysis can also be carried out and the results obtained (analysis)presented graphically by means of topographical or thematic maps.The technical aspects, such as the intrinsic characteristics of soft­ware, are beyond the scope of this study; what is of concern hereare the possibilities and results offered by methods of geocoding anddifferent applications. The three starting points which are of in­terest in differentiating the various methods of geocoding are:a. choice of basic spatial units: the smallest geographical and/or

administrative units to which information can be added;b. methods of representtng reality (i.e. the spatial system) in the

information system;c. methods of locational identification.

a). The basic spatial units .In general , the choice of the basic spatial unit as the locationalaspect of the spatial ' st ruct ure can be made from the following geo-

- 11 -

graphical and/or administrative units:1. administrative areas, such as provinces and municipalities;2. functional areas, such as catchment areas, census tracts and

post code sectors;3. blocks, such as areas surrounded by roads, waterways and rail-

ways and other separating features;4. segments, such as intersections of roads and other networks;5. objects, such as buildings and parcels.These areas do not form a hierarchic system, so that much overlap­ping is possible. The choice of the basic spatial unit at a small­scale level or more-regional level is therefore subject to restric­tions from two sides:- there is no information available concerning smaller units,- there is a restriction on the possibilities of aggregation into

larger units (because only combinations of those units is possi­ble) .

Careful consideration of the consequences is therefore advised inthe choice of a basic spatial unit. For the majority of CDV and RPDapplications it is the regional or small-scale level; for KADOR theparcel or large-scale level is of interest. In this connection itshould be remarked th at different zonal systems are of ten used inparallel at one spatial scale-level. For this reason, these spatialunits at small-scale level cannot determine the choice of basicspatial unit of an information system for the MVRO. The functioll­ality and applicability of a spatial oriented information systemare determined by the degree of detail of the data since, given aparticular level of detail, the division of data at a lower levelof aggregation cannot be performed satisfactorily or at all. Inother words, just as in the research of the characteristics of in­formation requirements, the maintainance of the micro-macro dataline is again essential for the functioning of an information system.The micro-level should therefore be the starting point in thechoice of the basic spatial unit. A basic spatial unit is a locatio­nal aspect of the spatial structure. A network has in fact no loca­tional function; a network introduces, via the tcoo l oqt cal relation­ship, the relational aspect of the basic spatial units or aggrega­tions of the latter. In this context, a network cannot be regardedas a basic spatial unit. The basic spatial units are, so to speak,suspended from the segments of a network; they act as informationcarriers.

b). r1ethods of representing reality in the information system.In the description of the spatial structure the relationship betweenthe real situation and the representation of the real situationshould be kept in mind. The real situation can be thought of asconsisting of objects such as buildings, superficial areas such asadministrative areas, and networks such as roads. These three ele­ments can be represented by the three basic elements of thosemethods of representation, namely points, polygons and lines respec­tively. It is however possible to represent areas by points. Gener­ally speaking the th ree figurative elements derived from the realityand the three methods ofrepresentation lead to a total of nine com­binations (see figure 1). Only the th ree combinations in which the

3

- 12 -

represent at i on corresponds to rea1ity are acceptab1e in a spatia1­oriented information system, i.e. objects represented by points,areas by po1ygons and networks by 1ines . In the other cases ei therdi s t or t i on or 10ss of information occurs. The consequence of theproposed representation is that a spatia1-oriented informationsystem wi11 represent the spatia1 structure by using points, 1inesand po1ygons. On1y when all th ree basic e1ements are used togethera complete representation of rea1ity wi11 be obtainab1e from theinformation system.A1most all the information systems in the Netherlands are on1y basedon at most two of the three basic e1ements and they are thereforenot adequate1y suitab1e as a spatia1-oriented information system forthe MVRO. An attempt to arrive at an integration of these threebasic e1ements must therefore be regarded as not on1y desirab1e butessentia1. On1y then wi11 it be possib1e to link up with each otherthe information systems which a1ready exist in the various depart­ments of the MVRO.cl. Methods of 10cationa1 identification.Objects and subjects can be given a 10cationa1 identification intwo ways, viz. by an externa1 index or by a co-ordinate identifica­tion. In the case of the externa1 index a code number is given to aparticu1ar area, e.g. school district 23. The geographical 10cationof school dist rict 23 is impossible to find without the use of amap. When a co-ordinate identification is used the map is, as itwere, transferred to the data file. In this case, all manner ofgeometrica1 operations can be performed, such as distance andaccessibility ca1cu1ations. There is a1so the poss i bi 1i ty of auto­matic cartographic reproduction.

3. 2. The three basic methods of geocodingVarious methods of geocoding can be achieved with the aid of thethree basic e1ements. For the sake of good understanding the reportfirst discusses the methods of geocoding based on separate e1ements.The point method can be used as a reference for objects and areas.By addlng the co-ordinates, the point can a1so be reproduced carto­graphica11y and geometrie operations are possib1e. When the objectsand/or areas are sufficient1y smal1 there is in addition a goodagreement between rea1ity and representation. As the areas become1arger the degree of abstractness increases and the point acquireson1y asymbolie va1ue.In any case, only the reference points of the areas concerned areknown, and not their 1imits, so that without additiona1 information(e.g. a map) there is no know1edge of the size of the areas or oftheir re1ationships with their neighbourhood.In addition, the use of the point method a10ne is not to be recom­mended, since it cannot represent any network at all. The re1ationa1aspects of the spatia1 structure cannot therefore be represented,so that an information system based on the point method suffers frommany 1imitations.The point method can, however, be a good aid for the exchangebi1ityand comparabi1ity of basic spatia1 units, such as addresses andsimi1ar. By subsequent1y 1inking the point and 1ine method (for in-

Mainstreet

137

128

32

218-282

25

197-231

55

55

J L1855

32 282/ L137 0 Mainstreet 0128ll197 25 1 1

From nodeTo node

Co-ordinates from node

Co-ordinates to nodeRoad name

Type of road

Lef t - hand block

Addresses on left

Rig ht -hand blockAd resses on r ig ht

Left -hand zone

Rig ht-hand zone

- 13 -

real ity

point data 1i near data area data

representéltion

point agreement simp1ifi cat i on of rea 1ity(1055 of

1ine agreement informaticn )di stortion

polygon of rea lity agreement(1055 of informati on)

/

cp- -$- -EiJI \ II

\ I\\ I

C=r- - - E)6- - ËI

I

dJsegments

@ nodesbl ock re l at ionshi ps

Cl block ref erence point

Figure 2. Coherence and duali ty of a network of segmentsand blocks.

- 14 -

stance by means of projection) the earlier mentioned limitations canbe removed to a large extent.The line method is used to represent (geographical) networks, such asroad systems and boundaries. In a spatial-oriented information systemnetworks have in fact a two-fold purpose . On the one hand networksrepresent the physical structure of the spatial system and on theother hand they can be used as a reference for certain, more indi­vidual, data, such as addresses. The information is, as it were,attached to the lines or segments. A network is in fact a mi xed typeof information, consisting of intersections and lines; the interact­ions are points, nodes, (usually provided with co-ordinates) and theconnections between the nodes are the lines, which are also knownas segments or links. By adding co-ordinates to the nodes the seg­ments become fully localizeable. The network consists of segmentsfrom which directions can be recognized. This creates the possibilityof distinguishing the sides of the segments and of linking data toeach side. The latter can be achieved by projecting the points in­volved upon the segments. The data, which are now linked to the seg­ments, are of two kinds, namely the characteristics of the segments(infrastructure) themselves and the remaining characteristics of thespatial system, i.e. the physical or property elements, lying on orin the neighbourhood of the segments. The segments can then functionas information carriers in the data file . They are in fact a distri­bution key referring to other data files and as a carrying unit theycan function in analytical and planning methods. The segment filethus functions as a geographic base file, with which a number ofoperations are possible. In particular, topological and geometricalrelationships can be established; this is a great advantage comparedwith the point method.The polygon method is a method by which a given area is identifiedby describlng its contour and in which that area is considered as abasic spatial unit too . The information is concerned with the areaas a whole and not over the distribution within it. From a methodolo­gical point of view, the polygon method (also cal led the area method)is an extension of the point method, since in addition to a nominalcode (external index) for the area, the boundaries are defined too.In spite of the defined boundaries of the areas, the polygon methodis limited in its possibilities. This ·method allows only the loca­tional aspects of the spatial structure to be indicated. Withoutlinking the line and the polygon method, the matter is not useablefor a spatial-oriented information system, since it does not includeany relational aspects . With the polygon method two types of areascan be distinguished, i.e. th ose with equal size and shape and otherareas. Use of the first type of area is well known under the name ofgrid method. A grid of squares, to which the information is linked,is laid over the area under consideration. In the case of irregularsi zes and shapes, the concept "organi c areas", or zones is used. Ingeneral, information is required on organic areas, in which casessquares are used to represent these areas .

Consideration of the individual basic methods of geocoding shows thateach of them has i t s limitations. These methods can only supplementeach other and need to be integrated obviously. Therefore a spatial­oriented informationsystem forthe MVROschould be aimedatsuch integration.

- 15 -

3.3 . Aggregation procedures

As f ar as the spatial dimension is concerned, a s pat ial-orient edinformation syst em can be build up in a central ized and a modularmanner. All data files based on the point method, such as addresses ,can remain as independent units. By adding only the re l evant segmentcode, a spatial structure is i nt roduced , linki ng with ot her file s isachi eved and the basis i s laid for appl ication to small scale l evel s,such as housing market areas and urban areas. Thi s ty pe of appli ca­tion has become possible thanks to the very important addition ofthe segment method in the American DIME (Dual Independent Mappi ngEncoding) system (see figure 2). The application of the line methodalso implied the creation of bloc ks ; the se are t he areas which ar esurrounded by the smallest possible number of segments . The rel evantdata are then either linked to the segment side of a bl oek, or l in kedin combination to the bloek, or both.Starting form these possibilities, aggregation towards l arge r uni tscan take place. This is very important since many appli cati ons ofthe MVRO invol ve the small scale level. The segmen ts are t he infor­mat i on carriers and they can be easily in tegra ted i nto blo cks, neigh ­bourhoods and other types of areas.The aggregation of segments can be divided into two groups:a. locational aggreg ation, in which segments are combi ned on t he bas i s

of land use or other criteria on each side of the segme nt .b. relational aggregation, in which segments are el iminated on t he

basis of characteristîcs of the segments themselves.Locational aggregation can in turn be divided into two categories ,i.e. block aggregation and segment aggregation . In the l ast casegrouping can take place by combining segment s ides, on t he basi s ofparti cula r criteria, to form arbitrary new areas. In sueh cases itis possible to locate the boundary in the middle of the roa d, i .e.the segment, or in a manner of speaking to set the boundary behindthe entrance of the buildings along one of the two sides of the road.In the case of block aggregation, the information is in fact addedto the segments beforehand, fo rming bloc k information , which, bycombining blocks forms group information. Since, at the start of t heprocess, no difference is made as far as the in formation on the di f­ferent segments is concerned, block aggregation can be consideredas a fairly crude form of aggregation. In contrast, aggregation onthe basis of segments is much more precise . When cri teria accuracyand the diffe rences at the boundaries are important , segment aggre­gation is perferrable. The two locational aggregation methods areaggregations in which the intrinsic characteristics of the networkstructure play no part; it is concerned rathe r with the characteris­tics of the land use on each side of the segments. The newly-formedareas are , t rue enough, surrounded by segments but the latte r nowhave the function of boundary instead of a function as channel ofcommunication. In order to preserve the characteris tics of the spa­tial structure in the information, it is necessary to aggregate thesegments as well as the land use , 50 th at a suitable small-scalenetwork remains. Such aggregation of segments for relational consi­derations generally takes place by removing segments of low orde r.The degree to which segments are removed depends on the appl ications

- 16 -

aims. There are thus two lines of aggregation, i.e. locational andrelational aggregation. In this manner, for example, the urban areadivision and the corresponding traffic infrastructure can be derived.After the aggregation procedure it is necessary to connect both lineswith each other, so that the areas created can again be linked tothe infrastructure of the reduced networks.The simplest method of doing so is to project the reference pointsof the areas (i.e. centroids) upon the segments. Following this,normal applications of statistical and geometrical analyses can beused.

3.4. A spatial-oriented information system

With the aid of the aggregation methods described above all interimstages of the micro-macro data line can be reached, and thus cross­sections of the spatial structure can be taken at any scale-level.If a spatial-oriented information system is set up in such a way thatthe requirement to preserve the micro-macro data line is met, thepreceding aggregation and th us also the disaggregation proceduresare uniform and consistent. For obtaining a cross-section at a givenspatial level, in principle two methods of approach are possible. Anaggregation can be made starting form the micro level and from themacro level disaggregation can be carried out. In other words, aspatial scale-level is attainable by means of a "bottom up" or "topdown" approach; the choice of approach depends on the aim of theapplication and on practical considerations. From the foregoing itappears that various zonal divisions are possible at different scale­levels. The following division can be envisaged. The first half con­cerns all the divisions lying between national level and the muni­cipalities, and the second half involves divisions of an intramuni­cipal nature. The last group of intralocal zonal divisions is achiev­able by means of a polygon aggregation from the microlevel (the"bottom-up" approach), whi 1e the fi rst group can be thought of as anaggregation from the municipal level, supplied with municipal data(the "top down" approach).The top down approach can be regarded as an independently createdzonal division at a higher level than the municipality linked to an(infrastructural) network, which can be sub-divided as necessary. Inspite of the limitations, since a considerable amount of data isavailable at local level and the construction of regional networksis fairly simple too, so that the use of the top-down approach withthe municipality as the basic spatial unit is very attractive. Thissystem can be made operational in a very short time. Such an approachwith zonal divisions at a regional level, all kinds of statisticalanalyses can be carried out and information can be provided for policy­making questions. In addition, this approach is very attractive be­cause, when the bottom-up approach becomes possible for an increasingnumber of municipalities, it can be absorbed in the top down approachvery simple. The two methods of approach offer possibilities for thedevelopment and creation of a spatial-oriented information system,because of their consistency and uniform properties. It is, however,not necessary that the system should solely and completely be basedon the micro-level. A start can be made from the macro-level simul-

- 17 -

taneoûsly. When certain scale-levels with given zonal divisions arerepeatedly required, a sub-system of the spatial oriented informa­tion system can be developed by proper choice of a reduced networkand associa ted zones (areas and/or grids) . For example, use can bemade of a t runk road network of the Netherlands with the pr ovi ncesand/or housing mar ket areas linked to it. In addition, a provinci alinfrastructure network can be constructed, to which urban areas canbe linked, or an urban network with dictrict areas. The informati onalready available can then be added to the i nf ormat i on system andsupplemented with the additional information resul ting from t hebottom-up approach .The to~-down and bottom-up approaches are in fact supplementary toeach other. The setting up of a spatial-oriented informatioll systemon the basis of the bottom-up approach alone would be a time­consumi ng activity. It would then take too long before suff ic ien tinformation will be available at a regional level . For this reason,the bottom-up approach shoulá be selectively used in areas wherethe urgency is great. The top-down system would then ta ke care ofa national approach. For the realization of a spatial-oriented in ­formation system (see figure 3) the spatial system should be in­corporated in the information system through two lines as rega rdsboth structure and function . One line follows the network structureof the spatial system and the other one indicates the ki nd andlocation of the activities concerned.On the basis of a representation of the actual situatior., a networkstructure is derived via a topographical map and geocoding methods.This establishes the localisation of the various physical elementsas well as the related activities. For this, t hree sub-structuresare derived, viz.: 'a. a mapping structure, showing the network and the co-ordinates,

so that cartographic representations and manipulations arefeasable.

b. a relational structure, in which the relationships between thespatial units, such as blocks, school districts, census t ractsand similar are established.

c. a traffic structure, in which the technical characteristics ofthe networ k are assembled.

These network structures together form the geographic base file,in which the whole structure of the spatial system is built up.From this file nodes, segments and all kind of zoning systems canbe derived.The relevant information can be suspended from these elements withthe aid of spatial distribution keys, and later compared and ex­changed. The spatial-oriented information system is aimed firstl yat improving the basic i nf ormat ion by recording the locations ofspatial activities in a number of base files. Examples which canbe mentioned include files for population, empl oyment , property ,labour vacancies, commuting relationships, migration, energy con­sumption, etc. Such files can be set up and managed either inde­pendentl y or in common. What is essential is that they shouldrelate to the basic spatial units and should also be providedwith locat'ional identifiers, the spatial-distribution key. Fromthese base files many types of working files can be derived .

•,Ic

4,

18

The spat ial sys tem

oJ .Itl:::l....Itl0.

'"'<'"....Itl3

I

'- - ~- -

.. - _..IIIII

t

I

II

I1I

, -~- ­II

'f.. - - ,

----- --rIIIII I

: I- 1

\\\\\\\\\\

,\ "- ,Trip ­data

Li nk­king I

Pro­gram I

Coor­di ­nateFi le

Link­kingPro­gram

Fil e Fil e

LinkkingPro­gram

Seg- Blockment

Registrat i on ofspatia lactiviti es

Manupula ti on andstructuri ngof data

Ar>plica­tion.program

App lica­t i onprogram

---.I,,IIIII

I '"I .~I,+-

' ",'"<tl.0

Net­workstructure

u.c0.<tlS-Ol0

'"~ap- Rela- Tra- "" Linkping tio- fic ki ngstruc nal struc I Pro-ture struc ture I gram

ture ,IIIII '"I

>,

'"__J ""dres

Seg-men ts il e

Appli ca­tionprogram

-0

sc:

'"'[o

.....<tl0.

'"'".s::I-

E

'"'".....'"e-,

'"c:o

:;:;<tlEs-.::c:

- 19 -

Certain l in king programs allow the data from the base f il es to belinked and, as necessary , to be aggregated and sor ted into f ileswith segments, co-ordinates, blocks, designated areas, regi ons, et c .Wi t h the wor king files thus obtained various applica tions can becarried out. As examples of such there are many types of st at i st i ­cal calculations, e. g. correlations, feasability studies, determi­nation of catchment areas , planning the allocation of facilities,thematic cartography and similar. For each information system,application programs are required in order to perfarm the necessa­ry calculations and thus obtain the desired information. From dis­cussions on the different applications it appears that good appl i­cation software can be found, such as DIME, NIMS, TRAMS, GIMMS,ODYSSEY and others. These software packages, developed abroad,were mostly prepared for special purposes and later generalized .Same of them are also reasonably transferrable for different typesof computers. There is also a gradual realization of the need,caused by the specific application possibilities, to integratethese packages from different countries. This has already beensuccesful in a number of cases. In this connection, attention isdrawn to current developments in software. Apart from an exten­sion of applications at local level, the software is being madesuitable for applications at regional level. Collaboration in thisdevelopment would result in a good opportunity to implement appli ­cations software in the Netherlands which would help towards asuitable spatial-oriented information system of interest to theMVRO.

- 20 -

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (FOR A SPATIAL-ORIENTED INFORMATIONSYSTEM FOR THE MVRO)

Recent years have seen important developments in methods of data pro­cessing. Until a short time ago the computer was used only as a calcu­lator, but due to the spectacular development of the equipment and theincreased insight into the possibilities of use, there is now a gene­ral tendency towards use as a general store for large amounts of data.Present-day society can scarely continue to function without the in­formation required by the policy-makers. This information must be re­levant, butmust al so be available quickly and timely, so thatdecisionscan be made in an effective manner.Due to the usually specific purposes of the various data files, no di­rect linking is possible. Great problems arise in the provision of in­formation due to, in particular, the choice of different spatial units(for establishing data), such as blocks, neighbourhoods, CBS censustracts and 500 metre squares. In many studies the greatest amount oftime (and thus costs) is spent on collecting and building up datafiles, which can hardly be used for other purposes. It of ten appearsimpossible - due to the different methods of locational identification­to relate data to each other. For the MVRO, where the needs of PhysicalPlanning and Housing require much data and information at various spa­tial scales for different and of ten overlapping zonal divisions, therequirement arose for an examination of the method or methods of geo­coding which would be applicable to meeting such multivarious needs .The object of the study for the MVRO is to arrive at a mutal agreement,and if possible co-operation, between the various departments in thefield of a spatial-oriented information system. Accordingly, thisstudy has been directed towards the characterization and possibilitiesof the various methods of geocoding as regards meeting those needs forinformation.It has become obvious that although various basic methods of geocoding,exist, separate application of such methods - as a basis for a spatial­oriented information system - fails to make use of a large number ofpossibilities and can in general even result in a blocking of the in­formation supply . For this reason, and from social and technical pointsof view, an integration of these methods is to be preferred .The most important conclusion from this study is that an integrationof the various methods of geocoding (point, line and polygon) will makepossible an agreement and co-operation between the MVRO departments inthe fields of spatial-oriented information provision . This conclusioncan be drawn despite the of ten large differences in the informationneeds at various scale levels. The possibility of the agreement is of­fered via the concept of a consistent and uniform construction of themicro-macro data line, making use of a 'common spatial-planning lan­guage' and suitable aggregation procedures . The different data filesand information systems of MVRO departments can then be integrated ina simple manner.It can be said that the KADOR is most concerned with the informationat the micro-level (large-scale level), the RPD on the large scale(dwelling/address files and 500 metre squares) and at small-scale le­vel, and CDV with information on individual housing needs, housingquality and object and subject subsidies mainly at municipal and re-

- 21 -

gional (small-scale) level. The data files built up by these depart­

ments are mainly locational in character. These data files can be use­

fullly employed by the addition of a relational component.

On methodological grounds it appears that a common spatial-planning

language for the both location and relational aspects of data and a

consistent micro-macro l i ne form the sufficient and necessary conditi­

ons for a spatial-oriented information system. There is also a syner­

getic side-effect, since an information system which meets these con­

ditions is also useable for a number of objectives of the various de­

partments of other ministeries as well as the provincial and local

authorities. In this connection, the recording of traffic accidents,

infrastructural property (street lamps, trees etc), hospital patients

energy consumption, subsidies, etc. can be envisaged.This studyhas produced a general inventorization and evaluation of me­

thods of geocoding. This is only the first step on the road to a spa­

tial-oriented information system (for the MVRO). A number of conclu­

sions have been formulated with regard to the requirements which must

be set for an effective spatial-oriented system to produce agreement

and co-operation of the various MVRO departments in the field of in­

formation supply .Different l ines of research have been set out to provide the basis for

the agreement and best-possible integration of existing sources of in­

formation and systems, in such a manner that the formulated require­

ments can be met. It is now important to consider what are the condi­

tions for the various existing information systems to remain or to be­

come decentralized and to be mutually adjusted with respect to the spa­

tial dimension.Precisely by the use of existing data files and information systems,

and by making use of developments in automation at the local level,it

is possible to arrive at a spatial-oriented information system at rela­

tively low cost, with the minium of modifications and in the short

term. A single comprehensive and integrated information system to meet

all the needs for (localized) information is thus to be avoided.

The second step concerns a further study of the different aspects.

In the succeeding phase the practical implications connected with

such a (decentralized) system should be examined. In this respect it

is also important - apart from the insights into content - to obtain

an insight into the organizational and financial consequences. For

this reason, nine research proposals have been formulated. The objec­

tives of these is to attain:A. a Unique Property Reference Number. For the administrative co-ordi­

nation of registration of address and parcels (see appendix A);

B. a Unique Property Reference Number, provided with co-ordinates, to

make possible geometrical and topological operations (see appendix

A);C. a segmented spatial-oriented information system for the consistent

and flexible processing of data according to any required zoning

system at any spatial sca l e-level;D. a regional spatial-oriented information system using the municipa­

lities as the basic spatial unit which will produce an operational

spatial-oriented information system in the short term;t. a local/regional spatial -oriented information system with districts

and/or squares as the basic spatial -unit as a particularization of

the regi onal set up;

- 22 -

F. orientation, implementation and development of software for (re­gional) spatial-oriented information-systems and testing out theuse in the Netherlands of program packages developed abroad;

G. organizational conditions for the vertical co-ordination requiredfor a consistent and uniform supply of information for the MVRO.

H. comparibility of polygon structures (districts) in time so that spa­tial developments can be analyzed;

I. comparability of different polygon structures on a cross-sectionalbasis to discover how squares can be adjusted to division by dis­tricts .

Proposals A, Band C involve the large-scale level . A and B are ai~ed

at making it possible to link and interchange address and parcel admi­nistrations. The creation of such a relationship between the two met­hods of locational identification, which are by far the most importantat that scale-level, offers the possibility of an importa nt gain ininformation, including the qualitative characteristics and ownershiprelationships of the (existing) housing stock . Proposal C entails thedevelopment methodology for the consistent and flexible reduction ofdata at this scale-level to provide the information required for anypolicy-relevant regional. division. In practice this proposal makes itpossible to expand administratively formed files into planning andpolicy directed information systems. Proposal C t herefore links upwith the first two proposals. However, it remains loose from them . Thedevelopment of a segmented geographic base file is possible withoutthe existence of a linking between the parcel and address administra­tions, although the information gain mentioned in connection with pro­posals A and B would not be obtained . Proposal C is also free in timefrom A and B; this research can be carried out without the need toknow the resu lts of A and B.Another line of research is provided by proposals D and E. These arebased on a somewhat more limited objective since municipalities anddistricts are used as the basic spatial unit . Balancing the limitationimposed by the relatively small scale of the basic spatial unit usedis the advantage that with this line a spatial-oriented informationsystem for supplying regional information can be achieved in the shortterm. By setting up this system in the manner proposed, a complete in ­tegration with a system set up along the large-scale line is assuredat a later stage.The optimum and effective use of the possibilities of an informationsystem requires a coherent collection of computer programs, or soft­ware packages . This is needed so that the information can be suppliedto the user in the form required.Several such program packages have been developed in other countries(Sweden, the U.S ., England and Germany, for example) .The third line of research proposed is the examination of the applica­bility of these packages to the situation in the Netherlands (propo­sal F.) . This proposal must be regarded as the basis for all precedingproposals and must therefore be given a high priority .Proposal G is of a completely di f f erent type t o the foregoing . Whilethe latter were directed towards content, this proposal has a moreorganizational character . Because the munipalities are on the thres­hold of the automation of their data files, it is of great importanceto the MVRO to ensure that they retain their access to the supply of

- 23 -

exchangeable and comparable data.Proposals 11 and I concern particular applications of certain datastructures. These two proposals form a logical follow up from propo-da1 E. - .A more-detailed form of the propasals is:Proposa1 A: A Unigue Property Reference NumberFor the recording of real property elements, two methods of locatio­nal identification are used, namely the external index and co­ordinates.The address and the cadastral parcel number are two important exter­nal indices. If the purpose of the record is aimed at the propertyobjects the cadastral parcel identification is of ten used for iden­tification, while records concerned with persons and activitiesgenerally use the address as identification. To bridge differencesin identification, an administrative linking of address and cadastralparcel number is required through a Unique Property Reference Number(UVRN). Property elements can thus be recorded in a relevant and un­ambiguous mannel'.A cadastral parcel is a legal unit and may contain one, several orno addresses. In general , a park has no address, while an individualmay own several adjacent dwellings. In that case those addresses maybelong to a single parcel. The result is that different propertyadministrations may be based on differently identified basic spatialunits.Many such administrations have been established and are controlledby different organizations. There is thus no central organization foraddress records. Although the municipality is to be regarded as theinitial source of addresses, the necessary co-ordination does notoccur, so that, particularly as a result of ad hoc mutations, thereis ambiguity in the records. For example, the Revenue Office gathersinformation regarding the collection of taxes, and the CentralDirectorate of Housing also gathers much information concerning dwel­lings in connection with the building programme and the provision ofsubsidies, etc. With the recording of cadastral parcels, the actuallegal status of property information, the registry functions as acentral organization for many departments. In the case of addressrecords, such an organization is unknown. It appears that many addressfiles are compiled, processed and used at various levels of govern­ment. The necessary consistency is, however, still lacking. It doesnot appeal' likely that one of the lower levels of government will beable to act as the central co-ordinating body for the real propertydata files. The conclusion can there be drawn that, in order to im­plement an improvement in the provision of information in the fieldof Physical Planning, the central co-ordinating role in the provisionof information on property matters for the purpose of Physical Plan­ning should be assigned to a single central government organ. At themoment the RPD, in co-operation with the Central Bureau for Statis­tics and the Postoffice is working on a qeoqr-aph i caTly-or i entedaddress file. This is a locational data file in which addresses havebeen or are being linked to many types of zonal divisions. A linkingthrough the UVRN would bridge the differences between addresses andparcel records. With a UVRN it is possible to take into consideration

- 24 -

th e ownership relationships of such houses as well as the characte­ri sti cs of the ind iv idual houses. In t he succeeding phase of thegeocodi ng study, a feasihility study would allow research of thepossibilities and/or problems of such an appl icat ion; in view of theGovernmenta l Comm i ssi on for Nat i onal Automatisation and Coordina­tion (BOCO) study (the 'Bathmen' experiment ) and the act ivities ofthe KADOR in that regi on, the municipality of Bathmen appears verysuitable as a test area.

Proposal B: A Unigue proaerty Reference Number with co-ordinatesThe external ind ices , ad resses and cadastral parcel numbers , are orcan in many cases be given a co-ordinate identification . In the caseof an address, it is often the co-ordinates of the front door or theentry; combined with a parcel number it is the place at which thenumber appears on the cadastra l map . When the external indices arelinked (via UVRN) and used i n process ing (statistical analyses) theimplications for processing of the co-ordinate identification shouldbe examined .Linking the cadastral parcel and addresses is only one part of re­cordi ng at the micro-level . It is therefore important that the con­sequences for the co-ordinate i dent i f i cat i on should be examined. Theplace at which the parcel number is shown on the map is also thereference point for the parcel concerned . Division of such parcelsi nt o administrative elements will require a corresponding number ofnew ref erence points . These can be added i n different ways; thepossibilities requi re furthe r study.The co-ordinates of the reference points make geographical operationspossible. In addition, the topological rel at i onshi ps are also impor­tant. The reference points function as sources of i nf ormat i on andshould be provided with in formation carriers . In urban areas theidenti fication is usually indicated simply, i .e. the street pattern;in more rural areas there may be problems. From a methodologicalpoint of view it is advisable to examine this identification moreclosely as regards its consequences.

Proposal C: A segmented spatial -oriented information systemA segmented spatial-oriented information system conslsts of a numberof i nformati on sources which are connected to certain informationcarriers and are inter-related and processed by means of various pro­cessing programs. In this way, t he desired information is obtainedat a giv en, required spatia l scale-level . This is t he basi s of thebottom-up approach, in wh ich the data - ultimately from the microlevel - ar e converted into i nf ormat i on at the regional or sma ll ­scale leve l. In this connect ion three components must be studied:1. The integration of point, l i ne and polygon methods, so that all

types of different spatial -oriented data files can be related toeach other .

2. The setting up of a segmented geographic base f i l e , so that a com­prèhensive system can be developed for the exchange, testing , ag­gregation and processing the data in the various data files.

3. The creation of aggregation and processing softwa re that the dataare made available as information at the desired spatial scale­level.

- 25 -

In addition to the recording and identification of data at source,these data should, for a spatial-oriented information system, beprovided with relational characteristics, or in other words, thedata should be linked to segments of a network structure : the in­formation carriers. Moreover, a relevant network structure for thislevel should be available, in accordance with the needs for informa­tion at the various spatial scale-levels.For the basic structure of the information carriers, the data shouldbe linked to road segments and other infrastructural segments, 50

that the spatial-struct~re of urban and rural areas can be incorpo­rated in the information system. In other countries, particularlyin the -United States, Sweden, Germany and France, there is alreadya great deal of experience in the construction of such informationsystems and their co-ordination. It is therefore advisable to payattention to the possibilities and/or difficulties in the build upof such a system in the succeeding phase. The Eindhoven region ap­pears very suitable as a test region, since a geographic base filewas built up for the 1970 situation, and this can fairly easily bemodified to suit the 1980 situation.

Proposa1 D: A regional spatial-oriented information system withmuniciralities as the basic spatial unit

It is important for the MVRO to have avallable, wlthin the shortterm, a spatial-oriented information system operating at the regio­nal level. With the municipalities as the basic spatial unit, localdata as the source of information and an associated network as in­formation carrier, a regional or small scale spatial-oriented in­formation system can be set up in a simple manner and within a shorttime period.For the development of a regional spatial-oriented information sys­tem the already existing supramunicipal and regional data filesshould in the first place be modified by the top-down approach. Inthe second place they can be provided with regional aspects bylinking municipalities and distinct regions to associated networkstructures.In this manner, the municipalities can serve in the first instanceas the basic spatial units for a small-scale spatial-oriented infor­mation system, which can be made operationally very quickly. In thesucceeding phase an intermunicipal (digitized) network can be crea­ted to provide the relational characteristics, to which the municipalunits would be linked to give the locational characteristics. Thisplan offers the possibility of adjuisting, where possible and neces­sary, the various data fi 1es withi n the HVRO to each other and ofpromoting the co-operation between the various ~1VRO departments .

Proposal E: A local-regional spatial-oriented information system withdistricts and/or sguares as basic spatial units

In addition to a local and zonal divlsion, linked to a maln road net­work, it is also possible to provide more-local division of the rela­tional aspects. The district zoning system as well as the square zo­ning system can be envisaged as such. Since both types of divisionare important for census data, such a linking to a network structureis to be seen as not only desirable but even necessary. For that

- 26 -

reason it is advisable to examine the consequences attached to sucha linking procedure.

implementation and development of softwarefor re lona 5 atia -oriented informatlon systems

The informatlon systemsdescri ed previous y wi be real y function­al only when they include the necessary applications programs. In thecountries already mentioned extensive attention has been paid to suchsoftware. It is advisable to study the possibilities of using suchsoftware in the Netherlands. In the succeeding phase research wouldparticularly directed to the possibilities and difficulties when usedat the regional level. Availability of the software is no problem.The co-operation of the organizations in the co~ntries concerned canbe counted on.

Proposal G: Organizational conditions for the vertical co-ordinationfor the supply of information for the MVRO

At the local level, planning and work are concerned wlth local spatial­oriented information systems. To prevent municipalities developingsuch systems in their own individual fashions, and thus impeding themutual comparability, agreement and processability to more small-scalelevels, co-ordination at the national level is required. In Sweden,the United States and other countries such co-ordination is alreadyin an advanced stage. It is therefore advisable to study the co-ordi­nating structures and conditions in such countries and to produce re­commendations for the Netherlands.Several municipalities are already at an advanced stage as regards thedevelopment of spatial-oriented information systems. In order to en­sure the necessary co-ordinat ion, the Ministry of Housing and PhysicalPlanning, in co-operation with the Ministry of the Interior, shouldundertake the necessary steps.The stages tobestudied are concerned mainly with the manner in whichthe local authorities have or can store their data, with the objectof making it possible to provide information for the central govern­ment at regional and national level, and to ensure mutual exchange­ability and comparability . An important example in this report are thehousing data of the municipalities 50 far as they are concerned withthe composition characteristics of eXlsting housing stock. A uniformconstruction of the spatial-oriented information systems and (inte­gration of) software are important factors in this respect.

Proposal H: Com arability of ol on structures districts in timeZonal divisions are su Ject to changes in time. Wat are t e pOSSl i­lities of comparing the different divisions at different moments bymeans of given methods of geocoding. In addition to the top-downapproach attention could be paid to the possibilities of the bottom­up approach.For the cadaster and the RPD in particular it is important that thisshould be done. In the case of the cadaster what is involved are theexisting records of property data and the questi on of making themuseful for meeting information requirements. For the RPD, the impor­tant factors are the manner in which zoning systems are recorded andhow po~sibilities can be created for comparing such divisions in

- 27 -

time. Such comparison in the time should be an important part with­in the scope of the succeeding research. The Eindhoven region, al­ready mentioned as a test area, will be very useful in this respect.

Proposal I: Comparability of various polygon structures on a cross-section basis

Census tracts and grid systems are of ten used as the basis for an in­formation system. It is therefore important to examine how grids canbe used to cover those census tracts. The effect of grid sizes isnot yet adequately known. Since grid systems are as of ten used ascensus tract~ in the Netherlands, mutual comparability could be use­ful within the scope of the succeeding phase .

- 28 -

FINAL REMAR KSThis research on geocoding has been aimed at estimating the overallinformation needs of the departments within the tlVRO and at the cha­racteristics of the various methods of geocoding which can be of im­portance in supplying information for those departments. Concretequestions rel at i ng to information requirements have not been exami­ned. Only the intrinsic characteristics in the information require­ment s of the MVRO have been considered. At the same time an analy­sis has been made of the various possibilities of developing a spa­tial-oriented information system for the MVRO. What is involved isnot a single comp rehensive and integral system, but rather the con­ditions under which the various existing information systems canremai n decent ral ized and can be mutuall y modified with resoect to thespat i al dimension. In other words, it is concerned with the contri­bution which various methods of geocoding can make to the adjustmentand co-operation of the various MVRO departments in the field ofspatial-oriented information supply.The analysis cf this research has resulted in a number of proposalswhich merit further consideration. These proposals should howevernot be examined on their intrinsic consequences alone, but alsowith regard to the manner in which they can answer concrete ques­tions concerning information requirements. It is not practicableto carry out an exhaustive analysis of all concrete questions. Inconsultation with the various departments, a selection must be madeof a number of questions which are specific to and representativeof those departments, and which are suitable for application to thevarious methods of geocoding. .The examination of intrinsic content should be accompanied by exa­minations of technical, economie and organizational feasibility; acost-benefit analysis should also form an important part of furtherstudies.In the succeeding phase of the project a more-detailed consideration'of these fields will be of assistance in further research of a spa­tial-oriented information system for the MVRO.

A-I

APPENDIX A: The Unique Property Reference Number, UVRN

Al. Purpose of the UVRNFrom the research it appeared that one essential condition has toestablished for the good functioning of a spatial-oriented informa­tion system; it concerns a consistent and uniform micro-macro dataline. Conclusions and recommendations regarding this line have beenmade. It is of great importance that thi s line should remain intact,no matter what spatial scale level or cross -section of the spatialsystem is involved.A spatial-oriented information system can properly respect themicro-macro line only if the basic data are entered in the systemin an adequate manner. This means that in addition to the classifi­cation of data, th ere must be clearity and unambiguity as regardsthe basic spatial units as well as regards their identification.Attention has been given to data classification in the BOCO researchalready mentioned, 50 that the problems of identification of basicspatial units has to be dealt with in this appendix only.This appendix will examine the identification and recording differen­ces between cadastral parcel numbers and addresses.It will be shownthat it is really possible to integrate these two so-different num­bers into a unique property reference number, UVRN. The great advan­tage of such a number is manifold:- unambiguity between cadastral parcel numbers and addresses is

achieved;- a basis is provided for mutual comparison and linking of different

data files;- a framework is provided for setting up an administrative super­

vision;- a basis is formed for establishing the micro-macro data l i ne ;- a possibility is created for fitting the spatial-structure into

a data file and henceforth into an information system.The establishment of the UVRN is considered further in the followingsections. First of all the applications of the current spatial iden­tifications are discussed . Following this, a proposa1 is made regar­ding the UVRN and the appendix ends with a number of applications ofthe UVRN.

A2. Applications of spatial identifications

In addition to the preparation of maps, the KADOR maintains the re­gisters. This is an exten sive task since there are approximately6 million parcels, 2.5 million mortgages, 3.5 million title holdersand about 2 million mutations per year. Consultation of the registersand registry sheets is also frequent. It is not surprising thereforethat the KADOR has accepted the idea of automating the cadastral andmortgage registration system. In addition to the enormous quantitiesof information and documents which have t o be processed, it is im­portant in this connection 50 obtained can be used by third partiesfor the purposes of space destination, structuring and management.That is 50 say, it should be possible to 1ink up the information in­to planning and management units, and to compare it with other in­formation too. For this purpose, t he KADOR has set up a test projectinvolving about 100,000 parcels in the province of Zeeland. For that

A-2

area of the province a new data f i l e has been built up, or r ath er,a new data structu re has been devel oped. The most important conse­quence of the test project in Zeeland is t hat a rel ati onship isestablished between the cadastral ident ity and the arldres s; inother words, the location is given a nominal ide xing. Du e to achange in the structure of the data, the ledger number can be omit­ted. In any case, the changed structure makes such a number un­necessary by a combination of parcel number and owner. The t rans­ference of the cadastral records from an article-or ie nte d adm inis ­tration to a parcel-oriented administration provides the fo l lowi ngkeys for the provision of information.a. cadastral indication,b. personal information,b. address details of the parcels andd. co-ordinates.The addition of the addresses to the parcels however, cr eat es someproblems, since :_ not every parcel has an address ; and_ a number of parcels have several addresses.

Nevertheless, the addition of addresses must be rega rded not onlydesirable, but even essential, since mutual compari ng and li nkingthe different administrations requires an one-to-one relati onship .To meet this condition, a f ur t her subdivision of th e cadastral par­cels is necessary. Such a property system has been built up i n t hemunicipality of Eindhoven (Beneder-Bliz, 1973). The starti ng pointfor this system was that 'every department reta i ns the ful l respon­sibi lity and control of t he availabili ty of its own data fi les' .The files are mutuall y linked by a supervisory admi nistration, inwhich the site numbe r provides the identification.

Figure A.l: site numbering in the supervi sory admi ni st rat i on of themunicipality of Eindhoven.

cadastral situatio

rr--«:/

/ CJ ;':::7~c-, ;'1.,~ '" t 1

"-J . ' 1,~.", rÓ»

<«:site numb ering

topo~raphical

/ s i tuat i on;-----:--.J .

I 1/ Ij /.~ t--.L ;§-; .~ :~ .. r--« ,l-::§b i I .' lic:§ji/~f

1 '-...,;'. I

1

" 0 ' " • • --" 0 I - -- -

I .. 0 1"'. __ - - - \ 0' .. 0 & • . ,

I " 0 11111-- - - - ~ o· ..o •• .. . '

1-0 "'''-- ..

I _ 0 I ' OOt · , ' ' 0' .. 0 .. . . ·· "I:::::::== ::: :::::::::: .

Source: The property system of the muni cipality of Ei ndhoven,E. Beneder-Blitz; NGT, 1973.

A-3

The site is the smallest spatial unit in the supervisory administra­tion. As an administrative subparcel the site is to be regarded asa basic spatial unit and is established by means of a topographicalmap. The sites have thus na legal significance. Further subdivisiontakes place if the cadastral parcel is built up of several sites ofadministrative subparcels; see figure A.I.In the Eindhoven study under discussion a codification was establis­hed, in which the basis is the cadastral number, possibly extendedby one or the following letters. A further extension can be madeby adding a three-figure code for the vertical subdivision of housingcomplexes. In the Eindhoven supervisory administration the addressis added for those administrative subparcels which have an address.On the basis of experiences in the municipality of Eindhoven a studywas carried out by the KADOR, the SOAG (Foundation for Developmentof Automation in Municipalities) and the municipality of Eindhovencombined (KADOR, SOAG, Eindhoven municipality, 1975). In that reportan argument was made for the division of cadastral parcels into sub­parcels, consisting of well-defined and durable complexes. Thismeans in particular that streets, squares, large public gardens andhousing blocks are split off. This solution is not satisfactory forpractical purposes, since this subdivision is not oriented towardsaddresses and land-use functions. In this system there is still nadirect relationship established between the cadastral parcel andthe administrative sub-parcels. For this problems and others concer­ning the unambiguity of property relationships certain solutionscan be reported.In the Zeeland study of the KADOR the addresses are linked to thecadastral parcels, but na definitive subdivision into sub-parcelstakes place . One reason for this lies in the problems of accuratelymeasuring the sub-parcels. It would be a pity if such considerationswere allowed to prevent a further extension of cadastral registra­tion. Another reason could be that there is na official body tonotify mutations, sa that records of administrative sub-parcelscannot be maintained . This is a question of organization and issolvable.It has already been stated that the accuracy of the designation isa technical matter. According to be BOCO report, solutions are avail­able in the farm of line-interpolations and overlay structures . Whenmaps are prepared in digital farm such accuracy is not required(Koen and Schipper, 1979). What is involved here is not a juridicalidentification of properties. The conclusion must therefore be thata subdivision of cadastral parcels into administrative sub-parcelsis technically and organizationally possible, and th at topographi­cal characteristics can be introduced into the records by means ofsubdivision, sa that ur.ambiguity in the records is achieved. Inaddition the improved l egi bi l i t y of the cadastra l map prior toentering the subdivisions can be mentioned, but centrality of thespatial identification remains the argument, and for that purposethe cadastral system of property registration provides a good frame­work.The stud ies quoted earl ier were not able to meet the required needscompletely. A further research is still required. Since the inten­tion is to arrive at a data file containing addresses of houses andindustrial plants on the one hand and on the other a data file con­taining parcel numbers and addresses, mutual adjustment is ob-

A-4

viously needed.Such an adjustment requires the selection of a specific frameworkas a starting point. This can be found in the cadastral parcel ad­ministration of the cadaster. Due to the legal background of theadministration, which permits it to be regarded as fully balanced,the cadaster can very well play the central role as an independentand co-ordinating body.It is precicely the intensive relationships in the flows of theinformation between the KADOR, the municipalities and other govern­mental organizations which makes the cadaster so suitable a candi­date for a specific central role. In any case, the purpose of theregistry, to connect the actual rights and actual entitlements toproperty objects, provides a sufficient basis for the setting up,equipping and management of such a data file. In other words, theflow of basic data from the source to the various bodies shouldvery well take place via the cadaster.Moreover, the above argument can be reinfcrced by the fact thatthere is a need to streamline the collection of basic data. Up tillnow, the many bodies within a municipality have also collected data,without there being any real question of intra-municipal co-ordi­nation. The resulting inconsistencies can be prevented by thecreation of municipal offices for the provision of information, whichwill attend to the inter and intra-municipal co-ordination required,in consultation with the cadaster and other organizations involved.

A3. The Integration of property administrationsIn the foregoing section it was concluded that it is not only desira­ble but necessary to put in hand the integration of the various pro­perty registries. What is concerned is in fact the integration ofthe spatial identifiers: the address and the cadastral parcel number.This section puts forward a proposal for a Unique Property ReferenceNumber (UVRN). The proposal is in part taken from an English ap­plication involving the administration of property taxation: theVOPREN number (Behr, 1979) and the Eindhoven study. The constructionof a unique property reference number is not simply the assignmentof a certain number. The number must be on the one hand unique andon the other it must not be to complicated. This means in particularthat only the most essential aspects may be included in the numberand that all other aspects should be obtainable via a referencesystem. In addition it is desirable that the UVRN number should beuniversally useable, suitable for computerization and compatiblewith other data files. The UVRN number proposed here consists of anumber of groups which have the following characteristics:1. The administrative unit (municipality) number (3 digits).

The Netherlands are divided into administrative units on the basisof various criteria. Each criterion results in its own divisionand the use is dependent on the ohjectives for which the divisionis made. Management divisions are in general more stable thanadministrative and functional divisions. This argument suggests amanagement division on a basis of the municipalities. From thisthe regional and provincial units can be derived by summation ofthe municipalities. Subdivision of the municipalities into sub­urbs or districts as done by the CBS and the Post Office is notdesirable for the UVRN since on one hand the spatial structure

A-5

within a single municipality is umambiguous1y identifiable andon the other hand the complexity would be significantly increa­sed, while an external relationship with the place of residenceaccording to the CBS and the Post Office is simply established.Every municipality can be characterized by a 3-digit number; asan example, the municipality of Voorburg is characterized withthe number 624.

2. The street code (4 digits).Every street within a municipal ity can be identified by its ownnumeri cal code, consisting of a 4-digit number. In connectionwith boundary charges, whereby due to the amalgamation of muni ­cipalities identical numbers could appear in one street file,an alphanumerical character can be used. The Groen van Prinste­rerlaan in the municipality of Voorburg is in this case recog­nized under the number 4129 .The proposal is based on a numerical coding since such a codingis easily manageable compared with the use of street names.

3. The segment group (2 digits).Every street can be subdivided into pieces, the segments, as aresult of intersections with other streets. When astreet con­sists of only one segment, the number 00 is assigned, as withthe Groen van Prinstererlaan in this case.

4. The side code (1 digit) .A side code is necessary to determine whether the property liesto the right or left side of the street. In the event that thestreet is itself part of a side, an 0 is assigned, otherwisea 1 or a 2.

By means of the foregoing groups a unique number is obtained foreach street, accurate down to the segment side . This number con­tains 10 digits, which is longer than the Dutch post code but ismore suitable for local, municipal and supra-municipal activitiesin the field of destination allocation and managing the spatialsystem in the interests of the MVRO.5. The property number (5 digits).

Each item of property can be identified by means of éJ. number madeup of two parts:a. a house number of 4 digits below 5000, or if the property,

such as a public garden, has no number then a number of 4digits above 5000;

b. a postfix letter, such as is of ten used in the case of housenumbers.

An example is number 20 without postfix: 0020~.

By means of the property number in combination with the segmentgroup the item of property concerned is fully and uniquely identi ­fied. From now on this will be referreds to as the segment number .Now follows the linking with the cadastral number.6. The cadastral parcel number (9 digits) .

The item of property forms apart of the whole of alegal property.The number is built up of:a. a cadastral municipal indication of three letters;b. a section indication of two letters; and

A-6

c. a number of 4 digits.The additional municipal indication in the UVRN is necessary be­cause many municipalities have already disappeared from the ad­ministration, 50 that the current municipality of domicile andthe cadastral municipality may differ in name. The (former) ca­dastral municipal indication alone is insufficient, since no re­cords are maintained for superseded municipalities.The section indication serves as a reference to the cadastral mapconcerned, on whic~ the required number can be found. In theexample of the Groen van Prinstererlaan 20 in Voorburg the cadas­tral indication is: VO E 2289.

7. The site and/or block number (4 digits).The item of property indicated by the foregoing cadastral numbermay consist of a number of parts and/or sites (see figure A.I.)or of a single complex containing a number of flats. It is alsopossible that neither category is fitting, as in the examplequoted earlier; in that case only zeroes are assigned.Wher. te parcel or flat complex can be subdivided, aserial numberof 4 digits is desirable for each division of a cadastral parcel .This also provided a unique relationship with the property numberof section 5. In the example, no subdivision was made, 50 that noserial number need be assigned, and 0000 is used.

From 7 groups and 28 digits or characters a Unique Property Referen­ce Number (UVRN) is built up which is outstandingly suitable for asupervisory administration, or a central administration, of propertyinformation. In the example of the Groen van Prinstererlaan 20 (lefthand side) in Voorburg, with the cadastral indication VO E 2289,the UVRN number is: 624 - 4129 - 00 - 1/0020 - 0/V00 - E0 - 2289 ­0000In the more general sense the Unique Property Reference Number ismade up as follows:

AAA BBBB CC D EEEE F pPp QQ RRRR SSSS

municipality segment number cadastral parcel no.municip.

street side postfix section divisionno.

The UVRN creates a unique number consisting of: unique address andnumber on a segment basis, and a unique parcel number with any divi­sion. This number provides various entry points into different ad­ministrations. It is possible to distinguish between:- cadastral parcel;- cadastral subparcels or sites;- street and house number;- street;- street segment;- municipality.All these different groups are connected to each other in a uniquefashion and this key gives the entry to other data files an possibi­lities. Some of these will be discussed in the following section.

A4. Application of the UVRNThe UVRN offers the possibilities of uniquely identifying items of

A-7

property and of fitting them into the spatial structure. In particu­

l ar , the la t te r ma kes the UVRN of inest imable val ue. In every case,

each item of property, such as a house, a factory , a park, is uni­

quely identifiable and can also be linked to a street segment., which

is in tu rn part of t he i nfrast ruct ure , as demonstrated in the fore­

going example. The unique segment number can serve as an entry to a

segmented geographic base file in which the segment is described

by its nodes and thei r co-ordinates (see also f igure A. 2.).Another application of the UVRN is the possi bi l i t y of physi cally

linking the cadastral number to the neighbouring or nearest segment.

The posi t i on of the cadastral numbe r on the map is or will be given

a nominal point indi cation with co-ordinates. By projecting this

point on the nearest segment, of which the co-ordinates can also be

dete rmined, the linking can be brought about. This point can be

referred to as an 'access' point ard the connection as an ' access '

lin k. The advantages of connecting the cadastral point with a segment

i s that t he parcel is ci rcumscribed and the location of the parcel

is fitted to the infrastructure . This offers many possibilities for

studies in wh ich the spatial -dimension plays a part.An access point is determinable not only for cadastral parcels , but

also fo r all sites and unsubdivided parcels. It was remarked ear­

lier that a nominal point indication is also used in the address

administration . Since the UVRN has a unique address entry, that point,

which from the geographical viewpoint is the front door, can also

be included and connected to the infrastructure via an access p0int.

This poi nt represents not only a geographical enclosu re but, in most

cases, a possibility of physical enclosure as well, and because of

that it must be regarded as extremely valuable . Two access points

have now been defined . To distinguish them from each other the

first will be a cadastral access point and the second an address

access point .The address access point can play a very impor t ant part in aggrega­

tion and distribution problems. In many cases, for example the assign­

ment of an address to an area which is not determined by segmen ts

(e.g . a grid), it i s of importance to know to which segment an

address belongs and whe re the address lies on that segment. This

determination of the location becomes possible through the deter ­

mi nat i on of the address access point . The address access point is

than of further use in the assignment of other areas , such as grids

and functional and managements. See also figure A.2.From the structure of the UVRN i t appears that many advantages can

be gained. Not only is an integration possible between cadastral and

address f iles, so that supervisory administrations can be created ,

in addition, the spatial structure can be taken into account in the

administration. This i s in fact the determining factor for the crea­

tion of a spatial or iented information system f or the Ministry of

Housing and Physical Planning. In this report it should be noted

that in this section only the micro-level of that information system

has been considered, this forming t he basis of t he micro-macro data

line . In othe r words, the UVRN forms the basis for a spatial orien­

ted information system.

A-8

Figure A.2.: Construct ion of access points.

I11 1 28_ ·_0

numbe r

Ki ngs road

I 0

cadastral parcel L....,------l

B

II

III

II '

137 0 _ • _ • _ • L ._I

l :1A5 . Summary and conclusionsFor a spatial-oriented information system i t i s necessary that therequired information should be made available at vari ous geogra phf­cal levels. For the sa ke of convenience the mic ro, di st ri ct, mu ni­cipal-regional , provinci~l and macro levels can be considered . Theselevels should be mutually connected in a consistent manner. Onlywhen the large- scale data are correctly aggregated it possi bl eto der ive the small-scale data and to provide adequate information .Division of small-scale information can only be made if the 'mi cro­macro' data line from bottom to top and vice versa remains exclu­sive .The micro-level is the principal subject of this appendix. It con­cerns the reco rding of property data at cadastra l parcel and sitelevel. Further subdivision of objects within an administrative si teis beyond the scope of this study, although the proposa l could pro­vide a suitable framework for such a subdivision. At the micro l evelthe various property records can be integrated in such a way as t oform the basis for a spatial-oriented information system. For thatpurpose the various spatial identities should be integrated wi theach other. A proposal for that integration has been made in t hi sappendix. The most important identities which should be consideredfor integration are the cadastral parcel number, t he address andthe spatial structure. To enable this integ ration a uni que property

A-9

reference number, UVRN, has been developed. The number consist of

7 groups and a total of 28 positions.The groups are:- the (current) municipality;- the street number;- the segmpnt division;- the side code;- the house or object number;- the cadastral parcel number;- the site or block number.The UVRN offers the possibility of linking administrative and co­

ordinate files. From the address the municipal administrations can

be covered, the cadastral indication serves the taxation and title

files, and the segment provides the connection with the infrastruc­

ture network. Co-ordinates can be linked to these three elements

so that the whole spatial structure is determined. The development

of the UVRN provides the reasoning for thi basis of the development

of a spatial-oriented information system. By using suitable proce­

dures all the required geographical scale levels can be derived

for the purpose of designating and managing the spatial structure.

What is important for the micro-level is the body which will be

responsible for the organizational and co-ordinating tasks. This

appendix suggests that this central role should be played by the

cadaster.

1. VONK, F. P.l~ .

Rece nt metropol i t an development s in North-\·iest Europe:an eval uat i on.July 1976, 16 p.

2. VOOG D, J.H .Concordance analys i s ; some alternative approac hes .July 1976, 18 p,

3. VOOGD, J.H .Dec is iomnak in g and mul t i f unct ional regi onal problems;towa rds a zonal eval uat ion me t hod for pur poses ofregi onal plan ning.July 1976, 29 p,

4. EST, J.P . J.M. van.CADSS: concentra tion and de con centr~iQn s imu ltation study;

a spat i al mo del for · poli cy, des ig n and resear ch.July 1976, 23 p.

5. VOOGD, J .H.The representation of the spat i al di mens ion i n urban andregion al pl anni ng: probl ems and possibilities (Dutch1anguage ) .Ja nuary 1977, 48 p.

6. EST, J .P .J.M. van, and A. · van SETTEN.Calibration me t hods : appl ica t i on for some spa t i al dis tr ibution

model s .Apr i l 1977, 49 p.

7. ZU TPHEN, H.J.A. van.The legis lative aspects of regiona l plans (Dutch l anguage).

Septe mber 1977, 22 p.

8. LANGEWEG, P.H.R.Objectives : definitions and applications of regional plans

(Dutch language) .Novembe r 1977, 51 p.

9. POST~~-van DIJCK , J .E.J .M., G. SLOB , H.J.A .van ZUTPHEN; in co­

operat ion with P.H.R. LANGE WEG; rev isi ons t o and adjustments of

Eng l ish Translation by A.S.TRAVI S.r10nitoring and adjustment of regional plans;a summary report of

an inqu iry conducte d at the reques t of the Dutch Inter- Provincia l

Physica l Planning Consultat ive Committee , October 1978, 70 p.

11. SETTE N, A. van, and J. H. VOOGO.A comparison of opti mization methods for ordinal geometri c scaling procedures;with a geographical perception analysis of the regi onal l i vi ng attractivenessin the Net her l ands.November 1978, 75 p.

12. HEIDA, H.R., H.E. GORDIJN and M.V . BESSELAAR.Mai n t rends in mi gration in the Net herlands; memorandum concerning the ma intrends in volume, di rection and compositio n of mi grat i on streams in theNetherlands in the sixties and the beginning of the sevent ies .October 1978, 42 p.

13. NIJ KAMP, P. and J.H. VOOGD.The use of multidimensional scaling i n evaluation procedures ; methodol ogyand application to an industrial location probl em.November 1978, 44 p.

14. EST, J .P.J.M. van, and A. VAN SETTEN .Least squares procedures for a multi pli cative spat i al di str ibut ion model.November 1978, 49 p.

15. AYODEJI, O.Some fundamental issues about modellin g in regi onal and urban planning.February 1979 , 88 p.

16. ALBERTS, W.The wind and town planning: a study of the rel ation of wind effects aroundbuildings to town desi gn.December 1978, 63 p. (Dutch language).

17. SETTEN, A. van, and J.H. VOOGD.Interaction modellin g under fuzzy ci rcumstances.July 1979, 30 p.

18. SLOB, G.Developments concerning the regional plan.(Dutch language).January 1980, 24 p.

19. OP 'T VELD, A.G.G., and H.J . P. TIr1 MERMANS.Tempora l changes in the reta iling component of the Dutch Urban Sys tema Markov appraoch.February 1980, 29 p.

20. EST, J.P.J .M. van.An inter-regional migration model: a disaggregated approach.August 1980.

21. DIELEMAN, F., and A.G.G. OP 'T VELD.Quantitative Methods in Dutch Geography and Urban and Regional pl anningi n the Seventies: Geographical Cu rricu lla and Methods Applied in the "SpatialSciences" .August 1981, 42 p.

22. EST, J.P.J. M. van, and L.A. SMIT.The spatial dimension of an information system for the r~VRO .

August 1981, 28 p.

"es;sss

t DELFTSCHE UITGEVERS MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.