Bennekom, 8 March 2024

How to find the USAGE data?

In Summary: our partner GeoCat is happy to provide an SDI solution for the USAGE project so the USAGE (meta)data can be published, discovered and used by all


We as GeoCat are happy to be part of the USAGE project, collaborating and exchanging ideas and knowledge with all people in the project and beyond. 


For the USAGE project GeoCat has setup and provided an SDI (spatial data infrastructure) solution, called GeoCat Live, this service comes with a catalog, GeoNetwork, a map server, GeoServer and a spatial database, PostGIS. All of which are open source software solutions.


USAGE upcoming new  GeoNetwork interface

You can have a look at usage.geocat.live

The catalog helps everyone to publish and open their metadata and makes it possible to find and discover all the data we create in the project and pilot cities. The catalog uses OGC standards (ISO, INSPIRE, DCAT) for creating and retrieving metadata.

During the project we realised we needed another way for presenting the metadata. A way that will make it easy to find and explore all the (meta) data from the project. To be able to do this we started designing and developing a new user interface for GeoNetwork. Designing a way of searching people are used to, so using GeoNetwork will be familiar and easy.

All the metadata is created directly in the catalog or harvested from the catalogs of the pilot cities. After harvesting this metadata will be automatically translated and stored. This new translation service is developed for the project and will be shared with the community.


Screenshot of the new interface that is being developed

In the USAGE project we develop new tools and algorithms, we are building a new template in GeoNetwork to describe them and make sure everyone can find these tools and algorithms and use them. 


Next to the catalog we have GeoServer, software that makes it possible to make beautiful maps with the USAGE geospatial data. These maps are linked to the catalog so everyone can find and enjoy them. We added extra storage for the large files we use (Tiff, COG), this storage is also used as a central exchange of data between project members and pilot cities. Data that can be used directly in your desktop GIS.


For publishing the maps to the internet GeoCat Bridge for QGIS is used. Bridge is an open source plugin for the QGIS, developed by GeoCat. You can load the plugin via the plugin manager from QGIS. GeoCat also has a Bridge extension for ArcGIS and ArcMap.