Services in support to Danube Strategy


Web-GIS System SmartCover -
Representation of harmonized spatial Database, developed within the framework of Project "SPATIAL"-"MIS ETC CODE 171", Bulgaria-Romania

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The developed information system SmartCover - provides services, based on spatial data within Web-GIS environment. SmartCover is unique for Bulgaria and EU, because it comprises of trans-border spatial data and services, harmonized under Directive INSPIRE. On other side SmartCover is based on a reference land cover/land use layer, developed under the ISO 19144-2(LCML), thus supporting coordination and actualization of various SDB layers and integration of thematic databases into the harmonized information source. One of the main purposes of SmartCover Architecture is to be an information platform for integrated risk, territory and citizen protection management, as well as for regular monitoring of changes and the efficient acquisition of European, regional and national funds.


ASDE engaged within the Danube Strategy


ASDE, in cooperation with ReSAC, is involved in the development of common resources for a territorial planning for the cross-border area between Bulgaria and Romanian, which comprises large part of Lower Danube. The work is in the scope of a Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) Project “Common Strategy for Sustainable Territorial Development of the cross-border area Romania-Bulgaria”, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, MIS-ETC 171.

The bulgarian Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration (ASDE) is the leading partner of the work package, related to the development of a comprehensive spatial database for the cross-border area for the needs of the elaboration of common strategy for sustainable territorial development. The project started in February 2012 and will end in February 2014.

The detailed technical activities comprise a setting-up and development of systems and information services allowing the integration of the new, harmonized spatial databases and services with the existing information systems at county/district level. The database will ensure the necessary data for a comprehensive set of indicators at NUTS 3, 2 and LAU (local administration unit) level.

A particular output of the project will be the generation of detailed common land cover database for the cross-border area, built-up on the base of the philosophy of the Land Cover Meta Language (ISO 19144-2) and fully in compliance with INSPIRE principles. Common specification will ensure efficient cross-border analysis and reporting.

In parallel to that, ASDE and ReSAC initiated a technical collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) in Ispra within the scope of the Danube Strategy, and in relation to the CBC project. The MARS Unit of JRC conducts a set of activities, aiming to provide a methodological support in various land monitoring aspects of the project, such as:

  • Use of the CAP management tools (LPIS, CwRS, etc.) as a successful example of „project“ development and good governance practice of EU fund expenditure;
  • Land cover classification and harmonization approaches (TEGON concept, test-bed of INSPIRE data specification for land cover - Annexes F and G);
  • Tool to extract land cover information from IACS data (land cover/land use, indicators, geo-referenced statistics);
  • Selection of relevant indicators (agri environment indicators, urban indicators).


The CBC project objectives are also well in line with the ongoing procedure for establishment of intergovernmental working group for the concept of the Regional Center for Lower Danube, which will be located in the Bulgarian city of Ruse. Apart, Unit "Digital Earth and Reference Data" of JRC, supported the project SPATIAL, by providing ready to use mosaic of satellite data on program COPERNICUS (CORE 03 dataset).

SPATIAL project was presented as a successful example of integration and harmonization of data at the macro-regional level within the annual Danube forum in Vienna in 2014. Best practices from the project were taken into account within the initiative of JRC Danube Reference data Service Infrastructure (DRDSI).


Fig.1 Arhitecture and future extension


Fig.2 Extraction of Reference land cover / land use layer (based on LCCS/FAO) for the city of Ruse



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