Research Team

Joep, Danny, Glenn, Kathleen, Tessa, Ezra

Joep Crompvoets

Dr. ir. Joep Crompvoets MSc. (°1968, Nederland) is graduated as engineer in Soil Science (Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1993) and Master in GI-science (Wageningen/ITC, The Netherlands, 1997). In 2006 he finished his PhD at Wageningen University focusing on the subject 'National Spatial Data Clearinghouses, Worldwide Impact and Development'.

He was assistant professor with emphasis on spatial data infrastructures at Wageningen University from 1997 tot 2007. From 2005 he is coordinating the project 'Development of a Framework to assess National Spatial Data Infrastructures' funded by the Dutch innovation programme 'Space for Geo-Information'. Between 1993 en 1995 he was a project researcher at research institute CSIC-IRNAS in Seville (Spain).

Joep is research coordinator of the IWT-project.

Ezra Dessers

Ezra Dessers (°1970, Belgium) holds a degree in Sociology (K.U.Leuven, 1992), an Advanced Master of Urbanism and Spatial Planning (K.U.Leuven, 1993), and an Advanced Master of Information Technology (U.Hasselt, 2000). He was the GIS-manager at the Provincial Government of Limburg from 1997 until 2007. Previously he was a research assistant at the Institute for Urban and Regional Planning (K.U.Leuven), and at 'Ground for GIS' (K.U.Leuven Research & Development).

Ezra will address the organisational aspects of SDI-development. The SDI-related processes between and within organisations will be analysed. The modern sociotechnical systems approach provides the framework of analysis. The research should provide understanding of the available options to (re)organise processes in such a way that SDI-developments are promoted and made useful for the organisations involved.

Tessa Geudens

Tessa Geudens (°1984, Belgium) graduated as a commercial engineer at Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in 2006.

Tessa will focus on the economic topics concerning the development of a spatial data infrastructure, to accomplish public sector information. More specifically, she will investigate the funding and pricing issues that are associated with the gathering, maintenance and dissemination of geographic information. She will also have an important roll in the implementation of a Multi Actor Multi Criteria Analysis (MAMCA) that will eventually lead to constructive propositions for the stakeholders and policy makers.

Katleen Janssen

Katleen Janssen (°1978, Belgium) obtained a master’s degree in law from the K.U.Leuven in 2001 and a DES degree in corporate law at the K.U.Brussel in 2004. She has been working as a researcher at ICRI since 2001.

Katleen addresses the legal aspects that have an influence on the development and functioning of an SDI. The main focus lies on the relationships between the rules on access to and use of spatial data, intellectual property rights, privacy and liability.

Glenn Vancauwenberghe

Glenn Vancauwenberghe (°1984, Belgium) holds a Licentiate in Sociology (K.U.Leuven, 2006) and a Master in Management of Public Organisations (Ghent University, 2007). Since September 2007 he is researcher at the Public Management Institute.

Glenn will concentrate on the public administration aspects of the development of an SDI. His main research issues are the alternative models of resource acquisition, the cooperation and coordination between several administrations and the utilization of geographic information systems in the different phases of the policy cycle.

Danny Vandenbroucke

Danny Vandenbroucke (°1960, Belgium) obtained a MSc-degree in Geography (K.U.Leuven,, 1983). He worked as a GIS researcher at the Institute for Land and Water Management of the same university between 1986 and 1993 in the field of soil science and land evaluation. In 1993, he was co-founder of SADL. Danny Vandenbroucke was involved since then as senior researcher and consultant in several GI and SDI projects at national and European level. He is co-chair of the INSPIRE Drafting Team on Monitoring and Reporting, and elected council member of AGILE.

Danny is coordinator of the SDI stakeholder group and will tackle the technical aspects of SDI, mainly regarding standardisation and evaluation of SDI.

Matthias Van hoogenbemt

Matthias Van hoogenbemt (°1984, België) obtained a master’s degree in law from the K.U.Leuven in 2008 and has been working as a researcher at ICRI since october 2008. Matthias addresses, in cooperation with Katleen Janssen, the legal aspects that may have an influence on the development and functioning of an SDI.