The Regional Research Laboratory Initiative 31An Overview

• Published in: Geographic Information Systems to Spatial Data Infrastructure pp. 31 - 48
• Main Author: Masser, Ian
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2020
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: GIS Facility; GIS Software; GIS Research; Data Resources Management; David Rhind; Global Geospatial Information Management; Trial Phase; Spatial Data Infrastructure; Wider Research Community; RRL; ESRC Data Archive; Regional Research Laboratory; GIS Technology; Main Phase; Human Language Technologies; GIS Application; Geographic Information Handling; Uncertainty Avoidance; GIS Diffusion; Local Spatial Data Infrastructure; Chorley Report; Relational Database Management Systems; GIMMS; Fundamental Research
• ISBN: 1138584622; 9781138584624
• DOI: 10.1201/9780429505904-2

The Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) Initiative was launched in 1987 by the British Economic and Social Research Council to establish regional centres of excellence in fields of data handling, database management, geographical analysis, software development, training and advice. This chapter describes the main features of trial and main phases of the Initiative and evaluates the experience that has been gained so far in relation to the several objectives reflected in its title. It considers some of the possible long-term impacts of RRL Initiative in relation to these objectives and compares the research strategy developed in Initiative with that being implemented in the US by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. The RRLs have had a major impact on their regional research communities in raising overall levels of awareness about the issues involved in data resources management. There are a number of important differences between the nature of main phase of the RRL Initiative as against the trial phase.