A generic framework for value management of environment data in the context of integrated coastal zone management

Many issues and factors exist that prevent the full value of environmental data being realised. Despite a number of initiatives world wide aimed at promoting wider data exchange and improved data access, there is still concern that the exploitation of valuable environmental data assets is limited. This has not only hampered effective environmental management, but also restricted the development of a commercial value-added processing market that could stimulate the development of innovative data products. The development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is one area where the issue of maximising the value derived from environmental data has been brought clearly into focus. e the embryonic stage of direct research associated with data value management, several discipline areas have conducted work that addresses many of the issues related to improving the amount of value that can be derived from environmental data. These studies have considered issues such as; the economics of data supply, data management techniques and frameworks for data inter-change. This paper considers these issues and techniques and aims to integrate them in the context of a common framework for value analysis of environmental data. rpose of the framework is to provide a platform for the factors that make environmental data valuable and for subsequently developing the full data value to be realised on current and future projects. Using the situation in ICZM as an example, this paperʹs aim is to show how factors associated with data management contribute towards improving data value. The framework takes a step back from specifics and seeks to show how technologies and policies are positioned in the overall picture of improving data value. By adopting this approach, the framework is generic and can be used by any size of organisation.