Study Visit of the SDI Council of FBiH to the Dutch Kadaster Implemented within the GeoConnect Project

Within the GeoConnect project, a study visit of the delegation of the Council for Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of the Netherlands was carried out, with the aim of becoming acquainted with the experiences and practices of the Dutch Cadastre and other relevant institutions involved in the development and management of the national spatial data infrastructure. This visit represents a continuation of activities aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and improving coordination in the field of spatial data in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The delegation consisted of members of the SDI Council FBiH from seven federal institutions, representatives of the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, as well as an interpreter engaged to ensure the effective implementation of the programme. The central activities of the study visit took place on 23, 24, and 25 March 2026, while the overall travel programme was carried out during the period from 22 to 26 March 2026.

During their stay in Apeldoorn, the delegation visited the headquarters of the Dutch Cadastre, where expert presentations and working meetings were held. Topics covered included the organization and competencies of the Cadastre, the system of key registers and the federated data system, the development of user interaction, the institution’s business model, as well as the importance of open data for public administration, the economy, and society as a whole. Special attention was given to the PDOK data platform and to models of governance, access, and innovation within the national spatial data infrastructure in the Netherlands.

As part of the programme, the delegation of the SDI Council FBiH presented its own roles and responsibilities, the Strategic Development Plan up to 2028, as well as key challenges in the further development of the SDI in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this way, the study visit was not only an opportunity to learn about good practices, but also a platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening inter-institutional dialogue on the future development of spatial data, interoperability, and the digital transformation of the public sector.

On the second working day, the programme additionally covered topics such as innovations in the work of the Cadastre, the application of geo-artificial intelligence in business processes, and issues of cybersecurity, thereby providing the delegation with a broader insight into contemporary challenges and development trends in the management of geospatial information.

The visit concluded with a meeting with representatives of Geonovum in Amersfoort, where models for managing the SDI in the Netherlands were presented, along with the roles and responsibilities of the competent authorities, as well as key programmes supporting the development and standardization of spatial data at the national level.

Through the implementation of this study visit, the SDI Council FBiH and the Federal Administration further strengthened international cooperation and gained valuable knowledge that can contribute to the improvement of the institutional and technical framework of the SDI in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The experiences of the Dutch Cadastre and Geonovum represent a significant example of good practice in terms of linking registers, data availability, openness, innovation, and inter-institutional coordination, which is of particular importance for future activities in the development of the SDI FBiH.