Software for Harmonising Official Trail Data

The software for harmonising official trail data enables the automated, cross-border harmonisation of official geospatial data related to transport networks, hiking trails and paths from Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino.

The objective is to provide a consistent, up-to-date and traceable geospatial dataset, derived from different data sources, with a clear focus on hiking-related applications for the entire Euregio.

The software forms the technical backbone of the harmonised DIGIWAY dataset, is publicly available, and supports public administrations, alpine organisations, tourism institutions and other users in the consistent cross-border use of official trail data. 

Within the Euregio Tirol – South Tyrol – Trentino, high-quality official trail and route data are available. However, these datasets are:

• managed using different data models,
• described by different classifications and attribute structures,
• provided in different formats, coordinate reference systems and languages,
• and maintained using different update cycles.

As a result, direct cross-border use of these datasets is only possible to a limited extent.

Within the DIGIWAY project, software has been developed that integrates official source data through a configurable and automated process. 

In this process, the data are: 

• queried on a regular basis,
• transformed and harmonised,
• transferred into a shared target schema,
• checked for cross-border consistency,
• and subsequently published in standardised formats. 

A key principle is that the original regional datasets are not modified. Any changes are carried out exclusively by the responsible authorities and organisations on the source data themselves.
All rule-based definitions for the automatic transformation from source data into the harmonised target structure are managed exclusively via a central configuration file, ensuring that the process remains transparent, flexible and maintainable in the long term.

The software is based on a Geospatial Data Pipeline, which is executed on a daily basis. It processes exclusively already published Open Government Data (OGD) from the three regions of the Euregio.

Key Features 

• Two harmonised result datasets 
  • FC1 – Transport and Path Network
  • FC2 – Hiking Routes 
• Central configuration file 
  • Target attributes, rules and mappings are fully configurable
  • Changes can be implemented without modifying the program code
  • New source datasets can be easily integrated 
• Rule-based attribute mapping 
  • Regional source attributes are transparently transferred into a common target schema
  • Selected original attributes are retained to ensure traceability 
• Quality assurance and monitoring 
  • Automated reports and checks for each processing run
  • Detection of inconsistencies, e.g. at regional borders
  • Feedback to the responsible source data owners via automated reports 
• Daily updates 
  • The harmonised DIGIWAY dataset always reflects the current state of the source data 

The harmonised DIGIWAY trail data are provided in several standardised formats: 

• GeoPackage (GPKG) – for use in desktop GIS
• GeoJSON – for web-based applications
• Web Feature Service (WFS) – for direct and up-to-date data access
• Vector Tiles – for high-performance web mapping 

In addition, metadata and recommended styling files are provided. 

The software makes the harmonised geospatial data available via several active interfaces:

• Download endpoint (API)
  Latest data packages (FC1, FC2, metadata, styles):
  GeoPackage: https://digiway-prod.fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/latest/latest_gpkg.zip 
  GeoJSON: https://digiway-prod.fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/latest/latest_geojson.zip 
• WFS service
  Access to FC1 and FC2 layers as a web service, 
  suitable for GIS applications and web clients 
  https://mapserver-wfs-digiway-prod.movinglayers.eu/mapserver 
  Styling: Apply the corresponding QML files from the download
• Vector Tile services
  High-performance visualisation of large datasets in web applications
  Data FC1: https://mapserver-wfs-digiway-prod.movinglayers.eu/mapserver?MODE=tile&TILEMODE=gmap&TILE={x}+{y}+{z}&LAYERS=FC1_mvt&map=/etc/mapserver/digiway.map 
  Styling FC1: https://digiway-prod.fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/latest/FC1_Styles.json 
  Data FC2: https://mapserver-wfs-digiway-prod.movinglayers.eu/mapserver?MODE=tile&TILEMODE=gmap&TILE={x}+{y}+{z}&LAYERS=FC2_mvt&map=/etc/mapserver/digiway.map 
  Styling FC2: https://digiway-prod.fsn1.your-objectstorage.com/latest/FC2_Styles.json 

These interfaces provide easy access to DIGIWAY result datasets for both technical and non-technical users. 

The datasets generated by the software are intended, among others, for:

• regional and local administrations
• alpine associations and trail managers
• tourism organisations
• research and development
• operators of mapping and outdoor applications 

They form the basis for:

• digital tour planning
• cross-border mapping applications
• safety-related and visitor management measures
• further DIGIWAY products and follow-up projects 

A detailed description of the result datasets, data structures, formats and access options is available in the User Manual. 
The User Manual is explicitly designed for both technical and non-technical users and explains the practical use of the DIGIWAY data step by step.