Physical and organisational networks form the backbone of urban and rural life. This twig covers the hard infrastructure that enables human settlement and economic activity — the roads we drive on, the pipes that carry water, the cables that transmit power and data, and the buildings that shelter activities.
Scope
Infrastructure data describes constructed physical systems and their spatial extent:
- Transportation networks: Roads, railways, bicycle paths, pedestrian routes, bridges, tunnels, airports, harbours, ferry routes
- Utility grids: Electricity transmission/distribution, gas pipelines, district heating networks, water supply mains, sewage/stormwater systems
- Built environment: Buildings, structures, dams, levees, wind turbines, solar farms
- Waste management: Landfills, recycling centres, waste treatment plants
- Communication networks: Fibre optic routes, mobile tower sites (physical infrastructure aspect — data flows are in ICT)
Key Distinction: Infrastructure vs Services
Infrastructure is the physical asset; the service it enables sits in Services. A hospital building is infrastructure; the healthcare it provides is a service. A power line is infrastructure; the energy distribution service is Services.
Leaves
| Leaf | Question | Lens | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings | What buildings exist at a location and what are their characteristics? | primary | |
| Business Locations | Where does a business physically operate? | primary | |
| Energy Infrastructure | Which energy infrastructures are present here, and what operational or planning constraints apply to them? | primary | |
| Marine Spatial Infrastructure | Which marine installations or constrained-use structures are present in this sea area? | primary | |
| Nautical Traffic | What vessel traffic patterns are present here, and how intense is maritime movement over time? | primary | |
| Transport Infrastructure Networks | What transport networks, corridors, or access restrictions exist at this location? | primary |
Classical Theme Mappings
| Standard | Theme | Link |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 19115 | Structure | Structure |
| ISO 19115 | Transportation | Transportation |
| ISO 19115 | Utilities/Communication | Utilities/Communication |
| INSPIRE | Buildings | Buildings |
| INSPIRE | Transport Networks | Transport Networks |
| INSPIRE | Production and Industrial Facilities | Production and Industrial Facilities |
| UN-GGIM | Buildings and Settlements | Buildings and Settlements |
| UN-GGIM | Physical Infrastructure | Physical Infrastructure |
| UN-GGIM | Transport Networks | Transport Networks |