Submitted on July 20, 2018 by Valéria Faure-Muntian (MP for the Loire) to Mounir Mahjoubi (Secretary of State for Digital) and Brune Poirson (Secretary of State to the Minister of State, Minister of Ecological Transition and Solidarity), the report on sovereign geographic data is the result of the mission entrusted on February 5, 2018 as part of the Public Action 2002 initiative. The latter aims to improve the quality of service by developing the relationship of trust between users and the administration.

This report reaffirms the needs of the State in terms of certified geographic reference data to carry out its missions of defense, security, taxation, environmental protection and transportation. It also confirms the pivotal role of this so-called "sovereign data" in the context of its reuse by private entities to develop new products.

Since 2009, the IGN* has initiated an Open Data approach with free access to its data for teaching and research, then free access to its historical aerial photos. In 2011, the large-scale reference frame (RGE) was made available free of charge for any use related to a public service mission. And since 2012, the IGN has been releasing more and more data for free in Open Data under Etalab licenses (e.g. geodetic data, forest inventory, maritime geographic data, old maps, etc.).

The recommendations of Valéria Faure-Muntian's report :

To have central administrations and public establishments of the State carry out and periodically update a census of the sovereign geographic data that they produce or need.
Mobilize the administrations involved in crisis management around a mutualization project aiming at a common description of the same geographical object for all their information systems.
Set out in a circular from the Prime Minister the minimum requirements for geographic data, to which central and decentralized administrations will base their decisions.
Create a single access point for sovereign geographic data and metadata, under the responsibility of the IGN.
Transfer the maintenance of the "INSPIRE" Geocatalogue from BRGM to IGN.
Federate the producers of sovereign geographic data around common equipment projects, particularly in the areas of transportation data or the creation of a three-dimensional digital model with a very fine mesh.
Strengthen the synergies between IGN and local authorities in the realization of the orthophotographic coverage of the territory.
To set up a shared platform of information and geolocalized services for the preparation and running of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Create a national geoplatform for sovereign geographic data, designed in the long term as a shared infrastructure between the various producers.
In order to encourage the adherence of the actors, experiment the constitution and the exploitation of common databases between the IGN and the "third party" producers (notably local authorities) from the shared infrastructure.
To promote and encourage the development of French and European players in storage and computing.
Make the National Council for Geographic Information play an effective role in coordinating and leading the producers of sovereign geographic data.
Place the CNIG under the authority of the Prime Minister, have its secretariat provided by the DINSIC and adapt its composition.
Structure a homogeneous network of regional geographic information councils.
Create in each region a unique platform of geographic information, common to the region and the State.
Preserve the means dedicated to geographic information in the deconcentrated services of the State.
Reposition the IGN on the aggregation, standardization, and certification of sovereign geographic data and the technical support of producers.
To structure and animate a community of public geomatics experts to share experiences and best practices; to develop with them a reflection on the specific skills and know-how required for the production and dissemination of sovereign geographic data.
Adapt the composition of the IGN's board of directors, notably by strengthening the representation of the regions. Have the DINSIC sit on the board as an ex officio member.
Evaluate by the first quarter of 2019 the technical, organizational, legal, and financial impacts of transferring the topographic missions of the DGFiP to the IGN and proceed with the transfer before the end of the legislature.
Gradually extend to all regulatory zones the approach taken with the Geoportal de l'Urbanisme.
Study, in consultation with associations representing municipalities, the advisability of systematizing the obligation to draw up addressing plans and to make the address enforceable.
Mandate the IGN to play a more active role in steering the deployment of the PCRS and review the project's financing methods, either through the creation of a mutual fund or through the identification of a dedicated envelope within the framework of the next generation of CPERs.
Establish a principle of free availability of sovereign geographic data.
To have the subsidy for public service charges cover the operating and personnel expenses devoted by the IGN to the production, maintenance, and certification of sovereign geographic data, as well as to the technical support of other actors in the ecosystem and to the management of the national geoplatform.
Clarify the articulation of Etalab-type open licenses with the so-called "contaminating" licenses.
To eventually disseminate all sovereign geographic data under an open license such as Etalab.

In order to foster innovation in France and in Europe, points 9, 24 and 27 illustrate the central recommendation of this report, which is to allow a total and free Open Data of quality sovereign geographic data, produced by different actors (IGN, administrations for their own needs). These data would be accessible via a shared infrastructure of sovereign geographic data managed by the IGN.

IGN* : National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information