ABSTRACT
With the increasing use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in industrialised and developing countries, the availability of spatial data has become an issue that affects many organisations. As the technology of GIS becomes ever more ubiquitous and apparently ever easier to use, other factors condition its development. Spatial data initiatives are reliant on the willingness of different organisations to engage in spatial data sharing in order to be effective in overcoming bottlenecks in the availability of spatial data. Potential spatial data users may have difficulty finding, or gaining access to, relevant spatial data because of a lack of institutional co-ordination. In many instances, potential spatial data suppliers may not be aware of what geographic information they have accumulated or who might need it. The main theoretical constructs that are developed and operationalised in the study are the elements of 'attitude', 'subjective norm' and 'perceived behavioural control'. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
