ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights some of the main similarities and differences between Geographic information systems (GIS) diffusion in local government in the nine European countries whose experiences have been analysed in the preceding sections. GIS diffusion in local government in Great Britain, Denmark and Germany in particular is already well past the critical point of take off and is approaching saturation in relation to particular levels of government. Elsewhere, in Greece, Poland and Portugal in particular, GIS diffusion in local government is still at a relatively early stage on the curve, but, as the findings of the survey clearly indicate, the situation is changing very rapidly at the present time. The contribution from Hartwig Junius and his colleagues at Dortmund draws attention to the slow progress that is being made in the computerization of the Cadastre in Germany and the need for greater central co-ordination of geographic information handling activities to establish common principles for spatial referencing.
