Introduction

Since 1971, the Urban Data Management Society (UDMS) has organised international symposia at various locations in Europe to promote the development of information systems at the local government level. At first, the focus of these symposia was mostly on urban applications, but regional and rural issues have both grown in importance over the years. Nowadays, an important aim of UDMS is to provide a forum for people to discuss new approaches, to consider new technologies, and to share practical experiences in the field of urban data management.