ABSTRACT
Health, wealth and population distributions are all examples of spatial data commonly referenced to administrative boundaries. In fact, there are few areas of the economy and environment that do not rely either directly or indirectly on the integration of data attached to administrative boundaries for planning, maintaining or rationalising activities. Conceptually, as outlined in Chapter 2, an SDI incorporates the technology, policies, standards and human resources necessary to facilitate the integration of administrative boundary data. In practice, however, the fragmentation of administrative boundaries is a serious problem that restricts the integration and potential benefits of spatial data. As outlined by Flowerdew and Green (1994), situations frequently arise where the analyst wants to compare a variable that is available for one set of administrative units with a variable that is only obtainable for a different incompatible set.
