An analysis of the national spatial data infrastructure of Iran

Spatial data infrastructure (SDI) assessment is essential for guiding development, implementation, maintenance and improvement. This paper examines the development status of Iran’s national spatial data infrastructure. The framework of the research is constructed based on a literature review, survey and SDI readiness model. The comparative analyses reveal that Iran’s SDI readiness index is not well developed, mainly due to the relatively low level of development of the organisational, human resources and information factors. Additionally, it seems that there is a link between the SDI readiness index and the national income of countries. Countries with a higher SDI readiness index than Iran tend to be high-income countries. As a consequence, the research suggests that achieving a successful national SDI in Iran requires the development of a comprehensive set of infrastructures: most importantly, policy, legal, cultural, human resources and institutional infrastructures.