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Norway

Digital Spatial Planning (NO0058)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Norway Action Plan 2019-2021

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation

Support Institution(s): Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), local municipalities, Directorate of Building Quality, Norwegian Mapping Authority, Statistics Norway,Construction industry, consulting companies, system suppliers, etc.

Policy Areas

E-Government, Land Rights & Spatial Planning, Public Service Delivery, Sustainable Development Goals

IRM Review

IRM Report: Norway Design Report 2019-2021

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

Digital Spatial planning processes with adapted guidance and Area statistics Profiles 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2019 Responsible body Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation Description What problem for the general public is the commitment aimed to solve? Lack of adapted statistics and analyses on the area situation and land use and development. Inadequate models, standards and interfaces between different systems and communications to different user groups. Inadequately adapted guidance as a basis for participation, early conflict resolution and good dialogue in digital spatial planning processes. What is the commitment? Prepare standards, specifications, guidance and examples of digitalised and transparent spatial planning on processes. Support R&D projects, piloting and demonstrators. Prepare relevant and detailed statistics for municipal and regional spatial planning. Prepare better self-service solutions for public spatial geographic information, spatial planning data, building and property information. How will the commitment contribute to solving the problem? A better knowledge base and clearer land-use plans, better basis for participation, better and more targeted guidance, early conflict resolution, more predictable processes for land use and development. How is this commitment relevant to the OGP’s fundamental values? Better basis for participation and transparent processes. Better basis for increased value creation. Additional information Earmarked funds will be allocated to this during a priority period and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11, which will also have relevance to Sustainable Development Goals 6, 8, 9, 14 and 15. 26 Milestones Start date End date Digital spatial planning registers, increased income-to-cost ratio in the municipalities 1 June 2015 31 December 2019 Template and model for digital spatial planning regulations 1 February 2017 31 December 2019 Area statistics Profiles – adapted statistics for municipal spatial planning 1 March 2018 31 December 2022 Area statistics Profiles – adapted statistics for municipal spatial planning 1 August 2018 31 December 2022 Contact information Person responsible from the implementing body Kari Strande Entity Planning Department, Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation E-mail/Telephone kari.strande@kmd.dep.no Other public participants Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), local municipalities, Directorate of Building Quality, Norwegian Mapping Authority, Statistics Norway Collaborative civil society organisations, cross-sectoral working groups, etc. Construction industry, consulting companies, system suppliers, etc.

IRM Midterm Status Summary

5. Digital Spatial planning processes with adapted guidance and Area statistics Profiles

Main Objective

"Lack of adapted statistics and analyses on the area situation and land use and development. Inadequate models, standards and interfaces between different systems and communications to different user groups.

Inadequately adapted guidance as a basis for participation, early conflict resolution and good dialogue in digital spatial planning processes.

Prepare standards, specifications, guidance and examples of adastered and transparent spatial planning on processes. Support R&D projects, piloting and demonstrators. Prepare relevant and detailed statistics for municipal and regional spatial planning. Prepare better self-service solutions for public spatial geographic information, spatial planning data, building and property information.

A better knowledge base and clearer land-use plans, better basis for participation, better and more targeted guidance, early conflict resolution, more predictable processes for land use and development."

Milestones

  • Digital spatial planning registers, increased income-to-cost ratio in the municipalities (1 June 2015 – 31 December 2019)
  • Template and model for digital spatial planning regulations (1 February 2017 – 31 December 2019)
  • Area statistics Profiles – adapted statistics for municipal spatial planning (1 March 2018 – 31 December 2022)
  • Area statistics Profiles – adapted statistics for municipal spatial planning (1 August 2018 – 31 December 2022)

Editorial Note: For the complete text of this commitment, please see Norway's action plan at https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/norges-handlingsplan-4---open-government-partnership-ogp/id2638814/

IRM Design Report Assessment

Verifiable:

Yes

Relevant:

Access to information

Potential impact:

Minor

Commitment Analysis
This commitment aims to improve spatial planning processes by preparing standards, specifications, guidance, and examples of digitalised and transparent spatial planning. The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation (KMD) plans to develop a digital guideline for spatial planning by 2023. [22]

The most important acts in place relevant to spatial planning are the Geodata Act, the Planning and Building Act, and the Cadastre Act. In a white paper from 2017, KMD found that Norwegian cities and municipalities needed better area statistics profiles. [23] Furthermore, in a report on such profiles, it was suggested various indicators for how this could be achieved and measured. [24] Currently, datasets related to spatial planning in Norway are spread across a variety of different cadastres and databases. For example, maps are available at a cadaster administered by the Norwegian Mapping Authority, [25] and data on cultural heritage sites is available from a database administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. [26] Therefore, KMD plans to collect area statistics profiles at the municipal and regional levels, and standardise the information in them, such as changes in land use, construction, cultural heritage sites, etc. According to the white paper, area profiles may lead to better spatial planning processes. [27]

The commitment broadly seeks to provide the public with better access to detailed statistics on municipal and regional spatial planning, including building and property information. It also plans to make the spatial planning process more transparent overall. It is therefore relevant to the OGP value of access to information. According to the white paper [28] and the action plan, better access to spatial area profiles may lead to more participatory spatial planning processes, though this is not specific in the commitment. The planned outputs are mostly verifiable, such as the digital spatial planning registers, the template and model for digital spatial planning regulations, and the adopted statistics for municipal spatial planning. However, the milestones are vaguely formulated, and some will exceed the 2021 end date of the action plan.

Improved statistics on spatial planning, such as land use, could lead to a more nuanced debate on changes in land use from agriculture to business development (some of the best areas for agriculture are commercially more attractive to use for constructing shopping malls etc.). In addition, improved spatial area profiles across Norwegian municipalities could help reduce the risk of building houses in areas vulnerable to flooding or where quick clay incidents may occur. [29] However, given the aspirational nature of the commitment and the lack of details in the milestones, it is difficult to assess the potential impact as higher than minor. [30]

[22] According to the minutes from the multi-stakeholder meeting, 25 November 2019. However, the action plan lists the official end date for this commitment as 31 December 2022.
[23] White paper "Berekraftige byar og sterke district" ('Sustainable cities and strong districts'), in Norwegian, https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-18-20162017/id2539348/
[24] Report from 2018, https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/f0d114f429fd48f38009ba584b88669e/rapport_arealprofiler_ramboll2018.pdf (in Norwegian only)
[25] The Norwegian Mapping Authority, http://www.seeiendom.no
[26] Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, https://miljoatlas.miljodirektoratet.no/MAKartWeb/KlientFull.htm?
[27] White paper "Berekraftige byar og sterke distrikt" ('Sustainable cities and strong districts'), in Norwegian, https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-18-20162017/id2539348/, p 8.
[28] White paper "Berekraftige byar og sterke distrikt" ('Sustainable cities and strong districts'), in Norwegian, https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-18-20162017/id2539348/, p 8.
[29] Spatial area profiles, https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/RRLk7A/seks-bygninger-og-en-hund-tatt-av-flere-jordras-i-alta
[30] In March 2020, the IRM researcher sent an email to the lead contacts for this commitment in KMD and was redirected to two senior advisors who have not responded to the IRM researcher's calls.

Commitments

  1. Archiving Documents

    NO0054, 2019, Capacity Building

  2. Making Energy Statistics Available

    NO0055, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  3. e-Access and Expansion

    NO0056, 2019, Access to Information

  4. Open Cultural Data

    NO0057, 2019, Access to Information

  5. Digital Spatial Planning

    NO0058, 2019, E-Government

  6. Streamline Public Procurement

    NO0059, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  7. Preventing Corruption

    NO0060, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  8. Beneficial Ownership Registry

    NO0061, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  9. User Orientation

    NO0045, 2016, Capacity Building

  10. Electronic Public Records (OEP)

    NO0046, 2016, E-Government

  11. Transparency Regarding Environmental Information

    NO0047, 2016, E-Government

  12. Starred commitment Disclosure of Financial Data

    NO0048, 2016, Access to Information

  13. Transparency Regarding Rainforest Funds

    NO0049, 2016, E-Government

  14. State Employees’ Ownership of Shares

    NO0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  15. Promote Freedom of Expression and Independent Media

    NO0051, 2016, Civic Space

  16. Country-By-Country Reporting

    NO0052, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  17. Starred commitment Register for Ultimate Beneficial Ownership

    NO0053, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  18. Public Review and Public Consultation

    NO0020, 2013, Capacity Building

  19. Registering and Preserving Digital Documentation Produced by Public Bodies

    NO0021, 2013, Access to Information

  20. The Norwegian Citizen Survey (Innbyggerundersøkelsen)

    NO0022, 2013, Public Participation

  21. Whistleblowing

    NO0023, 2013, Anti-Corruption

  22. Strengthened Information Exchange for More Efficient Crime Prevention and Combating

    NO0024, 2013, Justice

  23. Strengthening the Transparency of Public Authorities and Administration

    NO0025, 2013, Access to Information

  24. Egovernment with an End-User Focus

    NO0026, 2013, E-Government

  25. Plain Legal Language

    NO0027, 2013, Capacity Building

  26. Norwegian Grants Portal (MFA)

    NO0028, 2013, Aid

  27. An International Convention or Agreement on Financial Transparency

    NO0029, 2013, Private Sector

  28. Reducing Conflicts of Interests – Post-Employment Regulations

    NO0030, 2013, Anti-Corruption

  29. Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector

    NO0031, 2013, Security & Public Safety

  30. A Better Overview of Committees, Boards and Councils – More Public Access to Information and Better Opportunities for Further Use

    NO0032, 2013, E-Government

  31. Modernizing Public Governance

    NO0033, 2013, Capacity Building

  32. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues

    NO0034, 2013, Anti-Corruption

  33. Transparency in the Management of the Government Pension Fund (GPF)

    NO0035, 2013, E-Government

  34. Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts

    NO0036, 2013, Anti-Corruption

  35. The Municipal Sector

    NO0037, 2013, Education

  36. “Simplify” (“Enkelt Og Greit”)

    NO0038, 2013, E-Government

  37. Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig Elektronisk Postjournal)

    NO0039, 2013, Access to Information

  38. Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI)

    NO0040, 2013, Access to Information

  39. Access to Health Data

    NO0041, 2013, E-Government

  40. Renewal of the Government’S Website (Regjeringen.No – Government.No)

    NO0042, 2013, E-Government

  41. Declaration of Principles for Interaction and Dialogue with NGOs

    NO0043, 2013, Capacity Building

  42. Simplification and Digital Administration of Arrangements for NGOs

    NO0044, 2013, Capacity Building

  43. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0001, 2011, Anti-Corruption

  44. Measures to Promote Gender Equality and Women’S Full Participation in Civic Life, the Private Sector, the Public Administration and Political Processes.

    NO0002, 2011, Gender

  45. Gender Equality – Participation in the Private Sector

    NO0003, 2011, Gender

  46. Increase Women's Representation in Local Government

    NO0004, 2011, Gender

  47. Gender Equality Program

    NO0005, 2011, Gender

  48. Gender Equality – Inclusion of Immigrant Women

    NO0006, 2011, Gender

  49. Gender Equality – Combat Gender Stereotypes

    NO0007, 2011, Gender

  50. Gender Equality – Youth Initiatives

    NO0008, 2011, Gender

  51. Gender Equality – Combat Domestic Violence

    NO0009, 2011, Gender

  52. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency

    NO0010, 2011, Aid

  53. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Government Global Pension Fund

    NO0011, 2011, Fiscal Openness

  54. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Combat Tax Evasion

    NO0012, 2011, Fiscal Openness

  55. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Multi-National Companies

    NO0013, 2011, Fiscal Openness

  56. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Create Central Communication Policy

    NO0014, 2011, Fiscal Openness

  57. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0015, 2011, E-Government

  58. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use

    NO0016, 2011, Public Participation

  59. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Statistic Publication

    NO0017, 2011, Access to Information

  60. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Public Opinion Survey

    NO0018, 2011,

  61. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0019, 2011, Public Participation

Open Government Partnership