For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:

1. 1.

   ‘infrastructure for spatial information’ means metadata, spatial data sets and spatial data services; network services and technologies; agreements on sharing, access and use; and coordination and monitoring mechanisms, processes and procedures, established, operated or made available in accordance with this Directive;

2. 2.

   ‘spatial data’ means any data with a direct or indirect reference to a specific location or geographical area;

3. 3.

   ‘spatial data set’ means an identifiable collection of spatial data;

4. 4.

   ‘spatial data services’ means the operations which may be performed, by invoking a computer application, on the spatial data contained in spatial data sets or on the related metadata;

5. 5.

   ‘spatial object’ means an abstract representation of a real-world phenomenon related to a specific location or geographical area;

6. 6.

   ‘metadata’ means information describing spatial data sets and spatial data services and making it possible to discover, inventory and use them;

7. 7.

   ‘interoperability’ means the possibility for spatial data sets to be combined, and for services to interact, without repetitive manual intervention, in such a way that the result is coherent and the added value of the data sets and services is enhanced;

8. 8.

   ‘Inspire geo-portal’ means an Internet site, or equivalent, providing access to the services referred to in Article 11(1);

9. 9.

   ‘public authority’ means:

   1. (a)

      any government or other public administration, including public advisory bodies, at national, regional or local level;

   2. (b)

      any natural or legal person performing public administrative functions under national law, including specific duties, activities or services in relation to the environment; and

   3. (c)

      any natural or legal person having public responsibilities or functions, or providing public services relating to the environment under the control of a body or person falling within (a) or (b).

   Member States may provide that when bodies or institutions are acting in a judicial or legislative capacity, they are not to be regarded as a public authority for the purposes of this Directive;

10. 10.

    ‘third party’ means any natural or legal person other than a public authority.