Within WASCAL a large number of heterogeneous data are collected. These data are mainly coming from different initiated research activities within WASCAL (Core Research Program, Graduate School Program) the hydrological-meteorological, remote sensing, biodiversity and socio economic observation netwrks within WASCAL, the activities of the WASCAL Competence Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso. In order to facilitate the acquisition, provision, integration, management and exchange of these heterogeneous data resources within a scientific and non-scientific multiuser (distributed) environment the spatial data infrastructure (SDI) WADI (WAscal Data Infrastructure) has been build-up. Each institution contributing to WASCAL may host an individual data infrastructure to manage and to exchange “own” data and metadata. Alternatively, data may be incorporated into the central data infrastructure located at the WASCAL Competence Center. The communication between individual infrastructures and WADI is accomplished by OGC compliant Web services, which supply standards and interfaces to search in and to access to spatial data. Consequent usage of these standards guarantees an interoperable access and allows in addition the integration of data from other data holders without bigger expenditure.
