Unlike the situation from a few decades ago, when spatial data did not exist or were not available, the current problem is how to find information which will satisfy our needs. Many developed countries, including Croatia, completed collecting topographic data for the entire country, and different sets of data are available on the market. Information about data quality for estimating the extent to which these data correspond to user needs is very difficult and sometimes impossible to find. Problems arising from this situation will become more prominent within the spatial data infrastructure, the main goal of which is to connect different spatial datasets in an interoperable manner.

The International Standardization Organization (ISO) recognized the importance of spatial data quality in the ISO 19100 series of standards and some of the first standards were dedicated to spatial data quality. These are primarily 19113 – Quality Principles, 19114 – Quality Evaluation Procedures and 19115 – Metadata, which regulates the manner in which it is necessary to report results of quality control. Subsequently, ISO released 19131 – Data Product Specifications, 19138 – Data Quality Measures, while the last two standards under development are also dedicated to quality control: 19157 – Data Quality and 19158 – Quality Assurance of Data Supply. Due to insufficient information, expertise, and cost required to implement a quality control system, quality control hasn’t received enough deserved attention until several years ago.

EuroGeographics, the umbrella association of national mapping and cadastral agencies in Europe, recognized the importance of spatial data quality control in development of spatial data infrastructures. National mapping and cadastral agencies are responsible for production and distribution of reference spatial data sets within national spatial data infrastructures. Thus ensuring their quality and providing information about the quality of these datasets is of utmost importance. Therefore, in order to promote a wider usage of ISO standards, the EuroGeographics’ working group on data quality published a guide for implementing ISO standards directly related to spatial data quality.

Awareness of the importance of spatial data quality is developing and can be seen in international tenders, where national mapping and cadastral agencies are asking descriptions of quality management system, plans for ensuring project quality and the final product. In order to be able to respond to market demands, it is inevitable to continuously improve the internal quality control system in accordance with international recommendations (ESDIN, EuroGeographics, ISO, NATO ...), because it increases the competitiveness of products and services. The paper will present trends in the establishment of quality control, whose implementation is recommended to producers to be able to deliver the required quality of spatial data to their customers.