LaClef was a project aimed at finding ways of unlocking some of the valuable Geographic Information data held in the European public sector. It demonstrated how an effective pan-European, multi-sector service can be developed and successfully integrated. It built on existing European initiatives, including MEGRIN's existing GDDD, to identify how an effective GI metadata and on-line data supply service can be developed. The service used a sophisticated architecture to provide enhancements such as a multilingual interface to high level metadata across geographic information sectors such as topographical mapping, aerial imagery and geology. LaClef will also develop an e-commerce prototype model which will help identify the various implementation issues involved.

The project ran for 24-months (January 1999 - December 2000), and was 50% funded by the European Commission, within the Info2000 programme of Information Society.