In order to ensure interoperability for all different platforms and operating systems used by partners, we introduced strict guidelines about formats to be used for both data and documents.

All formats used to exchange geo data of any kinds among partners must be INSPIRE compliant and based on OGC (Open GIS Consortium) recommendations, in order to ensure easy interoperability, even when different programs are used. Also, keep in mind that target sites are localized in various areas of the globe, so a global coordinate reference system should be preferred.

• Preferred format (up to 4GB): multiband/multifile GeoTiff
• Reference ellipsoid/datum: WGS84
• Reference plane projection: UTM (zone depends on area considered)
• Optional Color table: 24 bits (note that only 8 bit lookup tables are supported by all programs)
• Use NULL/ALPHA whenever reasonable/useful
• Always provide a companion world file (.TFW) to allow at least a rough localization for people who do not use GIS tools
• You have to adopt a suitable tiling for big grids (> 4.GB) and possibly provide a vector skeleton of the tiles boundings in geo coordinates
• Avoid as much as possible proprietary formats (e.g. ECW, Kakadu, MrSid, etc.)
• Eventually ask for advice before providing/ordering data