Knowledge-based interfaces for national data sets: The KINDS project

National spatial data sets are a major resource for academic research and teaching which is underused. If they are to be used, the academic community needs to be made aware of them and understand how these data sets can meet their own requirements. KINDS focuses on understanding national data sets and their uses. The strategy is initially to identify user types and then to customize interfaces, information and instructions to these types. This involves a detailed assessment of user needs and the creation of a typology of users as the basis for system specification and design. The World Wide Web has been selected as an appropriate platform for access to and disseminating information on data sets and a set of interfaces has been created.