Beneath the road, within the map: SINFI and GeoPortal-X® by NeMeA Sistemi – a new perspective on networks
NeMeA Sistemi integrates subsurface and surface data into local authority maps to facilitate the analysis of project areas and coordination with service providers.
Every intervention in the local area forms part of a network system of which we are often only partially aware. Beneath a road, there may be cable ducts, water mains and telecommunications cables; above ground, poles and cabinets complete the network. Reconstructing this picture helps us to understand the conditions under which we will have to work, especially when a project involves areas already criss-crossed by above-ground and underground services.
The SINFI, National Federated Information System The Infrastructure Agency was established to collect and make available data on physical infrastructure both above and below ground. Its objectives include the reuse of existing structures for the development of high-speed communications and the coordination of field operations. Knowledge of what already exists thus becomes a resource for assessing potential uses and facilitating dialogue between local authorities and operators.
For local authorities, this data becomes genuinely useful when it can be consulted alongside the maps and records used by their departments. A route takes on greater significance when viewed in relation to the road network, the areas affected by works and other services recorded in the register. It is in this transition from the availability of data to its day-to-day use that theSINFI extension for GeoPortal-X®, developed by NeMeA Sistemi.
From the map to the work of the technical departments
The platform allows users to explore the networks via a web browser and to overlay them onto the territorial levels managed by the administration. The platform is organised into four sections, each linked to a specific operational requirement:
- Outlining the project area This involves placing the maps within the local authority’s context and comparing them with the authority’s road network and geographical records. The departments can thus carry out an initial survey of the area, identifying the features recorded in the census that are to be taken into account in subsequent stages of detailed analysis.
- Examine the characteristics of networks It allows users to switch from the overview to viewing individual objects. Nodes, manholes, cable ducts and other structures can be selected to view their attributes, as defined by the national data model, displaying the characteristics recorded for each component alongside their location on the map.
- Prepare the presentations and the discussions with the operators It begins with an analysis of the underground utilities surveyed in the area. Prior to any excavation, this survey helps to identify potential interferences that need to be checked and opportunities to utilise existing infrastructure, providing a basis for making more specific requests to contractors and examining in greater detail the aspects relevant to the coordination of the works.
- Integrating different sources and systems This is made possible by OGC standards, including WMS and WFS, which support the use of geographical data and interoperability. The extension enables the SINFI dataset to be integrated with municipal-level data within a single viewing environment, whilst ensuring that content from different sources remains clearly identifiable.
A knowledge base to be reviewed and updated
The effectiveness of this tool depends on the coverage, timeliness and quality of the available data. The networks represented provide an overview of the structures surveyed: consulting them complements technical checks and dialogue with the relevant authorities, which remain essential when planning an intervention.
NeMeA’s contribution lies in making this heritage accessible and usable through its GIS expertise. As part of this process, the company supports local authorities right from the stage of preparing and submitting their application to join the SINFI 2026 project, to access the services funded by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy for the surveying and digitisation of infrastructure owned by the local authority. Integrated into GeoPortal-X®, SINFI enables departments to access data within their own workflows and provides a shared reference point for linking knowledge of the networks to spatial planning requirements.
