Partner Article

Top tips: Making the most of mapping data

Wherever you look, mapping is impacting many facets of our lives. We see it in transport; where Google Maps is using US railroad crossing data to help avoid accidents and Uber has just announced the acquisition of Microsoft’s mapping data to improve the journey experience for its customers. We also see it being used in disaster zones – UK charity, MapAction, for example, used graphic information systems (GIS) to ensure aid and relief workers could be deployed effectively to the right areas following the recent earthquake in Nepal.

In response, there is huge growth in demand for advanced analytics tools, including Big Data, and this presents both enormous opportunities and challenges for the Geospatial industry. For instance, the market for accurate mapping data solutions is increasing but the technology required to process the ever-growing data sets is getting more complex. The fact that most data includes or refers to “location” means that any underlying Geospatial data must be accurate and up to date. This also means that there is almost certainly value in all records held within enterprise organisations.

However, extracting value from this data is opening up the market to those that are willing to invest time and resource into processing and managing it effectively. Geospatial organisations can make the most of their mapping data by following these six core principles.

Create

The first stage involves extracting the location element of the data from the organisation’s records through processes such as automated feature or character recognition. This can be found in two different types of source: firstly, physical assets, such as buildings, land or infrastructure, which are typically captured from imagery, via 2D or 3D scans. And secondly, non-spatial information, such as finance, customer or logistical records, which are coded against existing geospatial data sets. To ensure records are as up to date as possible, geospatial providers are constantly expanding their databases. For example, Tom Tom has just recently announced the addition of navigable maps for thirteen new countries.

Refresh

Out of date or inaccurate spatial data could impact the information’s potential value. For example, it would be incredibly difficult to sell data to an automotive company that was looking to integrate sat-nav systems into its vehicles that didn’t include recent upgrades to the road network or new area speed restrictions. While constantly refreshing data can be costly and time-consuming, it can be achieved by implementing a programmed update cycle. The best data refresh programmes are those that include elements of automated change detection and management.

Manage

Managing data requires much more work than simply keeping it up to date. It’s also about being able to store it effectively and securely. Therefore, an organisation will have to consider whether its data is better suited to a hosted or on-premise storage environment. On top of this, they may also need to integrate their data sets with other applications or migrate them on to new systems, which could require a change in format.

Analyse

Analysis of data only works when the information is interrogated to derive value from it. By doing this, geospatial organisations may be able to find new value in data that was previously ignored or overlooked, and they should also be open to manipulating it beyond their traditional instincts. Bank of America for instance, is analysing its mapping data to save money – using location as a basis to make informed decisions on where investment should be prioritised.

Deliver

The realisation of value will come from having a successful delivery strategy which defines how the organisation intends to distribute, publish and share their data. It is important to be mindful of the intended audience and ensure that the data is delivered in a way that can be used and understood by each and every stakeholder. Ordnance Survey is demonstrating how this can be done in practice, recently releasing a new online mapping system, in which a digital map is provided alongside their paper downloads.

Organisations should also consider compliance to industry or legislative standards such as the Open Geospatatial Consortium (OGC) that looks to or the European INSPIRE directive, which aims to create a European Union (EU) spatial data infrastructure.

Together

Finally, organisations should be open to working with third parties who can provide consultancy on how to maximise the value of their data. The partner should act as a natural extension of the organisation’s own team to ensure consistency and a seamless working relationship.

At a time when there has never been so much interest in mapping data, both from a business and consumer perspective, there is a huge opportunity for geospatial providers. By following these six core principles, organisations will be able to make the most of their mapping data and continually provide their customers with an accurate and up to date service as possible.

Gareth Bathers is a Senior Project Manager at Cyient

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gareth Bathers .