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GEOSPATIAL DATA MANAGEMENT: A PANACEA FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

National development refers to the improvement of a country in all areas, including the political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and material spheres. The capacity of a nation to enhance its citizens’ standard of living is an indicator of the nation’s level of development.

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Geospatial data, when managed efficiently and successfully, will aid in data-driven decision-making and effective planning to build a nation. One of the defining features of geoinformation science is its ability to combine spatially referenced data. A frequently occurring issue is the need to use spatial data from different sources that have different spatial reference systems.

Geospatial data is time-based data that is related to a specific location on the Earth’s surface. It can provide insights into relationships between variables and reveal patterns or trends of occurrences.

In other words, geospatial data is information that describes objects, events, or other features with a location on or near the surface of the earth. Geospatial data typically combines location information (usually Adidas Yeezy 700 Shoes coordinates on the earth) and attribute information (the characteristics of the object, event, or phenomenon concerned) with temporal information (the time or life span at which the location and attributes exist). The location provided may be static in the short term (for example, the location of a piece of equipment, an earthquake event, children living in poverty) or dynamic (for example, a moving vehicle or pedestrian, the spread of an infectious disease).

Geospatial data typically involves large sets of spatial data collected from many diverse sources in varying formats and can include information such as census data, satellite imagery, weather data, cell phone data, drawn images, and social media data. Geospatial data is most useful when it can be discovered, shared, analyzed, and used in combination with traditional business data.

Examples of geospatial data include:

  • Vectors and attributes: descriptive information about a location such as points, lines, and polygons
  • Point clouds: a collection of co-located charted points that can be re-textured as 3D models
  • Raster and satellite imagery: high-resolution imageries of our world, taken from above.
  • Census data: released census data tied to specific geographic areas for the study of community trends.
  • Cell phone data: Calls are routed by satellite based on GPS coordinates.
  • Drawn images: CAD images of buildings or other structures, delivering geographic information as well as architectural data.
  • Social media data: There are social media posts that data scientists can study to identify emerging trends.

Without geospatial data management, today´s challenges in big data applications such as earth observation, geographic information system/building information modeling (GIS/BIM) integration, and 3D/4D city planning cannot be solved. Furthermore, geospatial data management plays a connecting role between data acquisition, data modeling, data visualization, and data analysis.

The Geospatial Data Management System deals with databases and Database Management Systems (DBMS). It is indispensable for the insertion, deletion, update, and retrieval of geo-referenced geometric, i.e. vector or raster data sets, as well as topological data sets.

A database is a structured collection of data files. A database management system (DBMS) is a software package that allows for the creation, storage, maintenance, manipulation, and retrieval of large datasets that are distributed over one or more files. Database management normally refers to the management of tabular data in row and column format and is frequently used for personal, business, government, and scientific endeavors.

Geospatial database management Systems alternatively include the functionality of a DBMS but also contain specific geographic information about each data point, such as identity, location, shape, and orientation. Integration of this geographic information with the tabular attribute data of a classical DBMS provides users with powerful tools to visualize and answer the spatially explicit questions that arise in an increasingly technological society.

Geospatial Data Infrastructure (GDI) is the base collection of technologies, data, human resources, policies, institutional arrangements, and partnerships that enable the availability, exchange, and access to geographically related information using common practices, protocols, and specifications. GDI stores information about the location, shape, and attributes of real objects.

It also enables the power of computers to be used in manipulating, updating, and analyzing the information in many different ways. GDI is a framework to enable users with different mandates and disciplines to operate in a cohesive manner to acquire, access, retrieve, analyze, and disseminate geospatial information (GI) in an easy and secure way. It particularly helps to improve the efficiency of the development, management, and use of geospatial databases.

For geospatial data to be managed effectively, it entails data homogenization. Data homogenization is the process of bringing all data into a common geospatial framework to ensure consistency of data, integrity of analysis, and validity of results. In a geospatial database, data are used from various sources, including those that were captured using different technologies and published in different coordinate systems. All of which must be harmonized before being used in a GIS. This can be vector or raster data from satellite images or a digital elevation model; also, old scanned topographic paper maps with many unknown distortions can be used for the study of historic changes.

An important part of data homogenization is the process of geo-referencing and geo-co ding all the data used in a geospatial database. All datasets have to be referenced to the same spatial coordinate system and correctly overlay each other.

The importance of geospatial data management

Agriculture: This sector is a major beneficiary of the impact of geospatial technology. Australian studies show that using GNSS and GIS, it is possible to optimize agricultural yields through controlled traffic farming and inter-row sowing. Geospatial data management is useful in the areas of pest and disease management, improved climate forecasting, improved asset management and farm planning, natural resource management, and an increase in yield. GIS data helps create more efficient farming techniques, along with analyzing soil data in an advanced fashion. This can increase food production in different parts of the world. Adequate management of agriculturally related spatial data will also aid in cultivation inventory, vegetation cover, soil study, river dams and irrigation, land use monitoring, crop yield monitoring, and marine resources.

Forestry: Geospatial data management is requisite in inventory management, remote assessment of forest yield estimation, canopy health mapping, and operations management; all these benefits are being used by government and private industry. Moreover, geospatial data, when managed properly, is applicable in the aspects of forest mapping, forest inventory, change detection, and timber production for export nike metcon 9 and domestic uses. With the help of GIS information, forests can be adequately maintained and managed.

Water Resources and Irrigation:  The use of geospatial data in producing hydrogeological maps prepared from remotely sensed data is essential for groundwater prospecting. It also saves the cost of rigorous drilling by determining groundwater from remotely sensed data. Geospatial data is used in irrigation and also delineates the benefits as improved reclamation of salt-affected and water-logged areas, improved management, resulting in less disparity between head and tail-end portions of irrigation commands, and improved collection of water. It is especially crucial for the allocation and geographic distribution of water. The availability of water directly affects crop production in a given region. GIS data can identify significant crops and determine yield, involving efficient techniques in the spatial and time domains.

Micro-watershed management: use of geospatial technology in micro-watershed management is necessary for improvements in areas of agriculture, agroforestry, and horticulture.

Fisheries: Geospatial Data Management is efficient in recording fishing tracks, fisheries management, and habitat mapping, which results in productivity rises by using improved techniques. The use of remotely sensed data is important for determining potential fishing zones for pelagic fisheries. This has resulted in an economic gain and benefit due to savings in fuel and a higher fish catch.

Mining: The spatial data derived from observation and measurement using a GNSS network is used for accurate selective mining and autonomous haul trucks. Applications of precision GNSS in open-cut mining are estimated to be delivering benefits. Use of the spatial information application ‘Millmapper’ in precious metals mining is estimated to have improved milling operations and generated cost savings. Oil, gas, and mineral production have increased, respectively, using spatial technologies. In the field of geology and solid minerals, geospatial data management is needed for photogeology, reconnaissance, soil study, solid mineral exploration, exploitation, distribution, marketing, and monitoring. Moreover, geologists use GIS data to analyze soil, assess seismic information, and create 3D displays of geographic features. It can also be used to analyze rock characteristics and identify the best location for different functions.

Asset Mapping, Maintenance, and Management: Precision GNSS technology can be used to accurately locate and map infrastructure assets such as pipelines, storm-water drains, and underground cables. This is particularly useful for local government councils and utility companies that manage large networks of infrastructure assets. It can result in cost savings in undertaking the mapping task and also improve the efficiency of asset maintenance. GIS data helps organizations become more efficient with finite resources. With an understanding of the population at risk, planners can allocate resources more efficiently.

Construction and Engineering: With geospatial data management and the applications of GNSS networks, site survey and determination of the volume of earth work are achieved.

Transportation and Storage: Spatial technologies have helped improve logistics, route selection and itinerary planning, transport planning, vehicle tracking, traffic and congestion management, transport operations in rail and air, and intelligent transport systems. GIS data is commonly used to manage transportation issues. With the addition of environmental and up-to-date data to a GIS platform, companies can plan for a new road or rail route. In addition, aspects of transport and aviation; geospatial data management are applicable in road and airport runway design, railways design, aeronautical charts for navigation, search and rescue operations.

Telecommunications and Network Services: Spatial technologies for network planning and management and for postal routing have contributed to productivity gains. Organizations can incorporate geographic data into their complex network design, optimization, planning, and maintenance activities. This data enhances telecom processes through better customer relationship management and location services.

Government activities cover a variety of areas like geosciences, natural resources and environmental management, defense and security, land administration, development approvals, etc. Geospatial Data Management aids in productivity improvement based on observed improvements in asset management, service delivery, infrastructure planning, defense, emergency services, risk management, biosecurity, compliance, and regulation.

Geo-services: Geospatial Data Management adds value in the area of geo-services through a reduction in travel time through better navigation, the saving of gasoline, competitive pricing of infrequently bought goods and services, better irrigation of agricultural areas, and faster emergency response.

Disaster Management: A NASA study on volcanic cloud data for aviation hazards focused on developing ash data in near real time for distribution by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to decision support systems that, in turn, provide the data to operational aviation agencies to manage flight operations and ensure safe flights.

Efficient GIS systems protect the environment and are developed to assist with risk and disaster management. In the field of flood damage estimation, the government uses GIS data to map flood-risk areas and can use the information to coordinate relief efforts.

It is also important in the environmental context for deriving risk zone mapping, environmental inventory and monitoring, desertification, flood and erosion monitoring, land degradation, and environmental impact assessment.

Mapping: GIS can be used to provide a visual interpretation of geospatial data. Google Maps is an excellent example of a web-based GIS mapping solution that people use for everyday navigation purposes.

Accident Analysis and Hot Spot Analysis: Geospatial data management helps identify accident locations, and road networks can be optimized using data intelligence. This intelligence helps to improve road safety measures and allows for better traffic management.

Urban planning: GIS data analyzes urban growth and the direction of expansion. When appropriately applied, it can discover new sites for further development, considering various factors that are necessary for successful building.

Environmental Impact Analysis: Data gathered via GIS applications is vital for conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Impact statements assess the magnitude of human impact on the environment, which GIS integration and data management help indicate.

Navigation: Web-based navigation maps use geospatial data efficiently managed to provide the public with useful information. Web maps are regularly updated per GIS information and are used consistently in everyday life.

Banking and Finance: Banking has evolved to become market-driven, and a bank’s success depends mainly on its ability to provide customer-driven services. GIS data plays an essential role in planning, organizing, and decision-making in the banking industry. Geospatial data and its attributes aid in determining areas where revenue generation is needed, such as areas where customs and immigration services are needed.

Taxation: GIS data helps solve taxation problems and maximize government income. It is used for building permits and engineering and offers a system for managing property taxes on a geographic basis. Geospatial data management provides a database for payment and tax management.

Surveying: Surveying involves measuring the location of objects on earth, and more organizations are using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for this function. This data, incorporated into a GIS system, can estimate area and prepare digital maps.

Planning and Community Development: Geospatial data management helps to understand and meet global challenges. As GIS technology rapidly advances, there are various innovative applications in the planning sector. GIS tools can be used to integrate geographic intelligence into planning processes and have the potential to change how people think and behave.

Dairy Industry: With the management of geospatial data relating to dairy products, the dairy industry uses GIS data for distribution, production, and identifying the location of shops. It is a useful tool for planning in the field of dairy farm management and allows for better decision-making.

Pest Control and Management: Pest control is essential in infested areas. Organizations can consequently develop more effective pest management plans.

Political/administration: International, Interstate, and LGA boundary demarcation and settlement can be achieved by geospatial data management.

Petroleum Resources: Oil and gas exploration, exploitation, distribution, marketing, and monitoring can be achieved through the management of geospatial data.

Planning: Geospatial data management aids in urban and regional planning, urban renewal and change studies, feasibility studies, land use mapping, land administration, and the location of industries.

Security: Defense, crime prevention and monitoring, and search and rescue operations can be managed and carried out optimally by proper and adequate management of geospatial data.

Population census: It assists in planning, delimitation of enumeration areas, and demographic studies.

Tourism: It aids in the derivation of road network maps, street guide maps, tourist centers, and hotel locations.

Local Government: It assists in generating taxation, determining land use, new town development, and providing utility services.

Health Sector: Timely and adequate management of geospatial data aids in determining epidemic location, prevention and forecasting of diseases, facility planning and distribution of resources, and orthopedic measurements.

Education: It aids in educational facilities and infrastructure planning, the distribution of instructional and learning aids (e.g., school atlases, textbooks, writing materials, etc.), and the determination of the location of institutions.

Sports development: Geospatial data management aids in facility planning, development, and management.

Archaeology: Geospatial data assists in the geo-referencing of historical locations, research studies, etc.

Conclusion

The use of GIS data and appropriate management has a profound impact on business, industry, and national development, as well as on the general public. If the technology were eliminated, we would realize to a great extent the overarching importance of GIS data in our daily lives and at work. If the geospatial data is not properly managed, mapping cannot be achieved, and the planning process and data-driven, informed decision-making will be hard to accomplish.

REFERENCES

Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of TwenteFollowthis publisher (2015) ITC corebook 2013 – Chapter 03 – spatial referencing, Issuu. Available at: https://issuu.com/itc-utwente/docs/corebook2013_03_spatialreferencing/1 (Accessed: April 1, 2023). 

What is geospatial data? (2020) IBM. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/topics/geospatial-data (Accessed: April 1, 2023). 

Libretexts (2023) 5.2: Geospatial Database Management, Geosciences LibreTexts. Libretexts. Available at: https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geography_(Physical)/Essentials_of_Geographic_Information_Systems_(Campbell_and_Shin)/05:_Geospatial_Data_Management/5.02:_Geospatial_Database_Management (Accessed: April 1, 2023). Ayanlade, A. (2008) Geospatial Data Infrastructure for Sustainable Development in sub-Saharan countries, Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17538940802149940 (Accessed: April 1, 2023).

Surv.Izuegbu, Ogochukwu Uju

I am a land Surveyor/GIS Analyst with the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) Nigeria.

I am a registered Surveyor with the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON). I am motivated to proffer Geospatial Solutions in solving environmental problems through the use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. My key interest is to promote and uphold the image of my profession, practice ethically, solve problems at hand and add value to my profession, myself and the country at large.

My hobbies are carrying out research, travelling, and listening to music.

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