With the growing usage and availability of instant online maps to identify the location of any place, for real-time navigation, connected landmarks and tracking delivery and supply chain, the role and importance of geospatial data and technology is only increasing.
The term geospatial data and technology are not new, however, many people are not familiar with this crucially important technology. One of the most common misconceptions is that people often use the terms GIS and geospatial interchangeably. While both the terms are related to one another, they refer to different things. This article will help to understand the basic concept of the two technologies in great detail:
What are GIS and geospatial?
GIS is a form of geospatial technology. It refers to a geographic information system, where the spatial information is acquired, stored, manipulated, analyzed and mapped out in a visual representation. The spatial and non-spatial data is integrated with geographic software to develop maps so that the data can be visualized to figure out patterns and used for various location-related work.
Geospatial refers to the context of data collection and associated technology that helps in identifying specific geographical coordinates or locations.
What is a geospatial map?
It is often mistaken that GIS means mapping or simple map making, which is why it is important to understand the concept of geospatial. Geospatial mapping involves creating maps using geospatial data in different layers. It is a form of spatial visualization technique to show objects that have geographical coordinates in a geographical layout. Geospatial mapping involves four stages, data acquisition, data processing and input to databases, creating a model and design, and then publication.
Globally, nations and companies apply geospatial mapping in different ways like navigation, planning for infrastructure construction, updating maps, logistics, disaster management, resource management, agriculture, environmental study, business expansion, business value, urban planning, monitoring situations and much more.
What is geospatial data?
Geospatial data or geodata refers to the geographical or location data on the Earth’s surface. The information when combined with longitude and latitude coordinated helps in mapping the objects, events, and real-world phenomena, to analyze, and derive insights about the Earth’s geography.
There are two types of geospatial data: vector data and raster data. Vector data uses digital elements like points, polylines, and polygons that spatially represent geographic features like properties, cities, water bodies, mountains, roads, and boundaries between cities. It is used in geospatial information applications such as mapping, location information, and navigation.
Raster data model represents pixelated or gridded cells that are used to differentiate rows and columns. When it is overlaid on map images from satellite imagery, digital aerial imagery, remotely sensed data, and scanned maps, it creates imagery and digital elevation models. It helps in generating data like soil moisture and soil quality.
Who uses geospatial data?
Geospatial data typically includes information such as census data, satellite data, demographic data, geographic data, data from phones, digital data, and aerial data. This vast amount of data is then curated, evaluated, managed, analyzed and insights are drawn, in order to produce useful information, make solutions, and drive innovations, which is then used by businesses, industries, governments, and nations to make calculative decisions, shape policies.
The benefits of using geospatial data help in developing a deep understanding of the problems, optimising resource allocation, managing supply chain, disaster preparedness, rescue operations, maintaining law and order, monitoring development, and addressing problems on a day-to-day basis, among other things.
What is geospatial data used for?
Geospatial data is used for scientific, government administrative, military planning, emergency response, environmental management, telecommunication companies, logistics, supply chain management, business expansion, infrastructure development, urban planning, city development, network planning, insurance and finance companies, competitive intelligence, risk assessment, trade analysis, consumer insight among other things.
Government departments use insights about health, utilities, weather, environment, and law and order situation, to provide the citizens with relevant information, create awareness, avoid disruption, and provide resources timely, assurance as well as insurance to citizens.
Businesses use data insights to market their products well, create innovative solutions, expand their business, optimize resources and storage areas and provide better service to their customers.
What are the examples of geospatial?
Geospatial data is defined as the information about real-world locations that is in some or the other way related to geography. There are various examples of geospatial data such as census data related to specific geographic areas for the study of community trends, location and map data, geographic features, topography data, and data derived from postal codes.
The most common type of geospatial data is used to access locations via smartphones. This location data can be accessed from different maps and location service providers. The service providers give information about restaurants, recreation areas, and points of interest.
Mobile phone or cell phone data is routed by satellite based on GPS location coordinates. Images of buildings or other infrastructures that deliver geographic information along with architectural data. And the important one is social media posts that are studied by data scientists to identify emerging trends.
What is the future of Geospatial Technologies?
Over the past few years, geospatial technology has seen tremendous growth. Government and non-government organizations, private companies, policymakers, universities, and researchers are using these technologies in their daily workflow.
According to a technology insight firm Markets and Markets, with the development of smart cities, integration of geospatial technologies with emerging technologies such as AI, ML, and AR/VR for business intelligence, growing investments in modern geospatial solutions and increasing accessibility of spatial data and cloud technology are some of the major factors driving the growth of the GIS market.
What are the 3 geospatial technologies?
Geospatial technology is a term used to describe the range of modern tools used for geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human activities. It enables to the collection of data that belongs to Earth and uses it for analysis, modeling, simulation and visualization.
There are three geospatial technologies:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS is a technology that is used to create digital maps by collecting all types of data which has assigned a specific location on the surface of the earth. The digital map represents where all living things such as humans, trees, and water resources, and non-living things such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure are situated. By detecting and analyzing geographic data, GIS helps organizations to better understand spatial patterns and relationships.
GIS is very useful in various domains such as agriculture, environment, urban planning, transportation, disaster management, health and human service, tourism, defence, oil and gas, education, business and marketing, and so on.
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
Global Positioning System or GPS, a navigation system using satellites, supports highly accurate positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) measurements worldwide. While operated by the US Department of Defence, it gives precise coordinates locations to civil and military use.
GPS supports various applications which rely on satellite technologies. The applications of GPS differ from industry to industry. However, the use of GPS is based on their need for tracking and monitoring an object, safe and reliable navigation, precision positioning, surveying, mapping, or timing.
- Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the process of detecting and acquiring physical characteristics from the Earth’s terrestrial, atmospheric and aquatic ecosystem by measuring emitted and reflected radiation at a distance. In this process of data collection, aircraft-based and satellite-based sensor technologies are involved.
Remote sensing has a variety of use cases and applications. It includes geology, hydrology, ecology, geography, glaciology, oceanography, meteorology and in land surveying, as well as applications in commercial, economic, military, intelligence, planning, and humanitarian fields.
What does geospatial mean in geography?
Geography is the study of places such as land, seas, climate, towns and population and their relation with the human. Whereas geospatial covers everything including the study or practical use of geographic features occupy and distributed across space.
What is the difference between geospatial and geographic?
Geographic means relating to geography or natural features of a particular region such as a town, urban city, or metropolitan city. On the other hand geospatial is a bigger term that covers everything that has to do with the study or practical use of geographic features occupy and distributed across space. In more practical terms, the geospatial term is distinguished in two areas
- Geospatial Data
- Geospatial Technology
What are the limitations of geospatial technology?
Geospatial technologies have made it easy to analyze and manipulate geographical data. Even though these technologies have several advantages but there are some limitations associated with it such as:
Unstructured Data
The data which is collected by using GIS systems is very complex and unstructured. To convert it into useful and meaningful information, it requires special skills to understand and interpret the data. There is also a lack of standardization in data. For instance, measurements may be taken using different units or timestamps can be different from different time zones. Geospatial data comes from different sources, different formats, scales, and coordinate systems which cause errors and inconsistencies in the data.
Storage
Another challenge of working with spatial data is dealing with large sizes of data. Storing large amounts of spatial data in GIS systems is very difficult. To make the data process easier, it needs a highly-efficient processor and extremely large storage space.
Time Consuming
It takes a lot of time to get complete information about a particular set of data. The process of data collection, storage, and analysis is a long and tedious task due to the vast availability of data.
Integration with Traditional Map
GIS systems are made up of highly complex map structures and information. It is very difficult to integrate these map structures with traditional maps to gain meaningful information. This means a GIS system only works with and interprets information that has been collected using the software from the beginning.
Uneconomical
A GIS system is not so economical. It is made up of the complex interconnection of the various components that makes it very expensive. To operate the systems, there is a need to have fully trained personnel which also require high cost.
Is GIS a good career?
Geographic tools are more accessible and more powerful as technologies such as drones are used to create maps, and LiDAR sensors are building 3D maps in real time. GIS is a dynamic and ever-evolving field with many opportunities for people who want to work in it. If someone is looking for a career in GIS, it is a great time for choosing this field. In this, mapping and spatial analysis are studied, which can be applied to everything from urban planning to epidemiology. The demand for GIS professionals is also increasing as technology becomes more widespread and integrated into our everyday lives.
