Access to geographic information has never been greater. Maps, property information, satellite imagery, and other geodata sources offer new opportunities to understand places, analyze changes, and plan activities.
But more data does not automatically lead to better decisions.
What matters most is how the information is used. Which data sources need to be combined? What level of geographic detail is required? And how do we make the information work within the systems and processes where decisions are actually made?
Only when geographic information is placed in the right context does it become a useful basis for decision-making.
Start with the business question—not with the data
A property boundary, a digital elevation model, or a satellite image can each provide valuable information on their own. But often, it’s only when multiple data sources are combined that a specific question can be answered.
For a bank or property owner, this might involve identifying which properties need closer examination based on geographic risks. For an infrastructure manager, it may involve understanding terrain conditions or vegetation along a larger network. When planning new power lines, the question may be which properties and landowners are affected.
Needs vary, and so does the information required.
It is therefore not a matter of collecting as much geodata as possible, but rather of selecting and combining the right data for the task at hand.
A concrete example: From geographic information to managing land issues
When an energy company plans new power grids, it doesn’t just need to know where the line will run. It also needs to identify affected properties, manage contacts with landowners, and draft agreements and other documentation.
Metria Markkoll is an example of how geographic information can become part of such a workflow. The service combines geodata, property information, and GIS analysis with support for land administration and document management.
By linking property information to planned utility routes, users can gain a clearer picture of which land-related issues need to be addressed. The information is then used in tasks such as drafting agreements, creating maps, and communicating with affected property owners.
Skellefteå Kraft is one of the organizations that has used the solution. In a previous Metriareportage article, the company describes how the system simplifies administration and creates better conditions for spending time on value-adding tasks.
This example shows how the benefits of geodata can extend beyond a map or analysis. When the information is linked to a concrete workflow, it becomes a support for day-to-day operations.
The right data must also be of the right quality
Which data is relevant depends on the question being addressed.
For an analysis of climate risk at the property level, geographic detail can be crucial. For infrastructure planning across large areas, timeliness and geographic coverage can be particularly important.
Therefore, data quality must always be assessed based on its intended use. Is the information current enough? Does it have the right geographic resolution? Can different data sources be combined reliably?
A large amount of available data is no guarantee of a sound basis for decision-making. An understanding of the information’s capabilities and limitations is also required.
The information needs to be where it is used
Even a well-executed geographic analysis risks having limited value if the results remain confined to a separate map or report.
For geodata to become a natural part of operations, the information often needs to be usable within existing systems and workflows.
This might involve, for example, making property information available via an API, integrating geographic analyses into business systems, or creating recurring data flows that keep decision-making data up to date.
As the example of Metria Markkoll shows, geographic information can also become an integral part of the practical work involving land issues, contracts, and communication.
It is when information reaches the right people, in the right context, and at the right time that it can be most useful.
From Access to Data to the Ability to Act
Geographic information offers great opportunities to understand places, assets, and changes in the world around us. But business value is realized only when the information can be used to answer relevant questions and support concrete decisions.
This requires the right data sources, geographic analysis, an understanding of business needs, and solutions that make the information available where it is needed.
Metria works with real estate information, geodata, remote sensing, and geographic analysis. By combining these areas of expertise, we help organizations create the foundation for risk assessment, management, planning, and investments, among other things.
The starting point is simple: Begin with the decision. Then identify what information is needed to make that decision.
Would you like to discuss how geographic information can be used in your business? Contact Metria, and we’ll explore which data and analyses can support your needs.
Metria offers digital solutions and services in GIS, geodata, real estate, and business information. Our offering covers the entire process—from identifying our customers’ needs for geodata, real estate, and business information to collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data to generate insights that lead to smarter, safer, and greener decisions.
Since spring 2022, Metria has been part of Spir Group, a Nordic group with approximately 400 employees in Norway and Sweden. Together, the group’s companies create value for the public sector, businesses, and citizens through an innovative approach to managing, analyzing, and deriving value from data. The goal is to improve public administration, help private companies develop their operations, and offer better services to citizens. Based on public and commercial data, as well as a deep understanding of customer needs, value is created through innovative services and solutions.
For more information about Spir Group, visitwww.spirgroup.com.