Do you want to learn more about integrating geospatial and statistical data but aren't sure where to start? Are you short on time and need bite-sized information on important developments and trends in the field of data integration? Well, you have come to the right place!
Welcome to our exciting new blog series, INGEST (which, in case you haven't noticed, is short for INtegrating GEospatial and STatistical data) where we will be exploring a range of topics relating to data integration as well as sharing guidance, resources and best practice to help you on your journey towards greater integration of geospatial and statistical data. Whether you are just beginning this journey of discovery, or you are a seasoned pro who is hoping to broaden your knowledge and keep up to date with developments in the field of data integration, we hope there will be something for everyone. We'd also love to hear you thoughts on the topics that we explore so please feel free to comment on the posts and we can connect you to the wider community and stimulate discussion.
In this introductory post to the INGEST Blog Series, we will start right at the beginning and explore what integrating geospatial and statistical data is all about, discuss why it is important, introduce you to the key players, and bring you up to speed on recent developments relating to data integration. So are you ready to dive in? Let's go!
So, tell me more about integrating statistical and geospatial data . . .
We live in an increasingly digital world and the way we live and work has been transformed by technology which is advancing at ever-faster rates. With all that digital transformation comes infinite amounts of data which can be used to better understand our world through both space and time, and provide an important evidence base to address some of the biggest challenges faced by society, such as climate change, global health issues, political conflict, and poverty (you can read more about these issues here). The adoption of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has driven the need for better data that is accurate, current, detailed, and comparable in order to measure and monitor the Sustainable Development Goals. The integration of geospatial and statistical data (or data integration for short) has been recognised as one of the most promising ways to produce high-quality data that meets these requirements and can be defined as:
"the practice of incorporating and consolidating both kinds of sources [geospatial and statistical] into a single dataset, with the ultimate goal of providing users with consistent access to, and delivery of, information across the geographical, social, economic and environmental spectrums" (Source: PARIS21 Guide on Geospatial Data Integration in Official Statistics, pg. 11).
Global efforts to drive the greater integration of geospatial and statistical data have been going on for a decade and have centred on the work of the United Nations and other international and regional organisations (more on that below). As data providers, both national statistical and geospatial organisations also play a central role in this process.375px
Why is data integration it important?
Well, you may have heard the phrase, "Everything that happens, happens somewhere", and geography provides an ideal framework to bring together different layers of information across both space and time. Through the use of different spatial scales, ranging from tiny grid squares through to entire countries and regions, the possibilities of analysis and interpretation are endless. There are many benefits of integrating geospatial and statistical data - too many to include here - but in a nutshell, some of the main benefits include:
Enhancing the value of the statistical and geospatial data itself by improving its quality - as data is integrated, quality issues (such as missing or inaccurate data) can be identified and corrected, leading to more accurate data in the long term.
Improving the interoperability of datasets - connecting different systems and data sources through a common framework to easily share and combine information.
Providing new possibilities for data analysis and presentation - moving from simple choropleth maps towards more complex geostatistical outputs and grid-based visualisations.
Resulting in greater insights which can inform decision-making and policy development at all levels - from local, to regional, and global scales
So, who are the key players in the quest for greater data integration?
There are strong governance frameworks in place to help drive data integration at both international and regional levels, and the key players are outlined in the diagram below:
A summary of each of the main organisations and bodies is outlined in the table below. If you would like to find out more, please click on the links provided.
| Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) | One of the six main bodies of the United Nations and its role is to advance the three elements of sustainable development - the economy, society and the environment. It is described as a "central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals". |
| United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) | A functional commission of ECOSOC and forms the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities and oversees the work of the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD). It is responsible for the "setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level". |
| United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) | One of five regional commissions established by ECOSOC whose main aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. It includes 56 member states from across Europe, North America and Asia and over 70 international professional organisations and non-governmental organisations are involved in UNECE activities. |
| UNECE Statistics Division | Helps national statistical systems meet their data requirements for the 2030 Agenda through methodological guidance, modernisation activities and capacity development. It brings together experts from across the statistical community to "promote efficiencies and innovative ways to tackle persistent and emerging challenges in official statistics". |
| Conference of European Statisticians (CES) | Brings together leading statisticians from over 60 countries to drive statistical work through the provision of guidelines and recommendations, the setting of standards for statistical production, the global assessment of national statistical systems, and the completion of in-depth reviews to identify and respond to emerging issues. UNECE provides the Secretariat to CES. |
| United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) | The leading intergovernmental body regarding the use of geospatial information, acting as a forum for coordination, decision-making and setting direction for the production, accessibility and use of geospatial information within global, regional and national policy frameworks. |
| UN-GGIM: Europe | One of five regional committees which operates within the broader scope of UN-GGIM and its role is to identify European issues relevant to geospatial information management and recommend necessary actions to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of European geospatial information management. |
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) | An overarching body which upholds the development pillar of the United Nations, is guided by the 2030 Agenda, and is home to the SDGs. It provides intergovernmental support and capacity development work and is described as the "think tank of the UN", generating, analysing and compiling a wide range of data and statistics on related themes that enable Member States to assess and tackle common social, economic and environmental problems. |
| United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) | Sits within UN DESA with the aim to advance the global statistical system by compiling and sharing global statistical information, developing standards and norms for statistical activities, supporting countries in the strengthening of national statistical systems, and coordinating international statistical programmes and activities. |
| European Commission | Helps to shape the overall strategy of the European Union (EU), develops new EU legal and policy frameworks, monitors their implementation, and manages the EU budget including associated funding programmes. It also plays a central role in international relations, supporting international development and delivering aid. |
| Eurostat | The statistical authority of the EU, providing high-quality statistics and data on Europe in partnership with national statistical institutions and other bodies across Europe through the mechanism of the European Statistical System (ESS). It coordinates the statistical activities of the ESS to ensure the quality and consistency of data in accordance with the European Statistics Code of Practice. Eurostat has also been progressing the statistical and geospatial data integration agenda through activities relating to GISCO, the Geographic Information System of the Commission. |
| European Forum for Geography and Statistics (EFGS) | Set up as a voluntary cooperation between National Statistical Institutions (NSIs) in the Nordic countries in 1998, but has expanded to over 40 states and territories, and focuses on the development of best practices in the production of geostatistics in Europe and is home to the GEOSTAT projects. |
What about recent developments in the field of data integration?
As I mentioned above, activities to progress the greater integration of geospatial and statistical data have been going on for a decade and some of the highlights are provided below.
At a global level:
- UN-GGIM's Expert Group on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information whose role is to raise awareness and promote the importance of integrated statistical and geospatial information to support decision-making and policy development across all political levels. Their work includes the development of the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework which was adopted by the Committee of Experts at their ninth session as a bridge to facilitate the integration of a range of data from both the statistical and geospatial communities. At their tenth session, the Committee of Experts also adopted the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework to assist countries in the development and enhancement of their own geospatial information management processes.
- The Global Forum for Geography and Statistics (GFGS) which acts as a global network on geography and statistics to present, share and discuss new ideas and best practice relating to geospatial and statistical data. The GFGS, in collaboration with UNECE and EFTA, currently run a series of coffee talks. See here for more information including details on upcoming talks.
At a regional level:
- UN-GGIM: Europe's Working Group on Data Integration which focuses on the integration of geospatial data with other information including statistical data, and is currently running webinar series on data integration. See here for upcoming events.
- Eurostat's activities relating to GISCO (the Geographic Information System of the COmmission) which includes coordinating Commission-wide geographic information activities, promoting the use of geospatial data within the European Statistical System, chairing a working group on the integration of statistical and geospatial information, and overseeing annuals funding calls for project proposals relating to data integration.
- The European Forum for Geography and Statistics (EFGS) who have worked in collaboration with Eurostat on the GEOSTAT Projects which have focused on the development of common guidelines for grid-based and geospatial statistics for use by national statistical and geospatial organisations to promote the greater integration of statistical and geospatial data across the EU. The GEOSTAT 4 project has conceptualised and interpreted the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework within the European context, publishing GSGF Europe in 2021.
- UNECE's High-Level Group for the Modernisation of Official Statistics (HLG-MOS) whose role is to advance the modernisation of official statistics. They have published a Guide to Data Integration for Official Statistics as well as a Geospatial View of Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GeoGSBPM). UNECE has also recently embarked on a new project to produce internationally agreed guidance for the next round of censuses in 2030 under a number of key themes including technology, looking at GIS data and related approaches, and geospatial information and small area statistics for censuses which will further promote the data integration agenda within a global update of international guidance for censuses. See here for more information.
Wow, there really is a lot of work going on to support data integration. What's next?
Well, as you can see from the information and examples provided in this introductory blog post, there is a lot of great work going to support the integration of geospatial and statistical data. This blog series will take a deep-dive into some of the activities and frameworks outlined here as we have really only scratched the surface!
Next time . . .
We will present some results from the recent UNECE Survey on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information which was undertaken as part of an EU-funded project to develop capacity in geospatial and statistical data integration across the UNECE region. More on the project and the survey results soon!