Data Management

We at MJA Maps we have worked in many industries but our primary focus is now on exploration mining, specifically GIS for Geosciences. Within any industry, it’s critical for people to have a comprehensive understanding of how to manage spatial data so decisions are made without assumptions – providing the best impact. Let’s discuss the fundamentals of spatial data management: what it is and why it’s important including best practices of storage for analysis, as well as common pitfalls associated with mishandling this type of information.

 

Our approach to GIS data management

Step 1 – GIS Data Audit

  • A GIS Data audit will identify and remove redundant information such as duplicates, or information with incorrectly maintained versions. It will determine the high-value datasets which need more care

Step 2 – GIS Data Review

  • Are their priority datasets that need be be accurate, maintained, for operational, compliance or other regulatory requirements?
  • We can determine a baseline for success and review if your GIS is aligned on an ongoing basis. 

Step 3 – Design considerations for GIS data

  • Is data readily accessible to people depending on their role?
  • Does it cover naming standards for files, layers, storage and access?
  • GIS data needs to be managed with the right level of effort, without too much overhead in the administration of data.
  • The burden of GIS data management must be shared for an organisation to excel with GIS. If its left to the GIS team than decisions or assumptions may be made thats not aligned.
  •  

Step 4 – Mature your GIS Data Governance

  • Mature your system with a GIS Data Management Plan to stipulate the ongoing maintenance of all datasets.
  • We can help with development of standards, procedures, GIS custodianship  and other governance to help keep your system evergreen. 

Step 5 – Maintain

  • A well designed GIS data management system will allow ease of access to the teams that need it through a data management plan. 
  • Data will be stored with simple, repeatable process and integrated with key systems
  • Most importantly people will be trained so the system will remain evergreen

What is GIS Data Custodianship?

Custodianship refers to being ownership, and in this context refers to main responsibility.

 

The most success we’ve found, is by assigning custodianship to each dataset.

 

This could either be an individual or an entire department, but we prefer a single role so it’s clear who is ultimately accountable. For example, exploration related datasets can be assigned to the geologist team lead.

The most important function is that this role is accountable for making sure the data is collected to fit the purpose. We like to assign to the role most likely to benefit from the dataset Custodianship.

 

Ideally we setup a RACI for each spatial dataset:

  • Responsible (R): This person is responsible for completing the task or deliverable. They are the ones who actually do the work and ensure that it is completed on time and to the required standard.
  • Accountable (A): This person is accountable for the success of the task or deliverable. They are the ones who make the final decisions and are ultimately responsible for the outcome.
  • Consulted (C): This person needs to be consulted for input on the task or deliverable. They may provide subject matter expertise or have valuable insights that can help inform the work.
  • Informed (I): This person needs to be kept informed of the progress of the task or deliverable. They may not be directly involved in the work, but they need to be aware of what is happening.

 

Depending on your team structure and organisational capability, it may not be necessary for the data custodian role to have the necessary skills and resources to handle all aspects of data management from ingesting new datasets to updating existing ones. Or the responsible and accountable could be the same role. That could be assigned to a GIS capable function. MJA Maps can help you setup Data Custodianship across all or just key datasets, we can manage the data for you, or we can setup the key processes and governance for your team to manage with our training.

GIS for data management?

Next, decide what type of infrastructure would best suit the needs for storing and manipulating your GIS data. You can choose between locally stored GIS data store or an enterprise GIS database (across network on premise or cloud hosted) depending on the size and complexity of your organisation or project. Make sure you select software with appropriate levels of security for protecting confidential information as well as interoperability capabilities so that other organizations can easily access and use your data if needed. We are competent with both ESRI and QGIS.

 

We have helped organisations migrate between system

  • From MapInfo to ESRI ArcMap
  • From ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro
  • From ESRI to QGIS
  • Do you currently have multiple systems in house? No problem we at MJA Maps have also developed data management practices to cater for an organisation that had MapInfo, ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro and QGIS.

 

Spatial Data Governance

GIS data governance refers to the management of GIS data ensuring that GIS data is reliable, accurate, and meets the organisation’s needs – we like to do this with a minimal of administration effort and not overburden the custodian with excessively administrative tasks.

If you engage MJA Maps to do a Data Audit we will define the level of governance that is fit for purpose. Contact us if you would like support

Scroll to Top