Can Public Sector Organizations Rely on Public Data?

Geospatial data users, including the general public, want to participate in making the data that they use better. The mass market geo-providers are actively responding: Google has a site called “Map Maker”, Navteq has an online tool called “Map Reporter”, both of which are designed to accept submissions from users. Tele Atlas uses input from the millions of TomTom users to update its MultiNet database. Users submit GPS measurements and map edits via the TomTom Home application on desktops and TomTom’s connected devices.

Online geospatial magazines have a number of articles on the subject (see http://www.vector1media.com/dialogue/perspectives/9532-does-geospatial-data-want-to-be-free and http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,1000000073,39738004,00.htm). On November 30, 2007 a Canada-wide government-industry team demonstrated a process  for updating geographic information in a public sector database using OGC-compliant Web Feature Service (WFS). The most frequently cited model is OpenStreetMap, a kind of “Geo-Wiki”, created by the people and for the people. Is this the one true path? Is this the future of geospatial data management?

Land Information Ontario has a tool called Make-a-Map, which, logically enough, is designed to allow anyone to make a custom map of any part of Ontario displaying only the features they wish to show. When I suggested introducing a means by which users could provide comments on the data, there was concern that this would set unreasonable expectations. This would be different from receiving information on species sightings or environmental conditions in that this relates to base data, the underlying features to which other features are commonly related. 

Most geospatial data is still created by organizations that need the data to fulfill specific business needs, and then let it be used for other purposes. In fact, although users of roads and trails and geo-cachers often use GPS to map where they have been, they commonly rely on base data or imagery as background or context. The feedback that they provide on this context information goes to data owners or custodians who are then expected to update their data accordingly. However, the traditional model for any data owner, public sector or private sector is that they must personally verify and validate any changes to data that they distribute, or use themselves, to ensure that it meets their standards of quality. Otherwise they will be liable.

Public sector organizations do not have the staff needed to quickly respond to suggestions for repairs to data by sending staff in the field to investigate, collecting new data if necessary, updating the database and publishing the refreshed material. So what is the answer? What do Navteq and Google do with the feedback they get? I believe that the issue is the same as the one that has existed since the first geospatial data element was collected, can I trust someone else’s data to make a decision? 

Geospatial data has always been expensive to collect and expensive and time-consuming to maintain. As a result the geospatial community has been exemplary in coming up with data sharing arrangements, joint data collection efforts, and consortiums for data maintenance. 

It is time for us to, once again, show leadership and to find a way to harness this public energy for public good. My experience is that we are a bright bunch and can come up with some fascinating ideas! Let me know your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.

Take care, and stay well…

Raphael Sussman

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