ISO 19157 - Geographic Information - Data Quality

In geospatial data management, maintaining data quality is critical. ISO 19115 is the international standard for geographic information metadata. It was first introduced in 2003 with an aim to ensure geospatial data is discoverable, interoperable, and transparent, bridging systems and domains. Originally, data quality was part of ISO 19115, although it was carved out and become its own standard: ISO 19157-1: 2023 Geographic information - Data Quality

What is ISO 19157:

ISO 19157 is part of the ISO 19100 family of standards, and defines:

1. Data Quality Elements: Fundamental aspects like positional accuracy, temporal accuracy, thematic accuracy, logical consistency, and completeness
2. Data Quality Measures: Quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate the data's fitness for purpose
3. Metadata for Data Quality: Guidelines for documenting quality assessment results, ensuring transparency and interoperability

Why ISO 19157 Matters:

1. Decision-Making Confidence: High-quality geospatial data ensures that decisions based on this data are reliable, whether in urban planning, disaster management, or resource allocation
2. Data Interoperability: The standard promotes consistency across organisations, making it easier to share and integrate datasets from multiple sources
3. Regulatory Compliance: Many sectors, such as utilities and environmental management, require adherence to strict data quality standards
4. Cost Savings: Detecting and addressing quality issues early reduces the risk of expensive corrections or errors downstream

Examples of ISO 19157 in Practice:

1. Urban Planning: A city planning department uses geospatial data to identify potential sites for new infrastructure. By applying ISO 19157, they evaluate data quality to ensure that positional accuracy and thematic accuracy meet the project requirements
2. Environmental Monitoring: Environmental agencies rely on consistent and complete datasets for monitoring changes in land use or vegetation. ISO 19157 ensures the data’s temporal accuracy aligns with the periodic observations
3. Asset Management: In industries like utilities or transportation, mapping assets accurately is crucial. Logical consistency checks ensure that pipeline or road networks are properly mapped

Implementing ISO 19157:

1. Training and Awareness: Educate your team about the standard and its relevance to your workflows.
2. Integrate with Existing Tools: Many GIS platforms support ISO 19157-compliant quality assessments, such as ArcGIS Pro
3. Establish a Quality Framework: Incorporate ISO 19157 into your organisation’s data governance policies

The Future of Geospatial Data Quality

As the volume of geospatial data continues to grow, maintaining data quality will become even more critical. Adopting ISO 19157 isn't just about compliance - it's about fostering trust in the data that shapes our world. Whether its mapping cities or managing assets and resources, this standard is the key to achieving precision, consistency, and reliability in the data.

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