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Location Data – Can it be Trusted?

image of location data and the construction industry

In 2020, it was recognised the huge value that location data and geospatial insights could offer the UK economy in the Geospatial Commission’s paper Enhancing the UK’s Geospatial Ecosystem.

From an article in PBC Today by Ray Murphy.

In the same year, the UK’s geospatial strategy to 2025 was launched. Since 2020, more than 30 new geospatial companies have been registered and are still operational, according to Companies House.

With the sector continuing to grow, and its capabilities becoming increasingly apparent due to the huge amounts of data that is held on our changing built environment and landscapes, it begs the question: for a sector so concerned with accuracy and verification, who is responsible for measuring the measurement?

For construction professionals, who want to ensure the value and expertise of their growing supply chain, it’s important that this is defined so that quality can be guaranteed, regardless of the volume of data being collected.

The role and responsibility of the surveyor and the geospatial information that is gathered are continuously evolving. There are increasing options for cutting-edge technologies and advanced measurement methods that complement the experience of a qualified geospatialist.

While these enhanced capabilities have opened new possibilities, they have also introduced greater complexity to the responsibilities of geospatial professionals. New tools, processes and software have unlocked an entire industry of knowledge that is yet to be fully explored.

Despite this, officially recognised industry standards for geospatialists are struggling to keep pace with advancements in technology and data. Geospatial data is a foundational element of construction projects and having inaccurate data can significantly impact a project’s outcome.

Bad data, bad decisions

Bad data, defined as inaccurate, incomplete, inaccessible, inconsistent or untimely information, poses significant challenges in construction projects.

According to Autodesk, in the UK, 32% of construction data leads to poor decisions 31% of the time. In Ireland, this situation is even worse, with 41% of data resulting in poor decisions 46% of the time.

In today’s global construction landscape, where projects involve various sites and stakeholders, critical decisions are made quickly and concurrently. Poor data can create misunderstandings about a project’s status, potentially leading to mistakes that impact numerous individuals.

For the complete article on location data CLICK HERE.

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1 Comment

  • As someone involved in UAV Drone Lidar and laser scanning in Alberta, Canada, I can really relate to the concerns raised in this article. One of my biggest worries is the lack of clear standards in the industry and how unverified geospatial data can lead to major project risks. What’s even more concerning is that more and more people with little to no background in surveying or engineering are entering this field, which only makes the problem worse. As the geospatial industry grows, I think it’s crucial to focus on proper training, standardization, and expertise to make sure the data we’re relying on in construction and infrastructure projects is accurate and reliable. At Acuvec (www.acuvec.com), we’re all about ensuring our clients can trust the LiDAR and laser scan data we provide, knowing it’s accurate and dependable.

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