Geospatial Data Needs - Workshop 19 January 2010 Geospatial needs – the private sector perspective Keith Dugmore Demographic Decisions & Honorary Professor, CASA, UCL

Where(!) to start? An enormous canvas Where can NDS / ESRC have most impact?

The Review’s key messages Changing environment Availability of data Knowledge & use of data Confidentiality & security Data quality Skills Recommendations – training,+ advisory service

“The Private Sector” 1.Value-Added Resellers of information (data & systems) –Experian, ESRI, CACI, etc. –Usually selling to other businesses (B2B) 2.Geographical information / location service providers –Business to Consumer (B2C) –Google Maps, Yell.com, Streetmap, etc. 3.Companies which provide many different services to the UK public (B2C)……..Much the biggest of the three

Millions of customers – to retain & develop Often planning services in local areas – stores, branches Business decisions – targeting people and areas across the UK In-house analysis teams Smaller companies turn to VARs for help

Companies as users of data Area statistics – e.g. Census, & aggregated files Boundaries – e.g. Output Areas Map background – midscale (retailers); large (utilities) Point locations – e.g. stores, ATMs Addresses – inc. complex ones Customer records / databases – huge range …..& supported by the use of directories

Postcodes are vital Area statistics – e.g. Census, & aggregated files Boundaries – e.g. Output Areas Map background – midscale (retailers); large (utilities) Point locations – e.g. stores, ATMs Addresses – inc. complex ones Customer records / databases – huge range ….& supported by postcode directories

Who are the major data suppliers? Area statistics – ONS & other government Boundaries – Ordnance Survey (still) Map background – OS, but more competitors Point locations – lots (using postcodes) Addresses – Royal Mail the prime source Customer records / databases – Companies as creators (NB) Postcode directories – ONS + Crowd sourcing, e.g. Open Street Map (but for maps & lists, not reliable stats)

Why has the private sector’s use of GI been growing? Relentless search for business efficiency – targeting More data being collected / accumulated Computing – faster, cheaper The Web – easier access, better visualisation + Government “Click Use” licensing (in some cases)

But what must be done to further increase use? Simplify licensing (& cut costs): Some political progress –“Free Our Data” campaign as a focus of discontent –Government’s own assessments –& now “Making Public Data Public” Access (for users) / Delivery – the last 100 yards: Much to be done by government –Ideally from one primary portal – data.gov.uk? –More simple design / packaging of files –Compatible across the UK – alerts to let us know it’s arrived Knowledge and advice: Much to be done – by ESRC? –“I’m thinking about doing some mapping / analysis…….”

Private Sector and NDS / ESRC Some existing engagement –Knowledge Transfer Partnerships; GeoVUE; UCL & DUG; etc. The new environment – opportunities –Making Public Data Public – help push it faster –Budget cuts – we have to innovate to survive –& remember: maps are a great vehicle for getting interest Remove more barriers / build bridges 1.Make access easier to ESRC datasets – licences, systems, formats. (Test: Could an analyst get something useful in 1 day?) 2.Encourage more exploration of companies’ customer data 3.Create an ESRC/NDS shop window – showing what can be done 4.Provide an accompanying advisory helpdesk – for any user 5.Offer training courses for new users – a potential revenue source

Occasional & New Mainstream Analysts Specialist Experts Numbers of users, and their expertise Help grow the pyramid of users (taking the Census as an example)

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