The Geospatial Commission has laid out its plan to develop a national location data framework to support future technologies by 2025.

The plans form part of the recently published UK Geospatial Strategy, along with the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) and the development of harmonised and machine readable licences by next year.

Geospatial Commission chair Andrew Dilnot stated: “Better location data will help us to make more informed decisions on everything from where to build new schools and hospitals, to how to manage precious resources such as land and energy, creating economic, social and environmental value.

“It will guide development of future technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and advanced digital representations that will support improved UK competitiveness and quality of life."

The document sets out a plan for a national framework to cover data assets, standards, technologies, policies, guidance, people and organisations.

It will be based on the UN Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, focused on location information integrated with other types of data to deal with societal and environmental issues.

It identifies four strategic missions to deal with the various challenges involved. The first is to promote the use of the data, with an evidenced view of its market value and guidelines on data access, privacy, ethics and security.

Second is to improve access to good quality location data, with an early step being the national roll out of the NUAR, following pilots in London and the North East, and the Greater London Authority’s contract last year for a digital register of underground assets in the city.

The third mission is to enhance capabilities, skills and awareness in the sector, with the publication of a skills demand study later this year to pinpoint the need for specific roles. There are also plans to develop geospatial apprenticeships in the public and private sectors and pilot an International Geospatial Service to showcase UK expertise.

Finally, innovation will be enabled by maximising commercial opportunities and promoting adoption of high value location technologies, including a Location Data Innovation Programme this year and Scotland’s first Geospatial Network Integrator.

The strategy also highlighted six trends that underpin the opportunities: the increasing availability of real time data; the proliferation of sensors; the emergence of artificial intelligence and machine learning; the growth of cloud and edge computing; the promise of improved connectivity through 5G networks; and the development of new data visualisation technologies.

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