WIREDGOV

On 16 June the Geospatial Commission launched the UK’s Geospatial Strategy for 2020-2025, Unlocking the Power of Location.

This strategy showcases continued commitment from the UK Government to unlock the economic, social and environmental benefits of geospatial data for the UK.

The Geospatial Commission was created in 2018 by then Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond, and led by Minister of State Lord True, to build national cohesion around location data and position the UK as a global leader in geospatial expertise.

The new strategy builds on previous work from the Geospatial Commission, whilst highlighting four key missions for the 2020-2025 period. These are:

• Promote and safeguard the use of location data
• Improve access to better location data.
• Enhance capabilities, skills and awareness:
• Enable innovation

The strategy sets out an ambitious programme of activity to achieve these goals. It is closely aligned with the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) to implement a national location data framework, championed by six partner bodies, referred to as the Geo6.

The Geo6 includes the British Geological Survey, the Coal Authority, HM Land Registry, Ordnance Survey, the UK Hydrographic Office and the Valuation Office Agency. The devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all sit on the Geospatial Commission’s board as observers.

The Geo6 will take a co-ordinated approach to maximise coherence and improve quality and accessibility to geospatial data.

The Geospatial Commission emphasised that the UK has the opportunity to be a global leader of geospatial data and believes driving forward a national strategy on geospatial data will influence wider government opportunities and priorities. This could include best practice around data privacy and data property rights and build out a governmental approach to data framework more broadly.

There is also continued commitment to an International Geospatial Service pilot from 2021, to showcase and export UK expertise across the world.

Questions still arise over whether data should be open and free at the point of use to both the public and private sectors, but it is clear that geospatial data has the possibility of bringing tangible economic benefits to key industries including transportation and levelling up infrastructure, which the report showcases.

techUK welcomes the launch of the UK’s Geospatial Strategy and is looking to develop a programme of activity to explore the value of geospatial data across different industries and sectors, as well as the possible opportunities and challenges that could be raised by the convergence of geospatial data and other key fourth industrial revolution technologies. If you would be interested in learning more about techUK’s work with geospatial data, please reach out to laura.foster@techUK.org