What is geospatial data? GIS mapping and field data collection explained

What is geospatial data?

Geospatial data is information that describes objects, events or conditions together with their position on or near the Earth's surface. A water valve, a parcel boundary, a road centreline, a satellite image and a laser scan of a building are all geospatial data because each one carries coordinates.

What does geospatial mean? The word combines geo (Earth) and spatial (relating to space or position). What makes geospatial data unique is that its location is measured in a defined coordinate reference system (CRS), so datasets from different sources can be overlaid and compared. Every geospatial record has three parts:

• Location – coordinates in a stated CRS and datum.
• Geometry – a point, line, polygon, grid cell or 3D point.
• Attributes – descriptive information such as material, condition, owner or date.

A GIS (geographic information system) is the software and database environment that stores, analyses and displays this information.

Geospatial data types: vector, raster and point clouds

Geospatial datasets fall into three main types, and the type determines how the data is stored and analysed.

A digital elevation model in GIS is a raster in which each cell stores a height. DEMs drive slope analysis, drainage studies and contour generation, explained in our article on contour lines and topographic maps.

What are geospatial services?

Geospatial services are the professional and technical services that capture, process, manage, analyse and deliver location-based information. They are offered by survey firms, mapping companies, engineering consultants and government agencies.

• Geospatial data capture – land surveying, GNSS field collection, laser scanning, aerial and drone mapping.
• Processing – georeferencing, orthophoto production, point cloud classification, feature extraction.
• Geospatial data management – building and maintaining databases, schemas and metadata.
• Analysis – suitability studies, network analysis, change detection and geospatial predictive analytics.
• Publishing – web maps, map portals and printed cartography.

Geospatial information services in the public sector often combine all of these, maintaining base maps that utilities, planners and emergency services depend on.

What is geospatial software? GIS software options explained

Geospatial software is any program that reads, edits, analyses or displays location-referenced data. GIS software options fall into a few categories, and most organisations use more than one.

Both commercial packages and open-source GIS freeware are widely used. When comparing geographic information system GIS software, look at supported formats, coordinate system handling, editing tools, licensing model and whether field apps connect to external high-accuracy GNSS receivers.

Geospatial databases and data management

A geospatial database stores geometry alongside attributes and supports spatial queries such as "find all valves within 50 m of this main". Good geospatial data management keeps that database accurate and usable over years.

• Coordinate systems – define one project CRS and datum and record it in metadata; mixing datums can shift data by metres.
• Schemas – agree attribute fields and code lists before field collection starts.
• Metadata – store who collected each feature, when, with what equipment and at what accuracy.
• Open formats – OGC standards such as GeoPackage and GeoJSON ease exchange between systems.
• Versioning – track edits so changes can be audited.

A geospatial data management system that enforces these rules saves far more time than it costs.

How accurate does GIS field data collection need to be?

GIS data collection accuracy should match how the data will be used. Planning a delivery route needs metres; locating a buried pipe before excavation needs centimetres.

Values are typical under open sky and vary with environment and corrections. Our guide to handheld GPS units for surveying and GIS compares these classes in more depth.

GIS equipment: a practical field data collection workflow

A modern GIS field kit is a high-accuracy GNSS receiver paired with a rugged tablet or phone running a field app. The workflow below keeps geospatial data collection consistent.

1. Prepare the schema – load feature types, attributes and the project coordinate system into the field app.
2. Set up corrections – connect the rover to a CORS network over NTRIP or to a local base.
3. Verify on a known point – check the rover against a control mark before starting.
4. Collect features – record points, lines and polygons with attributes and photos.
5. Check quality – review fix status and precision values for every feature.
6. Sync and validate – upload to the database and run attribute and topology checks.

Mars Geosystems GIS equipment suited to this workflow includes the 199 g P2 handheld GIS RTK rover (8 mm + 1 ppm horizontal RTK accuracy, 4G) and the 8-inch T8 Pro rugged GNSS tablet. For network corrections, see NTRIP and CORS explained.

Geospatial data analysis: common techniques

Geospatial data analysis uses location and spatial relationships to answer questions that ordinary tables cannot. Common types of geospatial analysis include:

• Buffer and proximity – what lies within a given distance of a feature.
• Overlay – combining layers, such as flood zones and parcels, to find intersections.
• Network analysis – routing and connectivity along roads or pipe networks.
• Surface analysis – slope, aspect, viewshed and volumes from elevation models.
• Change detection – comparing imagery or scans from different dates.
• Geospatial predictive analytics – modelling where events such as failures or demand are likely.

All of these depend on clean, accurate inputs. Uses of geospatial data in engineering, utilities, agriculture and planning grow as field capture becomes faster and more precise. When your team is ready to equip field crews, request a quote for GNSS rovers and tablets.

Frequently asked questions