Geographic Data: Best Geographic Datasets & Databases

What is Geographic Data?

Also referred to as geospatial data and information, data scientists define geographic data as information with inherent or categorical association with a location that users store in a geographic information system (GIS). GIS is a potent tool in the modern-day to day running of operations as it forms the basis upon which decisions are made by businesses and industries as far as analyzing environmental, demographic, and topographic data is concerned.

How is Geographic Data collected?

Data scientists apply geometric information science as a basis for the collection of geographic data. This field is technically the study of establishments and tools that link to the gathering and distribution of geographic information. Through this system, geographic data is collected by:

• Surveying. This is the science of precise measurement of naturally occurring and artificial features on the surface of the earth and using the data to develop maps.
• Remote sensing. The application of satellites orbiting the earth to gather data of the surface and atmosphere and transmitting this data in digital format.
• Geo-visualization. Presentation of geospatial information that users later examine to enhance the process of hypothesis formation.
• Digital globes. These are algorithm-developed three-dimensional replicas of the Earth that websites present in high-resolution formats. Examples include Google Earth, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and MapQuest.

What are the attributes of Geographic Data?

Geographic data shows spatial locations and non-spatial attributes. A spatial-based database system gives room for dual keys, hence paving the way for users to retrieve records in twofold, either by attributes or by locations. While dual keys are not unique attributes associated with geographic data, spatial keys is a unique feature that lets operations to be defined even though they may not exist in the standard query language (SQL). Geographic data is also continuous to reflect changes in a given geographic space. With technologically-advanced positioning systems, there are countless ways to identify unique points that users can use to define a given geographic entity.

What are some of the uses of Geographic Data?

Users can apply geographic data to analyze several features of a given population or landscape. Information that is gained through research by the use of geographic data allows the user to compare and contrast basic details of a given geographic location such as the economic status, demographic average age, and ethnic diversity for varying countries. This data is a powerful decision-making tool not only for everyday life but also for business and government decision strategies. Users can apply geographic data for the purpose of:

• Urban planning
• Transportation planning
• Developing an environmental impact assessment tool
• Agricultural mapping
• Disaster management and mitigation
• Natural resource management.

How can a user assess the quality of Geographic Data?

Geographic information is stored in digital format and is commonly insufficient. This factor usually makes it difficult to explore this information to the fullest. Fortunately, commercial geographic data providers address this problem through the rigorous process of collecting the available data and standardizing it. This aspect reduces the spatial analysis capabilities of geographic data, prompting the need to apply geographic information systems in the management of data. These quality elements for geographic data include: positional precision, recency, logical stability, and completeness of the data.

Where can I buy Geographic Data?

Data providers and vendors listed on Datarade sell Geographic Data products and samples. Popular Geographic Data products and datasets available on our platform are SafeGraph Geographic Data | Global Coverage | 41M+ Places by SafeGraph, Area Visitors – analyze global foot traffic trends for geographic areas via API or batch data delivery by Gravy Analytics, and Mapping Resources: HERE Maps Geographic Information Systems Data by Mapping Resources.

How can I get Geographic Data?

You can get Geographic Data via a range of delivery methods - the right one for you depends on your use case. For example, historical Geographic Data is usually available to download in bulk and delivered using an S3 bucket. On the other hand, if your use case is time-critical, you can buy real-time Geographic Data APIs, feeds and streams to download the most up-to-date intelligence.

What are similar data types to Geographic Data?

Geographic Data is similar to Location Data, Map Data, Satellite Data, Point of Interest (POI) Data, and GIS Data. These data categories are commonly used for Geofencing and Geotargeting.

What are the most common use cases for Geographic Data?

The top use cases for Geographic Data are Geofencing, Geotargeting, and Geo-Conquesting.