EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Almost all data generated today has some form of geographical
reference.1 A-level results, crime statistics and even
well-being survey data can all be tied to a location and plotted on
a map.
Our digital world would have been the envy of many ancient
civilisations who struggled to create even the simplest
representations of the planet's geography. We have become
masters of cartography, capable of crafting maps that show places
and things and other abstract concepts in precise detail and in
various hues.
Geospatial analytics should, therefore, be radically
transforming the public sector. However, the explosion of data
– from official sources as well as from the proliferation of
smartphones, social media updates and the vast array of
internet-enabled devices – presents challenges and
opportunities that cannot be resolved with cartographic skills
alone. While the fundamentals of mapping have never been more
important, geospatial insights can only
