by G. Peterson

Data collection and creation efforts took up a significant portion of a GIS analyst's time in the 1990s. Because of the massive data-gathering undertakings that have occurred since then, we now have a lot of GIS data to choose from for analyses. How do we use that data to understand our analysis subject even more? Do you have so much data that you don't know what to do with it all? Here are some ways to ride the data, knowledge, wisdom curve:

Perform Regular Data Audits

You have to know what data you have and familiarize yourself with it regularly. Once a year it is good to look it all over (including attributes). You may need to recategorize things since the last time you worked on your folder structure. For example, while a folder titled "orthophotos" might have been adequate in the past, you may now need to create subfolders such as geographic area, time, resolution, or flight-type if your holdings in this area have increased significantly. Data auditing also includes actively searching for new data that may have become available since the last time you searched.

Invest In R&D

Invest time and resources in researching analysis techniques. This, in conjunction with fresh knowledge of your data holdings from the data audit, will lead you toward potentially important analyses. While considering what analyses can be conducted, keep a picture of your organization's overall goals (or project's goals) in mind. Once some new analysis techniques are identified, invest in development time by performing them in a pilot area or on some other limited basis.

Stay Current

Adapt the ideas you read about to your own analyses. Sometimes we just can't come up with all the answers ourselves. So keep an eye out in the literature for novel approaches to problems and keep a mental or physical file for when they may be of use. Never skip one of the simplest ways to glean information: using a search engine with your project's key terms. Even as an expert in the use of GIS to analyze salmon habitat, I conduct a search on the terms "salmon GIS" at least once a year to keep up with what everyone else is doing.

Outreach

Outreach to other organizations and experts can also increase the value of your data and analyses. With feedback from a non-biased group or individual, your project can take on a more fruitful direction. When asking for feedback, include open-ended questions such as: what is your overall feeling about the project? are there other analyses that could be done here? how would you do this better?