Seminar on the Global Statistical and Geospatial Framework - Principle 2

The Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (GSGF) enables a range of data to be integrated from both statistical and geospatial communities and, through the application of its five Principles and supporting key elements, permits the production of harmonized and standardized geospatially enabled statistical data. The resulting data can then be integrated with statistical, geospatial, and other information to inform and facilitate data-driven and evidence-based decision making to support local, sub-national, national, regional, and global development priorities and agendas.

Principle 2: Geocoded unit record data in a data management environment

Principle 2 supports the process of linking or storing high precision geographic references (i.e. geocodes coordinates, small geographic area codes, or linked data identifiers) to each microdata/statistical unit record. This is often referred to as geospatially enabling data, and must occur within a secure, standards based data management environment. This process applies the address coding infrastructure and fundamental data from management environment. This process applies the address coding infrastructure and fundamental data from Principle 1.

The goal of Principle 2 is to allow all statistical unit records to be linked to a location, wherever it is possible to do so. This will then enable integration of data from a wide variety of sources, such as other socioeconomic statistical data, administrative data, and geospatial information about the built and natural environment. The incorporation of these data, using geospatial processing, can then deliver new, geospatially enabled statistical variables for analysis. Principle 2 also enables flexible application of any geographic content when preparing data for release and analysis. This includes supporting future aggregation of statistical data into new geographical units or adapting to changes to existing geographies over time.

Seminar objectives:

1. Provide guidance to Member States and stakeholders, on the implementation of the resulting Global Statistical and Geospatial Framework - (GSGF).
2. To strengthen interrelationships with relevant groups in the statistical and geospatial communities.
3. Provide Member State representatives responsible for geostatistical integration the opportunity to learn about challenges around statistical and geospatial integration and establish work plans that identify and promote solutions in a participatory and inclusive manner.
4. Implement and operationalize in the Member States, the Global Statistical and Geospatial Framework -GSGF, as a tool to obtain geospatially enabled statistical data for the 2030 Agenda, the 2020 Population Census Round and issues related to climate change and disaster resilience, among others.