10 Human factors that affect spatial data
10.1 The human factor is potentially the greatest threat to the accuracy and reliability of spatial information. It is also the one factor that can ensure both the reliability, and generate an understanding, of the weaknesses inherent in any given spatial data set. Some examples of factors that can affect spatial data accuracy and reliability are:
10.1.1 Competence The competence of GIS operators, support staff and management is critical to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of spatial data. If people do not understand their work and the implications of the decisions that they make, the accuracy and reliability of the spatial data that they produce and maintain will suffer. Chrisman 1997 p241, refers to a situation where work performed by unskilled workers was so unsatisfactory that it had to be done again.
10.1.2 Conscientiousness People’s attitudes to work range from the person who is only filling in time at work until their next paycheck or their next party, to the person who lives and breathes GIS. It is the challenge of line management to redirect, or if that is not possible, to remove the former, while encouraging and challenging the latter. A person’s conscientiousness towards work is a major factor affecting the quality of spatial data.
10.1.3 Organisational Culture An organisation’s attitude towards spatial data is also critical to its accuracy and reliability. This attitude can range from a service bureau that is only interested in meeting the literal translation of their latest contract, to the organisation that treats its spatial data as an asset, as intellectual property, to be protected and nurtured. The employees of an organisation will respond in a way that is appropriate to the organisation’s culture towards spatial data. If the organisation is only interested in getting the data out as quickly as possible, with no checks, the accuracy of the data will reflect the organisation’s efforts in capturing it.
10.1.4 Procedures Well designed procedures can assist in educating the new user, place restrictions on the incompetent, and assist in overcoming problems with people who are not conscientious towards their work. Procedures are critical to ensuring a consistent result in obtaining reliable spatial data of the appropriate quality. Procedures can only achieve the above however, if an organisations management and culture utilise the appropriate checks and balances. Conversely if there are no procedures, there is little way of ensuring consistency between operators and between tasks.
10.1.5 Considering that there are many ways to perform a particular task, an organisation must not become a slave to the written word. This may seem a contradiction to the above point, however it is important to realise that there is often a better way to perform a given task. It may therefore be necessary to amend and improve procedures from time to time.
10.1.6 Quality Assurance Quality Assurance is critical to ensuring accurate and reliable spatial data. It is a way of enforcing appropriate procedures, of encouraging good work practices and of checking to ensure that work is completed to the quality expected.
10.1.7 Ownership of Data If people do not feel responsible for, i.e. ‘own’ the data that they are producing or maintaining, they will not take the appropriate care of it. This ownership of data and work can be achieved using an organisation’s culture, procedures and quality assurance. If personnel have the appropriate objectives stated in their position descriptions, and their performance is appraised and rewarded according to how well they have met their objectives, personnel will quickly develop a respect for and nurture the spatial data that they are capturing and maintaining.
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