Understanding Indonesia Through Data: Why Spatial Data is Key in the Digital Age

In the midst of rapid digital transformation, data has become the most valuable resource-often referred to as the “new gold” of the 21st century (The Economist, 2017). In many sectors, data is the foundation for fast, accurate and impactful decision-making. However, the reality on the ground shows that awareness of the importance of data, especially spatial data, is still not a shared culture. Many public policies and development programs still rely on intuition and sectoral experience, rather than evidence-based decision making.

In fact, the digital era demands a more measured and precise approach. Major challenges such as climate crisis, environmental degradation, food security, and spatial planning cannot be solved without accurate and open maps and spatial data. Remote sensing technology has been available since the launch of the Landsat 1 satellite in 1972 (NASA, 2022), and since then the world has had an extraordinary capacity to monitor the earth. However, in Indonesia, the utilization of this technology is still limited and has not been fully integrated into the national development system.

In reality, there is no truly organized national system for compiling and managing imagery and spatial datasets in a comprehensive manner. Spatial data is still scattered across different institutions and agencies, often incompatible with each other, and rarely available in open formats. This fragmentation has lost much potential for analysis and collaboration. On the other hand, the academic world is productive in producing geospatial research, but the impact on the public and private sectors is still minimal due to limited data access and dissemination (UN-GGIM, 2020).

In response to this challenge, datacitra.id takes steps to become a node for the management and distribution of spatial data sourced from various channels, both public and community. We compile satellite image datasets, thematic maps, and geospatial analysis results to support research, policy, and innovation. By presenting data that is easy to access and use, datacitra.id wants to encourage wider and more inclusive use of spatial data in Indonesia.

Because without data, we walk in the dark. While Indonesia is known for its incredible wealth of natural resources and biodiversity, we will fail to recognize our own strengths if not supported by good spatial information. As the modern saying goes, “You can't manage what you don't measure.” In this digital era, knowing Indonesia is not enough through stories and numbers. We must know it through data and maps.

Reference:

• The Economist. (2017). The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data. Retrieved from: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/05/06/the-worlds-most-valuable-resource-is-no-longer-oil-but-data

• NASA. (2022). 50 Years of Landsat: Observing Earth from Space. Retrieved from: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/

• UN-GGIM (United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management). (2020). Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF). Retrieved from: https://ggim.un.org/igif/