Data is the raw material for the digital transformation of organisations. Smart cities, digital governments and the expansion of smart grids: all rely on better exchange of data between people and machines. With data silos buried for good, the question is how to get a grip on these complex data flows as an organisation. 

Spatial ETL: working magic with your geodata

ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load: exchanging data in different formats between systems. Spatial ETL guides the integration of your geodata. You extract the data, transform it into the right form and format and publish it in the desired place. At GIM, we use FME, Safe Software's leading Spatial ETL tool, for this purpose. 

From unstructured data to clear insights 

We turn large volumes of unstructured data into clear insights. This involves transactions such as:

	Dataconversion Converting data to other formats and systems, such as converting data from GIS to CAD or BIM systems (and vice versa.)
	Data integration Combining or merging data from different systems and formats, as is the case with Linked Open Data, for example.
	Data enrichment Enriching geographical data with other data, as in geocoding, where addresses are enriched with geographical coordinates.
	Data validation Checking and improving the quality and usability of geodata. As in Grip on GRB, where geometries of, for example, urban development permits are automatically corrected to the correct parcel map.

The power of automation

Thanks to the use of FME, these - sometimes complex - transformations are almost fully automatic. Our geodata engineers set up automated workflows that control the entire ETL process. If necessary, they build in manual checks. This saves you masses of time and energy in managing your data flows.  

Why GIM? 

Data integration is not hype for GIM; it has been a core expertise for more than 25 years. More than 30 data engineers help our customers every day in harmonising their geodata. As a Gold Partner of Safe Software, GIM has all the competences for a solution tailored to your needs. Would you like to know more? Get inspired by the numerous references at utilities and public authorities.