May 11, 2023
Leveraging data with GIS to meet ESG targets
As we all become more aware of our effect on the environment, it’s no surprise that businesses are assessing their operations and devising strategies to minimise their environmental impact. A major step towards this objective is analysing organisational business data to develop a measurable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy.
At Cadcorp, we work with a number of organisations that are going one step further and combining their business data with maps and other spatial data, to identify opportunities where energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and social value can be improved. There is a diverse range of maps and spatial datasets available and when combined with business data, companies can identify and measure the impact of corporate activities on the environment.
GIS stands for Geographical Information Systems and gives organisations the opportunity to view and analyse business data against the backdrop of location. Affiliated with GIS is web mapping, an interactive website for sharing map-based information more broadly with a community of users. Being able to visualise where your organisation can mitigate the effect of corporate activities on the environment is powerful.
GIS and web mapping enable companies to gain a much deeper understanding of the physical landscape in which they operate. By mapping out environmental features, organisations can improve the natural world and provide lasting benefits for generations to come.
One Cadcorp customer example is The National Forest Company (NFC). Due to centuries of coal mining and other heavy industry, large expanses of the Midlands landscape appeared barren. In a bold environmental regeneration project that began in 1995, the NFC worked with public, private, voluntary and community organisations to create the National Forest. To date, over 9 million trees have been planted across hundreds of woodlands increasing forest cover from c.6% to 22% of the area.
The NFC is building upon this success with a new 25-year vision for rapid regeneration and sustainability. Projects include creating woodlands with public access, extending wildlife habitats, and improving connections using hedgerows, orchards, and gardens. The NFC holds a vast amount of data on access points such as paths, gates and stiles, planting areas and wildlife habitats.
By centralising this data in a secure, cloud hosted database and using web mapping to make it accessible to multiple users, via multiple devices and at multiple locations, it can continue its activities to grow a forest for everyone.
Part of the ESG landscape is optimising land use. The regeneration arm of the Peel Group, Peel L&P, has a track record for transformative and exciting developments. For example, it redeveloped the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in Salford to create MediaCity. This ambitious project brought the BBC to the North of England and now has nearly 8,000 people working across the site. By integrating GIS and web mapping with land ownership and environmental data, they’re able to identify and make more informed decisions on redevelopment opportunities.
GIS also allows for more accurate and efficient tracking of emissions and waste, which is essential for meeting ESG targets related to carbon neutrality and waste reduction.
With the UK Government’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon, organisations that manage housing stock are striving to upgrade properties’ energy efficiency performance to at least a band C. GIS can be used to display current EPC ratings and used to analyse the location of those properties. While providing the functionality to query and visualise spatial data through a browser, web mapping can link to other business systems to provide even greater insight into your data. Below is an example of a property of interest. It includes an image of the property, its recent EPC rating, and a link to Google Street View. This provides users with a more informed understanding of the estate before going out on a visit. As web mapping can link directly to an organisation’s asset management system, users can access information on a property, or numerous properties, to see such details as repairs, inspections or when boiler maintenance is due.
Having access to this scale of information improves efficiencies. A programme of repairs can be planned and run for entire estates rather than on an ad hoc, property-by-property basis.
Moreover, GIS can be used to communicate information more widely through interactive maps and dashboards such as Microsoft Power BI. This provides the added benefit of enhancing transparency and accountability and supporting stakeholder engagement to help organisations build trust and credibility within their communities.
Beyond these obvious benefits, GIS can play a critical role in helping businesses build a more sustainable and equitable future. By mapping out demographic data such as income levels, education levels, and access to healthcare, organisations can better understand the social and economic factors that influence the communities in which they operate. This information can then be used to design more inclusive and equitable programs that support local development and improve the lives of the people who live and work in those communities. Housing, transformation and regeneration group, Torus demonstrated this at our most recent Cadcorp Housing Conference where they explained how they used GIS and web mapping to create a ‘social index’.
GIS technology is essential for measuring the impact of ESG programs. By tracking changes in environmental and social indicators, organisations can gain a deeper understanding of how their activities are contributing to a more sustainable future. This data can then be used to make informed decisions about future investments and communicate progress to stakeholders.
Overall, GIS technology is a critical tool for any company that is serious about meeting its ESG targets. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, improve the lives of your employees and customers, or build a more sustainable and equitable future, spatial data and GIS provides the insights you need to make informed decisions and drive real change.
