Geospatial data quality: consistency a topological analysis in the coverage land mapping of Curitiba city – PR

Abstract

Due to constant improvement of geographic data processing techniques there are many research and applications of these techniques in various areas of knowledge. However, the need for validation of these data has received little attention, especially in academia, endangering the accuracy and trustworthiness of studies. Among the parameters used for the quality control of geographic data, this study aimed to verify the topological consistency of data related to land cover mapping of city Curitiba, in Paraná State, Brazil, in the original scale of 1: 35,000. This parameter is distinguished from the other by the need to quantify the area of each mapped class. It was found that despite this mapping have been performed on a scale considered detail, the data showed topological inconsistency. Even if these errors can be insignificant, they point to possible differences in the quantification of the areas compared to its actual size, especially for petty unclassified polygons or polygons that exceed the sorting area. Finally, it is worth noting that as the spatial information presented in a scientific work can be the basis for others, it is critical to have attention on the reliability of the data so that potential errors are not replicated.