How to organise geospatial data for a nature MRV system

A geospatial measurement, reporting and verification system should make it possible to reconstruct what was observed, where, when, with which method and under which version. Organising that evidence does not certify credits, validate environmental results by itself or replace the project's methodology and applicable verifiers.

In Colombia, IDEAM's Forest and Carbon Monitoring System produces periodic official information about forest area and change, carbon stocks, drivers of deforestation, and related emissions or removals. A project may use official products according to their conditions and methods, but it should not present its internal database as equivalent to the national system.

Define stable units and temporal relationships

Model the project area, stratum, plot, sample point, intervention and reporting period. Each object needs an identifier that survives correction. If a plot is divided or its boundary changes, retain the prior geometry, effective date and connection to the new version. Historical samples and calculations then keep their context.

For every geometry, record source, CRS, method, resolution or precision, date and owner. Keep the adopted baseline, new observations and interpretations separate. Do not fill gaps without identifying the method and uncertainty.

Connect measurements, calculations and evidence

A figure should link to its input variables, units, equation, methodology version and supporting files. If a factor or formula changes, calculate a new version without deleting the previous result. Use states such as received, reviewed, queried and internally approved, while avoiding language that implies independent verification.

Field observations, sensors and satellite imagery measure different things. Document their resolution, frequency, uncertainty and permitted use. Rules can detect incompatible dates, duplicate plots, out-of-range values and missing evidence, but every alert still requires review.

Design access and publication from the outset

Define who can see sensitive locations, owner information, community agreements and preliminary results. Generalise or remove details when public purpose does not justify them. Check licences and permissions before redistributing layers, imagery or documents. Technical traceability does not replace consent or territorial governance.

Where the same plot also supports supply-chain requests, EUDR plot geolocation should retain its own purposes and rules. Do not automatically reuse personal data or evidence gathered for another process.

Test one complete cycle

Choose a representative unit and follow it through baseline, capture, quality control, calculation, review and reporting. Confirm that another person can reproduce the result and understand its limits. GeoSAT's geospatial MRV for carbon and nature can structure that chain. System success means data auditability, not a promise of certification, issuance of credits or environmental outcomes.