FAQs| Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Please write to FAO-Data Help desk at [email protected].

All country boundaries are the ones agreed under UN. We also have unofficial sub national boundaries depending on the data. Any additional layers can be added by any user for online analysis

It pulls in all the FAO data and has data from many partners.

Yes, by using the faceted search in Geonetwork and CKAN. The overarching faceted search engine MAGDA is currently being implemented.

Yes, countries can upload their own data. All data from partners can be uploaded, if it follows the supported data standards.

It is possible to create line charts for several datasets. If you want more advanced graphs, you can download the datasets. A More advanced graph functionality is under development.

You can save the All data which is not private (maps, images, data) can be exported although the best is to work within the platform so you can combine layers.

If the data is from a new generation like the one obtained through remote sensing, it will go through a process of validation under the chief statistician office. Every data topic has a dedicated team of FAO experts which will support when requested.

If you have data, you can upload it and work privately if needed.

You will be able to manage your personal data to keep its privacy. It is and will stay in your local computer, but you will be able to visualize and analyze it together with all the other data available in the platform.

It is possible to connect to online ArcGIS servers as one of the supported file types.

All focal points are indicated in the description of the targeted data. Also, an extensive metadata record is available in Geonetwork and CKAN.

Yes, all is validated; it is not automatic.

The platform follows the updates of FAOSTAT that automatically provides data through web services (APIs).

Data on locust has not been uploaded there yet.

The FAO Digital Services Portfolio, a FAO complementary service, can provide the capability to send push notifications, SMS, voice messages or USSD messages to mobile phones. It currently provides local market price data from FPMA, WAPOR indices and advisory messages for nutrition, livestock and crop calendar.

This feature is currently under development.

Big data tech is extensively employed in this platform and with inter-verification, the quality of data can be improved. User feedback is planned and considered very important in the platform.

Yes. The data can be downloaded in all available formats, e.g. CSV, SHP, WMS etc depending on the data provider and data policy.

Whenever the Source data is updated, the data on the HiH platform is also updated. The data comes directly from the Fisheries Geoserver.

Yes, they are in the list of Indicators to be loaded.

No, not yet. But data from DAD-iS and WIEWS for plant and animal genetics will be integrated soon.

So far, we have added Animal Disease data. Locusts are planned.

Citizen science could be linked through a feed.

CSI is providing the delivery mechanism for the data from the relevant HiH working groups. The data is growing and already includes data from the MENA region and the platform allows the comparison of many sources at different levels.

Data has been made available from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), the UN Geospatial Unit, and many others. Additional data from external agencies is in the pipeline to be made available.

More than 20 FAO units, relying on official data from countries as well as FAO data collection and monitoring systems.

Yes, this feature is currently under development.

The population data represents 10-km resolution

The sub-national estimates are are generated using data spatial disaggregation models

Yes, RICCAR data is available.

Yes, such data is made available from FAOSTAT.

Theoretically, most of the data could be available in this platform via certain mechanisms. The merit of this platform is that it enables users to access and analyze various data in one single place.

Not yet, but with continued collaboration within FAO and externally, it is technically feasible to include available datasets.

Each data set hosted at FAO has it is own update pipeline and for the datasets that FAO doesn't host, the platform requests the data on the spot where the data is loaded, so that it is always up-to-date. There are 2 categories of dat one is core data set managed by the team; the other refers to the majority of the data that will be managed by the respective data owners. The data update depends on those two categories.

Not yet, but this can be added to the pipeline.

Training and capacity building are critical and have been integrated into HIH plans, as it is key to enable users to contribute with data, models and applications to the platform. There are already supporting tools available that can provide more sophisticated analysis and processing such as Google Earth Engine, for which one a biweekly community of practice meeting is already being held on biweekly basis as well as more water productivity related tools currently under development.

Hand-in-Hand Geospatial platform

Frequently Asked Questions

Hand-in-Hand Geospatial platform

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I contact when I have general questions or encounter technical issues with the platform?

Can countries check that all boundaries, including sub national and administrative boundaries, are correctly represented? If not, can these be added?

Can this database include other sources, from other governments (EU, USDA, or country data)?

Can I filter datasets?

It was mentioned that all data must be standard based. If a country wants to add its own data and include them into the platform, is this possible?

If I want to show graphs, do I have to export the data, or does it have a graphic making function?

Are all the data available on the platform downloadable using links within the platform, or may I need to go to the web portal of the data provider?

Having all these data together through one platform is great, but are there any sort of guidance/use cases for end users to analyze and derive useful information from the data or that will be left to the countries?

Will I be able to upload data directly through “My Data” or what actions will be taken by FAO´s IT services?

How do I manage the access levels?

Is there a facility to access ArcGIS software remotely?

Who in FAO is the focal point for GAEZ v4?

Is there any HiH country data validation process foreseen before the system is populated?

How often will the production/yield data be updated?

Is the data on Locust infestation surveillance also available?

Could the system generate more informative messages or updates, for example more theme wised oriented as per country office contexts or direct needs (emergencies, climate change, natural resources, etc)?

Can I have a GlS analysis toolbox for quick common analysis like in ArcGIS and QGIS?

Is there an option for users to signal any obvious errors in data sets?

What are the data export options? Can any user download the SHP/raster files for use outside the platform?

How often is the data on fisheries and forestry updated?

Are there any plans to link in SDG indicators as well?

Is there any agrobiodiversity data?

Is there any forecasted platform for plant pest and disease?

Is there a possibility to have citizen science (crowd sourcing for missing datasets)?

There is limited data for the MENA region represented on this map. Is there a reason for this?

Which UN Agencies are providing data?

Who are the major partners in this platform?

Will it have capability to analyze overlay of multiple datasets (FAO/external), at sub national scale?

Is there data on population beyond country level?

FAOSTAT population and other data are collected at national scale. But some of the maps appear to be sub-national, so how were those sub-national estimates generated?

Is RICCAR data (specially for the MENA region) which is based on future climate projections to be included?

Is there any data related to country production, import and export for each crop?

Would there be a possibility to have specific parameters such as pastoralists/ pastoralist routes included?

Is there information on urban expansion?

How will data be updated?

Is there any data on rural employment/youth employment/ child labour data (ex: such as the data from the International Labour Organization)?

How is Capacity Building considered in relation to the HiH platform and will its related tools be considered beyond the HiH platform to generate sophisticated analysis?