The Cost of Free Data

"Free" isn’t actually free when collecting data from multiple sources.

A lot of the data we need to make decisions on energy and telecom projects is generally available for "free." Most data techs or GIS folks can gather up the local, state or federal government data that's readily available online or with a call to an agency. However, while it sounds simple, the reality is that "free data" can be very expensive to make actionable.

There is a large cost to acquiring and normalizing data sets from multiple sources. Collecting the data from various sources and downloading it can be a several-hour or even multi-day process, depending on how many datasets are needed and how large they are.

Once you've accumulated all the data, standardization of it in a consistent, organized manner can take additional days (or longer). And last, you need to make it accessible to viewers of varied technical skill and share it in a way that allows them to make informed decisions in time-sensitive situations.

Speaking of time, most projects can take months of planning and preparing. As soon as that data has been downloaded, it's out of date. At every phase of the project, you'll need to go through the process again - find, download, normalize, make it available - costing you hours, days and weeks of time over and over again. Not to mention unforeseen issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can shut down the agencies and local resources you rely on for the most up-to-date data.

When we consider the amount of man hours that it takes to acquire, prepare and use "free data," we begin to understand that it isn't free at all.

Hidden Costs of Free Data

1. Research the required data and sources
2. Gather, download, acquire the data
3. Normalize the Data: Consolidate the data from multiple sources and formats into a standard actionable format
4. Share data to all stakeholders
5. Keep it Updated. Consistently check for updates to keep accurate
6. Share updates to make sure remote stakeholders are working with the latest and most accurate data
7. Time and date stamp latest update to prove accuracy
8. Repeat Over and Over

The cost of free data compounds when, as a result of old information or delayed access to data, project deadlines get missed or permits get denied resulting in schedule delays and significant expense.

So, how can you expedite data acquisition, ensure accuracy and quality, and have it available at every phase of your project?

Pivvot finds, acquires, organizes and standardizes location data for over 450 million records across the U.S. And we make that data easy to access, interpret and share in a variety of formats.

What kind of data do we have? 

• Property Parcel & Land Use Data

• Geotechnical Data

• Ecology & Environmental Data

• Existing Infrastructure & Structures 

• Societal Data

• Boundary or Jurisdiction Data

• Hydrology Data

Our data is updated regularly, ensuring accuracy and completeness regardless of location being researched. All Pivvot data is delivered with metadata - time and date stamped with latest update.

In addition to readily available "free data," Pivvot has procured a number of premium datasets. Premium datasets are available in a variety of configurations to fit your exact needs, whether area of interest in sq. miles, by county,  by state or the entire U.S.

Ready to learn more? Request a report for your area of interest or contact us at: sales@pivvot.com.