What is the process of ensuring that data is accurate and meets the required standards called?

The process of ensuring that data is accurate and meets the required standards is referred to as data validation. This involves checking the data against specific criteria to ensure its correctness and consistency. Validation is essential in geospatial data management because it helps guarantee that the data can be trusted for analysis and decision-making.

Data validation typically includes processes like checking for valid ranges of values, ensuring that data formats are correct, or confirming that required fields are not empty. This ensures that the data can be confidently used for its intended purposes.

While data verification, assessment, and review are related concepts, they serve slightly different functions. Verification often focuses on confirming that the data is representative of what it is supposed to document, whereas assessment might involve evaluating the overall data quality but does not specifically ensure compliance with standards. Review can refer to a broader evaluation of data but does not necessarily imply the same rigorous checking as validation does. Thus, data validation is the most accurate term for the process of ensuring data meets accuracy and standards.