Use of big data for official environment statistics: The measurement of extent and quality of freshwater ecosystems

Abstract

The article describes how Big Data, such as geospatial and Earth Observation data, combined with advanced technologies, open opportunities for new ways of producing environment statistics. As an example of the use of Big Data, the article broadly presents SDG indicator 6.6.1 'Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time', from the development of the methodology to the creation of datasets and their use by policy makers. The article also discusses the challenges of using geospatial and Earth Observation data both on a global scale and on a specific example of SDG indicator 6.6.1.