Case Study: Saudi Geological Survey

This project assisted the Saudi Geological Survey to be procurement-ready by producing a set of work packages with a defined strategy, and the required standards and data products for the National Geological Database initiative.

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The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) is responsible for geological surveying and mineral exploration in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Spatial Vision, working as part of a consortium, supported the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to develop a procurement strategy and an understanding of the Saudi Geological Survey’s requirements for KSA’s National Geological Database.

In 2021 SGS launched the National Geological Database initiative designed to provide a foundation for data services, pricing and licencing of geological information products and services to encourage mineral exploration in KSA. The National Geological Database initiative includes a service portal providing access to a range of geological data products and services..

Spatial Vision helped SGS to develop a roadmap and plan to meet these aspirations. We scoped and developed requirements and turned this into a series of tender documents allowing SGS to go to market to source the right partners to help build the National Geological Database.

Customer Profile

Solution

Benefits

Successful launch of the National Geological Database, increasing value derived from the mining sector and enhancing economic return
A reliable mineral resource and mining information management system providing data essential for research and analysis to address the economic needs of the Kingdom

SDGs in Focus

The Issue

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia required reliable, quality-controlled collection processing workflows, procedures and policies for geological data management. SGS needed to have their vision translated into a set of detailed requirements and tender documents, so that they could procure suitable vendors.

To increase the value derived from mining sector, SGS required a solution to achieve to following:

Consolidated mineral and mining data
Detailed geological maps and geophysical surveys
Reliable and comprehensive geological data products and services
Single repository of data
Consolidated digital portal to maximise industry access

The Solution

Working as part of a consortium of specialised consultants, Spatial Vision reviewed the current operations of SGS against international best practice.

The product and services required to meet the needs of the Kingdom were scoped and confirmed through extensive stakeholder engagement. Spatial Vision documented the desired future state and developed a roadmap which included a detailed plan of what was needed to enable successful development and implementation of the National Geological Database.

SGS was provided with a series of detailed requirements and tender documents that were used for procurement of services to build and deploy the National Geological Database.

The effort required to develop the National Geological Database was categorised into several key areas:

Strategic review: ensuring the National Geological Database meets stakeholder needs
Governance: creation of policies, procedures and workflows to support a quality approach that was fit for the intended purpose
Data management: creation of a suitable over-arching data model and consolidation of records
Data acquisition: establishing an environment and structure for acquiring and storing the required data types
Data processing: creation of a lineage metadata and processing strategy
Data access: system architecture review to ensure data can be made available effectively and efficiently to industry
Analytical enhancements: development of new and improved products
Products and services: data types classified, and products and services defined to meet user needs
Pricing and licencing: development of data pricing, licencing and commercial terms for SGS data products and services.

Spatial Vision was also extensively involved in knowledge transfer activities which included education and training of SGS employees and database users.

Seen as the cornerstone of a key strategic initiative in the Kingdom to diversify the national economy, SGS is successfully implementing the National Geological Database with positive uptake amongst stakeholders.

The Benefits

The scope of work undertaken assisted the Saudi Geological Survey in several ways:

Saudi Geological Survey set up for success, and able to source the most suitable vendors to deliver against requirements
Successful launch of the National Geological Database, increasing value derived from the mining sector, enhancing economic return to the Kingdom
A reliable mineral resource and mining information management system providing data essential for mining and mineral exploration
The National Geological Database is seen as a pillar of the national economy, providing investors, and other stakeholders access to important in-demand geological data products and services through a modern web portal.

This project assisted the Saudi Geological Survey to be procurement-ready by producing a set of work packages with a defined strategy, and the required standards and data products.

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