Managing projects that must meet environmental and social standards in Latin America and the Caribbean has been a challenge historically because of fragmented data and the lack of common standards. Without reliable and up-to-date spatial information, it is difficult to understand the territorial context, identify risks, and design sustainable interventions. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in its role as a strategic partner in the region, is working to close data gaps and harmonize standards.
Geographic Information Systems have moved beyond simple cartographic tools to become a pillar of the digital transformation promoted by the IDB together with regional institutions. The ability of these systems to integrate spatial and temporal data with social and environmental attributes allows for less-fragmented territorial analysis that becomes an integral part of processes.
Overlaying geospatial data or maps makes it possible to combine different layers of geographic information. For example, superimposing a land-use map over a flood-risk map helps identify priority intervention zones.
ES GeoHub: A New Institutional Tool
The ES GeoHub web application was developed to support environmental and social due diligence under the IDB’s Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF). It is an evolution of the environmental and social screening tool of the ESG Division, designed to automate and standardize geographic analysis by integrating layers organized into three categories: environmental, social, and natural hazards. Its central principle is that every analysis, no matter who conducts it, is carried out under the same rules and with the same information.
ES GeoHub also allows for the incorporation of external data through web services or local files, extending analyses to include buffer areas or zones of influence, and even working with data generated during operations, such as drone flights or high-resolution imagery. The results, presented in interactive maps and exportable reports, become direct inputs for both project preparation and supervision. Examples to date are visualizing flood-prone areas and their interaction with power plant locations in Uruguay, and assessing how a new power transmission route could impact protected areas and vulnerable species in Panama.
Overview of the ES GeoHub application.
Challenges of Digital Standardization
Digital standardization faces challenges such as data quality and updating, interoperability between public and private sources, and the need for robust technological infrastructure along with specialized staff.
These issues are compounded when analyzing remote or hard-to-access areas, where the lack of georeferenced data limits diagnostic and monitoring capacity. While the use of aerial imagery has improved this situation, analyses still need to be complemented with more field data, such as participatory surveys, sensors, and community reports.
Moving Toward Standards Based on Geographic Evidence
A holistic analysis requires more than collecting maps: it involves establishing consistent, transparent, and replicable processes. Applications such as ES GeoHub mark a change in how the IDB approaches its operations. However, to maximize the impact of this digital transformation, it will be necessary to continue to improve data quality and access, strengthen technical capacity, and foster institutional partnerships that ensure the responsible, updated, and equitable use of information, including its geospatial component.
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