JackDaw and data cubes

The PoliRuralPlus Webinar Series continued yesterday with a highly informative session titled JackDaw and data cube – How to create and analyse data cubes using JackDaw and associated tools. The webinar was led by Runar Bergheim from Asplan Viak, who introduced participants to the concept, structure, and practical applications of data cubes in the context of advanced spatial and temporal analytics for rural development.

The session began with a structured presentation explaining how data cubes serve as a foundational technology for harmonizing and analysing large-scale datasets. Runar described how data cubes can integrate information from multiple spatial and temporal sources, supporting tasks such as site selection, service planning, and market analysis.

Participants learned how data cubes enable real-time analytics, promote data interoperability, and support reproducible workflows within the PoliRuralPlus ecosystem. The presentation also emphasized the project’s use of open standards like the SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) and array-based data formats such as Zarr and Parquet, which allow for scalable cloud-based data management and fast querying across multiple dimensions.

Through practical examples, the webinar demonstrated how JackDaw is used to build and analyse terrain cubes for site suitability and planning applications. Participants saw how parameters such as elevation, slope, and aspect can be dynamically adjusted to identify optimal locations for renewable energy projects or infrastructure development.

The session also connected data cubes to previous webinar topics, including centrality measures, showing how these tools complement each other in building an integrated, data-driven approach to regional analysis. Participants were encouraged to explore available APIs, contribute datasets, and provide feedback to help refine and extend the system.

In closing: data cubes are not just a technology but a method for empowering regional planners, researchers, and policymakers with multi-dimensional insights that support smarter, evidence-based decision-making.

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