Mislokatie

Mislokatie is a Dutch term meaning an incorrect location or misplacement. In data, geography and related fields, it describes a situation where a feature, object, or observation is assigned to the wrong geographic location or coordinates. The term can apply to physical places as well as to digital representations such as addresses, grid cells, or map features.

In geospatial contexts, mislokatie encompasses several error types: positional errors where coordinates are offset from the true location; locational misassignment when a feature is placed in the wrong feature class or administrative area; and geocoding errors where an address resolves to an incorrect point. Causes include data entry mistakes, outdated or inconsistent boundary data, ambiguous place names, and measurement or projection inaccuracies.

In biology and medicine the term is used for mislocalization, referring to molecules or organelles found in the wrong cellular compartment. Protein mislocalization can disrupt cellular processes and is studied in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The concept underscores the importance of accurate subcellular localization for cellular function.

In archaeology, museology and inventory management, mislokatie describes artifacts or records stored or documented at an incorrect location, risking loss of context, provenance or access.

Prevention and correction rely on data validation, cross-checking with reliable gazetteers and maps, use of uncertainty measures, and audit trails. Modern systems apply automated consistency checks, georeferencing with multiple sources, and occasional field verification to reduce mislokatie.