The modern world is more connected than ever before, and this connectivity hinges on the geospatial data that underpins it. Ronda Schrenk, CEO of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), aptly framed the significance of industry in the plenary session titled “The Expanding Role of Industry in the National Geospatial Strategy and Infrastructure.” She highlighted five key areas, of which, technology development, data management, and infrastructure are the crucial trio.
Technology, Data, and Infrastructure: Industry’s Crucial Role
Industry plays a pivotal role in the technological advancement of geospatial data. Technologies such as remote sensing, GPS, and GIS have witnessed tremendous growth, revolutionizing how we collect, process, and utilize geospatial data. These innovations are instrumental in enhancing the accuracy, speed, and accessibility of such data, serving as the foundation for a robust national spatial infrastructure.
Geospatial data is only as valuable as its management allows it to be. The industry’s substantial contributions to data collection and management are undeniable drivers of progress in the geospatial field. The seamless flow of data, from acquisition to analysis, is what fuels informed decision-making and enables us to address pressing challenges like climate change, infrastructure development, and beyond.
Scott Simmons, Chief Standards Officer, Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), highlighted how valuable the industry contribution is. He said, “Industry comes forward and brings the commercial viability stamp on documents by OGC. We need information to survive in the marketplace, and a new standard to address businesses.”
A well-established infrastructure is essential to manage geospatial data effectively. The industry’s unwavering commitment to building and enhancing this infrastructure is a testament to its role in shaping the geospatial landscape. From developing standards and protocols to constructing the physical and digital frameworks required, industry is the bedrock on which our geospatial future stands.
Standards and Interoperability: Bridging the Data Divide
The industry’s involvement in shaping geospatial data standards and protocols is a critical piece of the puzzle. These standards ensure that diverse datasets seamlessly integrate with each other, creating a unified geospatial ecosystem. This interoperability is a testament to the power of collaboration, as it enables different stakeholders to work together effectively.
Marc Prioleau, Executive Director, Overture Maps Foundation shows how his Foundation has started building an open map data, because of interoperability among different systems and the ability to integrate within systems with base data.
He said, “This works on three components where primarily it has to support applications for the next ten years and data accuracy has to become better. Next data has to go through quality and process checks and thirdly data should be presented in Schema and should also be linkable.”
Collaborative Synergy and the Future of Geospatial Strategy
Joshua France, Mobile Segment Manager at RIEGL discussed the importance of data sharing within organizations.
He said, “Perhaps one of the most significant expenses associated with data is incurred when you’re constantly relocating it, from one location to another, and then to a third location to leverage its potential for generating revenue. Sharing Data with customers and internally enables the creation of additional datasets”
In the realm of geospatial strategy, the synergy between industry, government agencies, and various organizations is evident through public-private partnerships. These alliances leverage the strengths of each sector to advance geospatial initiatives efficiently. By pooling resources, expertise, and innovation, they pave the way for groundbreaking developments that benefit society as a whole.
AI’s Transformative Role: Powering Geospatial Analysis
Hendrik Hamann, Chief Scientist for Climate and Sustainability, IBM highlighted the intersection of AI and geospatial data, revealing how rapid digitization and better data have enabled transformative use cases. Industry is harnessing AI to automate these use cases, making real-time data accessible and actionable. He said, ” These use cases are important to business as better quality data and rapid digitization has made sure these use-cases invaluable.”
Nima Negahban of Kinetica adds to it saying, “The goal is to make geospatial data effortlessly usable, empowering individuals and businesses alike. We at Kinetica realized its immense value and, with the help of AI, we’re building tools for smarter analysis. Our goal is to make it effortless for anyone to use real-time data to get a clear picture of what’s happening.”
The expanding role of industry in the national geospatial strategy and infrastructure is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking. From technological advancements to data management, infrastructure development, and collaborative partnerships, industry plays a central role in shaping the geospatial landscape.
As we look to the future, it’s evident that this synergy between industry and other stakeholders will continue to drive progress, unlocking the full potential of geospatial data for the benefit of society and the planet.
