The world is recovering from the Covid-induced crisis. Every industry is innovating to embrace the new normal. Location technology has played a phenomenal role in combating the risks of the pandemic. The innovations that have been ushered in during these times have opened many new opportunities for the industry. Mapping has gained paramount importance and 3D mapping, especially in the realm of indoor spaces, is an opportunity that will help experts in the industry to reach new heights as the world reopens. New business opportunities in the arenas of electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, utilities, urban development, indoor navigation, etc., are coming up. We need to evolve rapidly, equip ourselves with the latest technological know-how, and grab these opportunities.
Sectors driving economic recovery
The pandemic has changed the economic, social and governance fabric of cities, and accordingly, geospatial opportunities are emerging in re-urbanization, private transportation and mobility, which are likely to drive growth. A lot of scope exists in land use planning, remote asset management and the use of immersive technologies such as AR/VR (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality). At a wider level, online retail and health are definitely going to play important roles in boosting the economy.
“The pandemic has accentuated the need for high accuracy maps. LI has become more critical.”
Data for different needs
Location Intelligence (LI) has the power to transform business decisions in almost every industry segment, and the pandemic has re-established this fact. Right spatial data and information are key to the success of the utility industry. This role will strengthen as developments like smart grids for renewable energy, electric vehicles and consumer-initiated energy saving efforts become mainstream. Spatial data and information services for oil and gas address the unique business needs of the industry. These include capturing, processing, analysis and visualization of critical information required by the industry for decision-making. In the post pandemic world, as remote monitoring of assets becomes more relevant, LI will become more critical. Geospatial data is vital for digital construction. It enables ‘smart growth’. Currently, the urban fabric is witnessing a lot of change. As the concept of remote working gains momentum, the places of work will undergo a lot of change, and accordingly, land planning and construction will also evolve.
Importance of precision-mapping
With infrastructure getting repurposed largely, precision-mapping of indoor spaces will become all the more important. Indoor mapping is an integral part of industrial plant maintenance and monitoring, AEC facilities planning and indoor navigation. The pandemic has accentuated the need for such high accuracy maps, which can enable users to stay safe in closed environments by avoiding overcrowded places. Large spaces like airports and malls are collecting a lot of data, which can be repurposed for solving problems related to last mile navigation. Location- based AR is another technology that is rapidly developing, promising to transform indoor environments into immersive AR experiences.
Digital Twin for digital transformation
Digital twins form the basis for any digital transformation, from individual assets to entire cities. This technology enables the construction industry to achieve excellence during the entire lifecycle of an asset. Eventually, digital twins will become enablers for many new applications and technologies. However, for the cost of the technology to come down, the adoption needs to happen at a larger scale.
