“The future belongs to only those who would attain excellence in the field of their own choice.”
Geospatial Media and Communications conferred its annual Geospatial World Awards 2020 to outstanding professionals and organizations for developing innovative geospatial tools and products, implementing valuable policies, and applying geospatial technologies for delivering timely results in the most resource efficient manner. This year’s awards ceremony took take place virtually, for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Excellence Awards which had six categories, namely, Advertising, Citizen Engagement, Climate and Food Security, Crowdsourcing, State Governance, and Urban Biodiversity, recognized some exemplary practices in these user segments across the globe. The winning projects were selected by a panel of judges. The Excellence Awards were virtually presented by Derek Clarke, Advisor, World Geospatial Industry Council and John Kedar, Senior Geospatial Strategy Advisor, Geospatial Media
Advertising – Ogilvy
For utilizing geo-tagging technology in its German Rail – No Need To Fly Campaign, allowing real-time price updates in the advertisement with detailed cost of travel from closest airport to the foreign country. The advertisement precipitated a 24% increase in revenue for the brand.
Citizen Engagement – City of Hamburg
For developing DIPAS (Digital Participation System), an integrated, media-break-free digital system for collecting georeferenced citizen contributions to planning projects. The system also allows urban geo-data, collected in the urban data platform, as well as the cities’ 3D model to be made available on site at citizens’ events.
Climate and Food Security – International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
For establishing South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SADMS), an operational drought early warning system, to warn local communities when there is a risk of drought, improving preparedness and decreasing risks associated with crop and food loss. Dr Giriraj Amarnath received the award on behalf of IWMI.
Crowdsourcing – Crowd2Map
For Crowd2Map Tanzania, a crowdsourced mapping project putting rural Tanzania on the map. With the help of over 11,500 volunteers worldwide and 1600 on the ground in Tanzania, the locals now have access to maps of their area, which is vital for community development. Janet Chapman, Crowd2Map was delighted to receive the prestigious award.
State Governance – Selangor State Government
For Selangor Geospatial Management System (SELGEM), a comprehensive Geospatial data platform that supports and enhances existing State systems to achieve sustainable development initiatives and Selangor as a Smart State 2025. Suhaimi Tahir received the award on behalf of SMARTSEL.
Urban Biodiversity – National Parks Board (NParks)
For the digitalization of tree management in Singapore, creating a more efficient and cost saving tree inspection tools that transforms not only the Board’s operation, but also the city planning and its forestry and urban greenery management science. While receiving the award Tan Chong Lee, NParks highlighted the importance and value of forestation and biodiversity.
