The world of geospatial is experiencing dramatic change. An industry once narrowly associated with maps is now being seen as business critical.
So, what is driving this change?
Technological innovation is powering the acquisition of a tsunami of new geospatial data. And the processing and analysis of that data is being automated by Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. We are recreating our world digitally: from atoms to bytes. Reality capture and Digital Twins have now become part of our geospatial vernacular.
What will be the results of that change?
In short, a better understanding of our world. A dynamic augmented digital twin allowing us to view our world in a different way. Using digital to help us see what we cannot see in our analogue world: an unhealthy tree, high risk intersections, dangerously overheated asset. To understand. To solve.
How is the industry changing?
The industry is converging. Traditional 2D mapping (GIS), 3D (digital reality) and augmented 3D (enriched digital reality) data products and 4D (the Internet of Things) are all coming together.
Geospatial data fusion is an important part of our future. The geospatial industry is focused on people, places, and things. Data fusion means we bring all the puzzle pieces together in one place: 2D, 3D, 4D. Maps, digital twin, augmented digital reality, images, documents. Data collected from satellites, fixed wing planes, helicopters, drones, mobile mapping, and terrestrial sources. Interconnected, fused data.
From here we assemble the puzzle pieces to solve the problem. And that is exactly where we start, with the problem not the data and technology. So, what might an interconnected, fused problem to solution geospatial data story look like?
Integrated Approach
Vision Zero is ‘a global movement to end traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by taking a systemic approach to road safety. Safety engineers, working for a departments of transportation, are focused on improving road safety and helping to realize Vision Zero. Their job is to diagnose and solve road problems. So, what is their typical workflow:
- Isolate those sections of roads which have a high percentage of accidents resulting in fatal or serious injuries: the where.
- Understand why these road sections are problematic: diagnosis.
- Change this section or road (by adding a roundabout for example) to improve safety: solution
Today safety engineers use a mixture of manual and digital tools in their diagnostic process. But imagine if they had access to all the geospatial puzzle pieces, how might change their workflow:
- The where – Using a 2D map using data collected by the police at the scene of accidents a picture can be assembled on the most problematic interactions (as an example). Heat maps, clustering, related documents, images can all be accesses from the map to help traffic engineers understand where they should be focused.
- The diagnosis – Digital twins, or a 3D version of a problematic intersection provide a sense of place without the need for a traffic engineer to leave their office. From a digital twin the engineer can explore; they can see problematic vegetation, broken guard rails etc. They can measure and add other data such as GIS point data marking the exact location of different collisions. Dynamic digital twin allows engineers to view the movement of vehicles or pedestrians over periods of time: Geospatial data driven diagnostics.
- The solution – With the help of digital reality, as solution are explored, potential new scenarios can be ‘dropped’ into the digital version of the intersection. Augmented reality can be a huge benefit both in the design, and construction phases.
Having access to all the geospatial puzzle pieces provides a path to solving a limitless number of problems.
What are the industry barriers?
The reaction to a recent article by Jack Dangermond of Esri highlighted the challenges the industry still faces. Social media comments on the post ranged from gushing praise to brutal criticism. Geospatial remains highly fragmented. Some of that is driven by ‘protecting one’s turf’, some by the fact that we still live in a world of specialists. For example, GIS experts know little about remote sensing and vice-versa. We know what we know. That keeps us divided. The geospatial industry remains:
- Made up of many complex moving parts (data, processing/analytics, software)
- Largely an experts-only domain.
- Poorly understood outside of our industry (see the all too regular articles entitled ‘How to describe what you do’ or ‘How to explain GIS’)
At its core geospatial is focused on location-based data. It is not simply about maps, or digital twins. Its value is in solving business problems.
As an industry we continue to hold ourselves back. In-fighting, pretense around universal solutions, focus on the data/technology and not business outcomes are getting in the way.
When asked about what we do for a living, geospatial professionals struggle; usually falling back to ‘map making’. In the future we will be answering that question with ‘Bringing the world to your fingertips’.
Our advance as an industry requires change. That means getting over ourselves. Accepting we are all in this together and playing nicely. No more stone throwing. No more Kool-Aid drinking. We need new messaging. New approaches. We need to bring in ‘new blood’ to help us change our perspective; to move our industry past inertia and mental myopia.
Let’s make GEOSPATIAL FOR ALL our collective cry!
(Matt Sheehan is a geospatial industry veteran with 25 years experience. Starting out as a GIS developer, he now focusses on remote sensing and translating geospatial data and technology into business value.The views expressed in the article are the personal opinions of the author.)
Disclaimer: Views Expressed are Author's Own. Geospatial World May or May Not Endorse it
