GIS as an Enterprise System
The geospatial field continues expanding rapidly, fueled in part by the deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GISs).
Increasingly these systems are being implemented as enterprise IT systems supporting mission-critical workflows that cut across organizations and leverage shared geospatial data. The open nature of a modern GIS makes these organization- wide deployments both easy and enormously valuable.
GeoAI and Gen AI
The GIS field is getting smarter, leveraging AI in two areas, GeoAI with traditional computer vision modeling and Generative AI using Large Language Models (LLMs).
Esri has been actively creating and making available GeoAI models for use with many types of imagery. These models create derivative data layers that can be directly used in GIS analytics and visualization. Examples include roads, land cover, buildings footprints, and vegetation inventories. As sensors improve, these models are getting better, and while not always perfect, users are learning how best to integrate these models into their data management and analytic workflows.
Beyond GeoAI modeling applications, large language modeling (generative AI) is also emerging as a whole new technology for integrating natural language interfaces with GIS. At Esri, we are at the early stage of implementing these technologies to support a variety of workflows associated with our tools.
We believe there’s value in helping users automate workflows and over time make decisions about assembling the right tools and data to address questions that only GISs can answer.
Generative AI represents something different that GIS professionals have ever had before. It’s definitely promising and we all need to learn how best to leverage its power. At the same time we need to ensure to stay focused on providing truthful and authoritative information to the various missions that GIS supports.
With the emergence of LLMs, the scenario gets quite exciting, especially for startups. There are opportunities for them to provide integration capabilities that we’ve never seen before.
“It’s all about leveraging our best geographic science, technology and creative design thinking to find solutions to both climate change and protecting biodiversity.”
Strategic Partnership
A “next generation” ecosystem of geospatial technologies is emerging. Vendors are increasingly creating interoperable systems that just work together out of the box and support integrated workflows. This is the result of deliberate collaboration and engineering efforts as well as strategic partnerships that overcome competitive challenges of overlapping technologies in the marketplace.
Examples of vendors doing this with Esri include Autodesk, Trimble, Adobe, Microsoft and others.
My sense is these kinds of partnerships and collaborations are enabling companies to focus on their core strengths and partner with other companies to provide more complete offerings. It’s a myth that collaboration leads to lowered competition.
I strongly believe that over time vendors that are open, interoperable and promote open partnerships will tend to be more successful.
Collective Climate Action
As humans, our biggest challenge today is creating a sustainable future. Here, I think geospatial professionals and technology providers have a big role to play. It’s all about leveraging our best geographic science, technology, and creative design thinking to find solutions to both climate change and protecting biodiversity.
This means creating a better understanding and integrating this information into the way that humans plan and manage the future.
Geography, GIS and the “Geographic Approach” provide a framework for thinking and acting. Geospatial professionals and the geospatial field have a huge opportunity to make a difference, creating better understanding and a platform for sustainable action. What we do now will be responsible for what the future holds.
Disclaimer: Views Expressed are Author's Own. Geospatial World May or May Not Endorse it
