From a practical lens and audience-first perspective, the featured program reveals how modern approaches in geospatial analysis turn information into tangible results for places and people.

With dates set for mid-February, a major industry gathering will take place at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center, and there Dr. Lilian Pintea, VP for Conservation Science at the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), will deliver the headline talk. During that headline moment, he will examine how a carefully assembled suite of high-resolution satellite imagery, GIS, AI, and other tools is reshaping environmental protection practice on a worldwide scale.

Across more than two decades of field-focused work, his teams have applied high-resolution satellite data, lidar, GIS, machine learning, and participatory mapping to safeguard chimpanzees and habitat throughout Africa. Working in close partnership over many years with the renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall—whose boundary-pushing observations reframed modern stewardship—he has helped propel a technology-forward shift guiding agencies, researchers, and community partners for healthier ecosystems and biodiversity.

According to the event’s senior content lead, pairing people-first practice with location intelligence can deliver extraordinary change; precise data and advanced tools, implemented thoughtfully, have the power to influence lives, public policy, and entire ecosystems, said Carla Lauter of Geo Week.

Expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity, he noted plans to share Dr. Goodall’s vision along with new GeoAI directions that support collaborative research and conservation with the communities living alongside wildlife habitat, Dr. Pintea said.

Among the topics he will cover, advanced methods in the institute’s program combine lidar, drone-based surveys, and AI-driven data integration to measure forest structure, build 3D representations of chimpanzee ranges and wetland corridors, and link behavioral, environmental, and acoustic records in novel ways. These innovations are accelerating restoration planning, improving habitat modeling, and strengthening resilience as climate change pressures intensify.

Beyond institutional reputation for research and youth engagement, the core message is that technology should benefit people as much as ecosystems. By using geospatial approaches to close the distance between international conservation targets and on-the-ground realities, communities gain the information, agency, and resources needed for sustainable decisions.

During the conference discussions, he will outline ways the broader geospatial sector can carry Dr. Goodall’s legacy forward by creating tools that are transparent, equitable, and built to empower those most affected by environmental change and biodiversity loss.

With innovation accelerating across multiple domains—from Earth observation to spatial analytics and AI—the session aims to remind attendees what these technologies can unlock: actionable insight, cross-border collaboration, and measurable outcomes where work happens.

For details, readers can explore the keynote session, the complete conference program, and the speaker roster for added context. To learn about attending or exhibiting, visit . Reserve Super Saver Rates by registering today.

Established in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) operates as a global, community-led nonprofit advancing Dr. Jane Goodall’s vision through 26 chapters around the world. The organization seeks to understand and protect chimpanzees, other apes, and the habitats they depend on, while empowering people to be compassionate citizens who safeguard the natural world we share. JGI blends research, community-led conservation, rigorous animal-welfare standards, and innovative uses of science and technology to transform hope into action for the common good. Through the Roots & Shoots youth program—active in 75 countries and expanding—JGI nurtures a movement of caring people building a better future for people, wildlife, and our shared environment.

Designed as a cross-disciplinary hub, the event convenes professionals from geospatial and mapping fields to explore how data, maps, and advanced technology deepen understanding and inform solutions to complex challenges. The conference program and tradeshow deliver expert perspectives, real-world case studies, exposure to cutting-edge tools, and peer-to-peer networking. Geo Week 2026 runs Feb. 16–18, 2026, inside Denver’s Colorado Convention Center. Learn more at . The gathering is produced by Geo Week News and forms part of Diversified’s technology lineup, which includes Digital Construction Week (UK), Commercial UAV Expo, Commercial UAV News, and Geo Business (UK).

Articles

Geospatial Map Technologies Accelerating Conservation

By putting automation and computer vision to work across Hawaii, the platform applies AI so transportation officials can rapidly find road wear, rank repair work, and protect travelers.

How the Blyncsy Solution Uses AI to Help the Hawaii Department of Transportation

As part of a campus‑backed road initiative, the state agency has brought in Blyncsy from Bentley Systems to support Eyes on the Road. According to the infrastructure engineering software company, the agency—working with the University of Hawaii—is deploying this analytics solution to elevate roadway safety statewide.

Roadway Maintenance and Asset Inventory From Dash-Cam Imagery

Under the Eyes on the Road project, one thousand no‑cost, high‑resolution dashboard cameras are offered to residents for installation in their vehicles to enhance public safety on streets. While people go about daily trips, the devices continuously capture video and, through a cellular link, send footage to the cloud. Residents continue their usual commutes, and the technology operates in the background. From that community‑sourced stream, overgrown vegetation, guardrail impacts, debris in lanes or along shoulders, and related hazards are flagged using AI and machine learning inside Bentley’s Blyncsy, with identities kept anonymous.

Actionable Insight for Roadway Management

Within Bentley Systems’ Asset Analytics family, Blyncsy turns dash‑cam imagery and other road visuals into actionable insights. By assessing the health of critical transportation assets, it supports asset inventory, smarter maintenance prioritization, and evidence‑based planning, and it can align with digital twin workflows. These insights help agencies allocate budgets where they matter most.

Spot Issues Faster and Prioritize Repairs to Keep Drivers Safe

During Eyes on the Road, detections move to the state transportation department almost in real‑time, giving crews at the Hawaii Department of Transportation the information needed to accelerate repair workflows. This near‑instant feedback loop reduces time to resolution. For drivers, cyclists, and people on foot, the transportation network becomes safer.

Blyncsy by Bentley Systems For Safer Roadway Operations

Following a quiet rollout, the aviation tech firm disclosed that Volatus Aerospace now flies with the PX‑1 RTX module on its fleet to secure precise navigation and reliable attitude data. Customers gain a streamlined path to high‑fidelity overhead information and truly remote flights, including BVLOS, because Volatus has woven the Trimble PX‑1 RTX positioning solution into its service for its national drone delivery program.

In practice, compact GNSS‑inertial hardware works alongside RTX correction services to deliver centimeter‑level positioning and inertial‑derived true heading in real time.

Through L‑band or NTRIP delivery, these streams reach the vehicle without base stations, which adds positioning redundancy when sensors face magnetic interference.

For setup and ongoing use, CenterPoint® RTX corrections — specifically the Trimble CenterPoint RTX correction — minimize site work and accelerate time to productivity.

Position and Controlled Airspace Compliance

Within controlled corridors at Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, ingress and egress, altitude, speed, communications, and remote ID are tightly defined by Transport Canada and Nav Canada. Authorizations require precision when crossing arrival paths at a fixed 50‑foot height, and accurate GNSS position control is essential for compliant takeoff and landing inside the approved route. With this module in place, Volatus can hold the commanded altitude, pinpoint the pad, and remain inside the exact path specified by the civil air navigation provider.

“From our perspective, daily runs carrying healthcare materials travel from Edmonton International Airport to the Montana First Nations Clinic, often beneath an active glide path,” said Greg Colacitti, COO of Volatus Aerospace. “In our Canary platform, a shift to the PX‑1 RTX from Trimble has been decisive; sharper position confidence inside tight delivery zones strengthens safety and underpins the reliability and scale of the service.”

“Across the broader sector, seeing PX‑1 RTX in its first commercial use marks a real milestone,” noted Joe Hutton, director for inertial technology and airborne solutions at Trimble. “By pushing precision further and improving reliability, the system drives down costs, reduces environmental impact, improves operational efficiency, and raises safety for advanced air mobility.”

Drone Delivery With Trimble Px-1 Rtx in Canadian Airspace

The event spotlights sustainability and resilience in the geospatial field, and is co-located with Digital Construction Asia 2023 and the inaugural Drones Asia 

Singapore, 15 March 2023, 10:00 AM – Geo Connect Asia (GCA) 2023, the third edition of Southeast Asia’s flagship geospatial and location intelligence industry trade show and conference, opens today at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. The two-day event, organised by Montgomery Asia, welcomes over 2,500 delegates and attendees from more than 25 countries and 75 industry-leading companies, showcasing a full suite of geospatial technologies, digital construction and drone-based solutions.

GCA is co-located with the first edition of Drones Asia, jointly launched by Montgomery Asia, in conjunction with the Association of Aerospace Industries of Singapore (AAIS) and Inmarsat, as Gold Sponsor. Capturing the commercial demand for aerial, unmanned and ground-based solutions, this highly anticipated show is dedicated to the region’s expanding UAV ecosystem. GCA 2023 is also held alongside Digital Construction Asia 2023, a platform for the introduction of the latest solutions for the built environment – including AI, BIM, blockchain, IoT, and visualisation technologies. 

Guest of Honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, addressed attendees during the GCA 2023 opening ceremony, and also in attendance were Rupert Owen, Co-Founder of Geo Connect Asia; Yeoh Oon Jin, Chairman of Singapore Land Authority (SLA); and Dr Nadine Alameh, CEO of the Open Geospatial Consortium. At the event, GCA 2023 partner SLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Container Depot and Logistics Association (Singapore) to improve heavy vehicle routing, and an Intent of Collaboration with the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to exchange knowledge and experiences on geospatial technology adoption. SLA also announced a pilot project with SG Enable and Gardens by the Bay to map barrier-free routes to enable wheelchair users to move about easily. 

As of 2023, the global geospatial market is estimated to be worth US$510.84 billion and expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% to US$895.88 billion by 2027. As governments and businesses recognise the value and potential of geospatial technologies in tackling pressing issues such as climate change, infrastructure development and process optimisation, it is crucial for industry players to further accelerate their capabilities and nurture young geospatial specialists. GCA 2023’s theme, “Advancing sustainable & resilient geospatial solutions for an interconnected world”, seeks to provide a strategic platform for knowledge transfer among industry players and the collaborative development of geospatial solutions across land, building, sea and sky. With the constant strides in technological advancements, improved AI and drone technology have found new and practical applications across various industries, helping to alleviate industry problems such as manpower, safety, and sustainability issues. 

Rupert Owen, Co-founder of Geo Connect Asia, said, “Montgomery Asia is delighted to bring together geospatial and location intelligence industry experts from all over the world. Finally hosting a fully in-person edition, we are excited to be creating a regional community for the industry, with a Singapore base; I believe that these interactions will spur meaningful industry collaboration, knowledge sharing and drive new investment opportunities. Securing the continued support of our sponsors, partners and exhibitors is a testament to the exciting GCA format we are developing, and we would like to thank one and all for making this event possible.”

Mr Sin Lye Chong, Assistant Chief Executive (Geospatial & Engagement) and Chief Sustainability Officer, Singapore Land Authority, said, “The green economy has transformed country and corporate agendas worldwide, and both private and public sectors are increasingly looking to adopt sustainability practices for the benefit of their businesses and communities. As Singapore's National Geospatial Agency, SLA’s partnership with Geo Connect Asia demonstrates our commitment to bring industry players across the public, private and academic domains together to exchange ideas and knowledge, and tap on fresh opportunities to mainstream the use of geospatial data and capabilities. This is also a platform to spur innovative geospatial solutions that will accelerate efforts in enabling and empowering sustainability initiatives here in Singapore and around the world.”

Dr Nadine Alameh, Chief Executive Officer of the Open Geospatial Consortium, said, “The geospatial industry and location intelligence is at the forefront of decision-making across enterprise, government and non-profit organisations. The dynamics of Asia, with its strong interplay between land, maritime and sky, presents unique challenges, which fortunately the industry can help address. With a focus on the interoperability of data, the OGC is well positioned to incorporate the latest technologies relating to space, autonomous vehicles, AI, as well as those that are already well entrenched to provide the most appropriate solutions. The OGC is excited to be able to build its contacts and promote awareness of the geospatial industry across the region by being in Singapore for this year’s Geo Connect Asia.”

The main exhibition showground – the Geo Market Place – has doubled in size to accommodate the overwhelming support from industry players. AECA Solutions, Heron Technology, IDI Laser, Metasensing, Piesat, Satel, ST Engineering Geo-Insights, Teledyne Flir, Trimble, Wingtra, Yellowscan and many other participating exhibitors are showcasing innovative solutions to meet visitors’ sourcing needs. A Singapore Pavilion, led by SGTech, features over ten companies, including Leica Geosystems, Wong Fong Academy, YJP Surveyor and more.

A centrepiece of the event is the Geo Connect Asia 2023 Conference themed “Advancing sustainable & resilient geospatial solutions for an interconnected world”. It aims to prepare businesses and the geospatial industry for the Geospatial 4.0 revolution, while addressing issues of sustainability and climate change, and introducing new application tools with a focus on AI, blockchain, IoT, robotics, and UAVs. 

The conference programme comprises 11 panel-led sessions featuring 65 prominent industry speakers, panellists and moderators, including:

 John Whitehead, Senior Director of Sales and Distribution, APAC of Trimble Inc

James Tan, Director, Smart District Division, JTC

Yu Ning Hwang, Chief Planner & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Singapore

 Sin Lye Chong, Assistant Chief Executive, Singapore Land Authority

The main conference themes cover a comprehensive range of topics, including:

Driving sustainable solutions in the built environment through improved analytics

Open standards and open data models for new sustainable urban project planning

Driving intelligent solutions for critical infrastructure projects

Advances in AI & robotics in the geospatial industry

Mapping future talent: connecting digital natives with the worlds of surveying and geospatial

To view the conference agenda, click here. 

The Expert Stage programmes have also been curated to further drive industry collaboration in open platform discussions. These comprise:

Digital Underground Connect: Advancing subsurface utility mapping for construction and asset management

Unlocking the potential of digitalisation for a sustainable AEC industry

To view the expert stage programmes, click here.

A free-to-attend series of 34 Tech Talks will also be presented on the show floor, where companies will present on topics, including geospatial advancements, remote sensing, digital construction and drone solutions.

To view the Tech Talk programme, click here.

At the UAV Innovation Theatre @ Drones Asia, over 30 free-to-attend panel discussions and presentations will be conducted to broaden the conversation surrounding the region’s expanding UAV ecosystem. 

Supporting this year’s edition of GCA is a prestigious line-up of sponsors, including third-time Platinum Sponsor Trimble, Gold Sponsor Inmarsat, Silver Sponsors Gamuda Singapore and Topcon Singapore Positioning, and Sponsor AECOM.

GCA 2023 is also well-supported by close to 60 trade organisations, associations and government agencies. 

Strategic Partners include the Singapore Land Authority (SLA); SLA’s Geospatial Industry Centre, GeoWorks; and SGTech. The event is also well supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA); Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB); buildingSMART Singapore (bSS); and the Construction Industry Joint Committee (CIJC).

Supporting Partners include the ASEAN Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics (AFLAG), Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) (AAIS), Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES), Container Depot and Logistics Association (Singapore) (CDAS), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Institution of Engineers (IES), National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), Nordic Innovation House (NIH) Singapore, Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL), Singapore Green Building Council (SGBMP), Singapore Institute of Building Limited (SIBL), Society of Project Managers Singapore (SPM), Smart Cities Network (SCN) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP), among others.

To register for a complimentary trade visitor pass to the exhibition. Exhibition admission is complimentary and pre-registration is encouraged to facilitate ease of entry into the halls.

Geo Connect Asia returns to Singapore for its third edition supported by leading geospatial industry solutions providers and with double the floor space

Software receives Milestone C and Full Deployment Decision approval following successful operation at MCAS Cherry Point

MADISON, Ala., June 16, 2016 – The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), as part of the Consolidated Emergency Response System (CERS) program, will deploy Intergraph Computer-Aided Dispatch (I/CAD) software across 13 USMC bases throughout the world. With the support of Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) and the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), the CERS program office received a combined Milestone C and Full Deployment Decision approval for the software, a key step in the Department of Defense's acquisition process that enables the program to move forward with full system deployment.

Working with the MCSC team, approval was based on rigorous testing and engineering and the live operation of I/CAD at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point in North Carolina. Developed by IGS’ parent company, Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure, I/CAD was required to meet the stringent Risk Management Framework cybersecurity requirements of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy.

“Our live system acceptance at MCAS Cherry Point proved crucial to gaining Milestone C and Full Deployment Decision approval,” said Cameron Smith, IGS executive director of security solutions. “We’re very pleased with the result and look forward to continued expansion of I/CAD implementations within Marine Corps and other Department of Defense installations.”

Achieving Defense Acquisition System Milestone C and Full Deployment Decision approval allows the fielding of the CERS system to all USMC installations listed in the five-year, $23 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded to IGS in 2014.  Also as part of the CERS program, the U.S. Navy has formally approved I/CAD for use within the Department of Navy networks through the U.S. Navy Application and Database Management System (DADMS) certification.

Much like the MCAS Cherry Point system, any Department of Defense implementations of I/CAD will provide installations with hardware and software to manage incoming 911 emergency calls and incident management components accurately and in real-time. Through I/CAD, Department of Defense first responders will receive all associated incident information, along with critical location-based hazard information, prior calls and a shared common map of the incident for superb situational awareness.

Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) is an independent subsidiary for Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure’s U.S. federal business. Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure provides mission-critical and business-critical solutions to governments and service providers. A global leader, proven innovator and trusted partner, our software and industry expertise help improve the lives of millions of people through safer communities, better public services and more reliable infrastructure. Visitwww.intergraphgovsolutions.com for more information.

Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure is part of Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXAB; hexagon.com), a leading global provider of information technologies that drive productivity and quality across geospatial and industrial enterprise applications.

 Intergraph Government Solutions. Intergraph Government Solutions is part of Hexagon. All rights reserved. Intergraph Government Solutions and the Intergraph Government Solutions logo are trademarks of Intergraph or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

U.S. Marine Corps to Deploy Intergraph Computer-Aided Dispatch to 13 Bases Worldwide

30 November 2022: The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) seeks public comment on the draft charter for a new Analysis Ready Data Standard Working Group (ARD SWG). Comments are due by December 21, 2022. Born from work undertaken in the OGC Disaster Pilot 2021 and Testbed-16, the Analysis Ready Data (ARD) SWG will develop a multi-part Standard for geospatial Analysis Ready Data in partnership with ISO/TC 211.

The concept of ARD was initially developed by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS). CEOS defines ARD as “satellite data that have been processed to a minimum set of requirements and organized into a form that allows immediate analysis with a minimum of additional user effort and interoperability both through time and with other datasets.” Adopting the CEOS-ARD definition as a starting point, the OGC ARD SWG will extend the scope of ARD from satellite data to all geospatial data. 

A major strength of geospatial and location technologies is their ability to integrate and analyze data from diverse providers concerning many different phenomena so as to better understand or predict what is happening in a given area. However, this diversity of data means that preparing the acquired data for integration and analysis remains a time-consuming task. Furthermore, many geospatial data users lack the expertise, infrastructure, and internet bandwidth to efficiently and effectively access, preprocess, and utilize the growing volume of geospatial data available for local, regional, and national decision-making. 

The charter supporters recognize that formal Standardization of the concepts developed through CEOS-ARD is necessary to achieve broad uptake, particularly by the commercial sector. Defining ARD through international standard bodies, such as OGC and ISO, will also help promote the concept and help avoid the divergence that can be caused by various groups working towards different interpretations of the concept.

As such, the OGC ARD SWG will work jointly with the ISO/TC 211 ARD Standard project team to define a multi-part Standard that specifies a set of minimum requirements that a geospatial data product shall meet in order for the product to qualify as an ARD product.

The CEOS ARD concept and specifications were initially tested, evaluated, and assessed by OGC during Testbed-16, results of which were published in the ARD Engineering Report in 2020. Building on this, space agencies participating in the OGC Disaster Pilot 2021, introduced a number of CEOS-ARD products into the disaster decision-making process, greatly simplifying the use of satellite data in disaster-related decision making. 

The Disaster Pilot 2021 concluded with a need to broaden the ARD concepts to cover other types of geospatial data and to create international ARD standards through the formal standard setting processes of ISO and OGC. Therefore, the OGC Disaster Pilot 2022 set an action item to start an OGC ARD Standards Working Group to work jointly with the project team in ISO TC 211 to develop joint ISO-OGC standards on geospatial ARD.

The draft Analysis Ready Data Standards Working Group Charter is available for review and comment on the OGC Portal. Comments are due by December 21, 2022, and should be submitted via the method outlined on the ARD SWG Charter’s public comment request page.

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is a collective problem-solving community of more than 550 experts representing industry, government, research and academia, collaborating to make geospatial (location) information and services FAIR - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

The global OGC Community engages in a mix of activities related to location-based technologies: developing consensus-based open standards and best-practices; collaborating on problem solving in agile innovation initiatives; participating in member meetings, events, and workshops; and more.

OGC's unique standards development process moves at the pace of innovation, with constant input from technology forecasting, practical prototyping, real-world testing, and community engagement.

OGC bridges disparate sectors, domains, and technology trends, and encourages the cross-pollination of ideas between different communities of practice to improve decision-making at all levels. OGC is committed to creating an inclusive and sustainable future.

Public Comment Requested on Draft Charter for new OGC Analysis Ready Data Standards Working Group

Innovation in Geospatial Data and Analytics

A new geospatial solution has been unveiled that advances mapping precision and broadens analytical capabilities for organizations working with spatial data. Designed to support professionals across sectors such as planning, infrastructure, environmental management, and public safety, the platform improves the speed and reliability of geographic analysis. Users can leverage enhanced processing tools and intuitive interfaces to transform complex datasets into clear, actionable insights that support decision-making and operational performance.

This geospatial solution focuses on improving how spatial information is captured, processed, and visualized. By streamlining the flow from data input to analytical output, it enables more efficient workflows and better alignment between data intelligence and business strategy.

Enhanced Mapping Features for Deeper Insight

The new platform incorporates advanced mapping tools that enhance visual clarity and analytical depth. Users can create and manipulate dynamic maps with layered spatial data, perform in-depth geographic queries, and visualize trends across multiple scales. These capabilities allow analysts to identify patterns, detect spatial anomalies, and explore relationships that traditional tools might overlook.

Improved rendering performance and responsive interaction with large datasets help professionals produce faster results without sacrificing quality. Whether creating detailed project reports or developing interactive dashboards, the solution provides flexibility and control over how geographic data is presented and analyzed.

Supporting Smarter Decision Making Across Sectors

Organizations adopting this geospatial solution benefit from improved insight into location-based phenomena, which supports strategic planning, risk assessment, and operational optimization. For public sector agencies, accurate spatial analysis aids in infrastructure planning, emergency preparedness, and service delivery. In commercial settings, the technology supports market analysis, site selection, and customer segmentation based on spatial patterns.

By integrating robust analytical tools with intuitive mapping functionality, the solution helps teams turn geographic intelligence into measurable outcomes, driving better decisions and more effective actions across a range of professional domains.

Driving Growth and Collaboration with Spatial Insight

The solution also emphasizes usability and collaboration, enabling teams to share maps, analytical results, and project insights more easily. Shared spatial views and interactive reporting foster better communication among stakeholders and help align cross-functional efforts around common geographic objectives. The platform’s extensible architecture supports integration with existing systems and data infrastructures, ensuring organizations can scale their use of spatial intelligence as needs evolve.

Through this release, the provider strengthens its commitment to delivering tools that support smarter workflows, deeper insights, and enhanced performance for all users of geospatial technology.

New Geospatial Solution Enhances Mapping and Spatial Analysis Workflows

Editor's Note: We are thrilled to add Eva Reid to our editorial staff as a regular columnist. In this first article, she explores modeling health data and how that impacts the geospatial community in the coming months with vaccines and further disease tracking. Welcome to the DirectionsMag family, Eva!

Any geographer or geospatial professional knows that “It’s more than just a map.” Dr. Este Geraghty, chief medical officer and health solutions director at ESRI, said the same in our conversation recently about GIS, public health, and a new agent-based model developed by Epistemix, called FRED.

The geographic scientific community has understood that space, place, and health are related for at least 160 years. Some would argue that it’s been much longer than that and goes back to ancient Greece. Regardless, the relationship between place and health has led to many innovations in health care and health research. GIS is an effective tool to understand this relationship, and to support decision-making in public health.

GIS has been used in modern public health research for over 20 years to map patterns of resources and disease, but also to monitor, assess, and predict health outcomes — everything from keeping tabs on outbreaks of disease to assessing potential infections and disease risks and predict sudden emergencies. As technology has advanced, so has the opportunity for improved public health surveillance, understanding virus transmission, and distribution of protective equipment and medication.

GIS was used extensively to understand recent H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks, and has been used to track other communicable diseases, including Zika, West Nile virus, and measles. Much emphasis is placed on understanding the spatial distribution of the disease epidemiology and answering questions like:

How quickly is the virus spreading and where is it going?

How quickly are local and regional hospital resources being depleted?

What medications are available? Where are they?

Statistical models and simulations are important tools in the epidemiologist’s toolkit to predict the possibility and severity of disease outbreak. These tools are a main source of obtaining and analyzing information for determining the type and intensity of disease intervention. GIS-supported modelling is also immensely helpful, providing place-based “what-if” scenarios to explain disease spread and helping to prioritize how and where vaccines are distributed.

One of the challenges with including GIS modelling in managing a pandemic is that some epidemiologists don’t touch GIS every day. GIS capacity in local health departments is generally “moderate to low,” according to Dr. Geraghty. Not for lack of interest, says Dr. Geraghty, but GIS often ends up in an IT group within the health department (or in another agency completely) and GIS is “not IT, it’s informatics.” 

Another challenge often mentioned in healthcare research is the limitation of available population data. Health planning models may have to rely on data that have quality or completeness issues, or have to be aggregated in order to provide individual privacy. Census data, for example, are collected at the individual level but aggregated into various geographies. These data are used in a variety of ways, including identifying populations of need, where to support infrastructure investment, where to promote public programs, and how to encourage investment in specific areas. As good and useful as they are, there are some difficulties with aggregate data and making decisions about human beings using these data. These include:

Aggregated data provide privacy but don’t allow for understanding individual situations.

All variables are not always available at all aggregation levels.

Data are relatively static; some variables may be as old as the last population enumeration.

Finding environmental risk data is difficult.

Demographic and socioeconomic spatial data also are limited in that they do not always describe patients’ behavior, for example behavior in seeking appropriate services. Enter agent-based modelling or ABM. ABM is a method of analysis used to simulate macro- and micro-level health system behavior. This methodology has been used in a variety of areas of study including transportation, infrastructure investment, and public health.

Epistemix is a new company based on the research of Dr. Donald Burke and John Grefenstette. With their colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, they developed the Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics as an agent-based modeling system to predict the progression of disease outbreaks. While the system is not new, the partnership between ESRI and Epistemix is a little over a year old, and seeks to leverage the power of geography and behavioral modeling to understand and manage the spread of disease.

Originally, the researchers were looking at applying the system to the spread of measles, but Drs. Geraghty, Burke, and the team quickly realized that FRED was ideal for mapping the spread of COVID-19, and understanding issues of herd immunity, vaccine distribution, and the implications of human behavior in disease management. Understanding where data gaps exist can lead to better, more complete decision-making.

“We are in such a state of uncertainty,” said Dr. Geraghty. “Anything that has scientific methodologies and can give us actionable insights, even if imperfect, I think is incredibly valuable because we need some level of certainty and clarity to make decisions.”

The CDC has already determined how many doses of the vaccine likely are needed in each state, based on a variety of factors. As we move into the next phase of the COVID-19 event, it won’t be enough to just map vaccine distribution locations and potential populations of need. We also need to understand the surrounding environment(s), potential risks, and how populations negotiate these factors. Questions raised include:

Those facilities that have cold storage capabilities – are they near populations that can actually get to them? If they are, do people’s behaviors match?

Are populations at risk likely to take advantage of services?

Dr. Geraghty pointed out that, in addition to some of these general issues around disease spread and appropriately locating vaccine distribution sites, there are also particular public health challenges when dealing with vaccination, including some degree of vaccine hesitancy in communities of color. How do these concerns get incorporated into models? Can we actually model all of the reasons for hesitancy? It seems that Epistemix’s FRED model might be the way.

Dr. Geraghty said that one of the great benefits Epistemix adds to the conversation is the ability to look at a concept like herd immunity geographically and understand that different communities have different levels of interaction and movement; we might find that we can achieve herd immunity with lower vaccination rates in some areas. This is yet to be determined, but the possibility is there, and could lessen concerns like vaccine hesitancy and whether there are enough distribution sites with appropriate chilling facilities.

It will be interesting to see how health departments work through the coming challenges, but collaborations like ESRI and Epistemix and the inclusion of the FRED modeling system may play a significant role in how the public health community combats this current global health crisis.

Modeling Disease & Behavior Using GIS

Why GIS Development Matters for Modern Organizations

Developing with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a strategic priority for organizations seeking to harness spatial data for smarter decisions, improved workflows, and competitive advantage. GIS development encompasses the creation, customization, and integration of spatial applications that transform raw geographic data into actionable insight. By building GIS solutions tailored to specific business needs, organizations unlock the ability to visualize, analyze, and interpret data within its geographic context — improving planning outcomes, operational efficiency, and data-driven strategy.

GIS development is no longer limited to mapping; it supports advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and real-time situational awareness across sectors such as utilities, transportation, public safety, environmental management, and commercial services. Successful projects begin with a clear understanding of both technical capability and organizational goals to ensure that GIS delivers meaningful value.

Core Principles of Successful GIS Development

Effective GIS development relies on a foundation of best practices that balance technology, process, and people. A clear project vision aligned with measurable goals sets the stage for success. This includes defining user requirements, selecting scalable platforms, and establishing workflows that integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Prioritizing data quality and metadata governance ensures that spatial information remains accurate, consistent, and reliable across applications.

Modular and standards-based development architectures support flexibility and long-term growth. By adhering to open standards and interoperable formats, GIS solutions can connect with a wider ecosystem — from enterprise data warehouses to web services and mobile clients. This approach reduces technical debt and supports future expansions of analytical capability.

Integration of GIS into core business workflows is critical for maximizing impact. Planners, analysts, and decision makers benefit when spatial insights are embedded directly into daily processes and dashboards rather than isolated in specialized systems. Linking GIS outputs with enterprise reporting tools, operational dashboards, and predictive analytics frameworks ensures that spatial context informs strategic and tactical decisions across departments.

Training and user engagement are also essential. Empowering teams with the skills to interpret maps, perform spatial queries, and contribute data fosters broader adoption. Regular feedback loops with end users help refine functionality, improve usability, and ensure that GIS development aligns with evolving organizational needs.

Scaling GIS Solutions for Long-Term Growth

GIS development must be designed with scalability in mind. As data volumes grow and analytical requirements evolve, maintaining performance and responsiveness is critical. Leveraging cloud infrastructure, distributed processing, and scalable storage solutions helps organizations manage increasing spatial datasets and support multi-user environments without performance decline.

Continuous improvement through version updates, feature expansions, and integration of emerging technologies — such as AI-enabled spatial analytics and real-time data streams — positions GIS solutions to deliver sustained value. Tracking usage metrics and performance indicators enables teams to evaluate impact, prioritize enhancements, and justify future investments.

When implemented thoughtfully, GIS development becomes a powerful engine for innovation. It drives more informed decisions in urban planning, resource management, customer engagement, and risk mitigation. Organizations that invest in robust GIS strategies gain a deeper understanding of spatial relationships, enhance operational agility, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

GIS development is ultimately about transforming spatial data into insight and action. By adhering to best practices in planning, integration, and scalability, organizations can build resilient geographic solutions that support both present needs and future challenges.

Developing with GIS: Best Practices for Implementation and Growth

Details of a new depth map of the Arctic Ocean have been published in the Nature Journal Scientific Data. The new portrayal of the Arctic Ocean floor is in the form of a digital gridded database and comprises Version 4.0 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO).

The gridded compilation has been completed under the auspices of the Regional Center for the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. This Regional Center is one of four Seabed 2030 centers covering the world ocean and is run jointly by Stockholm University and the University of New Hampshire. Scientists and map-makers from 15 countries participated in the work, including all circum-Arctic nations.

 The new IBCAO Ver. 4.0 has increased the area mapped of the Arctic Ocean from 6.7 percent in the previous release of Ver. 3.0 in 2012 to 19.6 percent.

 “IBCAO Ver. 4.0 represents the 2020 contribution to the GEBCO Global Grid which is targeted to map the entire ocean floor by the year 2030,” comments Professor Martin Jakobsson of Stockholm University, co-leader with Professor Larry Mayer of the Regional Center. “Users need a specific grid of the Arctic Ocean in polar projection because the global grid is highly distorted near the geographic poles.”

 The data will also provide a much improved foundation for predictive modelling of the fate of the Greenland Ice Sheet and rise in global sea level.

 This is the fourth digital grid of the Arctic to be published since IBCAO was established in St Petersburg in 1997. Since 2012, when the third IBCAO was compiled, numerous icebreaker expeditions mapping the seafloor have been completed. The IBCAO grids have had hundreds of thousands of downloads over the years and are used in all bathymetric applications for the Arctic.

About The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project:

The Nippon Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation established in 1962, in Japan, for the purpose of carrying out philanthropic activities, using revenue from motorboat racing. The Foundation places an emphasis on social innovation, and implementing ideas to bring about change for a better society. Its activities encompass wide-ranging areas such as the fight against leprosy, peacebuilding in Myanmar and passing on the riches of the ocean to the next generation.

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) is a joint project of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO – the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is the only intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor. It has its origins in the GEBCO chart series initiated in 1903 by Prince Albert I of Monaco, and aims to provide the most authoritative, publicly-available bathymetric datasets for the world’s oceans.

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO. The Seabed 2030 Project, launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017 by Chairman Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation, coordinates and oversees the sourcing and compilation of bathymetric data from different parts of the world’s ocean through its five centres into the freely-available GEBCO Grid. Four Regional Centres cover the Southern Ocean, the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and the South and West Pacific Ocean. These feed data products into the Global Data Centre, Southampton.

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Topic Local, State & Federal Government

Leading digital city focuses on engaging users and citizens with open data

Boston and Paris, May 3, 2023, Opendatasoft, a global leader in the democratization of data, today announced that the City of Long Beach in California has extended its use of Opendatasoft’s technology to power its open data portal.

Named a top 10 digital city for 12 consecutive years by the Center for Digital Government, Long Beach first deployed Opendatasoft in 2020. The new contract will see the city further develop its portal, including focusing on data-driven storytelling to increase transparency and engagement while connecting new data sources and making them available to citizens and other stakeholders.

The City of Long Beach open data portal currently contains 20 datasets with over 930,000 records. It covers areas as diverse as the status of service requests submitted via the city’s 311 reporting system, animal shelter data, employee diversity demographic information and an inventory of trees planted across the city. As part of its commitment to openness and engagement the Long Beach team has created dashboards and visualizations for the majority of its datasets. This ensures that its data is inviting, engaging, and understandable to citizens.

“Over the past three years we’ve built a close partnership with Opendatasoft, helping us deliver compelling data experiences that build trust and transparency with our citizens and other stakeholders,” said Behrang Abadi, Digital Services Bureau Manager, City of Long Beach. “As a forward-thinking city, open data is essential to our strategy and our new agreement will extend how we use Opendatasoft, creating more visualizations and dashboards to inform and engage our community.”

Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast.

“The City of Long Beach has developed a strong reputation as a digital leader, focusing on how technology and data can benefit both citizens and its ongoing operations,” said Franck Carassus, Chief Sales Officer and co-founder of Opendatasoft. “Building on its success and best practice, Long Beach now has innovative plans to extend its use of open data, providing a perfect example of how data can transform city government and relationships with citizens.”

Opendatasoft is a global leader in the democratization of data. It provides an all-in-one SaaS platform that allows all teams to quickly create compelling digital experiences with their data and share them across their internal and external ecosystems. This allows customers to accelerate digital transformation and development, positively transform their operations and establish more transparent relationships with their stakeholders.

More than 350 organizations around the world have adopted Opendatasoft's platform. They include large companies such as Schneider Electric, UK Power Networks, SFR, Bloomberg Associates, Veolia and Saint Gobain, government and state departments, and major cities such as Paris, Vancouver, Long Beach, Bristol, Namur, and Eindhoven. 

City of Long Beach extends open data portal with Opendatasoft

The Town of Wausau, Wisconsin is a rural community in Central Wisconsin with a population of 2,229 (Census 2010). The geographic extent of the town is 37.7 square miles. The political boundary of the town coincides with one surveyed township of the U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS) and is subdivided into 36 surveyed sections, each with an area of approximately one square mile. The western boundary of the town is irregular due to annexations by the neighboring City of Wausau (population 39,106, Census 2010).

The Wausau Town Board wanted to survey the town’s residents on the need for specific services, the willingness of community members to pay for specific services, and other key issues important to the community especially during an economic downturn. The town board contracted with the Wisconsin Institute of Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) in October 2010 to formulate survey questions, compile results, incorporate the survey results within a GIS, and complete a final report. WIPPS is a unit within the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin Extension, and is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization tasked with providing meaningful public outreach to the people of Wisconsin. The town realized a significant savings by partnering with WIPPS to complete the project. My role in the project, as a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin, was as co-principal investigator.

The Town of Wausau has a population density of 59 people per square mile. (By comparison, the City of Wausau, which borders the Town of Wausau on the east, has a population density of 2,082 people per square mile.) Examination of the Town of Wausau’s 2006 comprehensive plan indicates that various agricultural pursuits comprise the leading land use in town at 48.5%. Woodlands and wetlands account for 25.8% and 13.4% respectively of the town’s total land area. There is little commercial development, with only 0.4% of the land area devoted to commercial pursuits. Residential development accounts for 6.8% of the land use in the community and is greatest in the western third of the town that borders on the City of Wausau. Population growth has been slow over the last 40 years with a population change of 141 persons (6.2%) between the 1970 and 2010 censuses.

One of the major problems in conducting social surveys in rural areas like the Town of Wausau is the need to protect the anonymity of the respondents. The problem is enhanced when the information is incorporated into a GIS and portrayed as mapped data. The potential exists in rural communities with low population densities for community members to identify responses provided by individual households. Several members of the community expressed concern about this issue and it was a major discussion point between the town board and WIPPS in the formulation and design of the survey and the GIS. The problem was how to present the survey results in a mapped context without compromising the anonymity of the respondents.

The problem was solved by using surveyed PLSS sections of the township as a map grid by which the results of survey questions were reported. The responses to the survey questions were broken down by surveyed section using the MYSTAT (version 12) statistical software package and mapped using Caliper’s Maptitude (version 5) GIS. Surveyed sections are regularly used as the mapping units for various geological, biological and agricultural studies, but not for mapping the results of data collected from social surveys. I did an extensive search for projects using PLSS sections to map social data in rural America and didn’t find any others.

Surveys were sent to all households in the town in October 2010. The residential database of the town was the source of the addresses. Slightly more than 900 surveys were mailed and 505 households returned completed surveys, representing a return rate of 56%. The survey required approximately 10 minutes to complete. All survey responses were anonymous. The first question on the survey asked the respondents to identify the section of the township in which they lived. A map was provided for reference purposes. In Wisconsin, land records for deeds and taxation are kept using the PLSS system, so residents would be very familiar with a PLSS section map. We were confident that they would be able to successfully identify their section. Several background questions were asked of respondents which pertained to the socioeconomic characteristics of the household, including median age, level of educational attainment and household income. Specific questions related to key issues facing the town used a modified Likert scale to determine the strength of agreement or disagreement for each of the questions. The results of the survey had a 95% confidence level with an error range of plus or minus 3%.

The Town of Wausau is an older, middle class community with a median population age between 45 and 54 years and a median income between $50,000 and $74,999. Most of the respondents were high school graduates with some college. The average resident had lived in the community between 11 and 20 years and 95% of the residents owned their own homes.

Several survey questions were designed to gather information about the public services which residents wanted, and their willingness to pay for these services. These public services included: fire service, ambulance service, snow plowing and sanding, road maintenance, garbage and recycling pickup, asphalt roads, town constable and police, town ordinance enforcement, update and upgrade of equipment, and building upgrades and remodeling. The level of the importance of each service to the town’s residents and their willingness to pay for each service were each ranked according to the number of responses received. A Spearman ranked correlation coefficient (non-parametric test for ranked statistical data) was calculated to test for the level of agreement between the residents’ expressed need for specific public services and their willingness to pay for them. The calculated Spearman correlation coefficient was r = 0.983 at a 95% confidence level. The results of the statistical analysis revealed an almost perfect correlation between the public services desired by the residents and their willingness to pay for them.

The survey addressed many other key issues facing the town. Questions pertaining to these issues used a modified Likert scale to gather responses. With each of the questions, residents could express their level of agreement or disagreement. The Likert scale facilitated the mapping of the response data. Proportional pie charts were used to summarize the results for each question by surveyed section. One key issue facing the town is its future development. The question, “Do you think the Town of Wausau needs more commercial development such as offices, retail stores, or service business?” was asked to explore the residents’ opinions on future commercial development. The majority of residents responded that the situation was fine as it was. Another key issue of concern to the town was the aesthetics of the community. The opinion on this issue was about equal for and against, as seen in the responses to the question, “Should the Town of Wausau create and enforce ordinances to ensure appearance standards for lawns, yards, and home property generally?”

Other issues addressed by the survey pertained to safety issues facing the community such as geographic restrictions on the use of firearms during deer hunting season, especially in more populated areas of the town.  shows that most residents felt that there should be no hunting allowed in residential areas, along subdivision borders, or along the city border. A minority of the respondents felt there should not be restrictions to hunting on private land. The presence of certain dog breeds within the town limits was also a concern of the community because of the potential for attacks on the residents. Most residents felt there should be no restrictions to different dog breeds in the community in response to the question, “Should certain dog breeds be banned from the town of Wausau?”

The use of surveyed sections of the PLSS as the mapping unit to present data collected from rural areas is a straightforward method to portray information in a geographic context. In the United States, access to digital geographic files for the PLSS is universal and easily incorporated into a GIS. The method allows for the preservation of the anonymity of respondents and also allows for the visual presentation of information to decision makers. This project also demonstrates that programs affiliated with state universities, like WIPPS, through their community outreach efforts can provide rural communities the expertise and resources needed to complete complex projects in a timely manner with a significant cost savings.

Integrating Social Survey Data and GIS to Determine the Needs of a Rural Community in a Geographic Context

Integrating GeoDesign into Smart Growth Planning

Smart Growth principles guide urban and regional planning toward sustainable, efficient, and community-oriented development. However, translating these principles into effective planning can be complex when multiple variables such as land use, transportation, environmental impact, and social needs must be balanced. GeoDesign provides a powerful answer by combining geographic information system (GIS) capabilities with iterative design thinking. This integration allows planners to model scenarios, test alternatives, and visually compare outcomes, making Smart Growth strategies more actionable and grounded in spatial reality.

By embedding GeoDesign into planning workflows, organizations can explore a range of development scenarios in a collaborative, data-rich environment. Planners and stakeholders gain the ability to evaluate trade-offs among competing priorities, such as preserving open space versus expanding housing capacity. This visual, interactive approach helps decision makers see the spatial implications of choices before they are finalized, improving the quality and acceptance of planning outcomes.

Collaborative Modeling for Better Decisions

One of the core strengths of GeoDesign lies in its support for collaborative modeling. Through visual, map-based tools, multidisciplinary teams can contribute input simultaneously and explore how different design strategies affect key goals. For example, overlaying projected growth areas with critical environmental zones helps identify conflict areas and refine solutions that balance development with conservation. These shared visualizations foster clearer communication among planners, community members, and elected officials — reducing misinterpretation and facilitating consensus.

GeoDesign supports real-time feedback and iterative refinement, enabling planners to adjust scenarios on the fly during workshops, charrettes, and stakeholder meetings. Participants can visualize the impact of modifications immediately, supporting a more transparent and inclusive process. This participatory approach enhances understanding, builds trust, and leads to planning decisions that better reflect community values.

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