The GIS Lens 
Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – Mach9January 20th, 2025 by Sanjay Gangal
By Max Leung, founding Solutions Engineer at Mach9  Max Leung Accelerating infrastructure decision-making with AI feature extraction From infrastructure modernization to climate resilience, geospatial insights are powering how infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained globally. As 2025 begins, geospatial data stands at the forefront of critical decision-making, empowering organizations to solve complex infrastructure and safety challenges. Here are the key trends shaping the geospatial industry and its broader implications.
Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – Mach9 GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – NearmapJanuary 15th, 2025 by Sanjay Gangal
By Don Weigel, General Manager of Government and Commercial, Nearmap  Don Weigel Technological Innovations Technology continues to rapidly evolve, and 2025 will be no different. Three specific use cases that I think will see technological innovation this year are:
Many different industries are leveraging location intelligence and embedding those solutions within systems to allow for deeper insights and learnings, empowering industries to respond to their surroundings in a more meaningful way. One of those ways is when planning and designing future-ready cities. Location intelligence data can help users better visualize what a city should look like—ensuring special care is made to consider growth patterns, traffic flow and accuracy. Generative AI combined with location intelligence for city planning and real estate development will lead to more alternatives that drive better decisions and ultimately better environments for citizens and developers alike.
Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – Nearmap GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – NoteworthyJanuary 8th, 2025 by Sanjay Gangal
By Juliet Su, Product Development Manager, Noteworty  Juliet Su GIS Data in 2025: The Foundation for Utility Distribution Grid Modernization and ResilienceAs utilities embrace the challenges of the ongoing energy transition, geospatial data collection and analytics are emerging as foundational elements for modernizing grid operations and enhancing resilience. To meet the ever-increasing need for accurate, high-quality, and up-to-date geospatial information, utilities are shifting away from legacy boots-on-the-ground inspection methods in favor of more innovative solutions, such as drones, asset-mounted hardware, vehicle-mounted inspection systems, and other smart grid monitoring technologies. Utilities that effectively integrate and scale these technologies will be better positioned to navigate the demands of widespread electrification, ensuring a smarter, more resilient grid for the future. The Scope of the Challenge The scale of distribution infrastructure is immense, presenting challenges distinct from those of its generation and transmission counterparts. In the United States alone, estimates from groups such as EEI and the American Galvanizers Association suggest there are between 140 and 180 million utility poles. Each pole, often equipped with transformers, insulators, switches, and other hardware, contributes to billions of distinct assets utilities must manage. Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – Noteworthy GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – vHiveDecember 31st, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
By Yariv Geller, Co-Founder and CEO of vHive  Yariv Geller 1. Technological Innovations: What major technological advancements or innovations do you foresee occurring in your industry in 2025, and how do you plan to adapt or lead in these areas?In 2025, the telecom industry is at a crossroads of innovation and opportunity, driven by the need for efficiency, cost reduction, and smarter operations. Technological advancements are making existing workflows more efficient, accurate, scalable, and cost-effective, ensuring measurable results – today, while setting the stage for future workflow improvement as part of a broader digital transformation agenda. The focus in 2025, as we see it, will be on using technology not only as an acceleration vehicle, but also as an ecosystem connector, bridging gaps across the different players and creating shared value for TowerCos, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), construction contractors and maintenance providers. Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2025 – vHive Geospatial Predictions for 2025 – KOREMDecember 18th, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
By Jonathan Houde, CTO at Korem  The geospatial industry, similar to the broader technology sector in general, has experienced another remarkable year of innovation. Geospatial solutions are continuously evolving to address complex challenges and unlock new opportunities for businesses. Many of 2024’s predictions have started to materialize, with advancements spanning GeoAI, cloud data warehousing, expanded data availability, and more. While it’s challenging to narrow down such a wide range of innovation, this article will focus on 5 key trends shaping the future of location intelligence in 2025. Generative AI Expanding into Geospatial Applications Generative AI (GenAI) has continued to generate buzz, evolving from hype to tangible use cases on geospatial applications. From generating code to analyzing and summarizing data, GenAI’s outcome represents a significant productivity boost. Bringing Precision to the Field: How Trimble’s MX60 is Transforming Asset Data Capture and GIS IntegrationNovember 27th, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
In a cozy, tucked-away corner at the bustling Trimble Dimensions Conference in Las Vegas, I sat down with Karl Bradshaw and Gareth Gibson, both of whom play pivotal roles in shaping the trajectory of Trimble’s geospatial and reality capture technologies. Bradshaw, the Market Manager for Mobile Mapping, and Gibson, the Marketing Director for Mapping & GIS Solutions, came armed with an infectious enthusiasm and an array of details about Trimble’s latest innovation: the Trimble MX60. It was clear from our conversation that for them, the MX60 wasn’t just another product—it was a leap forward in the way we understand and interact with the physical world around us.  The Trimble MX60 offers improved positioning and optics, making it ideal for transportation infrastructure and road analysis and comprehensive asset management for utilities. Bradshaw wasted no time in setting the stage. “Reality capture has evolved tremendously within Trimble,” he began. “We’re moving beyond static methods and into a realm where the devices do much of the heavy lifting. With the MX60, we’ve created a platform that collects mass data and makes it available for a range of practical applications.” He elaborated on how the MX60’s mobile mapping capabilities allow it to capture high-definition images and detailed 3D point clouds with stunning accuracy. The camera system, he emphasized, was a key development for utility companies, municipalities, and other sectors dependent on reliable asset data. Bentley Systems Enhances Carbon Analysis Capabilities to Tackle Infrastructure’s Carbon FootprintNovember 13th, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
 Chris Bradshaw Vancouver, B.C.— In a decisive step towards making infrastructure more sustainable, Bentley Systems announced the launch of its new Carbon Analysis capabilities at the Year in Infrastructure Conference. The enhancements, available in the iTwin Experience platform, are aimed at simplifying carbon impact assessments, enabling engineers to systematically integrate carbon analysis into their design processes. The new features promise to streamline the traditionally complex task of carbon reporting by automatically aggregating data, integrating carbon metrics, and offering 3D visualizations of carbon impacts. Chris Bradshaw, Bentley’s Chief Sustainability Officer, unveiled the Carbon Analysis capabilities at the conference, underscoring their role in addressing a critical aspect of global emissions—embodied carbon. “Given that up to 80% of today’s greenhouse gas emissions are linked to infrastructure, it’s essential that we find ways to significantly reduce the carbon impact of new construction projects and renovations,” said Bradshaw during an interview. “Our new capabilities help engineers visualize carbon data and make informed decisions early in the design process.” Tackling Embodied CarbonEmbodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gases emitted during the construction of an asset, accounting for everything from material extraction to manufacturing. These emissions represent a significant portion of infrastructure’s environmental impact—often well before an asset is even put into operation. As Savina Carluccio, executive director of the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, highlighted, “By 2050, embodied carbon from new infrastructure could account for nearly half of the world’s carbon footprint.” Bentley’s Carbon Analysis capabilities provide a “cradle-to-gate” assessment of embodied carbon, offering a more comprehensive understanding of an infrastructure project’s environmental cost. The system simplifies the integration of carbon data by linking Bentley’s iTwin platform with third-party carbon assessment tools, such as EC3 and One Click LCA. This approach allows users to dynamically visualize carbon impact changes across different design iterations, facilitating real-time decision-making. Esri and Autodesk Push the Boundaries of AECO Design with Groundbreaking Integration of ArcGIS Data into Autodesk FormaNovember 1st, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
In a significant stride toward unifying the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) sector, Esri and Autodesk have taken their collaboration to new heights by integrating Esri’s ArcGIS geospatial data directly into Autodesk Forma. The integration, announced at the 2024 Autodesk University in San Diego, brings transformative enhancements to the design and planning phases of AECO projects, arming professionals with precise geographic data to inform critical early decisions. This groundbreaking partnership promises to reshape the way buildings and infrastructure are conceived and constructed. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment when AECO professionals are increasingly relying on digital tools to navigate the complexities of modern urban design. Traditionally, planners, architects, and engineers have had to juggle multiple platforms, often resulting in disjointed workflows and data loss between tools. This new integration of Esri’s comprehensive spatial data into Autodesk Forma addresses those inefficiencies head-on, creating a seamless experience that allows AECO professionals to access real-time geographic data from the outset of any project. “Forma represents a new foundation for Autodesk in the 2020s, potentially akin to the impact AutoCAD had in the 1990s,” said Marc Goldman, AEC Industry Director at Esri, during our conversation at Autodesk University. He noted that incorporating ArcGIS data in Forma bridges critical gaps in the planning process. “The partnership between Esri and Autodesk is transformative. It combines the power of GIS and BIM in a way that allows teams to start projects with comprehensive geographic context—something that has been sorely lacking in the past,” Goldman emphasized. Bentley Systems Announces Groundbreaking Innovations and Strategic Acquisitions at the Year in Infrastructure Conference in VancouverOctober 15th, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
VANCOUVER, B.C. — At Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure Conference this week, the global infrastructure software leader unveiled a series of innovative product updates, key acquisitions, and strategic partnerships that promise to redefine infrastructure design, construction, and operations. With a clear focus on openness, AI-powered digital twins, and cross-platform collaboration, the conference set the stage for Bentley’s vision of a more connected and efficient infrastructure future.
Embracing Openness and Digital Twins: The Future of InfrastructureJulien Moutte, chief technology officer at Bentley Systems, emphasized Bentley’s deep commitment to openness, calling it the “backbone of our digital twin strategy.” As infrastructure projects become more complex, the need for seamless data integration across tools and systems becomes paramount. Bentley’s iTwin platform was developed to address this challenge, ensuring that data is created, managed, and consumed in a centralized environment without the fragmentation that plagues traditional project workflows. Moutte explained that the iTwin platform serves as more than just a data hub. “It offers a way for engineers, contractors, and asset managers to collaborate effectively, with data that remains accessible and relevant throughout the entire lifecycle of an infrastructure asset.” This open approach ensures that users can integrate third-party tools, leverage domain-specific expertise, and use data in ways that fit their evolving needs. Moutte also stressed the importance of longevity in data management. “Your data is your data,” he said, underscoring Bentley’s commitment to data autonomy. “By promoting open standards, open-source tools, and open APIs, we are making sure that data remains interoperable and usable for decades.” This openness ensures that Bentley’s solutions can integrate seamlessly with other systems, future-proofing infrastructure projects and reducing operational risks. CopterPIX: Pioneering Advanced Drone Technology for Global ApplicationsSeptember 16th, 2024 by Sanjay Gangal
At the recent Commercial UAV Conference in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to sit down with Igal Yarmolinsky, VP of Sales at CopterPIX, an Israeli-based drone manufacturer that’s making waves in the industry. Since its founding in 2014, CopterPIX has grown from a small company into a leading provider of high-performance drones designed for both military and civilian applications. The company’s rise to prominence was marked by its exclusive contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, a deal that positioned CopterPIX as a serious player in the drone market. “We started manufacturing our own drones in 2018, and since then, we’ve secured several major tenders, including one where we beat industry giants like IAI, Elbit Systems and Rafael,” Yarmolinsky explained. As a result, CopterPIX is now the exclusive supplier of drones under 25 kilograms for the Ministry of Defense through 2027.  CopterPIX’s Hybrid Parallel Drone One of the key factors that differentiates CopterPIX from competitors is its 360-degree turnkey solution. This approach allows the company to handle all aspects of drone production in-house, from design to manufacturing, ensuring rapid customization based on customer needs. “We don’t outsource anything. Every component and system is built and integrated by our team, which allows us to offer drones that can operate in challenging conditions, such as GPS-denied environments, spoofing attempts or areas without LTE coverage,” Yarmolinsky said. At the conference, CopterPIX unveiled its latest innovation – the Rhino hybrid parallel drone. Unlike most hybrid drones that rely primarily on electric motors, this new model combines two combustion engines with four electric motors, enabling it to lift heavier payloads over longer distances. “Right now, we can lift 20 kilograms for apx. 50Km, but by mid-2025, we’ll be able to carry up to 100 kilograms for a distance of 100 kilometers & 2 hours endurance,” Yarmolinsky noted. This advancement is expected to have far-reaching implications, particularly for industries such as oil and gas, where long-range inspections and supply deliveries are crucial to current operations. Read the rest of CopterPIX: Pioneering Advanced Drone Technology for Global Applications |
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