By Ray Weaver,  CMO, Pointr

Ray Weaver

2023 was unquestionably the year that AI went from being the stuff of science fiction to reality in the public consciousness. It now impacts a huge range of everyday tasks, and of course the GIS industry is no exception.

In my opinion, the most clear industry trend we’ll see in 2024 is a greater synergy between mapping and AI. The GIS tools we have at our disposal today are more detailed and powerful than ever before, but the actual process of creating any sort of map has remained relatively static for many years now – it’s laborious, time-consuming, and prone to human error.

AI, however, presents us with an opportunity to produce maps at scale without requiring strict human oversight at every stage. By automating certain tasks while creating maps – such as identifying which features from the original source (such as a CAD file) need to be included and which can be excluded – and then applying these en masse, AI can save enormous amounts of time with little to no impact on the quality of the finished product. Furthermore, thanks to machine learning and human feedback, the more maps an AI-assisted tool is tasked with creating, the more accurate it will become over time, creating a virtuous cycle.

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By Boris Skopljak, VP Survey & Mapping and Building Construction Field Systems,  Trimble

Boris Skopljak

Continuous improvement of connected workflows will yield measurable benefits to users in the areas of efficiency, accuracy and communication.

Thanks to advances in technology, more data is being collected at higher accuracies in less time than ever before, resulting in opportunities to leverage rich geospatial information for new applications in diverse industries, providing detailed analysis to support better decision making.

Improvements in computing power, broadband speed and data collection technologies are driving the connection of physical and digital workflows like never before. This evolution is facilitating the seamless transfer of information between stakeholders and is more timely and complete, increasing productivity, amplifying sustainability efforts and opening doors to new business opportunities.

1. Continued Growth in Reality Capture

Reality capture solutions will continue to drive the democratization of geospatial data by improving quality and reducing time to collect information. Advanced 3D scanners and mobile mapping systems are significantly impacting the capabilities of the surveying and mapping industry, resulting in larger data volumes and greater detail and accuracy. Reality capture is fundamental to the idea of a “living digital twin,” enabling more informed decision making based on the complete understanding of the status of an asset.

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By Vasyl Cherlinka, Soil Scientist, EOS Data Analytics

From Field to Future: How GIS Will Reshape Agriculture in 2024

Vasyl Cherlinka

As we step in the year 2024, the GIS industry can expect evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, technological transformations. Over the years, we have consistently witnessed significant advancements in this area, yet the forthcoming changes, though incremental, can be considered to be pivotal.

The most exciting aspect of this evolution is the imminent integration of data silos in sophisticated systems leveraging the power of GIS in new and innovative ways. One particular industry that will be affected most in this regard is agriculture, which will get profound benefits from transforming data into actionable insights that drive efficiency, sustainability, and productivity.

Emergence of Global Information System

The GIS industry is expecting a leap forward with the introduction of another GIS, a Global Information System. Unlike its predecessors, this new kind of system will unite diverse data types, most of which are inherently tied to geographical coordinates.

Imagine synthesizing data from satellite imagery, sensor networks, weather patterns, and even market trends – all geo-tagged for precise analysis. This comprehensive approach will enable organizations all over the world to make more informed decisions related to disaster management, agriculture, forest preservation and so much more.

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By Eduardo Coloma, CEO, Maptek

Eduardo Coloma

Macroeconomic trends

• Critical minerals: Miners have been quick to take advantage of the worldwide shift to clean energy, a trend that is certain to continue in the foreseeable future. Two main drivers are the importance of advancing technologies for battery storage, electric vehicles, and solar and wind power generation. Critical minerals are also key for telecommunications and security.
• Decarbonisation: Despite an ongoing commitment to lower carbon emissions, the industry has seen increased demand for coal due to political instability globally. Coal will still be required for global energy needs for some time, with usage expected to decrease gradually and influence business decisions over many years. It is wise for companies to set and share clear goals for lowering their direct emissions and work with others to reduce emissions across the value chain. Developments include adding renewable energy technology and starting projects to test new ore processing methods that produce less carbon.
• Incentivise research and development: New products, services and business processes that improve productivity and competitiveness rely on a strong foundation of research and development (R&D). Australia’s economy will continue to succeed by focusing on high-tech, transferable skills across global markets. When mining investment increases during boom times, so does industry spending on R&D, as evidenced by the 2011-12 peak in Australia, when mining contributed $4.1 billion to R&D, a quarter of the country’s total. Ten years later, mining’s contribution to R&D was $0.9 billion, with the share of added value falling from 4.1% to 0.3%. Incentivising R&D is crucial to restoring mining as a major contributor to Australia’s economy.

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By Jodie Gosselin, GISP, is the GIS director at Dawood Engineering (Dawood),

Jodie Gosselin

As I look forward to 2024, my industry predictions revolve around the immediate changes I see occurring in AEC firms like Dawood Engineering. Changes that are right in front of me and that I’m working with my team to solve.

In a recent LinkedIn post, I touted how pleasantly surprised I was with ArcGIS Pro’s functionality and capabilities after needing to get into the weeds and use it for data analysis, map production, web sharing, and data management. Having been a die-hard ArcMap user my entire career, I was stubborn in my resistance to change. What I learned from publicly announcing my new-found admiration for ArcGIS Pro is that there are a lot of “closed-door” ArcGIS Pro fans out there.

Although the migration to ArcGIS Pro has been steadily occurring in our community, I predict 2024 to be the year a culture shift occurs and ArcGIS Pro becomes the primary software of all AEC Esri users, and the beginning of ArcMap being phased out by GIS users. A lot of advancements have been made to Pro since it was originally released years ago and the need to toggle between ArcMap and ArcPro is now unnecessary. With the prevalence of ArcGIS web applications and data sharing workflows, ArcGIS Pro has hooked many users with its level of integration into these tasks. More users will start to see and appreciate the other advances that have been made to Pro in other areas like linear referencing, map layouts, and data editing.

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By Marc Prioleau is the executive director of Overture Maps Foundation,

Marc Prioleau

Charting the Path Forward: Open Map Data’s Role in Enriching Mapping Experiences

In the last 2 years, I have talked to over 250 companies and organizations that are involved in mapping, location services, and map data building. There is amazingly consistent consensus across the industry:  we, as a group, need to move to open map data, especially for the base layers that must support the ever-growing metadata that drives richer map experiences.

The demand for those richer experiences seems insatiable, which means that application developers need new, more accurate, more timely data. Trying to support all that data on multiple versions of basemaps is becoming  unsustainable.

My prediction is that, in 2024, developers will increasingly opt for open map data to build the foundation for their applications.

Today, map data underpins applications for everything from search, to routing, to logistics, to autonomous driving. As the metaverse builds, and the digital and physical worlds merge, map services will underpin augmented reality and its many expected applications from search to games to software for enterprises.

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Revolutionizing the World with LiDAR: 2024’s Industry Game-Changer

As we step into 2024, the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is poised to transcend its automotive roots, marking a paradigm shift in its application spectrum. This year is set to witness LiDAR’s widespread adoption in sectors beyond automotive, particularly in major transportation hubs like airports and in smart city applications such as parking management and smart highways. This article delves into the anticipated technological innovations, market trends, and the integration of artificial intelligence with LiDAR technology, outlining how these elements will collectively redefine industry standards.

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By Dr. Konrad Wenzel, Director Director of the Esri R&D Center, ESRI Stuttgart

Dr. Konrad Wenzel

1 – AI for Data Understanding and Co-piloting Workflows: AI will continue to play an increasingly important role in the geospatial industry. AI algorithms can analyze large volumes of geospatial data, extract valuable insights, and automate repetitive tasks. This will lead to more efficient and accurate decision-making processes.

2 – Digital Twins and Access to GIS: Digital twins, which are virtual replicas of real-world objects or processes, are becoming a commoditized access to GIS for a larger user community. Digital twins provide a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing geospatial data in a user-friendly manner. This democratization of GIS technology will enable more people to leverage spatial data for various applications.

3 – Continuous Mapping Workflows with Autonomous Sensors and AI: Autonomous sensors and AI technologies are transforming mapping workflows. Drones, satellites, and other autonomous platforms equipped with sensors can collect data in real-time, while AI algorithms process and analyze this data to generate up-to-date and accurate maps. This continuous mapping workflow will enable organizations to monitor changes in the environment, infrastructure, and urban areas more effectively.

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By Joe Wolfel, Terradepth, CEO

Joe Wolfel

2023 Will be the Year We Gain Greater Understanding of Our Oceans

By necessity, 2023 will see a dramatic increase in the collection and analysis of geospatial data related to our oceans. Whether the goal is better understanding of climate change mechanisms or the responsible development of offshore renewable energy, improved knowledge of the complex marine ecosystem is critical.

Ocean studies have been traditionally stymied by lack of quality marine data – primarily due to the inherent difficulties in subsurface collection operations – and the inability to easily share and analyze the limited ocean data that does exist. Fortunately, 2022 provided a turning point to overcome both these obstacles – and this momentum will only accelerate in 2023.

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