By Ashley Hitt, GISP, URISA President 2022-2023

The geospatial community has always been well connected and supportive of one another and the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 brought drastic shifts to how we work, learn, and connect professionally. As in-person events have been coming back over the past couple years, the need for hybrid collaborations in many facets of our professional lives continues.

While some organizations and/or positions were already fully remote pre-pandemic, there are even more remote/work-from-home opportunities and hybrid arrangements than ever before for geospatial roles. We’ve learned how to work together with our teams to accomplish our goals and objectives, continuing to deliver geospatial excellence in our work while not working from the same office. Our geospatial infrastructure, hardware, and software integrations have significantly advanced out of the need the pandemic presented, and while some organizations have “gone back to the office” (although some never went home during the pandemic!), many discovered a variety of approaches and solutions that offered their geospatial staff flexibility while still meeting and exceeding work expectations.

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By Alistair Maclenan, Owner, Quarry One Eleven

Alistair Maclenan

I don’t make or read predictions.

Admittedly, this could be seen as an ungraceful response to the kind request from GISCafe.com to share my 2023 industry predictions but bear with me and let me explain my thinking.

I’m not worried that my future-gazing efforts will result in people hurling my words back at me when those predictions inevitably prove to be wrong. I provide enough ammunition on an almost daily basis for those warming up their pitching arms!

I adhere to my first sentence because predicting the future is an inherently un-scientific thing to do.

All ‘opinion’ predictions, however educated, are a step away from someone peering into a crystal ball and telling you that a tall, handsome stranger will unquestionably come swaggering into view. Soon.

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By Dan O’Toole, founder and CEO, Dronedek

Dan O’Toole

One thing I know

As this new autonomous delivery paradigm is set to launch things are going to significantly change.  When I say significantly, I mean in a good way.

“We are a spoiled consumer” and we want things delivered to us better, faster, cheaper, and fresher.  Getting the most for the least is what it’s all about.  Paying less, not having to leave, having the quality and freshness at its height and all, right now, is where we want to be.

In the show Star Trek, “beam me aboard” delivered the person or item immediately from great distances to the Starship Enterprise.  While we are not quite there just yet, in the time it may take to contemplate a trip to your local restaurant or retailer, you could very well have your desired delectable or product delivered, via today’s new autonomous last mile.

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By Gareth Gibson, Marketing Director, Mapping & GIS Solutions,  Trimble

Gareth Gibson

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Systems Will Shape Future of GIS and Asset Management Industries

The GIS industry is experiencing a period of rapid change and growth, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) is playing a crucial role in driving this development. By enabling GIS professionals to process and analyze data quickly and accurately, these technologies are helping to unlock the full potential of GIS and drive innovation and progress in the field.

Powerful AI/ML Hits Mainstream

When predicting trends in the GIS (geographic information system) industry in 2023, consider the major breakthroughs the IT industry experienced in 2022. Of particular interest are the AI/ML systems that burst into our collective consciousness, with several headline-grabbing products making waves.

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By Bob Sinclair, CEO, Sinclair Industries

Bob Sinclair

Here is my 2023 prediction piece and headshot – appreciate the consideration  –

“There’s a lot of talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and this needs to evolve much like maps have evolved over the years. 2023 will be the year of “Geo Consciousness”. To truly realize and understand the potential of GIS we must first recognize that a map is so much more than a map. “Geo Consciousness” is the next frontier in big data, analytics, maps, and AI. This combination of technologies will provide an opportunity to finally have maps that understand they are actually a map. For example, the team at Bob Sinclair Industries are people, that have names, that live in different locations (“our homes”).

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By Jodie Gosselin, GISP, Geospatial Technologies Director, Dawood Engineering

Jodie M. Gosselin, GISP

Geospatial technologies are prevalent in our personal lives. With the advancements of the smart phone, we have an underlying expectation that information is presented to us in a spatial context. Which businesses are near me? What travel delays will I encounter? When will the snowplow come to my street? Where is my teenager driver?

In 2023, I predict that this same level of geospatial expectation becomes fundamentally engrained in our professional lives. Where are the assets that need to be inspected? What travel restrictions will my construction vehicle encounter? Where are existing utilities in relation to proposed construction? When was infrastructure along this route replaced?

The business world has already seen this trend begin. My experiences lead me to believe that the spatial delivery of information will become even more widespread—particularly among non-technical users.

For example, Dawood developed a web-based GIS solution for a major utility company’s land management team. These non-technical professionals—who had been using a spreadsheet-based workflow successfully for years to manage their easement acquisition process— had the foresight to realize that geo-enabling their workflow would save time and money.

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