Article Source: ASTERRA

Consumer behavior and market trends will evolve in 2024 as the world becomes less tolerant of preventable infrastructure catastrophes and wasted resources related to infrastructure. ASTERRA, Earth observation pioneers, provide infrastructure intelligence using satellites, artificial intelligence (AI), and their patented algorithm, have seen an upward trend in inquiries and a record number of new, substantial contracts across the globe. These consumer trends are pro-active and are not reacting to a disaster related to catastrophic failure of infrastructure. Rather, they are a part of mindful infrastructure planning and maintenance for utilities and other infrastructure organizations.

Consumer trends in 2024 will be to seek out smart methods for infrastructure monitoring and water leak detection such as EarthWorks, Recover, and MasterPlan, all by ASTERRA. ASTERRA provides a number of industries with intelligence and insights from beneath the surface of their largest installations. Without breaking ground, ASTERRA uses patented algorithms and artificial intelligence to detect leaks, assess pipes, and locate moisture near major infrastructure installations. Some of the industry markets trending up in the use of ASTERRA solutions include monitoring water reservoirs, dams, levees, roadways, rail, and mines. All these include vast areas, which are efficiently monitored by the SAR radar of satellites and the solutions which locate water beneath the surface of the earth to determine infiltration and weakness of infrastructure.
Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – ASTERRA

By Chris Andrews, COO & Head of Product, Rendered.ai

Chris Andrews,

In 2024, we’re likely to see an intensification of some of the themes that carried us through 2023. There have been some surprises, such as the rapid rise of near-ubiquitous Generative AI and increasing conflict in the Middle East, but those could also be seen as intensification of events and trends that were already started.  Geospatial technology will continue to be a bright spot in helping us to solve problems and mitigate future risk, but it’s a tool that also needs to accompany policy change and action that maximize its utility.

Climate and Security continue to concern us

Climate change is here and there’s evidence that the rate of global heating is accelerating, though we won’t know if this is really the case until enough data can be gathered over time to achieve statistical veracity.  The impacts of climate change are one contributing factor of several that are driving up global conflict and unintended population migration. Geospatial technology is going to be increasingly cemented in the toolsets of agencies and organizations who are on all sides of climate and security management and action. With power for good, such as the ability to use geospatial tech to help plan for and recover from disasters, and with power for ill, such as the news that (surely spatially aware) autonomous drones are starting to be used in conflict zones, the geospatial community needs to come together to ensure that our tech is being used to provide the greatest ethical and scientific value possible.

Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Rendered

By Avi Aflalo, CEO and Co-Founder, Simplex3D

Avi Aflalo

Leveraging the Power (and Popularity) of 3D GIS Tools

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are undergoing a transformative evolution, transcending their traditional boundaries to cater to diverse industries. This evolution encompasses key trends reshaping GIS applications across various sectors. Here are the main ones I expect to impact our work:

3D GIS – Where professionals start playing

As consumers, we have already come to understand and experience the sheer ‘magic’ of 3D technology that gives us the perception of depth similar to a real-world object. Commonly used in movies, video games, graphics, and virtual reality (VR), 3D is already becoming a standard in consumer-driven applications.

The next phase, however, is expanding the use of 3D technology into professional applications, and integrating it even further, into integrated data. The integration between 3D and GIS is reshaping spatial understanding. This year, we can expect to see many of these applications revolutionizing urban planning, transportation, real estate, and homeland security industries.

Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Simplex3D

By Keven Gambold , Co-founder and CEO, Unmanned Experts 

Keven Gambold

Let me start with a reality that impacts us far more than it should: 2024 is an Election Year. In the current hyperpolarization of U.S. politics, this mere fact should weigh significantly in any U.S. forecasts for the coming 12 months, and not positively so, I am afraid. With that said, here is an attempt to at least find the cloud linings, be they silver or not:

The small UAS market has been buoyed by Federal-level efforts to rebuild the Military-Industrial manufacturing base, with exciting programs such as the DoD’s Replicator and DARPA’s REMA. Although details are sparse to date, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some contracts awarded by the end of the year, and a significant capability available in 2025. However, if only the Prime’s win, and these go the ‘exclusive’ (read ‘rare and expensive’) route of the Blue UAS program, then how useful this might be is up for debate. The rapid growth of ‘last-mile’ delivery live operations, such as Wing and Drone-Up, is extremely inspiring, however, a lack of any true ‘Part 108-type’ BVLOS rule is a major sticking point for uptake and scaling for these services.
Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Unmanned Experts

By Mark Zeman, Marketing Manager,  Surdex Corporation

Mark Zeman

Surdex has seen a moderate yet notable shift in market demand that indicates a trend in future buying of geospatial products. It is clear that the overall drive for efficiency in data collection and processing is driving more refined products.

• Growth in Elevation-Derived Hydrography (EDH). Fueled by the USGS 3D National Hydrography Program (3DHP), EDH has seen a significant increase in volume as part of the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC4). The implementation of 3DHP marks the start of a new era of water data – the first systematic remapping of the nation’s hydrography.  We anticipate significant demand and growth in production through 2024 and beyond.
• Increase in image resolution. The history of aerial photography has been one of progressive demand for increased resolution. Over the past decade, the base product, in general, has been 12” GSD for rural areas and 6” GSD for urban areas, and 3” GSD was generally only considered for small important areas of interest such as airports. As competition has driven the industry to develop increasingly more cost-efficient acquisition processes, Surdex has seen a gradual yet progressive interest, a shift from 12” to 6” GSD for more rural areas and from 6” to 3” GSD for urban areas, particularly in larger cities. We envision this trend will continue and become the new standard.

Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Surdex Corp

By John L. Kelley, President and Co-founder, GeoSapient, Inc.

John L. Kelley

Top GeoSapient, Inc. 2024 Predictions for GISCafé

GeoSapient looks beyond the growing space- and aerial-borne assets into the deeper aspects of geocomputing data, workflows, and use cases.

Theme: Responsible GHG Emissions for GIS

1. The New National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Strategy Provides Unique Opportunities for Satellite Remote Sensing Systems

Before COP28, the administration announced a new GHG emissions strategy this past November.

The strategy commits the US to ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets as part of the Nation’s agenda to tackle the climate crisis. Enhancing GHG measurement and monitoring capabilities is foundational to achieving these ambitious goals. Doing so will improve the Nation’s ability to track progress toward GHG emissions targets and assess the effectiveness of climate policies and actions. Numerous GHG measurement, monitoring, and data capabilities exist but are spread across various federal and non-federal entities. The Nation can enhance the coordination and integration of these capabilities, make more efficient use of resources, and leverage recent scientific and technological advances to provide more comprehensive, granular, and timely data to support climate action.
Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – GeoSapient

By  Jeffrey Martin, CEO, Mosaic

Jeffrey Martin

Throughout 2023, we have had the opportunity to speak with our (prospective) customers, partners, and even competitors, and it has given us highly valuable insights into what the industry needs and where trends are going. Looking at the industry as a whole, we predict a surge in the demand for clearer, more detailed imagery. This demand drives the development of innovative tools that enable efficient mapping in various environments, from bustling city streets to remote landscapes. The integration of diverse technologies, especially artificial intelligence, is expected to streamline the mapping process significantly. AI’s ability to swiftly process vast amounts of data is not just a boon for efficiency but also enhances the accuracy and usability of the mapping outputs.

Mobile scanning technologies are emerging as key players, particularly in urban settings where traditional mapping approaches struggle. These technologies are becoming more agile and cost-effective, allowing for rapid data collection that is both accurate and scalable. This evolution is crucial for sectors such as Digital Twinning, Smart Cities, and AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction), where up-to-date and detailed environmental data are invaluable.

Furthermore, the industry is moving towards more user-friendly platforms, enabling a broader range of applications and users to engage with mobile mapping technologies. From entertainment industries like TV/film production and video games to more technical fields such as surveying, BIM, and infrastructure inspection, the accessibility of high-quality mapping data is transforming workflows and creative processes.

Read the rest of GISCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Mosaic

By Lisa Stannis, Director of Customer Development at Sharper Shape

Lisa Stannis

2024 and beyond

How accelerating trends in transmission and distribution (T&D) make the case for digital adoption

T&D utilities face a simple proposition: do more, with less, in a harsher operating environment.

Utilities sit at the heart of the decarbonization agenda. They are required to facilitate greater integration of distributed resources, new generation types, and greater electrification in transport, heating, and industrial processes. They must do all this while managing end-of-life infrastructure in a financial climate of tight margins, and an operating environment containing more hazards, threats, and risks than ever before.

Read the rest of Industry Predictions 2024 – SharperShape