Exploring the Geospatial Revolution: The Boom of Location-Based Technology

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The geospatial sector is booming as an ever-increasing number of organizations focus on harnessing the power of geospatial data.

This rapidly expanding industry plays an integral role in today’s data-driven world, where businesses and governments alike are using location-based data to drive progress and solve problems. From mapping and surveying to satellite imagery and remote sensing, the geospatial industry is a hub of innovation, set to become even more influential in the years ahead.

GEOSPATIAL COMPANIES - DATE INCORPORATED

Between 2000 and 2010, 57 geospatial organizations were established. This figure soared to 197 from 2010 to 2020. Looking forward to 2024, the number of geospatial organizations founded is set to skyrocket.

The continued expansion of the geospatial sector isn’t just good news for the space industry, but for the world. By providing new ways to collect and analyze data, geospatial tools are helping to address environmental issues and drive efficiency in a wide range of industries. As these innovative technologies continue to evolve, the geospatial sector is set to play a vital role in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

Some of the many benefits of geospatial data include:

  • Improved decision-making: Geospatial data can provide valuable insights to help inform decisions in a variety of industries, such as urban planning, emergency management, agriculture, and logistics.
  • Increased efficiency: By using geospatial technologies, organizations can optimize their operations, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.
  • Better resource management: Geospatial data can help organizations manage their resources more effectively, whether it’s monitoring water levels, tracking wildlife populations, or mapping natural resource reserves.
  • Enhanced public safety: Geospatial technologies can be used to identify areas prone to natural disasters, assess risk, and develop emergency response plans.
  • Improved environmental management: Geospatial data can aid in environmental monitoring, mapping, and analysis, providing critical information for conservation efforts and sustainable development.

 

The Use of Geospatial Data in Agritech

AgritechThe growth of the geospatial sector also comes hand in hand with that of agritech. Agritech refers to the application of technology to agricultural processes such as planting, harvesting, and crop modification. It can involve using data, AI and robots, among other agritech technologies, to address pressing issues in the agricultural industry.

Agritech enhances every step of the farming and growing process, massively increasing agricultural yield, productivity and efficiency. In particular, satellite data has transformed agriculture by enabling farmers to optimize crop yields, make informed decisions on when and what to plant, and practice sustainable farming. It’s also used for efficient water management, crop fertilization, animal tracking, and controlling autonomous farm equipment. Investment in agritech boomed through the pandemic, exceeding $10 billion in 2021. Watch this space – this exciting sector is set to skyrocket.

 

The Use of Geospatial Data in the Russia-Ukraine War

The conflict in Ukraine has underscored the crucial role of space technologies and geospatial data, as well as the importance of international cooperation and technological development in this rapidly evolving field.

Ukrainian Flag

Satellite images have provided key intelligence in the conflict. One prominent example occurred when a group of researchers in California were analyzing data from Google Maps. They noticed what appeared to be a traffic jam near Belgorod, a Russian town near the Ukrainian border, at 3:15am local time. Soon after, they realized that it was a unit of Russian armored vehicles mobilizing toward the Ukrainian border. This sighting happened hours before Putin announced a “special military operation” against Ukraine.

“I think we were the first people to see the invasion,” Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, an expert in open source intelligence, told Motherboard. “And we saw it in a traffic app.”

The importance of space technologies in cases like this goes beyond early detection. Earth Observation (EO) data, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, and satellite communications are all crucial tools that can save countless lives. They’re used to monitor troop movements, identify targets, and track the flow of resources across conflict zones. Additionally, the availability of broadband services through satellite communications allows for real-time communication and coordination across vast distances.

 

Geospatial Industry Map

Let’s take a deeper dive into the geospatial landscape. We’ve used our data to map the industry, giving you an insight into its incredible opportunities and the skills you need to take you there.

To date, this is a map of the global geospatial industry, highlighting which countries are joining the GEOINT revolution.

Geospatial Industry Map

As you can see, this is a global movement. Countries all across the world are fuelling the geospatial boom, building an industry that will power a better tomorrow.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the top three locations by geospatial job opportunities.

 

Fastest Growing Areas by Geospatial Job Opportunities

Fastest growing areas by geospatial job opportunitiesNew York, Washington DC and Los Angeles came out on top with the most geospatial job opportunities.

At the epicentre of progress, these states have solidified themselves as leading geospatial innovators. It seems that if you’re wondering how to get into geospatial, these locations could be your way in.

 

A Career in Geospatial Data

As the geospatial sector continues to grow, it’s creating new career paths for people with a wide range of skills. In addition to traditional careers in surveying and cartography, there is now a demand for professionals with expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and data analytics. These careers offer opportunities for people with backgrounds in fields such as computer science, engineering, and environmental science to apply their skills to real-world problems.

For those seeking to transition into the geospatial industry – you will need to build specific skills to be ahead of the curve.

Let’s take a look at the five fastest growing skills in the geospatial industry.

 

Top 5 Fastest Growing Geospatial Skills

Fastest growing geospatial skillsThese invaluable skillsets are fuelling an ever-growing list of industries, allowing skilled professionals to use their expertise for the good of humanity.

Although supply tends to outweigh demand when it comes to geospatial professionals, the continued growth of the sector is set to level these scales.

As the world becomes increasingly connected, the need for geospatial data and analysis is going to increase, creating a range of new job opportunities. The growth of the geospatial industry is expected to create a multiplier effect, generating more jobs in related fields such as software development, data analytics, and project management.

The geospatial industry is also expected to benefit from the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is generating vast amounts of location-based data that can be used to create new services and products. Geospatial professionals who are proficient in data management, visualization, and analysis will be in high demand, as they will be needed to collect, process, and interpret this data for various applications.

The boom of the geospatial sector will be the catalyst for a long list of future world-changing organizations. If you’ve got a passion for problem solving, data analysis, environmental sustainability and technological innovation, now is the time to join the geospatial revolution.

 

Head to our Jobs Page to discover what jobs geospatial organizations are currently hiring for.