GIS

e-GEOS and Umbra partnership

e-GEOS and Umbra have signed a multi-year strategic agreement to jointly develop innovative geospatial intelligence solutions for customers worldwide.

The deal will combine the high revisit frequency, resolution and wide coverage offered by the First and Second Generation COSMO-SkyMed satellites – a SAR program of the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense for which e-GEOS is the exclusive licensee of data for commercial users – with Umbra’s agile SAR constellation and imagery. e-GEOS will apply its proprietary artificial intelligence solutions to Umbra’s SAR data to develop and introduce new analytics products to the market. www.e-geos.it

Norway poised to lead in 3D city modelling

Detailed map data could soon bring Norwegian cities to life in three dimensions. A new pilot project suggests that it is exceptionally well placed to create realistic digital city models, thanks to its high-quality 2.5D vector data. The findings are presented in the newly released report called ‘Preliminary Project – Volume Geometry in Norwegian Geodata Management’, now available on the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s website.

The study explored how municipalities currently use 3D representations – known as volume geometry – in urban planning and building management, as well as the challenges they face in data quality and integration. Conducted between October 2024 and June 2025, the project was funded by Geovekstforum and the Research Council of Norway.

The working group concludes that volume geometry should continue to be treated as a derived product, created from 2.5D vector data and other sources, rather than as a standalone dataset. To improve accuracy, a dedicated test project is recommended, focusing on more detailed data and enhanced quality control. Based on the outcomes of such a test, the FKB dataset (Norway’s national large-scale mapping database) could then be further developed to better support three-dimensional modelling.

CityGML, the internationally recognized standard for 3D city models, is identified as the most suitable format for Norwegian volume datasets, though the group stresses the need for a clear national specification to guide its implementation. Furthermore, the costs and benefits of establishing a public dataset should be assessed as a possible alternative to commercial solutions. Finally, the group recommends strengthening object-based management to ensure greater coherence between different data representations and uses.

IIT Bhubaneswar and Survey of India partnership

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and the Odisha & Chhattisgarh Geo-Spatial Directorate of the Survey of India (SoI) signed a MoU on 25 November 2025 to strengthen collaboration in the areas of Geodesy, Geo-informatics, mapping technologies, and geospatial research. Both institutions will work together to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technical information, enhance research capabilities, and drive innovation in emerging geospatial technologies. www.iitbbs.ac.in

Delivering advanced hazard intelligence

ICEYE announced a new partnership with Boustead Geospatial and Esri Australia, to bring ICEYE’s suite of near realtime hazard insights to customers across Australia. The collaboration, facilitated through the Boustead Geospatial Group, will deliver ICEYE’s Flood Rapid Intelligence, Flood Insights, and Bushfire Insights as ready-to-use map layers within the ArcGIS platform.

For organisations already using Esri’s GIS technology, ICEYE’s data will now be available directly through ArcGIS Online. www.iceye.com