Smart geoinformation shaping the future

The world is getting smart. At the heart of these tumultuous changes to our lives, economy and work lies digitalisation. And at the core of this transformation, it’s intelligently networked and applied coordinates that often create the added value. The geo IT sector gains from this.

Its players create and supply smart geoinformation and services and position themselves firmly at the interface with industry and administration. Their growing influence is clearly apparent at INTERGEO, the leading international trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. After notching up 531 exhibitors from 37 countries, more than 17,000 visitors from over 100 countries and an international INTERGEO conference attended by 1,300 delegates, INTERGEO has now drawn to a close on this Thursday. The sector’s dynamic momentum was keenly evident in packed exhibitions halls and conference rooms, the young, international audience and three days full of information and discussion. “INTERGEO is where the geo IT sector meets its users. INTERGEO is crossindustry dialogue at its very best. It focuses on the resource of the future – smart geoinformation,” says Prof. Hansjörg Kutterer, the newly elected President of INTERGEO’s host organisation, the DVW. Trade fair exhibitors from all over the world have been showcasing their product innovations and intelligent solutions and services at INTERGEO – covering the entire process chain from data collection and analysis through to presenting and displaying results. INTERGEO was the highlight event of the year for manufacturers and service providers of GNSS surveying, mobile mapping, laser scanning and surveying, and inspection and monitoring with drones/UAS. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Fröhlich from Zoller+Fröhlich speaks for the majority of exhibitors with his verdict that: “INTERGEO is the world’s absolute top event for our customers. They fly in from all over the world in order to meet us and check out the latest developments in the sector.”

Smart cities a key topic

At the heart of the exhibition themes and conference program stood cities as our habitat and working and economic environment. Keynote speaker Nigel Clifford, Chief Executive of British Ordnance Survey, used the case study of Manchester to show how geoinformation in the Internet of Things (IoT) will shape our urban surroundings. Ron Bisio, Vice President Geospatial at Trimble, crafted smart cities scenarios in his own keynote speech. Environmental pollution, energy consumption, effective transportation and traffic processes, civic dialogue and transparency, digital transformation in the health sector and culture – there is no sphere of life that will remain cordoned off from digitalisation. The seeds for our digital future are being sown right here and now.

The setting for the Smart City headline could not have been better. Hamburg’s strategy for digital development as a smart city paves the way forward. Its digital strategy is firmly anchored in the highest political ranks. This was confirmed by the attendance of Hamburg’s Senator Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt at INTERGEO, where she scrutinised the wealth of smart city providers. This year also heralded the first dedicated Smart City SOLUTIONS platform.

Building Informantion Modelling

The topic of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is also gaining considerable ground. BIM transfers the processes involved in planning, constructing and operating structures and infrastructure into the digital world. The same clear message rings out – BIM enjoys solid political support and is only a matter of time. The German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has set the schedule for introducing BIM as the standard method for infrastructure projects with its multi-tiered Digital Planning and Building plan. Industry and sector associations are pressing for rapid changes. Speakers from the planen-bauen 4.0 platform, the BMVI and the international Smart Building association along with industry representatives intensively debated developments towards transparent and internationally competitive construction processes in panel discussions and conference sessions during INTERGEO.

Geospatial 4.0

The concept of Geospatial 4.0, which has emerged in tandem with Industry 4.0, has really pushed to the fore. This year’s INTERGEO showed not only that smart geoinformation and services have proved to be motors of innovation in the economy and administration, but also that more and more industries are basing their business models on the intelligent use of geoinformation. Correct and sustainable decisions depend on impeccably prepared information. The DVW’s President Kutterer emphasises that standardisation, licensing and pricing issues now need resolving in order to promote geoinformation as a lynchpin in business and administration. Dr. Jürgen Dold, CEO of Leica Geosystems, is clear that the online environment is steadily becoming reality. With regard to the big data debate, he says: “Whatever the volume of data, the key lies in using it smartly.”

UAV sector

The UAV sector is looking exceptionally dynamic. INTERAERIAL SOLUTIONS, which was introduced as a free-standing platform at this year’s INTERGEO, brought together over 130 exhibitors – from start-ups to global corporations – with their customers. Kay Wackwitz from market researchers Droneii.com deems INTERGEO the ideal platform for the fledgling UAV sector: “The market is absolutely exploding. More and more startups are jostling to find their own niche. INTERAERIAL SOLUTIONS covers the sector’s entire spectrum. And INTERGEO is the perfect medium for these companies to show off their skills – with the key applications still lying in surveying, inspection and monitoring of infrastructures and structures.” Fields of application and upcoming trends were examined in forum presentations and panel discussions.

Brings together employees and job seekers

The new GEOCAREER.COM careers service has joined forces with “jobware. de”, the specialist national career platform for experts and managers in IT and technology, to bring together employers in search of specialist staff with experienced experts in the sector.