Let’s Expand Humanity’s Vision of the Future

WGIC Secretariat on April 14, 2025

Jack Dangermond, Chair – Patron Board, WGIC 

I vividly remember the day I first saw the picture of Earth from the Moon in a magazine – this tiny planet of ours flying around in an expansive universe. It set me thinking. Our Earth is not only beautiful but also a living, sentient being. It is a fragile, complex, and interconnected system. It holds all of humanity’s history and our experiences from the beginning – an extraordinary aspect.  

Today, our world is evolving rapidly and is increasingly influenced by human activity. This has led to some interesting challenges.  

It’s not all bad news, though.  

Over the past few hundred years, we have seen many ingenious innovations—in agriculture, transportation, energy systems, computing, information communication technology, and healthcare—that have greatly improved the quality of life, and we aspire to go even further.  

However, our progress has come at a cost. The recent World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report features “extreme weather events” among the top risks the global population will face in the short term (two years) and long term (10 years). The report says climate change, along with other threats, is set against a backdrop of rapidly accelerating technological change and economic uncertainty. 

Our actions are creating unintended consequences. We are living carelessly beyond our means, which could leave the planet unsustainable and inhospitable for future generations.  

It will take everybody understanding and collaborating around that understanding to overcome these challenges. It requires bringing together the best of our information, science, technology, creative innovations, and systems thinking.  

It requires uniting around this foundational and powerful science of the world we have – geography – and, on that note, geospatial technology. By organizing all human experiences, geospatial technology helps us see the world holistically. It reveals patterns and relationships and gathers insights into events otherwise hidden in plain sight. This potent technology and data bring clarity and make complexity understandable.  

Further, geospatial technology integrates geographic knowledge into everything people do. This geographic approach provides a framework and a process for collecting, measuring, visualizing, and finding holistic solutions that support decision-making and action. 

At the same time, it is improving how we collaborate to solve the complex challenges the world faces. It is facilitating a geospatial infrastructure, which in turn is transforming how we work together, sharing resources, content, maps, data portals, models, workflows, and even infrastructure.  

The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) and our members pulse with this shared vision, exemplified through its mission and initiatives to expand the value proposition of geospatial technology and to facilitate collaboration to develop innovative solutions to adequately address the complex challenges of the world. I believe geospatial professionals have an enormous role in creating the future we want.  

As we continue doing our work, remember our work is part of something much more significant, creating and influencing the future of our planet.  

I recently came across a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson, written a century and a half ago –  

“Among the map-makers of each generation are the risk-takers…those who see the opportunities, seize the moment…and expand humanity’s vision of the future.”  

I thought he was talking about us, the geospatial people.  

As a community, let us leverage the power of geospatial to do precisely what Emerson said – unite our world and create a better future.  

2024 – A Landmark Year for WGIC with Robust Growth 

WGIC Secretariat on April 10, 2025

Bryn Fosburgh, President, WGIC 

During my 40+ years in the geospatial industry, my tenure over the last 18 months at WGIC has been a rewarding personal and professional experience. Our membership is diverse and is inclusive of companies from all continents, standing true to our name. Our membership offers several unique perspectives on how geospatial technology, data, and services best contribute to solving the complex challenges the world presents today.  

In line with our mission and collective member aspirations, WGIC has been relentlessly working to expand the value proposition of geospatial and Earth observation technologies and create advocacy, business, and networking opportunities for its members, and 2024 is no exception. Our membership and the advocacy of our staff fill me with such great hope and confidence that geospatial technology will be the next utility and backbone of our professional and personal lives.  

Growth Momentum 

2024 has been a landmark year for WGIC, with a robust 30% growth in our membership. This growth reflects our expanding influence and vibrant engagement within the communities WGIC serves. 

We welcomed MDA Space and Space 42 into the WGIC fold as patron members during the year. Three cheers also to Asterra, ConsultingWhere, DataDev, Diamondback Land Surveying, Etch Ltd, GeoBiro, GeoSAS, GeoSolutions, Inovaantage, iSpatial Techno Solutions, Kompass BMS, MakePath, MBS, Mena3D, Nara Space, NavVis, PhotoSat, Plan Blue, Pointly, Space Aye, ReOrbit, TechG-X, and TopoDOT for coming together with WGIC.  

Together with all its members, WGIC is a formidable force on the world stage today. It embodies the spirit of Ubuntu (an African philosophy that translates to “I am, because you are”), co-creating the global geospatial industry landscape. I am grateful for your unwavering support and ongoing engagement with WGIC. 

Continuous Alignment with Member Needs 

WGIC implements its mission and strategic goals through its committees. These goals are often dynamic and purpose-driven to meet the evolving needs of our members. Many member companies articulated the need for a platform to address the pressing issues around geospatial data, the bedrock of all geospatial businesses. Responding to these member needs, WGIC announced the formation of the Data Committee in 2024. The committee is actively pursuing issues around data procurement cycles, data interoperability, data management, and data reusability within the industry. 

On another note, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that WGIC is the only global trade association in the geospatial sector to identify, discuss, research, and advocate innovative business models. This fits perfectly into WGIC’s Strategic Goal #3 - To create business opportunities for the geospatial industry. After bringing out two valuable reports to further this goal, the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Committee revisited its scope of work and decided to broaden it beyond PPP and explore diverse funding mechanisms. The committee decided to go beyond the conventional bubble, examine the needs of geospatial projects from various sectors, and promote sustainable business practices. Consequently, the committee was renamed ‘Project Funding and Sustainability Committee’. The committee is now actively exploring the many aspects of geospatial project financing modalities. 

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee continued its commitment to celebrate DEI champions with the annual WGIC DEI Trailblazers awards to recognize and honor professionals, leaders, and organizations making significant contributions to advancing DEI within the geospatial community. Further, the DEI committee has been actively addressing the concerns of our members around the recruitment of suitably skilled workforce and bridging the skill gap in the geospatial industry. 

In 2024, the Policy Development and Advocacy Committee focused on the impact and relevance of Generative AI (GenAI) in the geospatial and Earth observation sectors. In 2025, the committee intends to publish a comprehensive report on the current state of GenAI applications, review the legal frameworks, and assess the benefits and challenges of integrating GenAI in various application sectors.  

Deepening Partnerships

Partnerships and collaboration with organizations within and beyond the core geospatial community are the cornerstones of WGIC’s mission. Each year, WGIC forges newer and deeper connections with user communities that benefit from geospatial data and technologies. In 2024, WGIC deepened its existing partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), the largest global alliance for city climate leadership across the globe. Our collaboration birthed the significant report – Accelerating City Climate Action Through Geospatial Data. Further, the Partnership & Industry Engagement (P&IE) committee is actively exploring new partners, including The World Ocean Council, and how they fit in to serve the needs of our member community. 

Compelling Value Through Expanded Outreach and Marcom 

Global outreach is the mantra WGIC swears by to fulfil its strategic goals. Throughout the year, WGIC participated in 50+ national and international events across the globe, championing our members and spearheading our collective purpose. We evolved strategies supporting the geospatial industry’s rapid growth through side events at major conferences and panel discussions on themes of interest and relevance for WGIC members, such as metaverse, geospatial workforce, future of infrastructure, and Earth observation for a sustainable future. 

WGIC expanded its marcom activity to create compelling value for our members. Through WGIC YouTube video podcast interviews, we brought global visibility to our member companies’ technology and business capabilities. By publishing member success stories and case studies, we began facilitating greater awareness about the robust technology implementations across sectors. WGIC’s sustained social media efforts that continuously engage with our members and their leadership are building bridges, amplifying the network benefits, fulfilling the industry’s felt but unmet needs, creating an inclusive culture, and elevating its stature.  

Leadership Transition 

2024 saw the transition in a few of WGIC leadership roles. John Renard (Cyient), who served WGIC in several essential roles since its inception, completed his term as the Secretary General in June 2024. John’s contributions and enduring leadership over the years have significantly advanced WGIC’s mission and impact globally. A huge shoutout to John for his fantastic work over the years. Marius Swanepoel (TomTom) has graciously agreed to step into the Secretary General position for a two-year term. Together with Marius, the WGIC executive team is solidly placed to support the organization’s growth in the future.    

Moving Beyond Boundaries 

Looking ahead, We have dedicated significant effort this year to plan our inaugural WGIC Horizons 2025 – an event scheduled for 27-29 April 2025 in Denver, USA. The event focuses on uniting our sector and discussing crucial ideas and innovations. On behalf of the WGIC Board, office bearers, and the secretariat, I invite you to join us at the spectacular Denver Art Museum and explore how the industry is “Moving Beyond Boundaries.” This theme encapsulates the spirit of exploring the exciting opportunities presented by facilitating a shared conversation on the crossroads of geospatial and Earth observation technologies and the larger ecosystems in every company, organization, and government. Your presence and support are integral to the success of Horizons 2025.  

See you all in Denver at WGIC Horizons 2025! 

Download the Annual Report

Geospatial Industry In A Pivotal Stage of Maturity and Expansion 

WGIC Secretariat on April 3, 2025

Alain De Taeye, Vice-Chair, Patron Board, WGIC 

Sourcing and curating high-quality, comprehensive geospatial data are complex and expensive processes. Even as we see the need and demand for geospatial data growing exponentially, no single company or entity is in a position to master, produce, and meet the expanding demand alone. This awareness within the industry has brought about an increasing openness to embrace collaborative mapmaking and geospatial data creation. Today, open and user-generated data are combined with proprietary data in a complete quality-checking environment to create thematic data used in many applications. This has become more important today than a year ago, and the industry will see this trend expanding. 

Real-time Geospatial Data and Digital Twins  

While creating geospatial data is one degree of complexity, maintaining that data up-to-date in real-time is a challenge of the next level. Real-time maps have to reflect changes in reality immediately, and the map itself has to find its way into different applications in real time.   

This expectation for constant data refresh is growing massively, especially in the consumer segment. Traffic is a perfect example. One would want to know where and how long one would spend in a traffic jam when driving into one. Also, as an application grows in volume, it receives more user feedback. End users expect that whenever they provide feedback, it is processed immediately and leads to updates of the application and application data. This presents a big challenge for geospatial data producers even as it creates a business opportunity.  

Take the case of digital twins. The expectation is that a digital twin of an asset or a physical infrastructure is continuously updated and changes with the reality on the ground. The value of the digital twin deteriorates massively if not kept up-to-date. This is the case in most, if not all, applications.  

Fortunately, several technologies are available to keep the enormous volume of geospatial data fresh and up-to-date. The proliferation of robust sensors and their ubiquitous use facilitate continuous change detection. AI then interprets those changes and turns them into information that keeps the data current.  

Policy for Greater Innovation 

This is not a simple problem, though. It requires new ways of maintaining geospatial data and an ecosystem where innovation can thrive. It calls for forward-looking governments to introduce enabling policies. While a few governments recognize the need for greater innovation and facilitate a conducive policy environment, some governments’ rules and legislation limit or slow geospatial innovation.  

The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) and its member companies are advocating for the right policies, especially those that enable innovation, which is the need of the hour. Further, the policies should allow greater collaboration between public organizations and private enterprises to accelerate the speed and ease of innovation, especially in geospatial data and applications.  

Need for Geospatial Professionals  

The reality of our industry is that the demand for geospatial data and applications is growing exponentially, but we do not have enough geospatial specialists to support the demand. Universities are unable to create a good pipeline of geospatial professionals to bridge this demand-supply gap. This situation calls for urgent action.  

Promoting geospatial education and training, imparting the right skills, and making the industry more attractive for young people have become critical. On the other hand, we also need to open the sector to people beyond geospatial expertise.  

AI can transform how geospatial information is consumed. As conversational interfaces begin to use AI, we will be able to use natural language to query spatial data or even solve geospatial problems. This facilitates easier access to geospatial data and applications so that people with varied IT expertise, not necessarily geospatial, can use them effortlessly. As such, this expands the user base to a much broader audience.  

Conclusion 

The geospatial industry is at a pivotal stage of maturity and expansion, bringing several challenges. It is imperative that geospatial companies join forces with collaborative platforms such as the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) in greater measure. Together, we are a force to reckon with to act, influence, and bring about the requisite changes to exploit the massive business potential ahead of us all.  

Download the Annual Report

WGIC Is A Strong Community Creating Immense Impact 

WGIC Secretariat on March 26, 2025

Gratitude! As I reflect on my first full year as the Executive Director of WGIC, I am filled with gratitude. It has been an exciting year of getting to know each of our member company executives better, professionally and personally. We are a strong community working together and creating an immense impact. As I go through the activity report, I am amazed at the scope and scale of our accomplishments during the year.  

Growth of WGIC was stronger than ever in 2024, with membership expanding by over 30%. This growth is a testament to the importance of WGIC in our industry and our three pillars: strengthening geospatial impact, advocating global policy, and co-creating business opportunities. Expanding membership allowed WGIC to allocate additional resources towards our committee work, industry events, and secretariat support for membership. We welcomed Helen Gilmartin as WGIC Associate Director at the beginning of the year. Besides anchoring the Funding and Sustainability Committee (previously called the Public-Private Partnership Committee), Helen intensified our efforts to gain new members. 

WGIC started the year with a strategic planning meeting focused on expanding our marketing communications and outreach. The team designed and launched a marcom campaign to spotlight member companies and their capabilities through long-form video interviews. We powered this up with an impactful social media strategy that augmented member visibility to the wider geospatial community, driving about 40% growth in LinkedIn followers. In addition, our signature bi-monthly Horizons Newsletter became a monthly publication and saw an increase of 420% in newsletter engagement. We will continue to build on the success of these initiatives in service to our members. 

Even as the committee work continued to be a cornerstone of WGIC membership engagement and output in 2024, we maintained a steady focus on events and outreach, participating in over 50 in-person and virtual engagements during the year. Workforce development continues to be a key concern across the globe as the industry expands and needs more talent to create solutions to address the complex challenges the world is facing. Even as progress is made with room for additional opportunities, WGIC will remain at the forefront of these discussions. More than ever, I believe the geospatial industry is well-positioned to make a difference in the world by embracing “geospatial in everything, geospatial for everyone.” Looking ahead, I see a solid foundation of community, committee engagement, knowledge, and outreach collectively built in 2024 and raising the bar to continue to create value for our members.  

The Board approved a first-of-its-kind event – Horizons – scheduled for April 27-29, 2025, in Denver, USA. The WGIC officers and secretariat have worked with the membership to host talks and discussions “for the industry, by the industry”. The unique single-track event is a rare opportunity to hear from business thought leaders leveraging geospatial, reflected in the theme “Moving Beyond Boundaries” as we expand our understanding of how geospatial and earth observation technologies are used. I hope you will be able to join us! 

If you are a long-standing member of WGIC, I thank you for your unwavering support over the years. If you are one of our new members, I welcome you to WGIC and look forward to working on our shared goals. If you are an officer, board member, or committee member, thank you for your service. And if you are part of the small (but mighty!) WGIC Secretariat, I appreciate your dedication and contributions to our community’s success.   

WGIC’s Inaugural Industry Event – Horizons 2025 – Moving Beyond Boundaries

WGIC Secretariat on February 6, 2025

The Hague, The Netherlands, February 6, 2025 — The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is thrilled to announce its inaugural event, Horizons 2025, set to take place from April 27-29, 2025, at the iconic Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado, USA. This premier event, organized and supported by over 60 global geospatial private sector companies — will bring together industry pioneers, thought leaders and cross-sector innovators to explore the transformative power of geospatial and earth observation technologies.

Under the tagline “Moving Beyond Boundaries,” Horizons 2025 will explore the intersection of geospatial technologies, allied industries, and global business ecosystems driving innovation. Designed as a single-track conference, Horizons 2025 offers an intimate setting for deeper connections, focused discussions, and enhanced networking on shared topics. The event will serve as a platform to co-develop innovative approaches, collaborative business models, and scalable solutions, advancing the vision of “Geospatial in Everything, Geospatial for Everyone.”

Why Attend Horizons 2025?

Attendees can expect an immersive experience featuring:

  • Be in the room for an intentionally designed single-track conference of thought leaders. Enjoy a more focused setting without the larger crowds. 
  • Think more deeply about the transformative power of future-defining technologies, such as Generative AI, in bringing actionable solutions to complex geospatial queries.   
  • Connect and network with businesses, thought leaders, cross-sector pioneers, and innovators guiding real-world applications across sectors. 
  • Understand the interdependencies, interoperability and collaborate with leading technology players to co-develop scalable solutions; partner with academia and local communities  
  • Enjoy the eclectic Denver Art Museum, the largest between the West Coast and Chicago! 

Diverse Lineup of Speakers:

Horizons 2025 features an impressive lineup of curated speakers from leading companies across the geospatial industry, technology, consulting, enterprise sectors, and government, including high-level policymakers and industry pioneers. Attendees will gain insights on emerging technologies, cross-sector collaboration, and the future of geospatial innovation. For the full list of speakers, visit https://www.wgic-horizons.live/speakers.

Bryn Fosburgh, President of WGIC, said, “The Horizons 2025 conference is where today meets the future, and from this intersection, we will gain clarity to navigate and chart the next decade within our industry.”

Aaron Addison, Executive Director of WGIC, added, “Horizons 2025 promises to be a new type of event, “Moving Beyond Boundaries”.  Where the geospatial and earth observation industry intersects the enterprise community on emerging technologies, challenges and most importantly –opportunities for building a better future together.”

Join Us in Denver!

For more information and to register, visit https://www.wgic-horizons.live/.

About World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)

The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is a global not-for-profit trade association of private sector companies working in the geospatial ecosystem. WGIC collaborates with multilateral organizations, public authorities, and user-industry communities with the objective of demonstrating the value and benefits of geospatial technologies in ecology, the economy, and society. 

Through its policy research thematic and cross-cutting outreach programs, WGIC facilitates the exchange of knowledge and the co-creation of business opportunities for the geospatial industry.

For more information, visit www.wgicouncil.org

For media queries or interview requests, please contact [email protected].

WGIC Takes Center Stage at INTERGEO 2024

WGIC Secretariat on October 16, 2024

WGIC had a dynamic participation at INTERGEO 2024 from September 24-26 in Stuttgart, Germany. We hosted three insightful side events featuring industry experts from WGIC member companies who discussed critical topics shaping the future of geospatial technology – the potential of earth observation for sustainability, the future of infrastructure, and a panel dedicated to bridging the workforce gap. 

Beyond these side events, WGIC also held the quarterly Board Meeting, engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with INTERGEO TV about industry growth and the workforce gap, and hosted the DEI Trailblazer Awards ceremony, celebrating exemplary efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry. 

At WGIC, we leveraged the opportunities INTERGEO presented for networking, knowledge-sharing, and staying abreast with the latest technology trends. We utilized the ideal environment to connect and support our members, many of whom exhibited at the event, as well as engage with new, like-minded individuals and companies who share a passion for geospatial innovation. These exchanges are key to inspiring future partnerships and membership growth.  

Bridging the Workforce Gap: Inclusivity in Workforce Development in the Geospatial Sector 

WGIC hosted the panel discussion ‘Bridging the Workforce Gap: Inclusivity in Workforce Development in the Geospatial Sector.’ Moderated by WGIC’s Kuhelee Chandel, the session brought together industry and academic leaders, including Eva Carranza (Hexagon), Elshan Musayev (EKM Global), Britta Ricker (Utrecht University), Marianna Kopsida (Trimble), and Ted Knaak (TopoDOT). 

The panel explored strategies to foster inclusivity across the geospatial workforce segments, emphasizing the importance of diverse talent in advancing AR and 3D geospatial solutions. Discussions also addressed academia’s critical role in preparing future professionals and offered practical steps for building inclusive teams capable of nurturing innovation. 

Following the panel, WGIC celebrated the achievements of the 2024 DEI Trailblazers at a scintillating award ceremony. 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s awardees for their outstanding contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the geospatial industry: 

  • Albert Anoubon Momo – Individual Champion Award 
  • Deepspatial – Corporate Impact Award 
  • Women+ in Geospatial – DEI Advocacy Award 

Unlocking the Potential of Earth Observation for a Sustainable Future

Moderated by Aaron Addison, the panel titled “Unlocking the Potential of Earth Observation for a Sustainable Future” featured insights from industry experts Minda Suchan (MDA Space), Prashanth Marpu (Bayanat), Kate Fickas (Esri), and Chris Newlands (Space Aye). The panel explored the transformative role of satellite imagery, and geospatial data in addressing key sustainability challenges.  

Future of Infrastructure 

The session titled “Future of Infrastructure” featured insights from industry experts Peter Rummel (Bentley Systems), Larry Fox (Bad Elf), Dejan Vasic (DATADEV), Andrew Carey (Esri), Chris Trevillian (Trimble). The session was moderated by Aaron Addison of WGIC. 

This year, discussions centered on the transformative potential of generative AI. As an emerging technology, generative AI is poised to accelerate innovation across both the geospatial and earth observation sectors. WGIC members are already exploring where this technology can deliver value, from automating complex data analysis to generating actionable insights. During the session, panelists highlighted how AI has the power to redefine workflows, enhance efficiency, and unlock new possibilities to address geospatial challenges more effectively. 

We Spoke to INTERGEO TV 

“We anticipate that the geospatial industry will double in size over the next six years, leading to around 80,000 job openings on any given day. However, with the slower growth in academic programs, we are facing a clear workforce gap,” said WGIC Executive Director Aaron Addison during an interview with Denise Wenzel for INTERGEO TV.  

During the interview, Addison emphasized WGIC’s unique position as the only global nonprofit trade association representing commercial geospatial and Earth observation companies, advancing critical initiatives in climate action, policy, and diversity through collaboration with partners. He also underscored the need to make geospatial education more accessible, noting that policy barriers often outweigh technical challenges. Additionally, he highlighted the role of events such as INTERGEO in fostering connections, inspiring the next generation of professionals, and showcasing cutting-edge innovations from across the industry. 

The interactions at INTERGEO 2024 have reinforced our belief that collaboration within the industry is essential. By working together and sharing insights, we can push the boundaries of what is possible in geospatial innovation and contribute meaningfully to the complex challenges of the world. We look forward to continuing these conversations, forging stronger ties, and leveraging the latest technological advancements to drive the industry forward. 

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