WGIC’s participation in INTERGEO 2026 in Munich, Germany, brought members and industry experts together for Board and Members meeting. Besides, WGIC organized two panel discussions on trusted geospatial intelligence and policy readiness. Two new reports released ahead of the conference added depth to the conversations.
New Reports Address Data Trust and Workforce Needs
On the eve of INTERGEO 2026, WGIC released two reports that address important challenges the geospatial industry faces.
Produced by the WGIC Data Committee, “Data to Decisions: Rebuilding Trust in Decision-Grade Geospatial Data” examines the confidence needed to use geospatial information for critical decisions. It provides a foundation for understanding how provenance, governance, metadata and accountability support trust as data moves from collection through processing to practical use.
“The Global Geospatial Workforce: State of the Workforce, the Skills Gap and a Roadmap to 2030” reflects on the workforce challenges facing the industry amid rapid technological advances and an expanding scope of applications. The report brings attention to the people and skills needed to support that growth.
Together, the reports connect two essential priorities: strengthening confidence in the data and information that guides decisions and developing the workforce that makes those capabilities possible.
Data to Decisions: Building Confidence Beyond the Map
WGIC hosted “Data to Decisions: Unlocking the Value of Geospatial Intelligence” on the INTERGEO 2026 Main Stage. Moderated by Aaron Addison, the panel brought together John Renard of Airedale Advisory Limited, Chair of the WGIC Data Committee; Dr. Dejan Vasić of DATADEV; Daniel Kruimel of Woolpert; and Danny Williams of Cesium, now part of Bentley Systems.
Drawing on the newly released report, the discussion explored a practical question: what makes geospatial data reliable enough for someone to act on it?
Panelists examined how trust becomes harder to maintain as data passes through multiple providers, platforms, and processing steps. With AI increasingly involved in transforming data and generating outputs, understanding the source, subsequent changes, and limitations becomes essential.
A recurring theme was the distinction between a convincing visualization and information suitable for a consequential decision. A detailed digital twin may look impressive, but users still need to understand its accuracy, how recently the data was collected, and whether it is appropriate for the intended purpose. Those limitations also need to be clear to users outside the geospatial profession.
The conversation connected these technical questions with business adoption. Examples from transportation infrastructure highlighted the importance of preserving information across design, delivery, operation and maintenance. Building customer confidence requires clear requirements, reliable processes and education alongside the technology itself.
Metadata and accountability were also central to the discussion. Panelists considered the need to preserve information about when, how, and why data was collected, as well as how it had been changed. Human expertise, transparent workflows and shared standards emerged as important foundations for making geospatial intelligence easier to trust and use.
From Rules to Readiness: Bringing Geospatial Expertise Into Policy
WGIC’s “From Rules to Readiness” panel brought the policy dimension into focus at INTERGEO’s Application Dome on the second day. Moderated by Aaron Addison, the session featured Peter Rummel of Bentley Systems, Matthew Pennells of Esri, and Marius Swanepoel of TomTom.
Framed around WGIC’s Geospatial Policy Scan, the session focused on practical awareness of the policy developments affecting geospatial businesses. Its central question concerned the industry’s role in shaping those rules: how can geospatial expertise be represented while policy is being developed?
The session’s themes included the implications of differing national requirements for market access, the balance between safeguards and innovation, and how organizations can prepare while policy continues to evolve. It also raised questions about restrictions on infrastructure and network data, including the consequences for legitimate users who depend on access to that information.
The focus connected regulatory awareness with business readiness, placing industry participation in policy discussions alongside the need to understand and respond to emerging requirements.
Advancing WGIC’s Priorities Through Member Engagement
WGIC President Zubran Solaiman of Bentley Systems welcomed members to the Board and Members Meeting and set the stage for discussions on WGIC’s business and priorities. Executive Director Aaron Addison presented an update on outreach activities over the previous quarters, emphasizing WGIC’s focus on participating in events that bring direct value to its member companies.
The meetings provided an opportunity to review recent committee activities and the contributions of member executives who help shape WGIC’s work. These committees span Data, Industry and Academia, Partnership & Industry Engagement, Policy Development and Advocacy, and Project Funding & Sustainability. Their involvement brings industry experience into WGIC’s research, policy engagement and collaborative initiatives.
WGIC’s networking reception gave members an opportunity to connect in an informal setting, exchange ideas, and continue conversations beyond the meetings and panels.
Continuing the Conversation
Across its meetings, reports and panels, WGIC’s participation in INTERGEO 2026 connected member priorities with broader questions about data trust, workforce capacity and policy readiness.
WGIC thanks its members, panelists, partners and everyone who joined the conversations in Munich. Their perspectives and contributions will continue to inform WGIC’s work as the industry navigates new opportunities and shared challenges.
