Dr Zaffar Sadiq Mohamed-Ghouse

LEADERS' OUTLOOK

ANNUAL EDITION / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022

Geospatial Ecosystem Beyond SDIs is Our Future

BY DR ZAFFAR SADIQ MOHAMED-GHOUSE

Executive Director, Strategic Consulting & International Relations, Spatial Vision

Geospatial information has become ubiquitous in day-to-day decision making, be it at an individual, organizational or governmental level. Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) previously dominated industry conversation. But now there’s a shift towards a more comprehensive Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI).

The next evolution in geospatial intelligence will lead to an integrated geospatial ecosystem that will combine GKI with the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) and Industry 4.0 components. This will pave the way for a consolidated and holistic approach for geospatial advancement. Geospatial ecosystems beyond SDIs are the way forward.

3D and 4D spatial data are emerging as new norms for the geospatial sector. This era of capturing, organizing, and storing data for analysis, coupled with visualization, has evolved into concepts such as the Metaverse. The real-time consumption of high-quality visual information, with high accessibility across devices, is quite challenging. For this, the geospatial sector will utilize a range of technologies in the future, some borrowed even from the gaming industry.

Newer avenues The increasing convergence of Space and spatial industries offers an exciting future for the next generation. Smart Space sensors for Earth Observation (EO) provide opportunities for the EO community to build capacity, minimize ground truthing, and optimize satellite data to produce near-real-time information products that can be readily integrated into government and private sector applications and workflows.

To support these developments, we continue to engage clients in management and technical advisory services such as ‘future state’ geospatial architectures, modern data management policies and support for capacity development.

Cadastre modernization Accurate, modernized cadastres integrated with geospatial Digital Twins will provide a data-rich, and information-fueled platform for citizens, government and the private sector to support key

The integration of Space and spatial sectors will propel digital transformation.

decisions. Developing an accurate digital cadastre is crucial and various state governments are investing in modernizing their cadastral data in phases.

Spatial Vision is working to implement government digital cadastre modernization initiatives. The Intergovernmental Committee for Surveying and Mapping — an arm of ANZLIC (Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council), a peak government body — is developing a 3D model for land information. The state of Victoria has invested in modernizing its entire cadastre, and we are actively working with them for the adjustment of over 3.5 million land parcels.

Collaborative endeavors We continue to develop strong partnerships with like-minded organizations, many of whom we work with as part of consortia to deliver large-scale government projects. Spatial Vision is an active member of many industry organizations, including the World Geospatial Industry Council, United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) Private Sector Network, Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Alliance, and Australia’s Spatial Industries Business Association and Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute.

For decades, we have coordinated industry-specific user groups, bringing together GIS professionals in the Australian water and local government sectors to exchange knowledge and insights. We are also partners of an international cooperation initiative, the Australian Water Partnership, as well as members of the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand.