#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “What is safe use or applicable use of AI in geospatial? Because it’s so data rich, the variance of where it can be deployed for the wrong purposes to where it can be deployed for the right purposes is quite deep” said Leonard Sands, Global Director Land at Fugro in conversation with Aaron Addison, WGIC Executive Director.
In this episode Aaron and Leonard discuss ▶ Policy and governance challenges in keeping pace with AI in geospatial ▶ GDPR, data governance, and national differences in AI regulation ▶ WGIC’s role in ethics, data privacy, and industry guidance ▶ Global unevenness and the risk of countries being left behind ▶ Cross-border data sharing, sovereignty, and bias in AI training data ▶ Standards, interoperability, and whether frameworks help or hinder progress
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “By aligning the spatial and the financial data, we are able to start responding in real time,” said Matthew Ferguson, Manager: Valuation Surveys and Data Quality at the City of Cape Town in conversation with Chris Tanner, Market Director for Africa at Woolpert and WGIC Project Funding and Sustainability Committee member.
In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, Chris and Matthew discuss: ▶️ Cape Town’s core challenge: rapid growth, informality, and resilience needs ▶️ Using geospatial modeling to strengthen revenue and decision-making ▶️ Building sustainability and resilience through better visibility and collaboration ▶️ AI, digital twins, and lessons other cities can apply … and more.
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “When capturing data around a roundabout, you might pass it 30 times with different vehicles. Managing these datasets is crucial. The AI model needs to see all 30 instances, but as users, we only want to view one consolidated record of that roundabout,” said Jeroen Zanen, Founder & CEO of AI-InfraSolutions.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Jeroen shares insights on:
▶ The story behind AI-InfraSolutions and its AI-driven foundation ▶ Integrating imagery, LiDAR, and location data for smarter infrastructure management ▶ Real-world applications — including an AI-powered case study on the Dutch electricity grid ▶ Automating and predicting asset management processes ▶ Global presence and expansion plans ▶ Collaboration journey with WGIC
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “This challenge of human versus machine isn’t only philosophical—it’s also practical, political, and personal. In the geospatial industry, we’re seeing this tension play out in real time. From automated mapping to AI-driven site selection, the tools are evolving faster than humans can respond to them,” said Leonard Sands, Global Director Land at Fugro, in conversation with Aaron Addison, WGIC Executive Director.
They discuss how AI tools are reshaping workflows, the role of human expertise in guiding technology, and the challenges of trust, interoperability, and liability in digital twin adoption. The dialogue highlights the balance between automation and human judgment in a rapidly evolving industry.
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 ”Despite Africa’s abundant land, water, forests, minerals—you name it—and its dynamic people, challenges persist. It was for this reason that I founded GeoSAS in 2007: an African-born, globally connected consulting firm dedicated to driving rural transformation through geospatial analytics,” said Menghestab Haile, CEO of GeoSAS.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Menghestab shares insights on: ▶ Experience across academia, government, international orgs, and PPPs; inspiration for founding GeoSAS ▶ Food security challenges in Africa and GeoSAS support in addressing them ▶ Building congruence among organizations for holistic rural growth ▶ Youth employment and women’s empowerment initiatives by GeoSAS ▶ GeoSAS role in training and capacity development for geospatial solutions
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “You hear a lot of noise online about AI and agents, but none of that matters if your data is a mess. At Sparkgeo, we’ve developed a technology called Prescient Earth. It initially started as an R&D lab but now we’ve realized the most important thing we can do is build data environments for our customers that serve as the foundational layer for future geospatial activities,” said Will Cadell, Founder & CEO of Sparkgeo.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Will shares insights on: ▶ Story behind Sparkgeo’s founding ▶ Supporting tech companies with geospatial data ▶ Helping clients go from “zero to one” ▶ Migrating legacy tech to the cloud ▶ WGIC membership and vision ahead
In this episode of the #HorizonsPodcast, Vattem Narendra Babu (CEO, iSpatial Techno Solutions) and Andy Coote (CEO, Consulting Where) unpack how investors weigh risks and returns in geospatial projects.
They dive into: ▪️ The role of AI, IoT, and geospatial data in sustainable funding and decision-making ▪️ How geospatial insights boost efficiency and accelerate business decisions ▪️ Enhancing oil & gas operations with live data and location intelligence ▪️ Public-private partnerships for environmental monitoring ▪️ “As-a-service” models, risk management, and collaboration in project financing ▪️ Why stakeholder education and early operational buy-in are critical for ROI
This episode of the WGIC Horizons Podcast is part of the Project Funding and Sustainability Committee’s ongoing efforts.
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “We want to make sure that for security, privacy, and accuracy reasons, we always have the human in the loop. Right now, I feel like AI is more like a useful intern—sometimes very sophisticated, maybe with a master’s or even a PhD. But the critical thinking and subject matter expertise that we humans have cannot be replicated at this point,” said Eve Psalti, Senior Director at Microsoft.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Aaron Addison, Eve shares insights on:
▶ AI’s role in the geospatial industry ▶ Lowering the barrier to entry: AI without coding ▶ Assisted coding, LLMs & SLMs ▶ Governance, responsible AI & safety tools ▶ Tackling hallucinations & grounding AI with RAG ▶ Data privacy, deployment & sovereignty considerations ▶ Agentic AI – what it is & how it works ▶ Real-world AI agent applications in geospatial ▶ Workforce preparation & reskilling for AI ▶ Aligning AI with business goals & measuring ROI
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “We’re able to achieve elevation survey accuracy that was once only possible with other technologies—down to about 10 centimeters. That means we can distinguish between a road and a curb, all from satellite data. It’s highly accurate and perfectly suited to support heavy civil industries like mining and large-scale construction projects. We’ve also been deeply integrated into the AI space for over a decade,” said Andrea Krupa, President of PhotoSat.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Andrea shares insights on:
▶ 30+ years of experience, 3,000+ projects, and a global footprint in 75+ countries ▶ High-accuracy satellite elevation surveys for engineering and construction ▶ Alteration mineral mapping for remote geological site analysis ▶ AI-powered data processing using deep learning for over a decade ▶ PhotoSat’s role in mining, exploration, and civil development ▶ Collaborations with WGIC members and the broader geospatial community ▶ Reflections on the industry’s future and WGIC’s role in shaping it
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “In 2017, we launched the Vexcel Data Program as a private initiative focused on the insurance industry. Since then, it has expanded rapidly, and we are now active in more than 40 countries around the world. What started as a pilot has grown into the largest aerial image collection program in the world,” said Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Alexander shares insights on:
▶ Origins and evolution of Vexcel ▶ UltraCam: Vexcel’s flagship camera and what sets it apart ▶ Microsoft acquisition (2006) and return to independence (2016) ▶ How UltraCam + UltraMap transformed Vexcel’s offerings ▶ Automation and integration: meeting evolving customer needs ▶ Recent success story using the integrated system ▶ Balancing innovation with cost-effectiveness ▶ Vexcel’s journey with WGIC ▶ Vision for the geospatial industry and how to make a meaningful impact
World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “What is safe use or applicable use of AI in geospatial? Because it’s so data rich, the variance of where it can be deployed for the wrong purposes to where it can be deployed for the right purposes is quite deep” said Leonard Sands, Global Director Land at Fugro in conversation with Aaron Addison, WGIC Executive Director.
In this episode Aaron and Leonard discuss
â–¶ Policy and governance challenges in keeping pace with AI in geospatial
â–¶ GDPR, data governance, and national differences in AI regulation
▶ WGIC’s role in ethics, data privacy, and industry guidance
â–¶ Global unevenness and the risk of countries being left behind
â–¶ Cross-border data sharing, sovereignty, and bias in AI training data
â–¶ Standards, interoperability, and whether frameworks help or hinder progress
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/mw3s61UOMU4?si=Wjdyd...
#WGIC #GeospatialAI #AI #Automation #AI #Ethics #TechEthics #DataInteroperability #Fugro ‪@fugro‬
3 days ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “By aligning the spatial and the financial data, we are able to start responding in real time,” said Matthew Ferguson, Manager: Valuation Surveys and Data Quality at the City of Cape Town in conversation with Chris Tanner, Market Director for Africa at Woolpert and WGIC Project Funding and Sustainability Committee member.
In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, Chris and Matthew discuss:
▶️ Cape Town’s core challenge: rapid growth, informality, and resilience needs
▶️ Using geospatial modeling to strengthen revenue and decision-making
▶️ Building sustainability and resilience through better visibility and collaboration
▶️ AI, digital twins, and lessons other cities can apply
… and more.
Watch the full conversation for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzD7V...
#Geospatial #PublicSectorInnovation #SustainableCities #ProjectFunding #Woolpert #CapeTown #AI #DigitalTwins #WGIC
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “When capturing data around a roundabout, you might pass it 30 times with different vehicles. Managing these datasets is crucial. The AI model needs to see all 30 instances, but as users, we only want to view one consolidated record of that roundabout,” said Jeroen Zanen, Founder & CEO of AI-InfraSolutions.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Jeroen shares insights on:
â–¶ The story behind AI-InfraSolutions and its AI-driven foundation
â–¶ Integrating imagery, LiDAR, and location data for smarter infrastructure management
▶ Real-world applications — including an AI-powered case study on the Dutch electricity grid
â–¶ Automating and predicting asset management processes
â–¶ Global presence and expansion plans
â–¶ Collaboration journey with WGIC
Watch the full podcast for more insight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXdb5...
#WGIC #AI #Geospatial #LiDAR #GeoAI #GeospatialData #AIInfraSolutions #LocationData
3 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “This challenge of human versus machine isn’t only philosophical—it’s also practical, political, and personal. In the geospatial industry, we’re seeing this tension play out in real time. From automated mapping to AI-driven site selection, the tools are evolving faster than humans can respond to them,” said Leonard Sands, Global Director Land at Fugro, in conversation with Aaron Addison, WGIC Executive Director.
They discuss how AI tools are reshaping workflows, the role of human expertise in guiding technology, and the challenges of trust, interoperability, and liability in digital twin adoption. The dialogue highlights the balance between automation and human judgment in a rapidly evolving industry.
Watch the full episode for more insight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di2Si...
#WGIC #GeospatialAI #Automation#DigitalTwins #EdgeComputing #SustainableDevelopment #TechEthics #DataInteroperability #Fugro ‪@fugro‬
4 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 ”Despite Africa’s abundant land, water, forests, minerals—you name it—and its dynamic people, challenges persist. It was for this reason that I founded GeoSAS in 2007: an African-born, globally connected consulting firm dedicated to driving rural transformation through geospatial analytics,” said Menghestab Haile, CEO of GeoSAS.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Menghestab shares insights on:
â–¶ Experience across academia, government, international orgs, and PPPs; inspiration for founding GeoSAS
â–¶ Food security challenges in Africa and GeoSAS support in addressing them
â–¶ Building congruence among organizations for holistic rural growth
▶ Youth employment and women’s empowerment initiatives by GeoSAS
â–¶ GeoSAS role in training and capacity development for geospatial solutions
Watch the full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhgY5...
#WGIC #GeoSAS #AfricaInnovation #GeospatialAnalytics #DataForDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #RuralTransformation
4 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “You hear a lot of noise online about AI and agents, but none of that matters if your data is a mess. At Sparkgeo, we’ve developed a technology called Prescient Earth. It initially started as an R&D lab but now we’ve realized the most important thing we can do is build data environments for our customers that serve as the foundational layer for future geospatial activities,” said Will Cadell, Founder & CEO of Sparkgeo.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Will shares insights on:
▶ Story behind Sparkgeo’s founding
â–¶ Supporting tech companies with geospatial data
▶ Helping clients go from “zero to one”
â–¶ Migrating legacy tech to the cloud
â–¶ WGIC membership and vision ahead
Watch the full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MwwL...
#WGIC #Sparkgeo #GeospatialData #CloudMigration #DataInnovation #GeoAI #AI #AgenticAI
5 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
In this episode of the #HorizonsPodcast, Vattem Narendra Babu (CEO, iSpatial Techno Solutions) and Andy Coote (CEO, Consulting Where) unpack how investors weigh risks and returns in geospatial projects.
They dive into:
▪️ The role of AI, IoT, and geospatial data in sustainable funding and decision-making
▪️ How geospatial insights boost efficiency and accelerate business decisions
▪️ Enhancing oil & gas operations with live data and location intelligence
▪️ Public-private partnerships for environmental monitoring
▪️ “As-a-service” models, risk management, and collaboration in project financing
▪️ Why stakeholder education and early operational buy-in are critical for ROI
This episode of the WGIC Horizons Podcast is part of the Project Funding and Sustainability Committee’s ongoing efforts.
🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqVh...
#WGIC #podcast #geospatial #investment #funding #locationintelligence #sustainability #digitaltransformation #smartdata
5 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “We want to make sure that for security, privacy, and accuracy reasons, we always have the human in the loop. Right now, I feel like AI is more like a useful intern—sometimes very sophisticated, maybe with a master’s or even a PhD. But the critical thinking and subject matter expertise that we humans have cannot be replicated at this point,” said Eve Psalti, Senior Director at Microsoft.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Aaron Addison, Eve shares insights on:
▶ AI’s role in the geospatial industry
â–¶ Lowering the barrier to entry: AI without coding
â–¶ Assisted coding, LLMs & SLMs
â–¶ Governance, responsible AI & safety tools
â–¶ Tackling hallucinations & grounding AI with RAG
â–¶ Data privacy, deployment & sovereignty considerations
▶ Agentic AI – what it is & how it works
â–¶ Real-world AI agent applications in geospatial
â–¶ Workforce preparation & reskilling for AI
â–¶ Aligning AI with business goals & measuring ROI
đź”— Watch the full podcast: https://youtu.be/vJ0SQ6Z4nv8
#WGIC #Geospatial #GeospatialIndustry #GeospatialInEverything #GeospatialForEveryone #AI #Microsoft #AgenticAI #GeospatialWorkforce #LLM #SLM #DataPrivacy #EdgeComputing
5 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “We’re able to achieve elevation survey accuracy that was once only possible with other technologies—down to about 10 centimeters. That means we can distinguish between a road and a curb, all from satellite data. It’s highly accurate and perfectly suited to support heavy civil industries like mining and large-scale construction projects. We’ve also been deeply integrated into the AI space for over a decade,” said Andrea Krupa, President of PhotoSat.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Andrea shares insights on:
â–¶ 30+ years of experience, 3,000+ projects, and a global footprint in 75+ countries
â–¶ High-accuracy satellite elevation surveys for engineering and construction
â–¶ Alteration mineral mapping for remote geological site analysis
â–¶ AI-powered data processing using deep learning for over a decade
▶ PhotoSat’s role in mining, exploration, and civil development
â–¶ Collaborations with WGIC members and the broader geospatial community
▶ Reflections on the industry’s future and WGIC’s role in shaping it
đź”— Watch the full podcast: https://youtu.be/kMyMxerq9DU
#WGIC #PhotoSat #Geospatial #RemoteSensing #MiningTech #AIinGeospatial #EarthObservation #GeospatialIndustry #GeospatialInEverything #GeospatialForEveryone #HorizonsPodcast
6 months ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “In 2017, we launched the Vexcel Data Program as a private initiative focused on the insurance industry. Since then, it has expanded rapidly, and we are now active in more than 40 countries around the world. What started as a pilot has grown into the largest aerial image collection program in the world,” said Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging.
🎙️ In this episode of WGIC’s Horizons Podcast, hosted by Bhanu Rekha, Alexander shares insights on:
â–¶ Origins and evolution of Vexcel
▶ UltraCam: Vexcel’s flagship camera and what sets it apart
â–¶ Microsoft acquisition (2006) and return to independence (2016)
▶ How UltraCam + UltraMap transformed Vexcel’s offerings
â–¶ Automation and integration: meeting evolving customer needs
â–¶ Recent success story using the integrated system
â–¶ Balancing innovation with cost-effectiveness
▶ Vexcel’s journey with WGIC
â–¶ Vision for the geospatial industry and how to make a meaningful impact
đź”— Watch the full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AAd-...
#WGIC #VexcelImaging #UltraCam #UltraMap #Geospatial #GeospatialData #AerialImagery
7 months ago | [YT] | 0
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