Geospatial information exerts a growing global influence

As results of the presidential election rolled in on Nov. 8, 2016, millions of television viewers, glued to their seats, could see at a glance which way any given state’s tally leaned. Maps depicting states in blue or red indicated whether a state leaned toward Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton or Republican candidate Donald Trump, respectively.

This near real-time election tracking was made possible by geospatial data extracted from where and how people voted.

Geospatial data comes from anything that can carry a sensor — a drone, a satellite, a fixed-wing aircraft, a car. Data culled from such sensors and correlated to a geographic position is transforming the way businesses and people use and consume information.

“The rapid growth of geospatial data sources, coupled with the development of new methods for managing and analyzing these data, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, offer new opportunities to improve government, grow the economy and protect the natural environment,” said John Wilson, professor of sociology, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, architecture and preventive medicine and founding director of the Spatial Sciences Institute at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Scholars, practitioners and students interested in using geospatial information to help streamline and sharpen business processes used by the government, companies and nonprofits will gather Feb. 22 at the ninth annual Los Angeles Geospatial Summit.

Hosted by USC Dornsife’s Spatial Sciences Institute, the one-day professional development and networking event will be held at USC Hotel. Attendees will meet to discuss and learn how geospatial data is growing businesses and helping the environment.

Expanding reach

The annual summit has come a long way since Wilson founded it in 2011. About 45 people attended the inaugural event. Since then, the use of geospatial data has permeated virtually all industries and disciplines, from retail to landscape architecture to urban planning, summit organizers and participants say.

Manish Dasaur. (Photo: Courtesy Manish Dasaur.)

Manish Dasaur, a managing director with Accenture, a technology and management consulting company, will deliver the keynote speech. In addition to providing an overview of the growth of the geospatial world and how geospatial data is being applied across industries, he will explain where it’s heading.

“Geospatial information is an increasingly significant source of value in the marketplace today,” Dasaur said. “Advances in technical capabilities like cloud, mobility, sensors, analytics, and machine learning have enabled organizations to apply geospatial data to build billion-dollar businesses, proving value and driving an increase in investment.”

Added Dasaur: “Utilizing geospatial capabilities is a source of differentiation and continues to be a competitive advantage for those who can harness its power.”

For example, nonprofit organizations devoted to habitat preservation can measure such things as water flow and air temperature, and then use geospatial analysis to determine how the environment is either helping or harming a particular endangered species.

Geospatial data has also been used to help law enforcement agencies decide how best to deploy their resources based on crime analysis. Delivery companies use it to figure out how best to deploy vehicles to maximize efficiency. Department stores use geospatial data to analyze shopping patterns.

At the summit, students will deliver “lightning talk” presentations as well as poster presentations. There will be “short burst” case examples from the geospatial industry, and much more.

For more information, visit the summit website at spatial.usc.edu/los-angeles-geospatial-summit.