#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “If you can keep an eye on cash and make sure you’ve got what you need, that makes life easier. We’ve been very focused on profit rather than turnover because that’s what has allowed us to grow organically,” said Rachel Tidmarsh, CEO of Bluesky International, in conversation with Matthew Pennells, Director for Global Community Engagement at Esri Inc. and WGIC Treasurer.
They discussed
â–¶ The origins of Bluesky International and its early growth â–¶ Creating value added products around customer needs â–¶ Navigating business highs, recessions, and cash flow challenges â–¶ Investing in technology, innovation, AI, and machine learning â–¶ The shift toward subscription based geospatial data services â–¶ The Woolpert acquisition, business integration, and lessons for growing companies
Stephanie Michaud P.Eng, Director of Product Management, Field Software at Trimble, speaks with Bhanu Rekha, WGIC’s Communication Strategist, about the widening geospatial skills gap, industry academia collaboration, AI, automation, and the need to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals. The episode explores why the private sector must take an active role in connecting classroom learning with real industry applications, and how initiatives such as Trimble Technology Labs are helping students gain hands on exposure to modern geospatial workflows.
#HorizonsPodcast | In this episode, John Renard, Founder of Airdale Advisory and WGIC Board Member, speaks with Kerstin Van De Sand, Head of Developers and Location Services at Esri Germany, and Joris Bak, Deputy Director at Esri Netherlands, about data sovereignty and its growing importance for the geospatial industry.
They discuss:
â–¶ Defining data sovereignty, data residency, and data localization â–¶ Why data sovereignty should be viewed through a risk-based lens â–¶ Balancing cloud, regional, and local infrastructure â–¶ Sovereignty, resilience, and layered data architectures â–¶ The role of data classification and interoperability â–¶ The future of data sovereignty and regional frameworks
#MemberSpotlight | 💬 “AI is not new to us. We have been working for more than 15 years with machine learning, pattern recognition, and feature extraction. The recent acceleration in AI and the rise of AI agents present an opportunity for all of us,” said Babs Dumont, ESG Officer at Merkator Group, in conversation with WGIC’s Bhanu Rekha.
In this discussion, they explore:
▶ Merkator’s mission ▶ Transforming geospatial data into value across telecom, utilities, and government ▶ Merlin DT, Eaglebe, and Belmap ▶ ESG commitment and GeoAI
#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
World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | 💬 “If you can keep an eye on cash and make sure you’ve got what you need, that makes life easier. We’ve been very focused on profit rather than turnover because that’s what has allowed us to grow organically,” said Rachel Tidmarsh, CEO of Bluesky International, in conversation with Matthew Pennells, Director for Global Community Engagement at Esri Inc. and WGIC Treasurer.
They discussed
â–¶ The origins of Bluesky International and its early growth
â–¶ Creating value added products around customer needs
â–¶ Navigating business highs, recessions, and cash flow challenges
â–¶ Investing in technology, innovation, AI, and machine learning
â–¶ The shift toward subscription based geospatial data services
â–¶ The Woolpert acquisition, business integration, and lessons for growing companies
Watch the full episode
đź”— https://youtu.be/0EYt_IgFxhI
Listen on Spotify
đź”— spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/TXPSnQpXL4b
#WGIC #HorizonsPodcast #GeospatialPodcast #Geospatial #GeospatialBusiness #BusinessGrowth #OrganicGrowth #Innovation #GeospatialData #ArtificialIntelligence
1 day ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
Stephanie Michaud P.Eng, Director of Product Management, Field Software at Trimble, speaks with Bhanu Rekha, WGIC’s Communication Strategist, about the widening geospatial skills gap, industry academia collaboration, AI, automation, and the need to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals. The episode explores why the private sector must take an active role in connecting classroom learning with real industry applications, and how initiatives such as Trimble Technology Labs are helping students gain hands on exposure to modern geospatial workflows.
Follow WGIC:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wgicouncil/
Listen on Spotify:
spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/1KqRKeUog4b
#WGIC #HorizonsPodcast #GeospatialPodcast #Geospatial #GeospatialIndustry #GeospatialInEverything #GeospatialForEveryone
1 day ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#HorizonsPodcast | In this episode, John Renard, Founder of Airdale Advisory and WGIC Board Member, speaks with Kerstin Van De Sand, Head of Developers and Location Services at Esri Germany, and Joris Bak, Deputy Director at Esri Netherlands, about data sovereignty and its growing importance for the geospatial industry.
They discuss:
â–¶ Defining data sovereignty, data residency, and data localization
â–¶ Why data sovereignty should be viewed through a risk-based lens
â–¶ Balancing cloud, regional, and local infrastructure
â–¶ Sovereignty, resilience, and layered data architectures
â–¶ The role of data classification and interoperability
â–¶ The future of data sovereignty and regional frameworks
Listen on Spotify
🔗 open.spotify.com/episode/6tjtCyQ0yQT1powMbgEn0J?si…
#DataSovereignty #Geospatial #GeospatialIndustry #WGIC #LocationIntelligence #GeospatialInEverything #GeospatialForEveryone
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
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World Geospatial Industry Council
#MemberSpotlight | 💬 “AI is not new to us. We have been working for more than 15 years with machine learning, pattern recognition, and feature extraction. The recent acceleration in AI and the rise of AI agents present an opportunity for all of us,” said Babs Dumont, ESG Officer at Merkator Group, in conversation with WGIC’s Bhanu Rekha.
In this discussion, they explore:
▶ Merkator’s mission
â–¶ Transforming geospatial data into value across telecom, utilities, and government
â–¶ Merlin DT, Eaglebe, and Belmap
â–¶ ESG commitment and GeoAI
Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/mKYgFB_3dxg
#WGIC #MerkatorGroup #GeoAI #ESGLeadership #SmartCities #FiberRollout #DigitalTwins
4 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
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
5 months 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
6 months 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
8 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
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
9 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
10 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
10 months ago | [YT] | 0
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