A new report has found that increased use of geospatial data and emerging technologies has contributed to the growth of the UK economy.
The ‘Future Technologies Review’ was published by PUBLIC, a firm which aims to support technology startups into partnership with public sector bodies, with funding from the Geospatial Commission. The report explores the commercial potential for geospatial data use in tandem with eight emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), immersive technology and 3D scanners.
Sir Andrew Dilnot, Chair of the Geospatial Commission, said: “I welcome this report published today which gives us a better understanding of the maturity of eight technologies and how they are likely to impact the future geospatial sector, which is rapidly growing. It also outlines opportunities geospatial technologies provide to the UK, with insights into the investment landscape and snapshot case studies for external audiences who have not yet engaged with the geospatial community.”
The report draws on a range of case studies to analyse the commercial maturity of each emerging technology and project their potential future impact on the UK economy. Investment and innovation in the UK’s geospatial data sector have both grown exponentially in recent years; and the most recent edition of the worldwide ‘Geospatial Readiness Index’ ranked the UK as the second most technologically developed country in the field, behind the USA.
Dan Korski CBE, CEO and Co-Founder of PUBLIC, said: “We are really excited to be launching this report, alongside the Geospatial Commission. Geospatial data and technology [have] the capability to drastically improve public services, from the way we manage transport in cities to how we plan smart energy policy. The UK government is only at the beginning of its journey in exploiting these new technologies for the benefit of citizens and service providers alike. We look forward to seeing the impact of this report in the policy and projects to come.”
Minister for the Cabinet Office Oliver Dowden said: “Government investment in geospatial data is helping to grow our economy and improve public services. I welcome this report and look forward to taking the opportunities of geospatial technology even further.”
