Geomob

If you’ve ever wondered how you can use a geospatial interface to encourage philanthropy, this is the episode for you. Ed speaks with Peter Rose, former Geomob speaker and Europe Director of Orbica. Orbica focusses on geospatial analytics, GeoAI and data science. Peter discusses a special project: ‘Lebenswald’ for the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. The goal of this project was to create a recurring revenue model. In order to motivate people to donate to prevent deforestation and preserve the habitat of the last Borneo Orangutans they have created an interactive map. Donors are able to choose the area they want to help preserve, claim it as theirs to sponsor and even draw on it. Peter talks about the challenges and benefits of working for a non-profit client. Tune in to learn more about this important project and great example of using geospatial in philanthropy. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

In this episode Steven chats with an old friend, professor of Geographical Information Science at UCL, Muki Haklay. Muki is one of the early adopters of combining geography with computer science, and one of the eariest supporters of OpenStreetMap. For the past ten years he has been focusing on extreme citizen science. There are a number of programs and apps that allow people all over the world to contribute geographical and environmental data. His team of 20 researchers work with indigenous communities on developing tools that can be used by anyone, even those who can’t read or write, allowing for more access to relevant data about their own communities. Steven and Muki discuss the benefits and drawbacks of citizen science as it becomes more common. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This week Ed speaks with Ilya Zverev, the man behind the new OpenStreetMap editor Every Door. Ilya is passionate about micro mapping, and argues there is a need for a tool like his but ultimately the time he spends on editing is as much a need as it is enjoyable. This is not his first OSM tool, and this is not the only editor out there, so what’s unique about Every Door? This editor focuses on things that are usually unmapped, the things that are often overlooked because it takes too long and is too tedious to map them. Ilya and Ed discuss the future of mapping apps and predict more thematic mobile editors will emerge (editors for shops, for runners, etc.). Listen to Ilya explain his passion and vision for a POI editor, and offer advice for those who want to create editor tools of their own. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

What's more important: idea or execution? This week's guest is the head of Geovation: Carly Morris. Geovation was recently awarded the prestigious Go:Tech award for Incubator or Accelerator Programme of the year. Steven wonders if there really is a benefit for startups in the geospatial industry receiving help from accelerator programs such as the one Geovation provides. As Carly explains, the data speaks for itself, 76% of the startups that have worked with Geovation are still active five years after leaving the program. That's quite impressive considering 90% of startups overall fail within the first five years. Steven and Carly agree, simply having a brilliant idea does not guarantee success, it’s all about having the right solution and the right execution, that's where startup mentor programs such as the one Geovation offers come in. Join them for an enlightening discussion on how to take a geospatial start up to the next level. Show notes and map on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This week's guest is Jack Dangermond, co-founder and president of Esri, the most successful and influential geospatial business ever created. In this extra long episode Steven and Jack have a wide-ranging discussion on spatial being special, "the geographic approach" to problem solving, the unique role geospatial technologies and services have to play in addressing the climate crisis, the evolution of technology and the implications for a long-running business like Esri, and much, much more. It's a unique chance for us to hear the perspective of a geospatial visionary and successful founder who remains as deeply passionate about geo as when he started more than 50 years ago. Show notes and map on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

One of our regular episodes in which Ed and Steven chat about their projects. Steven shares his impressions from the first ever Geomob Tel Aviv. Ed reflects on the challenges around the recent launch of OpenCage Geosearch. "Professor Feldman" uses the opportunity to share the lessons he recently imparted at his seminar about building a successful geospatial business delivered to the Edindurg Earth Observation (EEO) group (video hopefully available soon). In other geospatial news we discuss OSMF hiring its first full time employee - regular London geomobster and past speaker Grant Slater. Congrats! Show notes are on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This week's guest is Will Martin, long-time start-up investor, and co-founder of Portfolio Ventures. Will has invested in many different early-stage start-ups across the entire tech landscape, including some businesses with a geo focus. While not specifically focused just on geo, we thought Will's conversaton with Steven would be an interesting and relevant reference to help demystify the early stage investment process.   Show notes and map on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Steven speaks with historical geographer Dr. Anne Kelly Knowles, professor at the University of Maine, and co-founder of the Holocaust Geographies collaborative, a multi-institutional, collaborative research group that uses mapping and geography to examine spaces and places of the Holocaust. They discuss one specific map (linked on our website), and the challenge and power of using geography to provide a spatial lens into traumatic human experience. The map in question, documenting the experiences and memories of two of the victims, serves as a representation of the unique power and attributes, but also limitations, that mapping / GIS / spatial rendering bring to representing the horrific circumstances of the Holocaust specifically and conflict regions generally. Show notes and map on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Two-time Geomob London speaker Manuel Timita joins Ed to discuss illustreets, the geospatial start-up he is co-founder of. Manuel shares the ups and downs of his entreprenurial journey and the challenge of turning impressive geo tech into a thriving business. As so often it is a case study in the power of perseverance. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This week Steven has the pleasure of speaking long-time open source geo contributor Howard Butler about foundational open source geo technologies GDAL and PDAL. The discussion turns, as so often here on the Geomob podcast, to the topic of open source sustainability. Howard comments on various strategies and business models including "barn raising", and the distinction between free software and free support. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.