Geomob

James Morrison, head pilot and UAS ("Unmanned Aircraft System") lead at Ordnance Survey, discusses the use of drones in mapping and surveying. He shares examples of how drones were used to quickly assess landslips and update mapping in the Isle of Wight, as well as capture data for residential housing developments. James explains the different types of drones used by Ordnance Survey and their capabilities, including capturing imagery with centimeter-level accuracy. He also discusses the importance of safety and following regulations when flying drones. James envisions the continued use of drones in surveying, with potential advancements in sensors and flight times.  Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Robin Wilson, maker of the British Placename Mapper, discusses his project and the power and joy of digital geography. The web app allows users to search and explore British place names, revealing fascinating patterns and historical trends. Robin built the tool for fun during a period of free time and was pleasantly surprised by its viral success on social media and Hacker News. He emphasizes the importance of simplicity in building web geo-focused tools. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

Giuseppe Sollazzo, an open data expert and one of the organizers of Open Data Camp 9, returns to the podcast to discusses the upcoming event and the state of open data. Open Data Camp 9 will take place on July 6th and 7th in Manchester, and is a community event that brings together people interested in data from various angles, including data activists, OpenStreetMap contributors, and public sector workers. It is a discussion-based unconference where attendees pitch topics and engage in conversations. Giuseppe also talks about the evolution of open data in the UK, highlighting the importance of data maturity and understanding how to use data effectively. He mentions the successes in data release, such as TFL's open transport data, but also acknowledges the challenges of maintaining and standardizing data. We also highlight Giuseppe's weekly data newsletter, which covers a wide range of data-related topics and has been running for 12 years. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Carston Hernke, the founder of Honeycomb Maps, and recent Geomob Berlin speaker, shares his journey of building a geospatial data analysis tool using WebAssembly. He discusses the frustration of building geospatial applications that don't meet user needs and the aha moment of discovering the concept of direct manipulation. Carston explains how WebAssembly allows for faster and more responsive geospatial experiences in the browser. He introduces Honeycomb Maps, a tool designed for operations teams in the mobility and last-mile delivery markets. Carston emphasizes the importance of simplicity in geospatial tools and offers resources for learning more about WebAssembly. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

In this week's conversation Ed and Steven recap the recent Geomob London event, including discussing the best speaker contest and potential improvements to the voting process. They mull how to best celebrate the 20th anniversary of OpenStreetMap's founding. Finally the discussion turns to recent developments on their respective projects, including a feature in The New York Times for Mapillary and tutorial videos for OpenCage. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Steven is joined by old friend Sean Wiid to discuss UP42, a geospatial marketplace and platform that connects users with commercial geospatial data sources and processing algorithms. Sean shares his journey in the geospatial industry and explains how UP42 aims to address the complexity and fragmentation in the Earth observation and geospatial industry. They discuss the tasking of satellites, the number of data providers on the platform, and the importance of analytics-ready data. Sean also highlights the differences between UP42 and other competing marketplaces and emphasizes the focus on providing a user-friendly interface and API for customers. 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 Ed interviews Octavio Herrera, the founder of recently-launched AddressHub, an address intelligence API for parcel delivery companies. Octavio discusses the importance of address data and the challenges associated with it. He highlights common mistakes in address data, such as abbreviations, inconsistent formatting, and assumptions about addresses working the same way in different countries. Octavio explains how AddressHub helps solve these issues by cleaning and normalizing address data and using multiple geocoders to find accurate coordinates. He also shares his perspective on alternate address solutions. Finally, Octavio promises he will be speaking at a Geomob Berlin in the near future.  Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Nigel Edmead, of enumanation, joins Steven to discuss the importance of teaching geospatial professionals how to articulate the business benefits of their work. He explains that geospatial professionals need business skills to compete for investment resources and secure funding for geospatial projects. Nigel highlights the need for soft skills, such as communication and marketing, to effectively promote the adoption and uptake of geospatial information. He describes the development of a certificate of leadership skills for geospatial professionals and the delivery of e-learning modules and webinars. Nigel emphasizes the importance of tailoring business skills training to the geospatial industry and providing real-world case studies and examples. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Ed is joined by recent Geomob London speaker James Milner who discusses Terra Draw, a cross-platform, open source map editing tool. He explains the inspiration behind Terra Draw and its use cases, highlighting its differentiation from other mapping tools. James shares the current status of the project and future plans, as well as the open-source nature of Terra Draw and the contributions from the community. He discusses funding and sponsorship, including the support he received from OSGeo UK. James reflects on his experience presenting at FOSS4G and the value of the Geomob community. He concludes by inviting listeners to get involved with Terra Draw and share their feedback. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

Steven's guest this week is Jorge Sanz. They discuss the evolution of open source in the geospatial industry, particularly around the role of larger tech companies like Carto, where Jorge previously worked, and Elastic, where he now works. They delve into the capabilities of Elasticsearch and its use in geospatial applications. The conversation touches on the importance of data privacy and ownership, as well as the need for individuals to have an exit strategy from social media platforms. Jorge also shares his involvement in the geospatial community, Geoinquiets Valencia, his recent visit to his first in-person Geomob event in Barcelona, and his aspirations for a Geomob chapter in Valencia. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.