The future of GIS is location intelligence
Oct 2024
High-resolution imagery. 3D modelling. AI predictions. Historical surveys. And a suite of geospatial tools you can use to impact change. This is location intelligence and it helps professionals overcome challenges.
Oct 2024
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At Nearmap, we believe geospatial insights can answer critical questions. Like how to make a business more successful. Or how to plan for community growth. These insights even have the power to improve society at large.
The geographic approach to solving problems is a way of thinking that integrates spatial information and science. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable the geographic approach through data collection, visualisation and mapping, analysis and modelling, decision-making, and action. These tools help create a better understanding of our world and open up new possibilities — making it possible to find the right solution to any challenge.
As a leader in ground truth, Nearmap location intelligence helps professionals overcome challenges using contextual high-resolution imagery, 3D datasets, and AI detection layers.
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High-resolution imagery
High-resolution aerial imagery provides a more detailed, zoomed in, and richer view of the real world. These images capture fine-scale features and changes in the landscape that may not be visible through other forms of data collection. This allows experts to conduct more precise analyses and make informed decisions when it comes to land use planning, environmental monitoring, infrastructure development, and so much more.
High-resolution content also empowers automated workflows. Sharper details allow for better feature definition models, improving the success rates of interpreting and analysing the reality algorithmically. Higher success rates of automated algorithms results in efficient exploitation of datasets to solve real-world problems.
Historical insights
Location intelligence isn’t just about current ground truth. Historical aerial imagery also plays a role in helping the technology realise its full potential. This data serves as an invaluable resource for professionals by allowing them to analyse temporal changes in the landscape. By leveraging historical insights, experts can effectively uncover patterns of urban development, assess environmental transformations, and track the evolution of natural resources over time. This capability not only provides historical context for areas of interest but also aids in predictive modelling for future scenarios, enabling more informed decision-making.
The ability to correlate historic imagery with present-day data gives professionals a robust foundation for tackling complex spatial challenges, ultimately driving progress and innovation in the field. With historic aerial imagery, professionals are empowered to build solution-oriented strategies that address both contemporary issues and anticipate future needs.
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3D datasets
3D modelling transforms 2D imagery into immersive three-dimensional visuals. Capturing data at just one resolution limits the scope of insights. By integrating X, Y, and Z axis data, professionals can define 3D shapes that profoundly increase the number of viewable insights. With 3D, teams can accurately model and simulate real-world scenarios, enabling them to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies for complex spatial challenges.
Using real-world imagery integrated with industry-leading applications further expands the problem-solving potential of 3D datasets. For example, ArcGIS users can integrate Nearmap 3D into the platform to create living digital twins. This allows city planners to truly explore the built environment from every angle — providing a higher level of certainty as they evaluate decisions before implementing actions.
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AI detection layers
With AI, professionals can efficiently process and analyse vast amounts of data, allowing them to identify patterns and trends that may not be apparent through traditional methods. This technology also enables automated feature extraction from imagery, making it easier to create accurate maps and spatial databases.
Nearmap AI can identify over 150 different feature types in a single image with mature machine learning models — drastically reducing the time and effort of data discovery. And, with Nearmap AI, this information can be integrated into GIS platforms to help solve challenges with location-based insights that bring context to the data.
Combining AI with geospatial tools can automatically extract and digitise imagery to help update base GIS systems with current ground truth. Now tasks like change detection, property assessment, and risk profiling can be done in minutes.
Our world has the answers, we just need to look for them. Location intelligence synthesises ground truth into a central source of information to help professionals access the insights needed to effectively plan for the future. This includes climate change, shifting demographics, resource needs, and more. But the answers are only as good as the data that powers them.
At Nearmap, our location intelligence is built on a foundation of reliably fresh content, including high-resolution aerial imagery that’s captured frequently, a suite of 3D models, and a robust AI capable of identifying more than 150 features.
Ready to find the solution to your challenge? Try Nearmap location intelligence — the leader in imagery, insights, and answers.