This column is sponsored by ESRI
In the current economic climate, a blank check for geospatial spending is definitely wishful thinking. However, if the government goes forward with various initiatives to stimulate the economy, planning for information technology to support these initiatives would certainly be money well spent. Geospatial technology investments would help to increase efficiency and save money on the kinds of projects proposed, while providing jobs, investment in a vital technology sector, and increasing our understanding of our planet.
Infrastructure, energy and climate are the big three domestic investment programs under discussion, all of which could benefit from better mapping and monitoring. A peaceful resolution to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are also top priorities of the incoming administration, and a lasting technology investment to monitor the stability of these countries requires geospatial investments.
Given the many competing, and large-dollar, programs under consideration, I think it makes great sense to weave geospatial investment as a necessary support element, rather than pushing for large-scale investment into spatial data infrastructure (SDI) for the nation.
Infrastructure Support
Geospatial technology provides a necessary decision support tool for infrastructure initiatives such as roads, bridges and railways. Getting back to building stuff requires precision measuring technologies for engineering and construction, and a system that ties projects into larger geographies for more precise planning. The growing move toward 4D construction, taking into account schedules with supply deliveries and workers, is a compelling geospatial application that greatly improves efficiency while also speeding a project’s schedule. And there’s the added benefit of improved documentation and reporting with far greater transparency.
With public dollars at work, the transparency component is one that the incoming Obama administration seems to understand. Let’s harness web-based mapping tools to support the investment in infrastructure by providing greater government accountability and transparency. With the incoming administration’s aim for high ethical standards, and an interest in moving away from the pervasive presence of lobbyists, geospatial technology can provide a framework for sharing details with the public, while improving the building process.
Energy Analysis
Greater efficiency in our power generation and transmission capacity means less energy cost and fewer emissions, which translates into a healthier environment. Geospatial tools are ideally suited for the siting of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro. Mapping tools coupled with remote and on-the-ground sensors provide the data necessary to site new power plants and design new utility routes.
There has been a call for a new national smart grid network to efficiently transmit electricity around the country. While the investment is a huge one, the benefits for increased efficiency and the lowered need for power generation should pay for itself by reducing the number of power plants that need to be built, with the side benefit of dramatic emissions savings. This new national grid will provide an impetus for much more detailed electrical distribution mapping, similar to the findings of Xcel Energy with their SmartGridCity initiative.
Increased investment in renewable energy, and widespread application of Smart Grid technology, will require considerable application of geospatial technology. The federal government can spur this development by providing incentives to utilities and home owners to be smarter about their power use. An investment in a national transmission network would also require a phenomenal investment in geospatial technology to manage and maintain.
Climate Monitoring
What’s good for our climate is often what’s good for business, but incentives to boost action are often necessary given the need for investment. It’s looking increasingly likely that a carbon tax or a cap and trade market will be forthcoming from the federal government to spur these investments. If a company is now taxed heavily on the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, they’ll need to act to curb their output. The need to evaluate and determine a company’s baseline emissions levels, and to constantly measure in order to make improvements, means an investment in sensors and systems as well as geospatial technology.
The widespread impacts of climate change throughout natural systems, and on populations, will require a much better system of system. The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is a compelling proposal, but so far the European Union is the only country to move forward with a constellation of earth observing satellites. The United States needs the funds to achieve an advanced sensor network to help monitor the planet. This is the one area where I feel that a direct investment in technological capacity would have the greatest impact on the geospatial industry, the scientific community, and all citizens of the planet.
Peaceful Withdrawal
The peaceful withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq may be tactically difficult. The current operations in both countries rely heavily on geospatial intelligence to aid their understanding of enemy forces. I’m hoping that there will be a plan in place to assist the Iraqi government with technology transfer so that they can have the tactical advantage over potentially warring factions.
Geospatial technology has proven itself repeatedly in the current conflicts, improving the success of missions and reducing casualties. While the technology has proven itself in time of war, it needs to now be harnessed for promoting and monitoring peace.
Ultimately, investment in geospatial technology by the federal government pays off in innovation and international business prospects in a sector of technology development that is becoming of increasing importance in the information age. The sales and services of this technology provides considerable benefits to the economy in the form of tax revenue and employment benefits. It’s necessary to think long term toward the future of a more interlinked global economy, where investment in geospatial technology and capabilities will provide an increasingly larger engine for economic growth domestically and internationally as foreign entities realize the importance of geospatial intelligence.
Geospatial technology can provide a great deal of benefit to make our nation more efficient. If we focus on projects first, we’ll build the case for greater investments in geospatial data and infrastructure in the future through proven and high-profile performance. Given the realities of the current economy, let’s push toward funding of project-based geospatial technology investment.
Read what Jeff Thurston has to say on this topic here.
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