Dr. Songnian Li:

Geoinformatics solves real-world problems using geospatial information and technologies to manage, analyze, and visualize geospatial data.

It has numerous positive impacts on society and the environment, and significantly impacts our daily lives in many positive ways.

Recent developments in geoinformatics

Geoinformatics is well known for its power to enhance personal and vehicle navigation, improve disaster and emergency response, develop better urban living environments, raise environmental awareness, and improve public health and safety.

More recent developments in geoinformatics include big geospatial data analytics, geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), urban digital twins (digital replicas of cities), and real-time geospatial data handling.

These developments are supported by recent technology advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud/edge/quantum computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G/6G networks, which have promoted the increasing use of geospatial information and technologies.

Positive impacts

Examples of positive impacts of these efforts include:

• Enabling the monitoring of ecosystems, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management
• Enhancing early warning systems and post-disaster recovery efforts, reducing damage and saving lives
• Supporting the development of smart cities and sustainable land use, improving infrastructure and public services
• Enabling precision farming and crop monitoring, boosting yields, and enhancing food security
• Tracking diseases and improving health care access for better public health services
• Optimizing transportation and infrastructure to support socioeconomic development through informed policymaking
• Helping preserve cultural heritage

Big data challenges

Big geospatial data has already demonstrated enormous opportunities for overall societal management and decision making through big data analytics and visualization. However, its collection, especially sensor data, which is being captured in an automatic and unprecedented way, continues to pose new opportunities and challenges.

Addressing these challenges requires continuous research and development efforts in geoinformatics to foster innovation, interdisciplinary and international collaboration, and informed decision making across various sectors.

Ultimately, through the strategic guidance from, for example, the UN-GGIM Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), an integrative platform for geospatial data can better support the further development of geoinformatics' societal benefit areas, the continuous implementation of national strategic priorities, and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Samantha Lavender:

Geospatial information is all around us!

With the advent of the smartphone, almost everyone carries a powerful geospatial device, whether this is helping us know where we are or giving directions, using data from navigation satellites such as GPS (Global Positioning System), giving location-based data such as the nearest restaurant or shop, or providing hyperlocal weather information.

Increase in geospatial data

A lot of this information comes from satellites.

This will increase, as a plethora of commercial and government-owned satellite missions are already in space, and more are being readied for launch. Soon, satellite data will be available daily and consistently, allowing the development of improved satellite applications, and the use of satellite data by a greater variety of people.

This increase in geospatial data means that, with data from our phones or other devices, we can monitor applications – from global and continental-level assessments to local neighborhoods, including our impact on the natural environment, e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, and plastic pollution.

Collaboration

However, it's not just the number of satellites that's important – bringing together data from missions with different characteristics and uncertainties is also key.

This interoperability is where standards are essential in defining agreed formats and online processing interactions, allowing diverse stakeholders to discuss what is needed and test potential approaches.

Dr. Esra Ozdenerol:

Over the past decade, geoinformatics has revolutionized how we understand and interact with our world.

It has become an indispensable tool in tackling some of the most pressing issues we face. Its applications are vast and varied, touching virtually every aspect of society.

As the field continues to grow, driven by ongoing research and technological advancements, its potential to drive positive change and innovation remains boundless.

Environmental monitoring

One significant contribution of geoinformatics is in the realm of environmental monitoring and management.

By utilizing geoinformatics tools – such as satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing technologies – scientists can track deforestation, land use, and climate patterns with unprecedented precision.

This capability has been crucial in developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change, preserve biodiversity, and manage natural resources sustainably.

Satellite imagery's role

Satellite imagery provides a comprehensive view of the Earth's surface, enabling the detection of subtle changes over time.

For instance, deforestation can be monitored by comparing satellite images taken at different intervals, allowing for the identification of illegal logging activities and the assessment of reforestation efforts.

Integrating data

Geoinformatics integrates this spatial data with other information, such as soil types, rainfall patterns, and human activities, to create detailed maps and models. Sensors on satellites and drones can measure various parameters, such as vegetation health, soil moisture, and atmospheric conditions.

This data is invaluable for predicting climate trends, assessing the health of ecosystems, and planning conservation efforts.

Natural resource management

Geoinformatics plays a pivotal role in managing natural resources.

By mapping resources such as water, minerals, and forests, policymakers can make informed decisions about their sustainable use.

For example, water resource management can benefit from GIS-based models that predict the availability of and demand for water in different regions, helping to prevent shortages.

Disaster management

Geoinformatics is crucial in disaster management.

By analyzing geographic data, authorities can identify areas at risk of natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. Early warning systems based on geoinformatics data can save lives and reduce economic losses by enabling timely evacuations and preparations.

Geoinformatics has also transformed disaster management response strategies. Real-time data collection and analysis enable emergency services to predict, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters more efficiently.

For instance, geospatial technologies have been used to model flood risks, track hurricanes, and manage wildfire responses, thereby reducing the loss of life and property.

Public health

Public health has benefited immensely from geoinformatics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, geoinformatics became crucial for understanding the global situation. For data about case numbers, demographics, and other virus-related information to be truly comprehensible, understanding their geographic context was vital.

Without this geographic anchor, the information lacked the necessary context to be meaningful and helpful.

Visualization

Geoinformatics-generated maps and visualizations illuminated the pandemic's scope and impact, tracking the spread of the virus and enabling governments and health organizations to implement timely interventions and allocate resources more effectively.

The enhancement of mobile apps and cloud-based analysis tools has made geospatial knowledge more accessible. As both a driver and beneficiary of digital transformation, geoinformatics infrastructure is crucial for improving global understanding to meet unprecedented challenges.

This is not merely about automation but about gaining insights at a scale and speed that enable effective responses to rapidly changing conditions.

How geoinformatics helped manage COVID-19

My own work has leveraged geoinformatics to map disease outbreaks, identify health and gender inequalities, and improve access to health care services.

My book, The Role of GIS in COVID-19 Management and Control, addresses real-world challenges revealed through geoinformatics, such as social discrimination, inequalities in women's access to mental health care, and the risk of transmission linked to vaccination hesitancy.

It explores how geoinformatics has been used to manage and control the spread of COVID-19 through mapping:

• Trends in cases, deaths, and vaccinations
• Pandemic management strategies, including masking, social distancing, and optimizing testing site locations for at-risk and vulnerable populations

My studies on infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and Lyme disease have highlighted the power of geoinformatics in uncovering the intricate relationships between lifestyle factors and infectious disease dynamics, ultimately contributing to more effective public health strategies.

I’ve identified lifestyle segments and areas with higher vulnerability, and provided insights for targeted interventions and resource allocation.

Understanding inequalities

The geographic perspective provided by geoinformatics is crucial for understanding health inequalities at the population level. This is a dimension often underemphasized in traditional public health research over the past decade.

My book, Spatial Health Inequalities: Adapting GIS Tools and Data Analysis, addresses this gap, offering geoinformatics research to tackle health inequalities more effectively.

In our globalizing world, the recognition of the roles played by biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and cultural factors in driving or sustaining health inequalities is growing. As time and distance become less of barriers, these factors increasingly intersect and overlap in specific geographical areas. Investigating how these elements influence the health of individuals, groups, and populations enhances our understanding of why certain geographical areas experience poorer health outcomes compared with others.

Another of my books, Gender Inequalities: GIS Approaches to Gender Analysis, takes this approach by emphasizing geoinformatics analysis and mapping of gender inequality indicators, reflecting the realities of the lives of both women and men.

Urban planning

Urban planning and development are other areas where geoinformatics has had a significant impact.

By combining spatial data with socioeconomic information, urban planners can create smarter, more resilient cities.

This integration optimizes infrastructure and resource distribution, thereby enhancing the quality of life for residents through more sustainable and livable urban environments. The use of statistical geospatial data alongside socioeconomic analysis and mapping development indicators from district to country levels helps assess progress and identify gaps across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda (U.N. 2019).

Agriculture

Agriculture has seen transformative changes due to geoinformatics. Precision farming techniques, which rely on detailed spatial data, allow farmers to monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and manage pests more effectively.

This not only increases yield and reduces costs, but also minimizes the environmental impact of farming practices.