In this talk I expanded on the human needs of geospatial solutions - including user design, productivity and digital vs analog tools. Providing food for thought on the 'what', 'why' and 'how' of GIS and spatial problem-solving, this talk was delivered on 6 December 2019 at the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Geography as part of the EEO and AGI Scotland seminar series.

1. Designing a more
human-centric
approach for GI
Thierry Gregorius PhD FRGS
Principal Consultant
Exprodat Consulting / Getech Group
EEO-AGI Scotland, University of Edinburgh, 6 December 2019
Views expressed are entirely personal and do not necessarily reflect those of
Exprodat Consulting Ltd or Getech Group plc.
sketchnthecity.com

2. GIS and the
evolution of
spatial
architectures
Spatial data
and the
mystery of
location
Frontiers of
geospatial
solutions
Being human in a
digital world
What is a
geospatial
professional?

3. Bored Panda

4. The evolution of GIS
Esri graphics

5. Traditional
Enterprise GIS
Stack
Jonathan Harford on Flickr (Creative Commons)
IT Dept >
GIS Vendor >
GIS Team >
GIS User >

6. GIS
anywhere
for anyone
Esri example

7. Maps: just one data representation out of many
http://selection.datavisualization.ch/

8. GIS
User
workflows
Everything
else
Data &
Imagery
Analytics
Business
systems
From a GIS-centric view…

9. …to sprinkling everything with spatial magicspatial
Spatialise
User
workflows
Data &
Imagery
Analytics
Business
systems
Business
systems
Data &
Imagery
User
workflows
Visual-
isation
Mapping
Geocode Analytics
Analytics
IntegratePro GIS
er
ows Everything
else
Spatial
Analysis
User
workflows
User
workflows
Data &
Imagery
Analytics
Visual-
isation
Mapping
Spatial
Analysis
User
workflows
Spatialise
Business
systems
Data &
Imagery
Analytics Pro G
Everything
else
Data &
Imagery
Analytics Pro G
Business
systems
Everything
else
ss
s

10. Photo by Sebastian Hietsch on Unsplash

11. Having said that…

12. “Why use GIS
when you can
annotate JPEGs
in PowerPoint?”
– geologist

14. GIS and the
evolution of
spatial
architectures
Spatial data
and the
mystery of
location
Frontiers of
geospatial
solutions
Being human in a
digital world
What is a
geospatial
professional?

15. @mnolangray
Spatial integrity:
keeping stuff
aligned

16. To err is human: Lake Paigneur oil rig disaster
Custom Transverse Mercator projection
misinterpreted as UTM coordinates
 Mispositioned rig drilled through mineshaft beneath lake
 Massive sinkhole
 Entire lake drained in minutes!
Louisiana, 1980

17. To err is human: world mispositioning record?
Author’s private collection, 2005

18. https://twitter.com/mrchrisaddison/status/1185639644509167616/photo/1

19. GIS and the
evolution of
spatial
architectures
Spatial data
and the
mystery of
location
Frontiers of
geospatial
solutions
Being human in a
digital world
What is a
geospatial
professional?

20. 3D Digital twins
Boston, USA (source: Esri)

21. Digital twins for
operations
Source: Aveva

22. Geospatial bricolage…
Virtual IoT 2D/3D/4D scrapbooks
underpinned by spatial integrity
images via unsplash.com

23. You can do
anything now

24. And anyone
can do it…

25. Just because you can…?

26. If it ain’t broke…
BBC
US Navy

28. Create solutions that people need

29. A solution is not about
technology
Proprietary
vs Open Source:
missing the point
“I am your father…”

30. A ‘solution’: Much more than data or tech…
People
(Roles,
Skills)
Use Cases
Work-
flows
Data Tech Training Support
Gover-
nance
Leadership
Engage-
ment
Change
Manage-
ment

31. Solutions are
all about people

32. ALWAYS start with the end user’s needs
photo credit: rawpixel #570904 via unsplash

33. Look at the whole
problem…

34. …that is, frame the problem!
Question to geologist:
How much of your
time do you spend
doing geology?
Answer:
Err… about 30%

35. Work with
people’s
natural
inclinations

36. Consider the problem at different scales
LEGO London Buses

37. Look laterally:
combine ideas
Announced by LEGO on 1 April 2018

38. Keep it simple Atlanta Child Wellbeing Index
Simple postcode map to tackle poverty & create employment
Source: McKinsey

39. The emotional power of ‘story maps’
Interactive multimedia integrated with simple maps
esri.com

40. Are maps still required at all?
Digitisation
Analog to digital
e.g. paper scans
Digitalisation
Improve processes digitally
Digital Transformation
Natively digital
Reimagine processes from scratch

41. The Atlantic, 2012

42. Spatial intelligence without maps:
Simple answers to simple questions
Is this place prone to flooding?Has this rental car crossed a border?
YES YES

43. Spatial intelligence without maps:
Geocoding with voice
what3words.com
sheets.slope.vouch
(a.k.a. entrance to
Institute of Geography,
Edinburgh, Scotland)

44. Spatial intelligence without maps:
Logistics: parcel routing & tracking
“Your parcel is arriving today
between 13.00 and 14.00“

45. When data is natively digital & automated…

46. …will we finally be free to do the cool stuff?
Analytics
Mapping
Graphics
Charts
GIS

47. GIS and the
evolution of
spatial
architectures
Spatial data
and the
mystery of
location
Frontiers of
geospatial
solutions
Being human in a
digital world
What is a
geospatial
professional?

48. Digital vs analog
Embodied cognition through physical objects
Esri.com

49. Edinburgh
3D model
made in
1829
As seen today at Edinburgh City Arts Centre

50. People love using their hands

51. Our hands leverage a lot of brain power

52. Remember…
BBC
US Navy

53. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-23/meteorologists-still-hand-draw-weather-maps-at-bom/8373086https://adventuresinmapping.com/2017/12/18/hillshade-by-hand/

54. Will your digital map
last as long as this?
Babylonian Map of the World (600 BC)
wikipedia.org

55. Cartographic Design Award
FOSS4G Conference 2013
Map by Anna Butler, Wellingtons Travel http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/foss4g-map-contest/#slideid-255991
Drawn by hand!

56. sketchnthecity.com

57. ArcGIS Pro 3D ‘sketchy edge’ styling
@elliothartley

59. watercolour styling
with GIS

60. Art and Science are converging again
– for the first time since the Renaissance

61. Cartographic
data
visualisation
=
Data science
x
craftsmanship
timogrossenbacher.ch

62. Hands-on models and
the value of tactility

63. Understand
topography
through
your hands
AR Sandbox
via YouTube/UCLA

64. Air traffic
controllers
still use
paper strips

65. Architects
still make
models by
hand

66. Digital + Analog
= best of both worlds?
Note-taking Air traffic control
Touch-Table
AR sandbox
Digital pencil
3D printing/model-making

67. Fieldwork – sadly lacking
into today’s GIS jobs
Author, Libya 2007

68. “We shape our
buildings and then
they shape us.”

69. We shape our workflows
and then they shape us?

70. GIS and the
evolution of
spatial
architectures
Spatial data
and the
mystery of
location
Frontiers of
spatial data
management
Being human in a
digital world
What is a
geospatial
professional?

71. Spatial
ingenuity, craft
& integrity
Spilhaus map projection:
The seven seas as one contiguous ocean

72. Maps: just one data representation out of many
http://selection.datavisualization.ch/

73. Is spatial special?
Schrödinger’s cat
(not) looking at you

74. https://carto.com/blog/location-intelligence-end-of-gis-as-we-know-it/

75. Geospatial skills will always be required…
Spatially literate
(professional)
users
(GIS) Developers
GIS experts
Trainers & consultants
Business
Sales
Project Management
Leadership
Data scientists
(stats, datavis)
Data managers
GIS core skills
Lay users or
consumers

76. https://medium.com/@Spatial_Impressionism/money-verse-maps-d17882e760dc
GIS devs < IT devs

77. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/geospatial-careers-12-things-ive-learned-so-far-thierry-gregorius/
1. Choose your path
2. Build a technical foundation
3. Cultivate a unique skillset
4. Focus
5. Depth vs breadth
6. Learn ‘the business’
7. Embrace the full geospatial lifecycle
8. Go out into the field
9. Travel and keep ‘moving’
10. Never stop learning
11. Learn from people
12. It’s not about the career, stupid

78. Don’t underestimate your abilities
By Kirby Ferguson
“Everything is a Remix”
2011

79. To sell is to be human

80. (Spatial) data
revenue
models
Sponsorship (e.g. R&D grants)
Pays the bills but no more
Pre-Order (e.g. Multi-Client)
Low risk, potential for upside
Reseller / Broker
Needs good terms, high volumes
Marketplace (Platform)
Grow ecosystem, can be win-win
Pay Per Use / As You Go
Needs high volumes or margins
Subscription
Good for repeat revenue
Freemium or Razor Blade Model
Based on loss-leaders
Monopoly / Unique Niche
Congrats, enjoy while it lasts!

81. Don’t undersell yourself

83. 21st century
challenges
E.G. CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
• Carbon capture & storage
• Circular economy
• Empowerment of women
• Energy efficiency
• Geothermal
• Marine regeneration
• Microgrids
• Reforestation and soil restoration
• Regenerative agriculture
• Renewable energy

84. The world needs you
to do great things
with spatial data
THANK YOU
EEO-AGI Scotland, University of Edinburgh, 6 December 2019
Views expressed are entirely personal and do not necessarily reflect those
of Exprodat Consulting Ltd or Getech Group plc.