10 May 2021

Announcing May's Geospatial Champion!

You can read our exclusive interview with techUK's new Geospatial Champion below #GeospatialFuture

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Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Samson, Head of Data Science & Insights at MindFolio for being selected as techUK’s ‘Geospatial Champion’ for May!

The purpose of techUK’s Geospatial Champion campaign is to celebrate the work of those pushing forward adoption of Geospatial in the tech sector.  This is also an opportunity to learn from those working in Geospatial about the current landscape and examples of the strides being made in enhancing awareness. 

A new techUK 'Geospatial Champion’ will be chosen every other month, so if you would like to nominate a friend or colleague to be the next Champion please drop us a line. You can read out interview with Jamie below

1. What is your current role and what does a typical day involve?

I’m MindFolio’s Head of Data Science and Insights, which means I head up our research, analytics innovation and data management. A typical day is hard to describe because our work is extremely broad! Our research projects have several phases to them, from in depth due diligence work to creating and analysing propriety consumer research studies. So, at any point in time, I could be focusing on any one of these aspects. One fundamental part of my day is looking at the latest research in behavioural science, analytics, or pricing to ensure we are at the bleeding edge of innovations in these fields.

2. Why is geospatial data valuable to the UK?

Geospatial data is necessary to understand the ‘here and now’ of any type of real estate development. It can give public authorities and private developers the baseplate to understand the local and wider community, specifically their needs and challenges.

The use of geospatial data creates efficiencies and ensures that no stone is left unturned. For example, geospatial data can quickly flag if an area is a food desert or is lacking leisure facilities. 

The real value in geospatial data in this context is to have the analytical prowess to dig deeper. Converting data into insight is key! The wide reach of geospatial data allows for comparative analysis across a range of factors, communities and locations, giving context to the data at hand. This ultimately allows by development professionals to transform data into strategic insights and managerial recommendations.

3. Do you think the conversation around geospatial data is changing in the UK?

I think as we move to a more democratic and open use of data, we will see an explosion of innovations come to the fore. A web app tool I created called the Community Audit, which maps over 20 attributes of socio-environmental-economic health on communities across London was not possible without access to such open-source data. With the brilliant work of people like Theo Blackwell and the London Datastore for example, opening up data has allowed a whole raft of companies to utilise and apply geospatial data in a number of really interesting ways.

4. How do we showcase the value of geospatial data to the technology sector?

For me, it’s about how this data is applied to a problem. You could have the fanciest analytics or user interfaces in the world, but if the solution does not have a tangible and clearly defined outcome for the intended audience, the impact is lost.

5. What are your key concerns hindering increased deployment of geospatial data in the technology sector?

The lack of a rich catalogue of geospatial data sets, especially for solving key issues in society, is a major concern for me. Even for work in London, I have to do a lot of leg work to get this data together, as it might be missing in some boroughs or be out of date in others. On top of this, there might be amazing local data sets, like the Community Infrastructure map for London, which is missing for the rest of the UK. In this instance, the paucity of data might impact a tech companies’ ability to build up a clearly defined picture of what communities are missing or need.

6. What steps can companies take to utilize spatial data in their products and services

A cliché but think outside the box. Don’t limit yourself to just using fancy API’s for acquiring data, if you go looking for it, you can find real treasures on some of these open portals. It’s also not just about the quantity of data, but more being strategic in what you use to answer your questions most effectively.

7. Can you give an example of where geospatial data has been adopted in an innovative and new way?

Looking at what we’ve created inhouse, we’ve been able to apply the Community Audit app (we’ve created a tool for the US market too) to a variety of international projects. From the redevelopment of Euston Station in London to envisioning the mixed-use future of an island off San Francisco, the app has been invaluable to getting to understand the local community.

Beyond our own work, there are lots of inspiring examples. My favourite is probably Treezilla, a tool which aims to map every tree in the UK, and not only that, identify the eco-benefits they each bring! Or Tranquil Cities which maps out air and noise pollution across London to identify the quiet/relaxing places in the city.

8. Regarding data access and availability – what is the position of the UK and in what ways should we encourage data accessibility?

Data is so fundamental for growth, and as the 5th largest economy in the world we should be placing greater emphasis on collecting and utilising it nationally. To understand communities across the UK, I think we should invest in something akin to the American Community Survey, where every three to five years we get a good picture of socio-economic health across the country, which could add more colour to something like the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

More broadly, access to geospatial data is a fundamental component of achieving a zero-carbon future. Having localized and robust data sets on air quality, noise pollution, proximity to greenery, etc. is necessary to understand how we as development professionals need to improve the built environment in upcoming projects.

9. How can we equip the next generation with the most appropriate skills for a future in geospatial?

Help them understand that geospatial data operates at a micro-scale. As future generations would likely be driven by creating positive socio-environmental outcomes, it is about understanding this at the community, rather than city or national levels. Also, due to the complex nature of these data, hard number skills are great, but those skills combined with a creative flair are even better still.

If you’re curious to learn more about MindFolio, check out their website at www.mindfolio.com

Laura Foster

Laura Foster

Head of Technology and Innovation, techUK

Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.

She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology

Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.

Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster

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