The Geospatial Commission has unveiled the new strategy to unlock the economy and public service benefits through the harnessing of new technologies.
The UK Geospatial Strategy 2030 is aiming to ‘revolutionise public services planning’ whilst also bosting business by utilising new tech such as Artificial Intelligence, satellite imaging and real-time data to boost location-powered innovation. With the role that geospatial applications already play in everyday life; they are able to transform the delivery of public sector services whilst ensuring that taxpayers can get the best service for their money.
This can be done through planning transport infrastructure, improving emergency response and land use, as reported by Public Sector Executive in April.
The new strategy has outlined the rest of the decade’s priorities for the Geospatial Commission, with the final goal being to ensure that the United Kingdom can remain at the forefront of rapidly evolving technologies and the way that they can accelerate innovation and boost the economy. The strategy identifies three renewed missions, which are:
- Embracing enabling technologies to accelerate geospatial innovation
- Drive greater use of geospatial applications and insights across the economy
- Build confidence in the future geospatial ecosystem
Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
“Location data and technologies power our economy and our Geospatial Strategy 2030 will ensure the UK remains an innovating world leader, by building on our successes and harnessing new opportunities from rapidly evolving technologies.
“Our new strategy will grow our economy, embed the application of geospatial data in key decisions that affect our day-to-day lives while driving the private and public sector creativity needed to cement the UK’s status as a global science and technology superpower.”
Chair of the Geospatial Commission, Sir Bernard Silverman, added:
“Location-based insights have proven their enduring value again and again – during the coronavirus pandemic, tracking outbreaks across the country was critical to inform public health decisions. The power location will continue to underpin solutions to our biggest challenges including climate change, energy security and economic growth.
“Our strategy supports the drive towards the adoption of critical technologies and continued investment in UK research and development.”
In order to ensure that the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) remains fit for purpose over the course of the remaining seven years, the Geospatial Commission will conduct a review, with the PSGA outlining how Ordinance Survey can provide world-class location data to the sector across England, Scotland and Wales.
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