Geospatial AI use cases, sharpening spatial skills & participatory mapping

Welcome to Spatial Perspectives! Your monthly bite-sized newsletter for all things Spatial Data Science.

AI for Geospatial

Everyone is talking about AI. The geospatial world is no different - but what role will AI play in spatial analytics?

In his recent keynote at the #Spatial Data Science Conference, Javier de la Torre predicts three main use cases of AI:

1. Co-pilots: the adoption of “co-piloting” AI in products, which will assist with data cleaning, discovery processes, and query assistance, aiming to enhance productivity and performance.
2. AI as the new UI: Could prompts or conversations replace traditional dashboards? AI can serve as the new user interface, creating a more interactive and engaging experience for users.
3. Model & data catalog optimization: AI could be embedded in data models to enhance their understanding of valuable spatial data, as well as enhance search-ability in data catalogs.

Want to learn more? Watch the keynote here.?

????? Queering the map

It’s Pride month! We’re excited to mark it by sharing “Queering the Map” for this month’s map of the month.?

Queering the Map allows individuals to share their personal stories and experiences related to queerness and LGBTQ+ identities on a map. Each marker represents a unique story, ranging from personal reflections, memories, or moments.

This is an amazing example of the power of participatory mapping. By tying experiences to places, Queering the Map fosters a sense of connection and solidarity among individuals.

Explore and contribute here!

Careers in Spatial: advice from the experts

Every edition we ask one of our experts for their top tip on carving out your career as a Spatial Data Scientist. Argyrios Kyrgiazos , Data Scientist, shares some advice for those starting out in Data Science.

“Spatial Data Science is a vast and rapidly evolving field, so maintaining a curious and adaptable mindset is key to your success. It is a multidisciplinary field with numerous applications that is emphasized in the exploration of spatial patterns. Stay curious, explore new techniques, and challenge yourself with diverse projects and keep experimenting. Sharpen your skills by taking online courses, attending workshops, or pursuing advanced degrees in fields like geography, remote sensing, or data science.”

If you’d like to hear more from the experts, join us at a Spatial Data Science Bootcamp, designed to equip #DataScientists & Analysts with the geospatial skills and knowledge to apply in their day-to-day work. Take a look at what’s in store here!

Coffee break content

Order up! Here are some of the latest #Geospatial reads to jump-start your day:

• Check out Jozef Sorocin ’s collection of actionable guides to help you integrate Google Maps with confidence: The Google Maps Handbook.
• POI data is used in many different use cases, whether it be risk assessments or urban planning, so complete and accurate data is important. Explore SafeGraph ’s report examining POI data coverage by country here.
• Interested in how CPG companies can use Location Intelligence to expand distribution networks and stay ahead of competition? Check out Florence Broderick ’s chat with Grocery Gazette .
• Read 麦肯锡 ’s report sharing how a #CPG company used loyalty-card, geographic and demographic data to increase the visibility and share of their promotions.

On the road!

Find out about upcoming events and webinars for the geo-community here!

• Join our team at FOSS4G, June 26th - July 2nd to learn more about supercharging deck.gl, vis.gl & the CARTO Analytics Toolbox.
• Coming soon: Spatial Spotlights! A series of weekly 15-minute webinars where the team will be sharing tips & tricks, use case demos, best practice guidance and more. The first session will be on July 5th, “A no-code approach to optimizing OOH advertising locations” with Helen McKenzie .
• Want to level up your skills in Spatial Data Science? Keep an eye out for upcoming Spatial Data Science Bootcamps in Toronto, Paris, San Francisco & Washington DC (with more cities to be added!).
• Early-bird tickets for SDSC23 New York are live! In the meantime, you can watch the highlights from #SDSC London 2023 here.

Over to you!

Do you have an epic data visualization you'd like to feature in our newsletter? Or a fantastic career tip for aspiring Spatial Data Scientists? Drop us a DM to feature in a future edition of Spatial Perspectives!