“The dawn of a new era” – New GEO Business show unites geospatial industry

The international showcase that the geospatial industry had been waiting for, the inaugural GEO Business show has been hailed a big success.  Queues of enthusiastic visitors marked the opening of the two day show, which launched at the Business Design Centre in London on 28-29 May.  By the time doors closed, it had welcomed over 1,600 attendees from 39 countries and garnered a wealth of glowing testimonials.

Combining a bustling central trade exhibition featuring 118 exhibitors showcasing the latest geospatial technology and  services, with a packed conference programme of cutting-edge keynotes and presentations plus 96 commercial workshops, GEO Business delivered on its promise to provide an essential focal event – the first of its kind in the UK – for the entire geospatial industry.  Busy, excellent, informative, important, and enjoyable – are just some of the words attendees have used to describe the show.

Organised in collaboration with the UK’s key geospatial and survey organisations – The Survey Association (TSA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) and the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) – GEO Business has enjoyed strong industry support since its inception.

The show’s unifying vision was to promote closer collaboration across the geospatial community and to provide a platform that effectively showcases both the professionalism of the industry and the role that it will play in the future economic growth of the UK.  To cite the words of one exhibitor, Derry Long, business development manager at MBS Survey Software, the new show marked “the dawn of a new era for the geospatial community.”

“From the moment the doors opened, there was a real buzz on the show floor and it was evident that we had gained the support from the community in the launch of this show,” says Versha Carter, group exhibition director of GEO Business.  “It was fantastic to see the entire geospatial industry united together doing business.  There was a genuine sense of the industry coming together to connect and share their experiences and methods – to see how they could learn from each other and improve the way they work.  We now have a really solid foundation from which to grow and develop the show, and are already looking forward to GEO Business 2015!”

Tracey Stone, senior infrastructure product sales specialist lead EMEA at Autodesk comments:  “I was very impressed with the GEO Business 2014 event and would go so far to say it was one of the best events that I have been to for a while.  It was extremely well organised, the content of the conference and workshop programme was very good, and the energy and buzz around the exhibition hall was very impressive.”

Industry experts draw in the crowds

From discovering new carvings at the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, to creating 3D simulations of the world around us, to measuring the water height of the Congo, geographic information and geospatial products and services have never had so many practical applications.  Contributing billions of dollars to the global economy, geospatial is now one of the fastest emerging technology sectors.  The amount of change – the raft of new trends and innovations available – is phenomenal.  The challenge – indeed one of the prevailing themes running through many of the show’s 49 conference sessions – is how not to over complicate the way the geo industry shares its data.

Notable highlights for 2014 included keynotes from Peter Hansford, chief construction adviser, HM Government, UK; Neil Ackroyd, acting director general and chief executive, Ordnance Survey UK; David Philp, head of BIM implementation, Cabinet Office/Mace Group UK; Anne Kemp, director BIM strategy and development, Atkins Ltd (Chair AGI, Chair ICE BIM Action Group, Vice-Chair BIM4Infrastructure) and Dr Catherine Souch, head of research and higher education, Royal Geographical Society, UK.

Other popular speakers included: Giulio Pagan from Autodesk UK talking about Heathrow Airport and the challenges and solutions for a mini-city; Gavin Duffy from RealSim demonstrating how the ‘game-ification of GIS’ can speed up business decision making without the need for specialist knowledge; Jaak Laineste from Nutiteq, Estonia presenting GIS with Google Glasses and other wearables; and Jesper Falk from COWI Denmark exploring the ways output from small unmanned aircraft (or UAVs) can assist infrastructure projects.

“It was a great show.  I was spoilt for choice, with the exhibition, conference and workshops sessions, it was difficult to fit everything into one day!” comments visitor Jeremy Murfitt, director at Everything is Somewhere Ltd.

“I attended GEO Business on both days and found the experience extremely informative and very interesting,” agrees visitor Terry McSweeney, senior land surveyor at Laing O'Rourke Infrastructure.

Informative was certainly an apt description of the show’s comprehensive, 96-strong, commercial workshop programme (hosted across seven seminar rooms).  A practical draw for many visitors to the show, the sessions offered a unique opportunity to see some of the latest services and technology in action.

Hot topics included LSS software (McCarthy Taylor Systems), BIM workflows (Topcon), 3D BIM for existing buildings (Stanburys), Delivering geographic data intelligently (Ordnance Survey), Multiple sensor unmanned fixed wing surveying solutions (Quest UAV & Quest-PODS), and Geospatial data collection and the latest innovations in UAV (Trimble).

It certainly wasn’t all work and no play for GEO Business attendees.  The networking started early for exhibitors and visitors with a welcome drinks party on the eve of the show.  Whilst the highly anticipated gala dinner hosted by Topcon UK (which sold out of all tickets in January) was particularly well received and included entertainment from the world-renowned Siren electric string quartet.

Summing up his GEO Business experience, John Fraser, director at Leica Geosytems, UK concludes:  “The UK needs a show like GEO business.  Leica Geosystems thoroughly enjoyed being present and assisting in creating the professional and positive vibe, which such a show deserves.  Let's make it bigger, better and even more of an enjoyable experience next year.”

GEO Business will return to The Business Design Centre in London on 27-28 May 2015.  For further information, please visit www.GeoBusinessShow.com.

To discuss booking a stand at GEO Business 2015, please contact Versha Carter on vcarter@divcom.co.uk or +44(0)1453 836363.

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Media enquiries to:
Sophie Potten, Marketing Manager, Diversified Communications UK
t. +44 (0)1453 836363
e. spotten@divcom.co.uk
www.GeoBusinessShow.com

Notes:

Diversified Communications UK Ltd is the UK division on an international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibitions, conferences, publications and websites. Industry events with relevance to the geospatial marketplace include the International and European LiDAR Mapping Forums, the SPAR Point Group 3D Imaging events and the Ocean Business event in Southampton.  Visit www.divcom.co.uk for further information.

GEO Business 2014 is the brand new geospatial event for everyone involved in the gathering storing, processing and delivering of geospatial information.  It is organised in collaboration with The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), The Association for Geographic Information (AGI), The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and The Survey Association (TSA).

The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) is an international qualifying body dedicated to the regulation, education and training of surveyors working within civil engineering. ICES is now recognised as the leading chartered professional body for civil engineering surveyors. They have introduced relevant and meaningful competencies for geospatial engineers and commercial managers which make a difference.  www.cices.org

The Association for Geographic Information (AGI) exists to represent the interests of the UK's GI industry; a wide-ranging group of public and private sector organisations, suppliers of GI software, hardware, data and services, consultants, academics and interested individuals. The AGI, by way of its unique membership forum, brings together this previously disparate GI community to share ideas on best practice, experience and innovation, and offers access to unparalleled networking opportunities with significant business benefits. As such it acts on behalf of the community as whole. Since its formal inception in 1989, it has built up a significant membership base and established itself as the respected voice in GI and is the membership body for everyone with an interest or involvement with GI.  www.agi.org.uk

RICS - the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - was created in 1868 in the United Kingdom. It received a royal charter in 1881.  Their members are known as chartered surveyors, and are recognised by the designation after their name - FRICS (for Fellow of RICS) or MRICS (for Member of RICS). Today we are a global property professional body which aims to: Regulate and promote the profession; maintain the highest educational and professional standards; protect clients and consumers through a strict code of ethics; provide impartial advice, analysis and guidance.  www.rics.org

The Survey Association, known generally as TSA, is the trade body for commercial survey companies in the UK. The association was formed in 1979 to give a focus for private sector businesses in land and hydrographic survey. It is important to realise, however, that it is not a regulatory body. The role of TSA is to promote best practice amongst its members, provide a forum for members for discussion, debate and continuing professional development and, to the wider audience such as engineers and architects, provide guidance on new methods and techniques and a list of suitably qualified and experienced companies.  www.tsa-uk.org.uk

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