GEO Business made a big impact on the UK geospatial profession as it returned to ExCeL London on 18-19 May.
The 2022 edition welcomed an impressive increase in visitors, confirming the upward trajectory of the sector and the vital role of trade events in facilitating business and sharing ideas.
GEO Business Event Director, Ollie Hughes, says, “With such a high rate of visitors, it’s hard to believe that GEO Business 2021 was just six months ago! It was so rewarding to see geospatial professionals come together in such a friendly and energised way.
“GEO Business 2022 was a hub of activity for the two whole days. Whether you were checking out new tech, learning from thought-leaders, or making new connections, I sincerely hope this year’s event helps to strengthen your career and business.”
A must-attend event for exhibitors
Federico Uccelli, CEO of Omniasphere, says, “GEO Business has established itself as the defacto GIS/GEO tech conference and exhibition for the UK, attracting quality visitors both locally and International. If you are in the GIS vertical then this is a must-attend event.”
Simon Lloyd, Business Development Manager for Site Vision Surveys Ltd, says, “GEO Business 2022 was a great event. We were able to share our brand with many customers and industry peers. We also enjoyed hearing about the latest innovations and talking to potential clients about our services. We look forward to coming back next year!”
Matt Azzopardi, UK Sales Manager for Worldsensing, adds, “There was definitely an increase in footfall, no question about that at all. And the calibre of the people we talked to was significantly better. It’s been a fantastic show. I’m very impressed and we’ll be back again next year.”
Eye-catching new technology
The show floor was a feast for the eyes, with new products along every aisle. On the Trimble and KOREC stand, visitors got up close to the Trimble X7 3D Laser Scanner, R12i GNSS and S-Series Robotic Total Stations, loggers and software.
Stuart Guthrie-Cadge, Marketing & Engagement Manager for KOREC Group, says, “This year’s GEO Business delivered an impressive number of visitors who were noteworthy in both quality and quantity. The show provided a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with customers in a lively environment, and it was encouraging to see such a diverse programme – great work!”
At the Hexagon Village, visitors got the first look at the new Leica AP20 Autopole, alongside the recently launched Pegasus TRK reality capture mobile mapping system. Not only that, visitors flocked to captivating live demonstrations of the Leica BLK ARC autonomous with the iconic SPOT from Boston Dynamics.
Plus, Topcon Positioning showcased their latest machine control solutions, including the Topcon GT series and Clear Edge software. And visitors got the chance to try on the showstopping NavVis VLX laser scanner with the accompanying IVION software.
Siobhan Reisinger, Marketing Program Manager for NavVis, says, “NavVis was delighted to return as an exhibitor at GEO Business 2022! Visitors were keen to learn more about mobile mapping and experience NavVis VLX in person. Shows like GEO Business are vital to our success as a B2B software company in the geospatial industry. Thank you for another superb show and to everyone who visited us at our booth.”
Several UAV products were on show, courtesy of RIEGL, Aetha, AlphaGeo UK, Lidaretto, Orthodrone, and Teledyne Geospatial who also displayed the new Optech Galaxy airborne lidar.
Dave Foster, Managing Director for RIEGL UK Ltd, says, “RIEGL featured UAV scanners and TLS with robotic integrations. On both days the booth was busy with professionals highly interested in our Ultimate LiDAR™ range. RIEGL is delighted with the footfall and many high-quality leads now being followed up. This year’s show was extremely successful and we’re looking forward to 2023 already!”
Also garnering attention on the show floor was the imposing mobile mapping vehicle used by 135 Geographic Squadron RE. The vehicle offered a unique chance to check out Bulk Repro which can plot hundreds of maps in one hour.
Thought leadership on vital topics
The Main Stage provided a platform for respected thought-leaders from across the geospatial profession, such as Dr Anthony Veal from Met Office, Dimitrina Pironkova-Teofilova from SKANSKA UK PLC, and Ananya Jaidev, Helen Markides and Tom Perks from Greater London Authority. The stage was also set for several panels to shine a light on the biggest topics, including the UK’s National Underground Asset Register, inclusion and diversity, and the ‘golden thread’.
Helen Markides, Infrastructure Data and Innovation Lead for Greater London Authority, says, “We enjoyed seeing the breadth of the sector and how many applications there are for geospatial data and services. We enjoyed meeting fellow geospatial professionals in person rather than virtually – particularly suppliers that we’ve worked with over the years and the opportunity to meet international partners.”
The Environment & Sustainability Stage also brought vital topics to the table, including the web bulb phenomenon with Alice Goudie from Emu Analytics and the challenges of sustainability with Dan Hirst and Donna Lyndsay from Ordnance Survey.
Over at the GIS & Data Hub, visitors soaked up information on data management, mobile mapping, and satellite imagery. And elsewhere, visitors gathered to learn about surveyor robots with TinyMobileRobots, digital workflows with Trimble, and professional development with CICES.
Charles Davis, CEO of i-Earth and host of ‘A new age of satellite data & AI’, says, “GEO Business is THE major UK conference where the geospatial industry comes together to collaborate. A single geospatial technology rarely answers the whole commercial question, so understanding how the different technologies complement each other is an important takeaway. GEO Business offers an opportunity to see the whole geospatial ecosystem in one place, from start-ups to established industry players.”
Sharing knowledge with fellow professionals
In addition to the array of products and sessions, visitors took full advantage of the GEO Lounge (sponsored by Topcon Positioning). And the GEO Drinks trail welcomed visitors, speakers and exhibitors for a friendly hour of socialising at the end of the first busy day.
Furthermore, a significant portion of visitors spoke directly with the Government’s Geospatial Commission in their dedicated pavilion. Chris Chambers, Deputy Director of NUAR Delivery for the Geospatial Commission, says, “It was great to meet old and new friends at GEO Business, and be able to talk about the National Underground Asset Register with people from such a broad spectrum of stakeholder groups. We ran numerous sessions, all well attended and with an engaged audience.”
And the Education Zone was home to several education providers including AGI Early Careers Network, Get Kids Into Survey, Newcastle University and UCL, each sharing information on how to inspire and engage with the next generation of geospatial professionals.
GEO Business returns in 2023
Ollie Hughes concludes, “We would like to give our thanks to every single visitor, exhibitor and speaker who helped make GEO Business 2022 one to remember. And I hope you left feeling informed and inspired.
“It’s all hands on deck now as the team and I plan for GEO Business 2023. You can register your interest to attend via our website, and our sales team are here to answer any questions you may have if you are interested in exhibiting or speaking at next year’s event.”
GEO Business returns to ExCeL London from 17-18 May 2023. To find out more and register your interest, visit www.geobusinessshow.com
