London, 13 November 2025 – A new report that reveals the challenges and opportunities facing the geospatial sector is urging immediate action, collaboration, and commitment, to ensure the potential of location intelligence is fully realised. Launched today, the Association for Geographic Information’s Foresight Report 2030 highlights six interconnected forces that challenge every assumption about geospatial intelligence in the 21st century. Data, AI, Interoperability, Skills, Collaboration and Earth Systems, will all, according to the report, impact the most significant transformation in geospatial data since the advent of digital mapping.
“To quote the Foresight Report 2030 ‘we are at an important inflection point for our industry, and it is every leader’s role to take these changes seriously. Without productive adaptation, the geospatial sector risks becoming infrastructure that others control – essential but invisible, powerful yet struggling to articulate its value’,” commented Peter ter Haar, Co-Chair of the AGI. “This is a stark warning, and one that government, industry and professional bodies, like the AGI, need to be acting upon with urgency.”
David Henderson, Chief Geospatial Officer at Ordnance Survey, added, “Geospatial has evolved into a set of multifunctional capabilities and expertise that underpin almost every aspect of modern life. The AGI Foresight Report 2030 is a timely opportunity to pause and reflect on how location data will help shape the UK’s digital economy. As a geospatial community, we must embrace AI, ensure data is trusted and traceable, and accelerate our commitment to future skills to enable better decisions across all sectors.”
The AGI Foresight Report 2030 was officially launched to an audience of more than 200 geospatial professionals from government, academia, and industry, at the AGI Foresight 2025 Conference at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London today. With keynote presentations from Ed Parsons, Geospatial Technology Advisor and Google’s first ever Geospatial Technologist, and Denise McKenzie, Past Chair of the AGI and Managing Partner at the PLACE Trust, the agenda also featured representation from AtkinsRéalis, Idox Geospatial, and 1Spatial, together with an interactive presentation from the AGI Early Career Network.
The innovative programme included multiple opportunities to explore the six themes of the report – the Data Imperative, the AI Integration Challenge, Infrastructure Evolution, the Collaboration Imperative, Earth Systems Revolution, and the Skills Revolution – with Agora based sessions featuring sector leaders and an invitation only breakfast briefing.
Fergus Craig, Co-Chair, concluded, “It has been truly humbling to come together today with like-minded professionals from the geospatial industry and beyond, to explore the challenges and opportunities around location intelligence. It is now up to us, as individuals and as a community, to move forward boldly, heed these calls to action, advocate for the value of location intelligence so we can realise the promise it offers.”
The Association for Geographic Information would like to thank Cadcorp, CGI, Esri UK, GIS Jobs, Idox Geospatial, Informed Solutions, MGISS, Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland, and Verisk for their sponsorship, which has made the Foresight project possible. The AGI would also like to extend special thanks to the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) for its backing.
The report can be downloaded from The Association for Geographic Information’s website: https://www.agi.org.uk/foresight-report
CONTACTS:
Faith Clark – Editorial Contact, Spatially Aware, Tel: +44 (0) 1603 211691, [email protected]
The Association for Geographic Information – Tel: +44 (0)1489 668340 [email protected]
About the Association for Geographic Information
The Association for Geographic Information is an independent and impartial organisation that represents the UK geospatial sector. Working with members and the wider community, the Association successfully works alongside government policy makers, delivers professional development opportunities and provides a lead for best practice across the industry. Established in 1990, members of the Association for Geographic Information enjoy unrivalled networking opportunities, a framework for learning new skills, and the support to progress professional development.
