Leica Geosystems Airborne User Group Meeting draws record numbers

Reality capture - better, faster, smarter.
A record number of delegates from across the globe attended the Leica Airborne Solutions' User Group Meeting, which took place this week from February 3 - 5 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

Over 100 airborne mapping professionals from more than 30 countries gathered to get the latest technology updates, network and discuss the future of the industry.

This niche industry conference was hosted by the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC), a long standing client of Leica Geosystems, in their fantastic headquarters by the Parc de Montjuïc in the heart of Barcelona.

"Future Talk"
One of the highlights was the 'Future Talk', an engaged panel discussion challenging the status quo of the industry and discussing future developments and necessary innovations. The session was moderated by Josep Lluis Colomer, former Technical Director of the ICGC and the panel included the following industry experts:

• Simon Musaus, Director Mapping & Surveying, COWI, Denmark
• Daniel Haywood, Managing Director, Ramani Ltd., Kenya
• Sven Baltrusch, Chairman AdV Working Group "ATKIS DOP" Germany
• Dr. Julia Talaya, Geodesy and Cartography Deputy Director, ICGC, Spain
• John Welter, President Leica Geosystems, Geospatial Solutions Division, Switzerland

Google maps, autonomous driving vehicles, big data in Apps on mobile devices available every time and everywhere - the mapping world is changing. What challenges and opportunities are we facing?

The general consensus was that high accuracy of data is expected even on the end user side. Delivering 5 cm orthophoto has become an industry standard and the industry would like to see the equipment manufacturers close the gap between consumer and engineering markets, thereby narrowing the gap between wide area mapping and areas where the future users need to rely on consistent, regularly updated and accurate data.

According to Sven Baltrusch, producing reliable data sets with fast cycle updates and strict QC processes is the basis for government agencies, which sparks the need for reliable and efficient processing workflows. Consequently, the introduction of new business models, such as open data sets in online services, needs to be considered to address the change in the consumer market.

Daniel Haywood, based in Kenya, spoke about the different needs and expectations of emerging markets. The lack of funds and skills in developing nations requires a simpler approach to mapping and an involvement by the equipment manufacturers to invest into training.
One of the questions heard many times was whether we, as professionals, take an outside view on the industry often enough to be able to drive the necessary change and innovation. Although we are in a stagnating market, consumers are using more geospatial data every day. This can put outside players under enough pressure to unexpectedly become the drivers of change.

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Part II of Leica Geosystems' Airborne User Group Meeting to be continued tomorrow....