Geospatial Revolution: Top 10 Industries Benefiting from GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as a powerful tool for businesses and organizations across various sectors. GIS technology integrates, stores, analyzes, and visualizes spatial information and related attributes, providing valuable insights that drive informed decision-making. As we delve into the top 10 industries benefiting from GIS integration, we’ll explore how geospatial technology is revolutionizing operations, improving efficiency, and creating new opportunities for growth and innovation. In addition, we will also explore how 12W offers our GIS solution and product landscape across multiple industry segments. Let’s dive in.

1. Agriculture

GIS allows users to map and analyze large volumes of complex data. In agriculture, GIS enables farmers to map field data, organize and analyze it, and monitor crops or livestock remotely. Geospatial technology combined with GPS, robotics, drones, and satellite monitoring has revolutionized farming practices increasing crop yields, resource efficiency, and mitigating risks. Some of the major applications of GIS in agriculture include,

• Precision Farming: GIS allows farmers to monitor crop health, soil conditions, and weather patterns, leading to more precise farming techniques that optimize irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide application, leading to cost savings and minimizing environmental effects.

• Crop Monitoring and Management: By using satellite imagery and drones, farmers can detect issues such as pest infestations or nutrient deficiencies early, allowing for timely interventions.

• Soil Analysis and Land Suitability: GIS helps farmers analyze soil types and determine the best crops for specific areas, optimizing land use, and improving productivity.

For instance, John Deere’s precision farming technology uses GIS to provide farmers with detailed maps of their fields. This allows them to apply fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently, reducing costs and environmental impact.

At 12W, we utilize real-time monitoring of crop growth combined with weather data through high-resolution imagery to assist decision-makers in allocating budgets for agriculture and ensuring the anticipated crop yield

2. Urban Planning

GIS transforms urban planning by allowing planners to analyze various data sources, including satellite imagery, aerial photography, and demographic information, and integrate them to create comprehensive mapping systems. While GIS-based applications are used for multiple purposes from increasing public engagement in city planning to managing infrastructure development, some of the major applications of GIS in urban planning are,

• Infrastructure Development: GIS aids in planning and managing urban infrastructure projects by providing detailed spatial data on land use, population density, and transportation networks.
• Zoning and Land Use Planning: Planners use GIS to create zoning maps and land use plans that promote sustainable development and efficient land utilization.
• Smart Cities and Sustainable Development: GIS supports the development of smart cities by integrating various data sources to manage resources efficiently and improve the quality of life for residents.

A major example of GIS in urban planning is how the city of Singapore uses GIS for its Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to plan and manage land use. GIS helps the city to create sustainable urban environments and optimize space utilization in densely populated areas.

At 12W, we help clients with digital twin technology and ArcGIS City Engine in the urban sector to gain insights into construction and 3D modelling of terrain and assets.

3. Transportation and Logistics

Transportation and logistics industry uses GIS systems extensively for real time tracking, traffic flow analysis and enhanced supply chain visibility enabling companies to reduce fuel consumption, improve delivery times, and enhance overall operational efficiency. Key applications of GIS in transportation and logistics include:

• Route Optimization: GIS helps in optimizing delivery routes, and reducing travel time, fuel consumption, and operational costs.
• Fleet Management: Companies use GIS to track and manage their fleets in real time, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.
• Traffic Analysis and Management: GIS provides insights into traffic patterns, helping in the planning and management of transportation systems to reduce congestion and improve safety.

UPS uses GIS to optimize delivery routes through its ORION system, which saves millions of miles driven each year, reducing fuel consumption and improving delivery times.

We help urban planners effectively utilize Points of Interest (POI) from open-source data to develop open-source applications featuring geocoded photographs and optimized routing in the transportation sector.

4. Environmental Management

Environmental scientists and policymakers can assess scenarios, model outcomes, and plan interventions more effectively when they have a spatial understanding of environmental issues. GIS plays a vital role in developing more effective conservation strategies and sustainable resource management practices by providing a comprehensive view of ecosystems and their interactions. Some of the key applications of GIS in environment management include,

• Resource Conservation: GIS aids in the sustainable management of natural resources by providing detailed data on forests, water bodies, and minerals.
• Environmental Monitoring: GIS is used to monitor environmental changes, such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change, enabling timely interventions.
• Impact Assessment: GIS helps in conducting environmental impact assessments for proposed projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and minimizing negative effects.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) uses GIS to monitor deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. This helps in tracking illegal logging activities and planning conservation efforts.

We use high-resolution imagery to detect changes in land patterns and monitor rainfall, ensuring that all environmental parameters align with imagery analysis and ground reports to create advanced environment monitor, management and prediction systems.

5. Utilities and Energy

Utility and energy providers face challenges managing field workforces, digitizing data, addressing weather-related outages, and more. The energy and utilities sector relies heavily on GIS for infrastructure management, resource exploration, and service delivery optimization. Geospatial data and GIS systems are vital to the sector, be it power grid management and outage response, oil and gas exploration, or smart meter deployment and management. Some of the major use cases for GIS in utilities and energy include,

• Asset Management: GIS enables utility companies to maintain detailed records of their assets, such as pipelines, power lines, and water networks, more efficiently, improving maintenance and reducing downtime.
• Network Planning and Maintenance: GIS helps in planning the maintenance and expansion of utility networks, ensuring reliable service delivery and reducing downtime.
• Renewable Energy Site Selection: GIS is used to identify suitable sites for renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and solar power plants, based on factors like sunlight, wind patterns, and land availability.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) uses GIS to manage its electric and gas infrastructure. This includes monitoring the condition of assets and planning maintenance activities to prevent outages.

At 12W, we develop in-house utility products built on ESRI, Hexagon, and open-source platforms, streamlining the digitalization process and ensuring high-quality deliverables for the industry. These configurable products empower decision-makers to accelerate project execution and Proof of Concept

6. Healthcare

In Healthcare, geospatial technology plays a crucial role in improving patient care and public health outcomes. GIS systems help integrate health data with spatial data to identify patterns, risk factors, and outbreaks for informed decision-making and timely interventions. GIS supports public health initiatives by identifying needs, targeting interventions, and tracking outcomes. GIS technology is extensively used in Healthcare for

• Disease Mapping and Epidemiology: GIS is crucial in tracking the spread of diseases, identifying hotspots, and planning interventions to control outbreaks.
• Healthcare Facility Planning: GIS helps in planning the location of healthcare facilities to ensure optimal access for the population.
• Emergency Response and Management: GIS supports emergency response efforts by providing real-time data on affected areas, helping in resource allocation and coordination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins University used GIS to create an interactive dashboard that tracked the spread of the virus globally, helping public health officials and the public stay informed.

We implement IoT-enabled real-time applications to monitor the health of assets such as medicines and ambulances, ensuring patient safety and facilitating the quickest routes to their destinations.

7. Real Estate

Geospatial technology is transforming the real estate industry by providing valuable insights into property values, market trends, and development opportunities by integrating a wide variety of data sources. The applications of GIS in real estate range from property valuation to portfolio management and virtual property tours. The key applications of GIS include,

• Market Analysis: GIS provides invaluable insights into location, amenities, and market conditions for property valuation and market analysis, aiding buyers, sellers, and investors.
• Site Selection: Real estate developers use GIS to identify suitable sites for development based on factors like demographics, infrastructure, and environmental conditions such as potential risks such as natural hazards.
• Customer Insights: GIS helps in analyzing customer demographics and behavior, enabling targeted marketing and better customer service.

Zillow uses GIS to provide detailed maps and property information to homebuyers and sellers, helping them make informed decisions about real estate investments.

We ensure the safety of residents through our digital twin program, which also helps reduce costs during the construction phase. Additionally, we implement geotagging of building footprints and develop enterprise GIS applications to facilitate seamless property tax payments, avoid water logging areas, weather alerts from Government.

8. Telecommunications

In Telecommunications, GIS helps to integrate spatial data with complex network data and external sources providing a comprehensive view of the infrastructure. Some of the major applications of GIS in Telecommunications include,

• Network Coverage Analysis: GIS is used to analyze network coverage and identify areas with poor or no coverage, helping in network expansion and optimization.
• Infrastructure Planning: Telecommunications companies use GIS to plan the placement of towers, cables, and other infrastructure to ensure optimal coverage and service quality.
• Customer Service Optimization: GIS helps in analyzing customer data and service usage patterns, enabling better customer service and support.

Verizon uses GIS to plan the expansion of its 5G network, ensuring optimal coverage and service quality by analyzing population density and existing infrastructure.

We integrate data from various sources such as CRM and ERP, applying business rules to minimize outages with our applications. Additionally, we implement G-Technology to create streamlined, scalable solutions that reduce startup costs and infrastructure needs. It serves as a definitive source of reliable, location-based information that can be shared with users and systems throughout the organization.

9. Retail

Retail is a highly competitive market and GIS technology enables retailers to gain a competitive edge and enhance profit margins by providing insights into customer behavior, competition, and market trends.

• Market Analysis and Site Selection: Retailers use GIS to analyze market trends and demographics, helping in selecting the best locations for new stores.
• Supply Chain Management: GIS aids in optimizing supply chain operations by providing real-time data on inventory, transportation, and distribution.
• Customer Behavior Analysis: GIS helps retailers understand customer behavior and preferences, enabling personalized marketing and improved customer experiences.

For instance, Starbucks uses GIS to analyze customer demographics and behavior, helping them choose new store locations that maximize foot traffic and sales.

10. Public Safety and Disaster Management

GIS is crucial for emergency response and disaster management by providing real-time situational awareness and decision support. With GIS, emergency responders can act more quickly and effectively, potentially saving lives and minimizing property damage during crises.

GIS is used in Public Safety to provide a deeper understanding of threats and hazards, enabling targeted prevention and mitigation efforts. GIS leverages real-time data to inform mission-critical decisions, improving response times and effectiveness.

• Crime Mapping and Analysis: GIS is used by law enforcement agencies to map and analyze crime patterns, helping in resource allocation and crime prevention strategies.
• Emergency Response Planning: GIS supports emergency response planning by providing data on vulnerable areas, and associated risks helping in the efficient deployment of resources in emergencies.
• Community Policing: GIS helps in community policing efforts by providing insights into community needs and enabling better resource allocation.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) uses GIS for crime mapping and analysis, which helps in deploying officers more effectively and reducing crime rates in high-risk areas.

Conclusion

GIS integration is transforming industries across the board, providing valuable insights, improving efficiency, and driving innovation. From urban planning to agriculture, healthcare to emergency services, the power of location intelligence is revolutionizing how organizations operate and make decisions.

The future of GIS integration looks even more promising, with advancements in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics set to further enhance its capabilities. As businesses and organizations continue to recognize the value of spatial data, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of GIS technology across various sectors.

If your organization hasn’t yet explored the potential of GIS integration, now is the time to consider how this powerful technology can transform your operations and drive growth. At 12W, we integrate AI and ML with GIS to streamline processes, automate features with minimal effort, and ensure high-quality output for each industry. By partnering with experienced GIS solution providers like 12th Wonder, you can unlock the full potential of location intelligence and gain a competitive edge in today’s data-driven world.

Talk to our GIS team today.