It's not about GIS, it's about solving a problem

goo.gl/OxrF4n

James Milner

@JamesLMilner

james@loxodrome.io

Software Engineer

The Team

Professional Services

Engineering

Geovation Challenge 

Geovation Programme

Coworking Space

Demo

How We Work

• Trello + standups
• Iterate fast
• Work closely with teams
• Code reviews
• Metrics:
  • Working software
  • Positive user feedback

Tech at a High Level

• Geo/GIS is only a part of what we do
• We don't always use OS maps
• First and foremost we aim to solve problems
• We tend to favour open source
  • Easier to debug
  • We can contribute fixes back

Tech at a Lowerer Level

Mobile

Frontend

Backend

Mapping

Serverless (!)

Open Innovation

We aim to foster open innovation and open source where possible

Industry Observations

Commerical Geo vs GIS

Commerical Geo

• Google Maps
• CityMapper
• Zoopla
• Uber
• AirBnB (kind of)
• Pokemon Go

GIS

• Local Gov 
• TfL
• Crossrail 
• Network Rail
• Starbucks
• Utilities etc

I think they could both learn a little from each other

Commerical Geo

• UI/UX
• Scale
• Customer Oriented

GIS

• Specialist techniques
• Coordinate systems exist
• Deeper analysis
• Accuracy oriented

GIS is a useful tool in a box, but not every problem is a nail

Looking into the Future

Source: Andreessen Horowitz, 2015

• Drones
• Autonomous Vehicles
• 'Internet of Things'
• Cube Satellites / Real time
• Augmented / Virtual Reality

Increasingly less static and more dynamic/ real time data

Manual data handling is becoming an unrealistic expectation

Luckily we have tools to help us build and handle that 

The general principle is: automate, simplify and steamline everything

Big Data + AI/ML is the robotics/automation of the knowledge industry

Data and services is not the only change...

Users also have higher expectations