Geomob Ed Freyfogle

Our conversation covers two recent Geomob events, one in Barcelona and the other in Berlin, with discussions on the talks, speakers, and audience feedback. We then delve into the Amazon geospatial event in London, the new voting system, upcoming Geomob events, and the challenges of managing sponsors. Finally we salute Geomob sponsor Ed Parsons on recently winning the Royal Geographic Society's Professional Geography Award. Well done!
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Gala Camacho, organizer of Geomob Edinburgh, joins Ed on the podcast to discuss her experience organizing the event and provide advice for others interested in starting GeoMob in their cities. The first event in Edinburgh was a success, with a diverse range of talks covering technical, artistic, and business topics. Gala emphasizes the importance of creating a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere at Geomob events, where attendees can make connections and discuss geospatial topics. She also highlights the need for more speakers and encourages anyone interested to submit their ideas. Overall, the event received positive feedback and demonstrated the demand for a geospatial community in Edinburgh. The next Geomob Edinburgh will be on June 25th
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Sanna Jokela, CEO of Gispo, joins us to discuss a project the company did with UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning, and which was presented at the most recent Geomob Finland in Turku. The project focused on using rainfall data to find optimal school hours in sub-Saharan Africa. Gispo specializes in open source geospatial tools and works with both local and global clients. We also briefly discuss the Finnish geospatial scene, which has a strong emphasis on open source, with many companies using tools like QGIS. The project for UNESCO is still being tested, but the QGIS plugin they developed has the potential for impact in the community. The conversation also touches on the importance of open data and the power of OpenStreetMap in school projects.
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

James Morrison, head pilot and UAS ("Unmanned Aircraft System") lead at Ordnance Survey, discusses the use of drones in mapping and surveying. He shares examples of how drones were used to quickly assess landslips and update mapping in the Isle of Wight, as well as capture data for residential housing developments. James explains the different types of drones used by Ordnance Survey and their capabilities, including capturing imagery with centimeter-level accuracy. He also discusses the importance of safety and following regulations when flying drones. James envisions the continued use of drones in surveying, with potential advancements in sensors and flight times. 
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Robin Wilson, maker of the British Placename Mapper, discusses his project and the power and joy of digital geography. The web app allows users to search and explore British place names, revealing fascinating patterns and historical trends. Robin built the tool for fun during a period of free time and was pleasantly surprised by its viral success on social media and Hacker News. He emphasizes the importance of simplicity in building web geo-focused tools.
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.
 

Giuseppe Sollazzo, an open data expert and one of the organizers of Open Data Camp 9, returns to the podcast to discusses the upcoming event and the state of open data. Open Data Camp 9 will take place on July 6th and 7th in Manchester, and is a community event that brings together people interested in data from various angles, including data activists, OpenStreetMap contributors, and public sector workers. It is a discussion-based unconference where attendees pitch topics and engage in conversations. Giuseppe also talks about the evolution of open data in the UK, highlighting the importance of data maturity and understanding how to use data effectively. He mentions the successes in data release, such as TFL's open transport data, but also acknowledges the challenges of maintaining and standardizing data. We also highlight Giuseppe's weekly data newsletter, which covers a wide range of data-related topics and has been running for 12 years.
Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.