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What is Location Intelligence?

What is Location Intelligence?

Jecca Barry
Par Jecca Barry
Freelance Writer
23 juin 2021
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Location Intelligence: the term sounds like something out of a spy novel. In truth, it is more common than you would think and is used by both complex and simple systems that are literally all around us.

For many, location intelligence relates to GPS technology — and it is easy to see why this is the case. GPS is a ubiquitous innovation that nearly the whole world is familiar with – it is found in phones, cars, and even keychains. However, if we look deeper into what location intelligence really is, we will realize how it can support a vast array of systems and how it is being leveraged more and more often in a wide range of industries.

GIS Data: The Connective Thread

Location intelligence is the process of extracting meaningful insight from geospatial data relationships in order to solve a particular problem, analyze a situation, or discover trends. It leverages geographic information systems (GIS) tools and techniques to transform and analyze data so that it becomes valuable information needed make more informed and rational decisions.

Through location intelligence, GIS data can serve as the connective thread that uncovers hidden patterns, improves predictive modeling, and provides organizations with a competitive edge by supporting decisions with critical data.

Industries that benefit from location intelligence

Making Smart Cities Work

For a city to be called “smart,” it needs to be able to collect and analyze data to improve the quality of life of its residents. GIS data combined with analysis tools allow urban planners to organize spatial data and give them better insight. For example, in the case of public infrastructure decisions, location intelligence is important to determine where to place bus stops, how to measure and streamline problem traffic areas, or where to install more cameras and IoT devices in order to have a better grasp of the city’s patterns and trends.

...transform and analyze data so that it becomes valuable information needed make more informed and rational decisions
Reinforcing National Security

Location intelligence and defense go hand in hand.

Defense and public security organizations collect an overwhelming amount of GIS data and often struggle to make use of it all. From building 3D simulations of the battlefield to mission planning and rehearsal, all the way to after-action analysis, location intelligence plays a vital role in how the military trains, plans, and makes national security decisions — both at home (e.g. protection of public infrastructure) and abroad (e.g. preventing terrorist attacks).

Closer to home, location intelligence is used by local law enforcement and public security agencies to determine crime “hotspots.” This allows agencies to redistribute resources to high-risk areas using facts-on-the-ground intelligence.

Preparing for Disasters

The unpredictability of natural disasters makes it incredibly difficult for governments to adequately prepare for them. In the first few months of 2021, tropical cyclones have already caused $5.5 billion worth of damage worldwide. In 2020, wildfires in California burned 10.1 million acres of land, damaging or destroying over 10,000 structures and killing dozens. A major disaster is capable of crippling an ill-prepared society.

There are two faces to disaster management: 1. how well preparations are before the disaster occurs ,and 1. the efficiency of our emergency response after they happen.

Location intelligence plays a big role in both.

Several organizations in the United States use location intelligence technology to identify where wildfires are likely to occur, allowing them to prioritize neighborhoods to evacuate. Similarly, the US Geological Survey performs the same type of analysis for volcanic activity and tsunamis. GIS data and tools are often used to map the most efficient evacuation routes based on geography, population, and the impact of the crisis.

After disasters occur, GIS map data can be used to identify areas or people that are the most affected, allowing responders to prioritize casualties in affected areas.

More Data. More Technology.

Location intelligence is becoming an instrumental tool that can guide organizations in making data-backed decisions using information gathered through a wide range of sources – from IoT all the way up to satellites. With more sources, however, comes more data. The primary challenge for many agencies and organizations is finding ways to not only gather and manage all this GIS data, but to exploit it in a constructive manner.

Central to this effort is the creation of digital twins. Virtual reproductions of a specific location, city, or country, digital twins are helping cities, agencies, and governments to better understand their surroundings – not only to solve current problems, but predict unknown ones in the future.

Presagis is a global leader in the creation of 3D dynamic virtual environments and simulation applications for decision-support in defense and national government sectors, as well as the emerging markets of Smart Cities and autonomous vehicles. Through automation and AI, our products can help agencies and organizations produce better, more precise simulation and instrument-ready 3D digital twin environments faster.

With applications in the development of smart cities, defense strategies, and disaster preparedness, location intelligence has the potential to significantly change our world, and Presagis stands ready to help.

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