Intergeo: the epicentre of geospatial innovation

As Intergeo marks 150 years since its inception – if we also count its predecessors – Prof Rudolf Staiger offers a compelling look at the evolution of geospatial technology and the event’s pivotal role in driving innovation. From its origins as the ‘German Geodesists’ Day’ to becoming a global platform, Intergeo has mirrored the industry’s transformation. Staiger reflects on key advancements, including the shift to digital systems, the rise of drones and the integration of AI. He also discusses how Intergeo has expanded to engage a broader, more international audience and examines the evolving role of surveyors in a world increasingly defined by geoinformation. This interview provides insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for geospatial professionals, offering a forward-looking perspective on the future of the field.

Intergeo was also held in Stuttgart 20 years ago, in 2004. Looking back over the past two decades, what do you consider the most significant changes in the geospatial industry, and how has Intergeo evolved as an event to address these advancements?

Intergeo was held in Stuttgart for the very first time in 1885. Back then, the event was still called the ‘German Geodesists’ Day’. In 2004, 20 years ago, it was already the fifth repetition and since then we have been to Stuttgart twice more. The 150 years of Intergeo have always been characterized by news and innovations, which were mostly induced by general technical progress (electronics, semiconductors, computers, software, etc.).

In the past, instruments with data storage capabilities were offered. The digital data flow; that is, the further processing of data with additional software to create a specific product, was the central theme at the trade fair. The equipment was designed for the customer to use the system in their own environment.

In contrast, today we are talking about complex and integrated systems that include among other components data acquisition. The required software is either provided via a cloud solution (SAAS = Software as a Service) or classically as a product designed for the own IT infrastructure of the user (SAAP = Software as a Product). Whereas in the past there was more discussion about technical details, such as the compatibility of data with a certain standard, today users and providers tend to discuss the systemic advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches.

Is there something that gives Intergeo that special Geheimtipp quality, as the Germans would say – an ‘insider’s secret’ that many might not yet be aware of?

Haha, that’s a good question. There aren’t many German words that have found their way into the English language. However, one of them is ‘Gemütlichkeit’. Maybe that’s it? I don’t mean Gemütlichkeit in the sense of a German pub with Lederhosen, beer and pork knuckle, but in the sense of arriving in a friendly and comfortable place where you can meet interesting people and technologies and have a fruitful exchange in a pleasant atmosphere. There is another phenomenon that maybe explains the success of Intergeo: the organizer DVW (the German Association for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management) never planned for this event to become so big – it has simply grown organically over the years.

How can events such as Intergeo not only inspire innovation but also challenge the geospatial community to rethink traditional approaches and embrace new paradigms?

The geospatial community has always been innovative and on the lookout for new developments. For example, the digitization of the measurement and evaluation process was already a matter of course in the early 1980s, while this only began decades later in the neighbouring disciplines of civil engineering and architecture. Rethinking traditional approaches is part of every technological innovation. For example, digital photogrammetry with drones is methodologically and fundamentally no different from early aerial photogrammetry from captive balloons or airplanes.

In recent years and decades, have you observed any shifts in the type of audience that Intergeo attracts?

Decades ago, Intergeo was an event where mainly German was spoken. This was also reflected in the signposts, the advertising and the design of the stands. Meanwhile, Intergeo has not only grown but has become much more international. It is therefore not surprising that English is the most widely spoken language. Today, Intergeo is by far the largest geospatial event in Europe and, if you exclude the large manufacturer conferences in the US (Esri, Hexagon and Trimble), it is the largest manufacturer-independent geospatial trade fair and conference in the world.

In the past, it was the surveying industry that met at Intergeo. With the huge progress and strong growth of geoinformation as a business, the circle of visitors also broadened. Today, engineers from all kinds of disciplines meet there.

Since launching into the spotlight at Intergeo in the early 2010s, how have UAVs/drones evolved, and what new potentials have they unlocked?

The early days of unmanned aerial vehicles saw them as fun toys, but they weren’t really taken seriously. This has fundamentally changed. Foremost, from the surveyor’s point of view, a UAV on its own is no different from a flying tripod. Only through the combination of UAV + digital camera (or laser scanner) + GNSS + evaluation software does it become an efficient and cost-effective surveying or data acquisition unit that previous generations could only dream of.

An important task of Intergeo is to convey to users that the camera, navigation and analysis software are just as important components as the carrying platform. The deployment and use of drones is perceived as attractive and sexy, especially by the younger generations, which is why drones are often seen as positive applications for recruiting young talent. Today, drones are being promoted for a variety of applications. The most important areas are logistics, security and environmental protection. It is interesting to note that surveying and geospatial applications represent the largest single application group, at approximately 23%.

How has the rise of location-based data as a public utility reshaped the traditional roles of surveyors, and how was this transformation evident at Intergeo? What challenges and opportunities does this shift present for the profession?

The greatest innovations and changes of the last 20 years have clearly been in the field of geoinformation. In contrast to the past, geoinformation has now become part of our daily lives. What would a smartphone be without location-based data? This has also changed our job description: in the past, geodesists didn’t receive much attention, and their products were only known to a few professional groups. In addition to the importance of location-based data for everyone, geodata – provided fast and in high resolution – is today the backbone of every political and social decision.

Decades ago, surveyors were mainly entrusted with sovereign tasks and map production. Today, they are also increasingly active as a service provider. Factors such as speed, flexibility and customer orientation are also important for success, and there is perhaps some catching up to do in these areas.

What are the biggest challenges that modern surveyors face when integrating new technologies such as AI and IoT into their workflows?

Implementing IoT (Internet of Things) at an individual level requires a great deal of technical expertise, especially in data communication and data integration. The geospatial expert has this, but needs time to design and implement his concept. The situation is more differentiated when it comes to AI (artificial intelligence), where there are already many cross-sector solutions such as automatic translation, pattern and face recognition, image interpretation, and so on. This does not yet apply to very specific issues such as volume calculation or object generation from laser point clouds, to name just two. Start-ups that emerge from research-intensive environments such as universities could provide decisive impetus here.

When considering the role of education and science, how do you think the relationship between universities and the private sector will evolve as technology advances and various fields collaborate to develop new surveying technologies?

The surveying and geospatial sector is relatively small and manageable compared to other industries. There has always been a friendly and cooperative relationship between academic research on the one hand and industrial research and development on the other. Currently, both sections cooperate very well with each other, if only to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers on both sides. Despite the advancement of automation, specialists are indispensable not only in research but also in practical application.

How can the geospatial community better communicate its value to society, particularly in fostering sustainable development and improving quality of life?

The surveyors of the past were typically civil servants who quietly went about their work. Today, their tasks are not only more varied, but also service and customer oriented. This also includes ‘selling’ their own skills and the value of their products. We still have some catching up to do here. A small example: of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 targets, more than 80% are directly linked to location-based data. In other words, achieving or measuring all the goals is simply not possible without geospatial expertise. This shows the importance of our profession when it comes to working for a better environment and a fairer society.

As we look to the future of geospatial technology, is there a final thought or piece of advice you’d like to leave with the global geospatial community; something that might inspire the next generation of surveyors and geoinformation professionals?

The current buzzwords that characterize technological progress sound quite threatening, for example for the preservation of our jobs. Will we still be needed in the future? Is the geospecialist still necessary in times of AI? My answer is clear and positive. The world of work is changing, and the number of staff required is decreasing, but our expertise is still in demand. We should see things such as AI as an opportunity to make our working environment more positive and productive by automating routine tasks. My motto: AI is an opportunity, not a threat, if we use these technologies in a positive and purposeful way.

About Rudolf Staiger

Professor Rudolf Staiger studied geodesy at the Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe (now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT) in Germany and the Institut Géographique National (now Institut National de l’Information Géographique et Forestière) in Paris, France. He earned his doctorate at the Geodetic Institute of TH Karlsruhe. His career spans roles as a systems engineer, product manager and software developer in industrial metrology for Kern in Aarau, Switzerland, and Leica, Switzerland. For 28 years, he served as a professor of instrument technology at both the University of Essen and Bochum University of Applied Sciences. He has been highly active within the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), serving as its president from 2019 to 2022. Since 2023, he has been the president of DVW, the German Association for Geodesy