Turning complex data into actionable insights

Terria, a geospatial technology startup that emerged from Australia's CSIRO, is transforming how complex spatial data is organized and visualized. In this Q&A with Ana Belgun, co-founder and CEO, we hear what's behind the company's ambition and mission. As digital transformation accelerates, startups like Terria are inspiring the geospatial landscape with their innovative approach to technology and business growth. A lot can be learned from their journeys: from their first steps in the industry to the challenges they've overcome, and how they balance business with innovation. With a commitment to open-source data and transparency, Terria's story offers valuable insights for aspiring geospatial entrepreneurs.

Can you tell us more about your company and how it came about?

Terria’s mission is to organize and connect the world’s spatial data, making it accessible and useful for everyone. We’re pioneering spatial digital twins to tackle big challenges like building resilient communities, improving infrastructure planning, and advancing sustainable food and energy systems. Our story began in 2014 at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, where a small team of passionate technologists teamed up with government data champions. The goal was to make geospatial data more accessible and easier to use. What started as an open data initiative quickly evolved into a powerful platform that simplifies spatial data, connecting thousands of data layers into interactive maps and 3D visualizations.

Today, we help governments, businesses and communities turn complex data into clear, actionable insights, so they can plan smarter, make informed decisions and build a more sustainable future.

As a newcomer in the geospatial industry, what were your initial steps?

We started with a problem. Our parent organization – National ICT Australia (NICTA), which later merged with CSIRO – was tasked by the Australian government with improving access to open data. Simply making data open wasn’t enough to drive traction and usage. When the Australian government launched the Open Data Policy in 2015, it wanted to ensure a return on its investment in making that data available. A small team of two engineers was quickly assembled to develop a prototype using spatial data, guided by a few simple but powerful principles: leveraging open-source technology, supporting data from all government departments across all three levels of government (local, state and federal), ensuring a user-friendly design, and creating an open platform. The project was a success, with datasets growing from an initial catalogue of 12 to more than 15,000.

Which challenges did you face in the early years, and how did you solve them?

One of our biggest challenges in the early years was finding the right balance between building flexible, open-source functionality and meeting the unique needs of specific projects. We needed to keep the open-source core as generic yet rich as possible while also delivering tailored solutions for individual clients. It took a lot of effort and careful attention to serve both audiences; the open-source development community and the organizations using Terria for their own projects. But by staying focused on delivering value to both, we’ve been able to create a platform that’s both powerful and adaptable.

How did you strike the right balance between the entrepreneurial side and the technological innovation side of the business?

From the start, we took a balanced approach in that we developed both technology and real-world applications at the same time. Even though we began within a semi-governmental research institute, we weren’t just writing code and publishing it as open source. Every development effort was tied to solving real problems for government customers, ensuring our work had practical impact.

Most of the features we built to address specific use cases were then contributed back to the open-source core. This approach kept the technology evolving while staying grounded in real-world needs. It also helped foster a mindset focused on solving problems for actual users, rather than just innovating for the sake of it. Ultimately, we found that advancing the technology and delivering customer value go hand in hand. By staying connected to both, we’ve been able to create something that’s not just technically impressive, but also genuinely useful.

We are witnessing tremendous growth in the use of geospatial information to solve many different problems. How is this benefiting your company?

The growth of geospatial data is incredible. In fact, the market is expected to grow by $50 billion in the next three years alone. That’s a huge opportunity – but only if organizations can actually access and make sense of all that data. That’s why it’s so important that we make geospatial data intuitive and transform it into interactive maps, 3D visualizations and powerful decision-making tools. But solving big challenges requires more than just great technology. It requires openness. That’s why we’re committed to keeping TerriaJS open-source. The world needs better ways to use spatial data, and by making our technology freely available, we’re driving innovation, enabling collaboration and helping others build impactful applications across industries. As more sectors embrace geospatial intelligence, we’re excited to support a future where data is not just accessible, but truly transformative.

The geospatial industry is characterized by a steady stream of fast-paced technological advancements. How are these driving your company forward?

Such advancements are transforming all industries, including geospatial. When it comes to digital twins, we’ve been pioneering the development of spatial digital twins in Australia since 2018, working alongside government partners such as the NSW State Government. Digital twins are poised to become the geospatial applications of the future, combining 2D and 3D datasets for the built and natural environment with real-time information and Internet of Things (IoT). Terria is well positioned to take advantage of this transformation thanks to its data connectivity and experience in building such platforms.

In terms of artificial intelligence (AI), of course, businesses of all sizes are looking to integrate it – whether to make their business more efficient or to develop AI-based products. And this is something that will continue to mature and benefit everyone, including Terria. These are exciting times, and we’re very fortunate to be part of it all.

What are the dos and don’ts for startups looking to make a difference in the geospatial industry?

If you’re a startup looking to make an impact in the geospatial industry, one of the biggest dos is to stay true to who you are. No matter how your strategy shifts, keep openness, transparency and a commitment to positive change at the heart of what you do. For us, that means making geospatial technology and data more accessible. It’s not just about collecting data, but also making it easy to use and valuable to more people and organizations. Investing in open-source technology will help in terms of staying flexible, fostering collaboration and driving innovation.

And here’s a big one: focus on solving real problems, not just building impressive tech. High-quality, user-friendly products will always win. At the end of the day, balancing innovation with impact is what matters most. Stay mission-driven, keep learning from your users, and build something that truly makes a difference.

Are there any other thoughts you would like to share?

Looking ahead, it’s an exciting time for geospatial technology. Digital twins, AI and open data are all changing the game, making spatial information more powerful and accessible than ever. Businesses, governments and communities have huge opportunities to harness this shift, and we believe the future belongs to those who prioritize openness, collaboration and real-world problem-solving. There’s so much potential for innovation in this space, and we’re thrilled to be part of what’s coming next.

About Ana Belgun

Ana Belgun is the co-founder and CEO of Terria. A thought leader in geospatial technology, she has been with Terria since 2014, driving the development of impactful geospatial platforms. With over a decade of industry experience, she is passionate about making spatial data more accessible and valuable for decision-makers worldwide.