Geo Week 2023: Uniting the world of geospatial and built environments

Geospatial and built environment professionals recently gathered for Geo Week, held from 13-15 February at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. USA. Geo Week is one of the leading conferences and tradeshows created in response to the changing needs of geospatial and built environment professionals, acknowledging and reflecting the increasing convergence of technologies.

More than 2,800 professionals attended the event in person out of the over 3,100 registrants, representing a remarkable 50% increase in verified attendance over the 2022 event. The exhibit hall floor was completely sold out, featuring 190 exhibitors, which represents a 31% increase over 2022, further consolidating Geo Week's position as one of the premier events for technologies related to the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies.

The event exceeded the expectations in terms of attendance, according to Lee Corkhill, Group Event Director at Diversified Communications, which produces Geo Week. “50% growth is unprecedented but not surprising given the demand for knowledge, networking opportunities and technology to make informed decisions and solve global challenges.”

Geospatial and built environment innovations

On Monday 13 February, Geo Week commenced with ‘Product Previews’, followed by two and a half days of comprehensive conference programming featuring over 200 speakers. The conference included keynote presentations from industry luminaries, such as Esri founder and president, Jack Dangermond, and a panel discussion with leading experts on the AEC industry's readiness for digitization. Those interested in the keynote presentations can access them here.

The exhibit hall showcased best-in-class solutions from some of the most influential companies, providing attendees with the opportunity to explore the latest geospatial and built environment innovations while networking with vendors and professionals from all 50 US states and 41 countries. Geo Week served as a hub for innovation, with dozens of new products being introduced.

Promoting diversity in the geospatial field

In addition, the panel discussion hosted by the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the industry was a major highlight, attracting significant interest from attendees. The WGIC's insightful discussion served as a reminder of the importance of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the geospatial and built environment fields, and further reinforced Geo Week's commitment to advancing the industry. Other events that took place during Geo Week included USIBD's laser-scanning competition and the Academic Showcase, which highlighted universities' contributions to the industry. These events, alongside the WGIC panel, brought together a diverse group of professionals, fostering innovation and collaboration in the geospatial and built environment fields.

Integration of geospatial technologies

The 2023 event offered several special features, including the "Pitch the Press" event, where 16 presentations were pitched in quick succession to a panel of high-profile press representatives at Geo Week. From these pitches, the latest products from Oxford Technical Solutions (OxTS), LidarSwiss Solutions, and Exyn Technologies were selected. These innovative solutions represent the forefront of autonomous UAV technology, Lidar georeferencing and boresight calibration, and real-time UAV Lidar processing. The event served as a platform for showcasing these advanced technologies, providing valuable insights into the latest advancements in the geospatial and built environment industries.

Throughout the event, numerous networking opportunities were available to attendees, including the Welcome Happy Hour sponsored by Trimble and the Networking Reception sponsored by JP Global Digital. These events provided a relaxed and engaging atmosphere for professionals from across the geospatial and built environment industries to connect and exchange ideas. 

Geo Week received support from more than 140 publications, portals, associations, user groups, analysts, cooperating events and government agencies from six continents, further establishing its position as the premier event for increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne and terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. "We are thrilled to have such far-reaching support," expressed Corkhill. "These groups recognize the value and importance of Geo Week for the industry, and their involvement helps to foster a collaborative and innovative community."

The next edition of Geo Week is scheduled to take place from 11-13 February 2024 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.