National Geomatics Expo 2024: Uniting Canada’s Geospatial Sector Under One Roof

The largest event of its kind in Canada’s geomatics community is gearing up to take place in Calgary from October 28 to 30, 2024. The National Geomatics Expo, organized by GoGeomatics, brings together professionals from across the spectrum of geospatial fields, creating a dynamic space for knowledge sharing, innovation, and networking. The Expo has become a big tent event for Canada’s geospatial industry, making it a pivotal moment where cutting-edge technologies, academic research, and practical applications intersect.

At its core, the Expo unites a diverse array of professionals from sectors including surveying, Earth Observation, GIS, environmental monitoring, Reality Capture, Digital Twins, BIM, construction, public policy, and academia. With robust support from a wide range of industry associations, educational institutions, and private companies, the Expo will offer something for everyone involved in geomatics. It’s not just a showcase of the latest technology—it’s a forum for addressing key challenges and opportunities facing the industry in Canada today.

The GoGeomatics Expo is about bringing people together. We’re building bridges across different industries, from geomatics and architecture to construction and public policy. The goal is to provide a space where everyone can collaborate, share ideas, and innovate to tackle the challenges we face today and in the future. We want others to join us as well and grow the event.

By being together, we lower costs, increase attendance, and reduce the workload for our partners and collaborators, as GoGeomatics does the heavy lifting. A rising tide floats all boats, and this event exemplifies that spirit. We’re proud to see the geomatics community rally around this national expo.

Industry Association Sponsors

The 2024 GoGeomatics Expo is supported by a range of key industry associations, reflecting a broad spectrum of global, national, and provincial expertise. These associations include:

Global

National

Provincial

The active involvement of these associations ensures that the Expo serves as a unified platform for advancing discussions on the future of geospatial technology, professional standards, and innovation both within Canada and globally. Their participation broadens the scope and impact of the event, guaranteeing that Canadian innovations are recognized on the international stage while providing Canadian companies and innovators with crucial insights into global best practices.

A Range of Standalone Programs

The key feature that makes the GoGeomatics Expo a “big tent” event is its slate of standalone programs; each is a pole within the tent hosted by prominent organizations within the geomatics community. These specialized sessions, organized by industry-leading associations, dive deeply into distinct areas of geomatics, offering tailored content for professionals seeking advanced insights into their specific fields. By catering to various niche interests within the larger geomatics domain, the Expo, through the efforts of these organizations, succeeds in bringing together a wide range of disciplines under one banner.

One of the cornerstone events is the buildingSMART Canada (bSC) Annual BIM Summit, which spans two days. Hosted by the buildingSMART Canada, the summit is designed to explore the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and geospatial technologies—a critical intersection as industries increasingly move towards digital transformation. Professionals from architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) will come together to discuss innovations in digital twins and GIS-BIM interoperability, showcasing how digital technologies are reshaping their fields.

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Canada Forum will also take place at the Expo. This forum brings together leaders from across Canada’s geospatial sector, including industry experts, academics, indigenous communities, and government representatives. The discussions will center on advancing geospatial standards, interoperability, and the development of a national Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), providing a critical platform for collaborative problem-solving and policy-making.

The Canada Maps & Poster Gallery, a collaboration between the International Map Industry Association (IMIA), the Canadian Cartographic Association, and GoGeomatics Canada, is another standout feature. This traveling map gallery showcases the best in cartography and offers a unique opportunity for professionals and students to receive feedback and recognition for their work. This interactive gallery will be located on the trade show floor, ensuring maximum visibility for participants’ contributions.

In the spirit of promoting public welfare through geomatics, the Geomatics for the Public Good program will highlight how government agencies are leveraging geospatial technology to address pressing societal challenges. Supported by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), this program will showcase successful implementations of geomatics by public servants, offering attendees real-world examples of how geomatics innovations are improving public services and policy outcomes.

Earth Observation technologies, which play a pivotal role in environmental monitoring, disaster response, and natural resource management, will also be spotlighted in a dedicated session supported by the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC). This session will focus on the latest advancements in Earth observation and how these technologies are helping to address environmental and climate-related challenges.

The Expo’s Reality Capture & Digital Twins program will offer in-depth insights into the evolving world of reality capture technologies, from LiDAR to photogrammetry, and their applications in creating digital twins. A highlight of this session is the CanSLAM Circuit 2024, showcasing the results of hands-on trials for mobile mapping and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology.

Supporting the Next Generation of Geospatial Professionals

The Expo is committed to preparing the future leaders of the geomatics industry through key partnerships with educational institutions such as the University of Calgary and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Support from these institutions will provide students with valuable opportunities to engage with industry professionals, attend specialized workshops, and explore career paths within the geomatics sector.

A highlight of the Expo is the career fair, which will offer students a chance to connect directly with potential employers, gain insights into various career paths, and discover job opportunities in the geomatics field. By bridging academic research with industry practice, the Expo supports professional development of the students and advances Canada’s geomatics industry with new ideas and innovative approaches. This ensures that the next generation of professionals is well-equipped to meet the sector’s evolving needs and drive its future growth with fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

Fostering Innovation: Fast Pitches and On-the-Spot Interviews

In addition to these major programs, the Expo will also feature the Fast Pitches: Pitch the Press, supported by xyHt media and the GoGeomatics Magazine. This high-energy session invites professionals to present their ideas, projects, or products in a quick, 3-minute pitch followed by a 2-minute Q&A session. A panel of geo-journalists and industry experts will select the best pitches, which will be featured in GoGeomatics and xyHt magazine. The event is not only a showcase of innovation but also a celebration of creativity and ingenuity in geomatics.

New for this year is a series of impromptu interviews that will be conducted live at the Expo. Attendees, exhibitors, and speakers will have the chance to participate in short Q&A interviews, which will be posted live on LinkedIn. These interviews provide an additional platform for promotion and outreach, allowing participants to share their expertise with a broader audience in real time.

A Unified Future for Canada’s Geomatics Industry

The 2024 GoGeomatics Expo represents a unique opportunity for the Canadian geomatics community to come together, exchange ideas, and build the future of the industry. With a comprehensive lineup of standalone programs, interactive demonstrations, and networking opportunities, the Expo is truly a “big tent” for everyone in the geomatics sector. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a student just starting out, the GoGeomatics Expo promises to offer something valuable for all attendees.

This gathering is more than just an event—it’s a statement about the strength, innovation, and collaboration that defines Canada’s geospatial community. As Canada continues to navigate the challenges of climate change, urbanization, and sustainable resource management, the GoGeomatics Expo highlights the impact of collective effort in advancing geospatial technologies. It’s a unique opportunity to bring everyone under one roof to exchange ideas, forge new partnerships, and explore the future of geomatics in Canada and beyond.

National Geomatics Expo 2024: Uniting Canada’s Geospatial Sector Under One Roof