The Value of Geospatial Information in Economy

The video below contains an interview with Ed Kennedy, an Associate with Hickling Arthurs Low Corporation, who helps explain the value of geospatial information in economy and the significant role of the Canadian geomatics sector. In the interview, Kennedy identifies the Canadian Geomatics Environmental Scan and Value Study, that was aimed to help update the profile of the geomatics sector in Canada and identify changes in the geospatial market.

The Value of Geospatial Information in Economy base on the the Canadian Geomatics Environmental Scan and Value Study

The Canadian Geomatics Environmental Scan and Value Study provides highlights and key results from work carried out by Hickling Arthurs Low Corporation on behalf of Natural Resources Canada. This research represents the most comprehensive assessment of geomatics and geospatial information in Canada to date.

In the study, geospatial information was used to estimate the Canadian economy, based on in depth case studies of 14 different sectors of the economy and an expert panel made up of people from both the geospatial community and the economics community. The Geomatics Sector produces geospatial information and makes use of it possible for other sectors through geospatial services and technologies. The geomatics sector includes a wide range of organizations from industry, government and academic institutions.

What does the summary report tell us?

  • In 2013, about 2,450 private sector geomatics firms contributed $2.3 billion to the Canadian economy.
  • The use of geospatial information contributed $20.7 billion – or 1.1% of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), $19 billion to Real Income, and generated approximately 19,000 jobs to the Canadian economy in 2013. Regional distributions of GDP and Real Income by region are available in the report.
  • The uptake of “open” geospatial data (data available a minimal or no cost and for use without restriction) provides an estimated additional $695 million to GDP and $635 million in real income in 2013.
  • National scale productivity impact estimates attributed to the use of geospatial information (measured by percentage change in industry output) are most significant (>1.0%) for:

Click here to download a digital copy of the 287 page Canadian geomatics environmental scan findings report referred to in the interview below.

The Value of Geospatial Information in Economy

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