Berlin 12.10.2023. INTERGEO EXPO and CONFERENCE has come to a successful close after three days in Berlin. The leading international trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management presented itself as a magnet for the international geospatial community and for the diverse application areas of geodata-based solutions.
With almost 17.000 trade visitors from 112 nations, 571 exhibitors from more than 40 countries, over 300 speakers and 841 conference participants from 42 countries, INTERGEO EXPO and CONFERENCE once again proved its position today in Berlin: INTERGEO is the world’s leading trade fair and most important international congress platform for all aspects of geodesy, geoinformation and land management. As the market leader, INTERGEO brings together the geospatial community and networks it with its industry users. It is the center of the professional community, the face and communicator of the industry.
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Staiger, President of the organizer DVW e.V. (German Association for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management): “The response of the exhibiting companies and the visitors at the EXPO and the feedback from the CONFERENCE participants confirm our concept. We have positioned strong themes such as Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring, Smart City, BIM (Building Information Modeling) for Infrastructure, Digital Twins, Maritime Solutions, 4D Geodata and 3D Cadastre. These are all elements of geospatial data-based solutions for sustainable development. With this focus, we have struck a nerve.”
From global monitoring to local action
A look at the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals shows that 80 percent of the 17 goals and 231 indicators, are spatial related, such as the fight against poverty, clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities, climate protection and life on land and under water. Global Earth Observation technologies such as COPERNICUS and GALILEO serve as information providers for local action. EXPO and CONFERENCE have made it clear: “Global Monitoring and Earth Observation are the basis for understanding interrelationships. In these crisis-ridden times and under the impression of global warming, anyone who has to make very local decisions to limit the effects of climate change is dependent on precise spatial information. Our industry provides it,” says Staiger.
Jack Dangermond, founder and CEO of the GIS software group Esri, also pointed out the importance and influence of GIS for the path to a sustainable future in his well-received keynote address: “We need to develop a shared understanding of our planet’s ecosystem in order to meet the critical challenges of our time. Sustainability begins with geography because it provides a deep understanding of holistic events. GIS as the foundation for Digital Twins enables us to understand impacts, model scenarios, and derive necessary decisions. We must act because we are living beyond our means. Geospatial data is the foundation for generations to come.”
Local governments, urban planners, climate researchers, mobility experts, marketeers, farmers and foresters, oceanographers and many others depend on the performance of the geospatial community as user industries. The industry’s toolbox is well filled: “Cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, digital twins, BIM, UAV, GIS, Big Data – at INTERGEO we showed what’s possible,” says the DVW President.
BIM-Days Germany integrated into INTERGEO
The business sectors of design and construction also benefit greatly from the innovations of the geospatial industry. The integration of ” BIM-Days Germany ” as a platform for the digital construction and building industry shows how the sectors are growing together. “Geodesy is the natural partner of the construction industry and architecture. It is an integral part of the planning and construction processes and elementary for sustainable, CO2-neutral construction,” says Dr. Josef Kauer, initiator of BIM-Days Germany. On the BIM stage and in the BIM cinema, visitors to INTERGEO were updated on topics such as how LIDAR technologies optimize the BIM process and how BIM is becoming the standard in infrastructure construction.
German Cartography Congress
The 71st German Cartography Congress (DKK), which was integrated into INTERGEO, added additional highlights with topics such as generalization with machine learning and artificial intelligence, maps for mobile use and hazard maps. “Cartography is the extended arm of the geospatial industry. We bring the results of earth observation and data acquisition to a broad audience,” said Prof. Dr. Jochen Schiewe, president of the organizer, the German Cartographic Society.
Youth development and training
The geodesy, geoinformation and land management sectors, which are strongly influenced by the engineering sciences, are intensively engaged in recruiting young talent and specialists. DVW e.V. offers access to the working world of the geospatial industries via the platform “Arbeitsplatz Erde” and the social media brand “Weltvermesserer”. DVW e.V. used INTERGEO EXPO and CONFERENCE for intensive campaigns for young people. The school day alone brought numerous interested students into contact with the working world of the geo-community. The awards for final theses at the Geodesy Prize and the Promotion Prize also count towards the promotion of young talents.
Organizers very pleased: market position expanded
The share of international exhibitors and trade visitors as well as the presence of the World Geospatial Council (WGIC), the international non-profit association of the geospatial industry, at the EXPO are proof of this development. DVW president Staiger: “We’ve seen a high level of international participation in EXPO and CONFERENCE, which shows us we’re expanding our market position internationally as well.”
The organizer’s summary: “We are very satisfied with the result of INTERGEO. The response from exhibitors, EXPO visitors and CONFERENCE participants was overwhelming.”
Exhibitor comments confirm the general image. Professor Gerd Buziek, Business Relations Executive of Esri Deutschland summed up his enthusiasm for INTERGEO: “INTERGEO is the face of the industry. Thank you for that.” Thomas Harring, President of Hexagon Geosystems Division, is equally enthusiastic: “A great show that demonstrates what our industry does.” Dr. Felix Reinshagen CEO of NavVis: “Great to see how strong INTERGEO has come back after the COVID period. Everyone is back, it’s extremely busy and we’re very busy.” Scott Crozier, Vice President Survey and Mapping at Trimble: “I’m already looking forward to Stuttgart.”
The DVW President evaluates the new IN-CONFERENCING program with its practice-oriented content to be very positive. “It shows that the visitors to the EXPO also want much more than a technology show. We addressed them at the EXPO stages with topics such as Digital Twins, Geodata Collection, BIM, UAV, marketing and attracting young talent, and the concept has worked,” says Staiger.
INTERGEO 2024 in Stuttgart
Many of the exhibitors have already booked their participation for next year. From September 24 to 26, 2024, the leading platform of the geospatial community will present its innovations in Stuttgart. Geoinformation will continue to be the driver of innovation in administration, business and science.
About INTERGEO
INTERGEO EXPO and CONFERENCE is the international platform for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. It takes place at changing locations in Germany. The CONFERENCE deals with current topics from politics, administration, science and industry. With its geo-IT potential, INTERGEO continues to focus on optimizing processes of growing target markets. It will be presented in Frankfurt am Main in 2024 and 2025.
INTERGEO is organized annually by DVW and hosted by HINTE Expo & Conference GmbH. DVW is the largest professional association of surveyors in Germany and promotes science, research and practice in geodesy, geoinformation and land management.