February 2023 Summaries

The Google BigQuery platform has recently launched its raster data module, which allows users to analyze and combine raster and vector data types. This enables more comprehensive and powerful solutions for geospatial analyses in fields such as urban planning, natural resource management, real estate, and insurance. The raster module provides functions to operate with raster data natively in BigQuery, while the Raster Loader is a publicly available Python library that loads and optimizes GIS raster data into cloud-based data warehouses. By combining raster and vector data, users can gain insights into potential impacts of natural hazards, demographics, topography, and other factors. The module's capabilities are demonstrated with an example analysis of flood risk in buildings across the cities of Cardiff and Swansea, which provides valuable information for urban planning and risk exposure management.

The London brunch scene is experiencing significant growth, with many residents eager to indulge in their favorite breakfast and brunch spots. However, with the city's population set to increase by over one million in the next 20 years, there is a growing concern that London may not have enough brunch spots to cater to this demand. To better understand the spatial patterns of brunch affinity across London, data analysts used Location Intelligence tools to analyze satellite data and social media profiles. The analysis revealed that certain areas, such as Central London, are particularly popular for brunch, while others, like suburban fringe areas and green spaces, are less congested with restaurants. By applying Spatial Indexes and joining datasets from the Office for National Statistics and Population Mosaics, the team was able to calculate the total target market for each area. The results showed that there is a high demand for brunch in many areas of London, particularly those with high population densities. The analysis also revealed that some areas have a low number of brunch spots despite having a large target market, making them ideal locations for new businesses or franchises.

The dating app industry has grown significantly, with over 323 million people using apps in 2021, and is projected to reach 440 million by 2027. Location plays a crucial role in calculating the Total Addressable Market for these apps, as it determines the number of compatible singles in an area based on factors like age, sexual orientation, interests, or personal compatibility. Geosegmentation can be used to predict behavior and interests, allowing dating app companies to advise users on distance thresholds, suggest relevant locations, and inform marketing strategies. Spatial analysis tools, such as the Getis-Ord tool, can help identify hotspots for specific traits like "Happily Ever After," which could guide targeted marketing efforts. Companies like Bumble are leveraging Location Intelligence to understand their market penetration, contextualize their Total Addressable Market, and drive growth through granular-level insights into population demographics.

50 Must-Follow Twitter Accounts for Geospatial, Data Science, and Visualization` is a curated list of influential experts, organizations, and news sources in the geospatial, data science, and visualization fields. The list aims to bring together collective expertise for greater development and collaboration. It covers various categories including Map Makers & Sharers, Leaders & Visionaries, Community Advocates & Open Source Evangelists, Visualizers & Storytellers, Data Scientists, and News Sources. The accounts featured share insights, knowledge, and resources on topics such as data visualization best practices, geospatial analysis, open-source mapping projects, and more. Following these Twitter accounts can provide valuable information, inspiration, and networking opportunities for professionals in the field of geospatial, data science, and visualization.

The Design team at CARTO has created a weekly tradition called "The Design Lunch" where they invite a developer to join them for lunch, and it has become an integral part of their company culture. This ritual involves randomly selecting a team member through a bingo game, inviting them to lunch, and then taking a group photo with the last guest as a keepsake. The event serves multiple purposes, including getting to know coworkers better, spreading and strengthening the design-driven culture within the company, and having fun. By doing so, it has created tighter bonds among teammates, fostered a sense of camaraderie, and made the company feel more like a community.

Women in STEM fields share their experiences and advice for those interested in pursuing careers in tech and data science. They emphasize that STEM roles require a diverse range of skills beyond coding and data analysis, including communication, problem-solving, and curiosity. Many women in these fields highlight the importance of having a strong foundation in statistics and coding, as well as being willing to learn new tools and methods. The team also shares their day-to-day experiences, showcasing the variety of roles within tech companies, from customer success management to product development. They stress the value of collaboration, innovation, and creativity in these careers, encouraging students and educators to explore spatial data science skills and attend industry events.

The state of Location Intelligence today is characterized by its increasing accessibility with modern tools, despite being underrated in most industries. Various applications of Location Intelligence are emerging across different sectors, including housing, smart cities, commercial real estate, and public sector management. The use cases showcased highlight the potential for interactive mapping, demand-side pricing, and spatial data science to drive insights and improve decision-making. Experts emphasize the importance of data literacy, collaboration, and transparency in harnessing the power of Location Intelligence, particularly in addressing issues like data privacy and citizen-centric tools.

The United Nations recently hosted a gathering of over 200 geospatial experts from 150 member states to discuss how spatial data and technology are shaping the future of sustainable development in line with the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve these goals, the experts emphasized the need for new data streams, creative and sophisticated spatial analyses, and partnerships between governments, private partners, and nonprofits. By using this data and analysis effectively, it is possible to identify solutions to complex problems such as gender equality and natural disaster resilience. The UN has already seen success with initiatives like mapping vaccination facilities in Kenya and analyzing financial data to support vulnerable populations before, during, and after natural disasters.

Geoawesomeness`, a website focused on geospatial topics, has been celebrating its sixth anniversary and has gained a significant following with over 150,000 monthly readers. The Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor have discussed the challenges of expanding the site, their favorite posts from the past six years, plans for the future, current trends in the geospatial field, and the shift towards Location Intelligence. They have also highlighted the growing demand for data scientists and analysts, and how this will impact the geospatial industry. The team has noticed a trend of startups adopting Location Intelligence, which is changing the way GIS is used. Additionally, they believe that beautiful visualizations conveying surprising data are key to great maps. Finally, they think that the shift towards Location Intelligence is a positive development for the industry, as it makes geospatial technology more accessible and user-friendly.

Data scientists are in high demand, with Glassdoor listing them as the #1 job in the US based on number of openings, salary, and overall satisfaction. Wenfei Xu, a data scientist at CARTO, shares her five secrets for success, which include having a foundation in statistics to understand large datasets, studying design principles to effectively visualize data, practicing storytelling with data, finding a community or group to bounce ideas off of, and paying attention to tools, concepts, and programming languages such as Python, R, spatial analysis, cloud computing, and visualization libraries like Matplotlib.

We have been focusing on designing processes to face challenges in a fast-growing organization, where growing means learning. The mix of acquiring clients, getting bigger contracts, hiring executives, and opening offices led to the product team becoming less impactful. To reverse this trend, we adopted specific methods, including ensuring product market-fit, maximizing impact within the organization, and easing hand-off processes between departments. We applied a "working backwards" methodology, where Product Managers write internal press releases announcing finished products, and later modified it to create Feature Docs, which serve as guides for Product Designers, Developers, Marketing, and Sales teams, improving communication, research, convergence, and sales alignment.

CARTO's Design team is a diverse group of six designers and developers who work horizontally with every team and person, acting as design ambassadors within the organization. The team focuses on design-driven approach to various aspects of the company, from sales pitches to product development and communication with prospects. Each member brings their unique skills and expertise to the table, including Ari, a designer with versatility in wireframes, User Research, mockups, and videos; Cillas, a developer who enhances the design process through technology; Emilio, a magician-like designer who excels at coding and problem-solving; Jose, a talented young designer with aesthetic intuition; Juanma, a master of visual design and pixel alignment; and Mamata, a senior cartographer with expertise in thematic cartography and big data visualization. The team's collaborative approach allows them to work on various projects simultaneously, including sales decks, printed materials, products, and even the company's Instagram account.

Meet CARTO at Mobile World Congress 2023` CARTO is attending the 2023 edition of Mobile World Congress, a major conference for the mobile and telecommunications industry, to showcase its geospatial data insights solutions. The company works with telecoms companies such as Telus, BT, Vodafone, Telefónica, T-Mobile, and others to help them turn their geospatial data into valuable insights. CARTO will be demonstrating its flagship products and services, including CARTO Workflows, a no-code analytical tool for Snowflake users. The company's team will also be present at various booths during the event, including the Spanish Pavilion and Deloitte booth, to discuss the future of Location Intelligence and spatial data science with attendees. CARTO's CEO Javier de la Torre is scheduled to give a presentation on "Improving Network Coverage & Unlocking New Revenue Streams with Cloud Native Geospatial Analytics".

The Analytics Toolbox Routing Module, a cloud-native, scalable alternative to traditional routing tools, has been updated with new features. The module runs directly inside Google BigQuery as part of the Spatial Extension and can be further enhanced by using curated data from the Data Observatory. Existing users may notice improvements in performance and functionality. The module is designed to help businesses optimize routes for their products, such as bottled drinks, by analyzing distances between warehouses and merchants across a city. Using OpenStreetMap data, the module calculates travel times and identifies the most optimal warehouse location based on these calculations. The results can be visualized using CARTO Builder's dynamic visualization tools, including a Category widget that groups data by warehouse ID and aggregates route lengths to find the least traveled distance.