This year AGI Cymru has been developing the AGI GeoCommunity in North Wales including hosting an event linked to Eryri National Park and we met members from across different sectors and industry at our annual conference in Cardiff on the 10th of October.
The theme of the conference was ‘Climate Change in Wales’. Discussions were raised on what geospatial data would look like in 2040 and what has changed with data over the last decade (accuracy and currency). Fluvial, pluvial and coastal flooding was explained as was the use of remotely sensed data to monitor climate change and the importance of creating a base line of historical features before they are damaged by climate change.
Trends from discussions throughout the day included the need for climate resilience, the importance that location data and data science play in response to future change. Geospatial Information (GI) is adapting, and we are seeing an increase in real-time data, new uses for GI including carbon offsetting and the creation of new datasets to tackle Net Zero. Uses for sensors, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques were covered. Practices for these include the prediction of future impacts, monitoring change and intervention, and forecasting change (water pollution, subsidence and flooding).
Satellite imagery, Earth Observation and digital twins are increasingly helping to monitor and model change and can provide accurate modelling of current and future climate scenarios. This helps with data driven decision making. Data is supporting long term planning to protect heritage and respond to climate change emergencies.
I was pleased to hear that the UK are represented on every working group in the UN-GGIM which leads the way through creation of a framework in response to global challenges. Wales is a leading UK country in policy and decision making on tackling climate change – Active Travel, creating green corridors through the National Forest and the Living Wales project that helps view the changing landscape in Wales.
Thanks to everyone who joined us and contributed to the day and the discussions.
CASE STUDIES
AGI Cymru would like members help in creating a library of case studies on Climate Change in Wales, so please let us know how data is helping you tackle climate change by providing details using this link to submit a full case study or a few key details that we can help you develop.
In the coming year we will continue to engage with members across Wales and plan to engage further with the education sector and schools.