Digitization has played an evolutionary role in the way we consume information. Just as emails and e-books have replaced letters and books, paper maps have been replaced by the more convenient and slick Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A GIS essentially integrates hardware, software, and data to capture, manage, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.
Today, we employ GIS applications such as Foursquare and Places to explore new areas. Not all of us might be aware of this, but we are living in one of the greatest eras of applied GIS. Currently, millions of users use GIS solutions to find out what the meteorological department has to say, avoid traffic congestions, explore new places etc. Government organizations also use the GIS for military purposes, public heath, water resources, public planning and other activities. The GIS market in the Utility sector alone is expected to growth at a CAGR of 16 percent over the period 2011-2015.
However, even as we bask in the brilliance of this technology, there are certain aspects that hinder the growth of this market. The internet constitutes a part of our life just as much as the outside world. As more of these GIS tools go social, there is a potential threat to personal security like never before. Not many of us realize that a simple voice chat tool like ‘voxer’ or a networking site like Facebook frequently divulges our exact location into the net. A recent blog posted by a Microsoft employee thus aptly advises parents to have a Location Services talk just like the ”Drugs talk” or the ”Sex talk” with their children.
Despite the concerns, the Global GIS market is expected to grow significantly in the next few years. The APAC region alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8 percent during the period 2011-2015 with the majority of the growth coming from China and Japan. This is mainly because of the increasing investment in this market from the Government and the Defense sectors.
It would be interesting to observe what this market grows out to be, and the innovations it would eventually give birth to. One would guess, by the end of the GIS revolution, everyone would become a Geographer!
Technavio’s related reports
Geographical Information Systems Market in the APAC Region 2011-2015
Global Geographical Information Systems Market 2011-2015
Geographic Information System Market in the Utility Sector 2010-2015
Geographical Information Systems Market in North America 2011-2015
Geographical Information Systems Market in China 2011-2015
Geographical Information Systems Market in South Korea 2011-2015
Large Geographical Information Systems Market in North America 2011-2015
GIS Market in the EMEA Region 2011-2015
Global GIS Market in the Government Sector 2011-2015
Geographical Information System Market in Europe 2010-2014
