The Geospatial Theatre at DCW is primed to explore the latest trends in geospatial technology and GIS, as well as opportunities for future cities, estate management, and autonomous transport systems.

We catch up with Ryan Sweeney from theatre sponsor, PIX4D to find out what got him into the industry and what the future of geospatial could look like…

Tell us about your background and how you came to join Pix4D…

I grew up working for my father’s excavation company,  running the equipment, installing utilities, building roads, etc.

I also managed all of the GNSS receivers, machine control, asbuilts, 3D modeling building, and take-off that we used. We started flying drones and using laser scanners about 10 years ago.

I ended up leaving and working for a few survey and construction technology resellers before joining Pix4D as the Channel Sales Manager and now the Product Manager for PIX4Dcatch Hardware.

Tell us more about what Pix4D offers…

Pix4D makes some of the most versatile photogrammetry software for almost every industry that utilises drone or aerial imagery.

We also utilise smartphones for photogrammetry with our app PIX4Dcatch so you can get great 3D models of your site or object even when you cant fly.

You can also get centimetre-accurate data using our new viDoc RTK rover.

What is the most exciting thing about your role? And the most challenging?

The most exciting thing about my role is that I get to use my experience and knowledge of the construction/geospatial industry to bring some really amazing hardware products to market which is a first for Pix4D.

This is also the most challenging thing as well, but these are great challenges to have.

What is the most pressing issue facing the geospatial profession at the moment?

At least in the US one of the largest issues is the shrinking survey profession. There aren’t enough young people becoming surveyors which will become a problem very soon.

So, providing these professional geospatial solutions helps make surveying more efficient and gets the job done faster while getting surveyors the accuracy they need to complete the job.

How has geospatial changed since the world has emerged from the Covid pandemic?

In my opinion – not much. More people have the flexibility to work from home which is great but the shortage of capable people in the field has always been there.

Tell us about a recent innovation or technology that you’ve been most impressed by.

How accurate, small, and portable GNSS receivers are becoming. Tools like the viDoc RTK rover with PIX4Dcatch can enable some amazing workflows that weren’t possible before – and at such an affordable price point.

What are the most exciting future applications for digital technology in construction?

Digital technology is already used in just about every single application in the industry at this point.

The exciting thing to me isn’t the new “toy” or product that gets released but the software we use becoming more powerful so we are getting critical deliverables faster, and all of the tools work together seamlessly.

This makes documentation faster, job site management easier, and enables great collaborative workflows.

What role do you think trade shows like DCW play in the lives of industry professionals?

Shows like DCW play an important role for industry professionals.

It’s the best excuse to step away from the job site for a minute and see what new workflows are out there and available to help you get your job done easier and more efficiently.

Can you pick out a top highlight from the Geospatial Theatre programme?

I would recommend checking out Pix4D’s Jacque Khouri discussing Digital Twins and how they can work with Pix4D.

He’s a specialist in construction and digital twins, with the knowledge and vision to analyze where we are headed. It’s definitely something you won’t want to miss!

Pix4D is a market leader in photogrammetry software technology. Their products enable you to digitise reality and measure from images taken from planes, drones, phones, or any other camera. They revolutionise photogrammetry, so you can scale up and unleash the power of your imagery. Visit the Pix4D website.