Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering

GGE professor Dr. Yun Zhang was invited by the Department of Geography and Environment of the Western University, Ontario, Canada, to deliver a talk at the department’s Speaker Series event on March 5. The title of Dr. Zhang’s talk was "Big Technology Waves and New GIS and Online Mapping Technologies." The talk was delivered through Zoom to the department’s faculty members and students.

The fast-growing Spatial Big Data and the fast-changing Big Technology Waves have quickly changed the ways we operate in our daily, personal and professional lives. Google Maps is an example that has changed the way we look for and use location for information; and ESRI GIS is another example that has changed the way organizations manage, analyze and visualize information for their daily planning activities.

The talk briefly reviewed the global impacts brought about by Spatial Big Data and Big Technology Waves in the past two decades, using Google Maps and ESRI as examples. It also reviewed GGE's contributions to Google Maps, including 2D satellite image online mapping and Street View. Subsequently, it introduced new developments in 3D online mapping, change detection, and hyperspectral imaging. It concluded with a discussion of future development trends based on past developments, the current fast growth of Spatial Big Data, and the emergence of new technologies.