Horizons 2052: Beyond Boundaries 
An International Event by WGIC 

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Mission: WGIC Horizons promises to be an engaging and enriching experience, bringing together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries from across the globe to explore the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in our field. Your presence and support are integral to the success of this event.  The Horizons tagline, "Beyond Boundaries," encapsulates the spirit of exploring the exciting opportunities presented by facilitating a shared conversation on the crossroads of geospatial and earth observation technologies and the larger ecosystems present in every company, organization, and government. 

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Sunday, April 27 

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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

All-day Sunday – Art Museum open 

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3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Registration Open 

Martin Building, Duncan Hall

 

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​​​Monday, April 28 

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8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration 
Breakfast: Hosted by EagleView
Sturm Pavilion Foyer 
 
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sturm Grand Pavilion

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9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Welcome Address: A Landmark Year for WGIC
WGIC President Bryn Fosburgh
In line with our Mission and collective member aspirations, WGIC has been relentlessly working to expand the value proposition of geospatial and earth observation technologies and create advocacy, business, and networking opportunities for its members.

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9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Harnessing AI and Digital Twins for Geospatial Workflows

Sean Young, Director, AECO, Geospatial, and AI Solutions Industry Marketing, NVIDIA 

Al is poised to transform the Geospatial workflows with the promise of eliminating tedious processes and boosting productivity. In this talk, we will explore Al solutions for Geospatial. In doing so we will cover the basics of Al – including Al Training, Fine Tuning, RAG, Inference, Generative Al, Data Science, and Radiance Fields. We will also briefly discuss the use of a Digital Twin for aggregating Al data, training synthetic data, and simulating projects before deployment in the real world.

 

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Technology and Innovation in Construction … is it really taking off? 
José Luis Blanco, Senior Partner, Global Leader of Engineering, Construction and Building Materials, McKinsey & Company

The construction industry is being shaken by technologies like AI, robotics, and autonomy, enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability. While these innovations address labor shortages and improve project management, challenges such as high costs, regulatory hurdles, and workforce adaptation persist. Prefabrication, drones, and wearable tech are revolutionizing operations, but regional disparities and cybersecurity issues remain. Client-centric tools like VR are improving transparency, yet the industry must standardize data protocols and upskill labor to fully realize potential. The next five years will be pivotal in ensuring we turn a corner in meeting the high expectations set by these advancements.

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10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Fireside Discussion / Moderated Q&A

Moderator: Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC
WGIC President Bryn Fosburgh

Sean Young, Director, AECO, Geospatial, and AI Solutions Industry Marketing, NVIDIA 

José Luis Blanco, Senior Partner, Global Leader of Engineering, Construction and Building Materials, McKinsey & Company

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
“The Conversation”  Networking Break 

Coffee/tea provided  

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11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Applying Generative AI to Geospatial Use-cases on AWS
Kate Zimmerman, Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC) Geo Leader, AWS Worldwide Public Sector (WWPS) 

Explore the practical implementations of generative AI for use-cases like geospatial analysis and mapping on AWS. Through real-world case studies, we'll demonstrate how organizations currently deploying these solutions at scale in geospatial domains such as earth observation and multi-int analytics. This session concludes with examining the evolving landscape of generative AI technologies and how they will reshape geospatial workflows, offering insights into emerging capabilities. Attendees will gain understanding of both current applications and future opportunities for leveraging generative AI to solve complex geospatial challenges on AWS.
 
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Geospatial + Cloud: Where Cloud Meets the Ground
Jefferson Wang, Chief Strategy Officer of Cloud First, Accenture 

Geospatial data is everywhere: satellites orbiting, sensors embedded in infra, mobile phones tracking foot traffic, AI models analyzing change…but data without action is noise.  But the cloud is changing …

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12:00 PM – 12:15 PM
Fireside Discussion / Moderated Q&A 

Moderator: Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC

Kate Zimmerman, Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC) Geo Leader, AWS Worldwide Public Sector (WWPS) 

Jefferson Wang, Chief Strategy Officer of Cloud First, Accenture 

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12:15 PM – 12:20 PM
Welcome to Denver: Colorado Geospatial Initiatives
US Senator John Hickenlooper

A welcome to Denver, Colorado and an overview of  technology developments in Colorado from U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper. The Senator is a former a former Governor of Colorado, a former Mayor of the City of Denver, a former small business owner in the Lower Downtown district of Denver, and a former geologist.

 

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM
Colorado's Elevate Quantum Tech Hub
Jessio Olsen, CFO/COO, Elevate Quantum

An overview of Colorado's Elevate Quantum Tech Hub.

 
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Buffet Lunch (provided on-site)  
Sturm Pavilion Foyer  

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1:45 PM – 2:15 PM

Towards a More Efficient, More Impactful Geospatial Ecosystem

Nadine Alameh, Ph.D., Executive Director, Taylor Geospatial Institute

It has been a year and a half since Nadine Alameh accepted the challenge of becoming the inaugural Executive Director of the Taylor Geospatial Institute – a new institute, funded via a philanthropic gift in St. Louis, to fuel geospatial research and innovation with a consortium of universities and research centers, and an eye on commercialization and impact at scale. AIn this talk, Nadine will share her observations on the evolution of our geospatial ecosystem and the changing roles of organizations (national mapping agencies, academia & research, non-profits, and more) and how these observations are shaping our priorities at the Taylor Geospatial Institute. In particular, she will note how today’s problems (climate, food security, health, disasters, sustainability, etc) require a more deliberate collaborative approach for research & innovation that transcends disciplinary and organization boundaries; the mismatch between the investment in research & innovation and  solutions to “real-world” problems; the gap between research and commercialization and how it can be bridged; and her most sincere appreciation to all the non-profits in the geospatial sector working on increasing collaboration, problem solving, and interoperability. Although geospatial has come a long way, we still have a lot of work to do to achieve our full potential, but one thing is for sure, our time is NOW!

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2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Engineering the Future: Harnessing the Power of AI to Drive Business Growth

Eve Psalti, Senior Director, Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and Machine Learning (ML) represent explosive growth areas in technology, transforming every business and industry globally. As the data economy continues to expand, the current 35 zettabytes generated by over 50 billion connected devices fuel GAI and ML to unlock predictive insights and reshape the landscape of business and daily life. With Microsoft leading in generative AI advancements, including models like Copilot in Microsoft 365 and Azure OpenAI Service, AI now supports business efficiency and empowers individual productivity in unprecedented ways. Large language models (LLMs) process billions of data points to provide intelligent summaries, custom neural voices enhance conversational AI, and task automation streamlines processes from invoice management to sentiment analysis in customer feedback. Microsoft is committed to fostering a responsible AI framework, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and governance, particularly as AI reshapes workforce needs and drives demand for new skills. This presentation delves into Microsoft’s latest AI innovations, the transformative impact on businesses and personal lives, and the exciting future ahead. We'll discuss the key developments, potential, and what to consider as AI becomes integrated into our everyday tools and workflows.

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2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Fireside Discussion / Moderated Q&A 

Moderator: Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC

Eve Psalti, Senior Director, Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft

Nadine Alameh, Ph.D., Executive Director, Taylor Geospatial Institute

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3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

“The Conversation”  Networking Break 

Coffee/tea provided  

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

The Intersection of Geospatial Analytics and Water

Will Sarni, Practice Lead, Water and Nature, Water Foundry an Earth Finance Company

An overview of where geospatial analytics and water issues intersect. This presentation will focus on the water risk reality, leveraging earth data, GIS and technology, and building the business case for GIS adoption.

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3:45 PM - 4:15 PM

Introduction to Geospatial Innovation for Climate Resilient Cities
Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)

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4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Fireside Discussion / Moderated Q&A 

Moderator: Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC

Will Sarni, Practice Lead, Water and Nature, Water Foundry an Earth Finance Company

Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)

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4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Horizons 2025 Day 1 Wrap-up  
Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC

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​5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Private gallery artwork viewing,

 

5:30 - 7:30

Reception and Networking

Beverages and hors d'oeuvres 
El Pomar Atrium | Martin Galleries

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Tuesday, April 29 

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8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Geospatial Innovation for Climate Resilient Cities
a breakfast hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)

Led by: Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)

and Benjamin Jance IV, Director, Climate Action Innovation, Research, and Impact, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)
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More than 13,500 of the world’s cities and local governments are committed to ambitious climate and energy action through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy - testament to their role at the forefront of climate change, both as contributors and as crucial actors on mitigation, adaptation, and energy. However, many of these signatories lack the in-house capacity, expertise, and resource to build evidence bases, prioritize actions, and implement plans - jeopardizing ambition in a decade that requires a decisive response. 

With only 22% of cities and local governments implementing their climate action plans at scale, compounded by the lack of actionable data and simple, fit-for-purpose, and interoperable tools, the need for data that catalyzes action implementation is crystal clear.

Geospatial technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for cities to enhance climate action planning, disaster preparedness, and resource optimization. The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) and its members recognize the transformative potential of geospatial data and digital innovation in fostering climate resilience at the municipal level, and have - together with GCoM - conducted early research to chart pathways for collaboration at scale through their shared 2024 white paper, Accelerating City Climate Action through Geospatial Data.  Horizons 2025 offers a unique platform for WGIC, GCoM, and their respective partners and members to identify the potential for applied geospatial technology in cities today and the scale at which emissions reduction, resilience, mitigation and energy action can be achieved through data-driven collaboration.

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Objective
The Geospatial Innovation for Climate Resilient Cities breakfast aims to kickstart dialogue identifying and pursuing geospatial applications to accelerate city climate action. Built on the GCoM-WGIC partnership, the breakfast provides a platform for local leaders and industry innovators to exchange insights, highlight use cases, and explore partnerships that leverage geospatial solutions for urban sustainability and resilience.

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Expected outcomes
Strengthened collaboration between cities and geospatial industry members
Pursuit of geospatial applications for city climate action - across the entire journey
Identification of key policy and partnership opportunities to scale geospatial for cities
 

​9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Signature Talk

Dean Angelides, Corporate Director, International, Esri

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10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

AI and Sensor Data

​Melody Olson, Senior Engineering Director, Geo Perception, Google Maps

​Sensor data and AI are fundamentally transforming the geospatial landscape, driving innovation from foundational mapping to city-scale solutions. This session will delve into how our teams are leveraging these technologies to create detailed digital models, enhanced 3D scene understanding and innovative mapping capabilities to help Google to address critical urban challenges and build smarter, more sustainable cities.

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10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

AI Meets AI: How High-Resolution Aerial Imagery is Transforming Artificial Intelligence

Joe Oddi, Director, Partner Strategies - Government, EagleView

AI is revolutionizing geospatial intelligence—but AI models are only as strong as the data they learn from. What happens when AI meets AI—when artificial intelligence is powered by high-resolution aerial imagery? Join EagleView as we explore how 1-inch GSD aerial imagery is accelerating AI-driven geospatial applications, from automated feature extraction to predictive analytics. Discover how ultra-high-resolution imagery is enhancing machine learning models, refining digital twins, and driving real-time decision-making across industries. This session will uncover historical and emerging use cases at the intersection of aerial imagery and AI, including applications in asset management, disaster resilience, and urban planning. As demand for AI-ready geospatial data skyrockets, organizations must rethink how they source, process, and apply aerial intelligence. Is your AI built on the best possible foundation? Let’s explore new opportunities to integrate AI with AI—and shape the next frontier together.

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​11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Fireside Discussion / Moderated Q&A 

Moderator: Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC

Dean Angelides, Corporate Director, International, Esri

​Melody Olson, Senior Engineering Director, Geo Perception, Google Maps

Joe Oddi, Director, Partner Strategies - Government, EagleView

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11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

“The Conversation”  Networking Break 

Coffee/tea provided  

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11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
The Time for Geospatial is Now - Where is the Workforce?
Aaron Addison, Executive Director, WGIC 
 
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Closing Remarks / Summary of Key Takeaways  
WGIC President Bryn Fosburgh 
 

​12:00 PM

Take-away Box Lunch
Sturm Pavilion Foyer 

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12:00 PM onwards 
Museum art viewing / Networking Activities

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Key Features of the Program: 

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• Curated and Engaging content and conversations: Hearing from industry leaders as well as those leaders beyond the industry 

• Diverse and Inclusive Panels: Ensuring representation from various sectors including private industry, academia, governments and NGOs. 

• Curated Presentations: Featuring emerging geospatial technologies 

• Networking Opportunities: Designed breaks and receptions for attendees to focus on connections and sharing perspectives and approaches on session ideas. 

• Unique venue and attendee experience: The Denver Art Museum provides the perfect setting for conversations for meaningful content and conversations.   

 

This event and program will explore the approaches and solutions within the geospatial and earth observation industry, shaping the trajectory of Geospatial in Everything, Geospatial for Everyone and our collective sustainable future.