The Harlow Report-GIS
2025 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
October 13, 2025
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A “Harlow Report” From October 14, 2024
Top 5 Geospatial Data APIs for Advanced Analysis
by Amanda Iglesias Moreno
Explore Overpass, Geoapify, Distancematrix.ai, Amadeus, and Mapillary for Advanced Mapping and Location Data
Geographic data is important in many analyses, enabling us to decide based on location and spatial patterns. Examples of projects where geodata can come in handy include predicting house prices, route optimization in transportation, or establishing a marketing strategy for business.
However, as a data scientist, you will frequently face the challenge of where to obtain this data. In many cases, there are public sources with information on geographic data; however, in many cases, the information they provide needs to be revised for the analyses we want to perform.
This article will evaluate five of the most useful APIs for obtaining large-scale geographic data.
Read full story at Medium…
Now back to 2025
ArcGIS vs Maptive: The Ultimate GIS Platform Showdown
by Newsteam PR
The geographic information system software market has reached $11.5 million in 2023 and will grow to $52.5 million by 2033, according to market research showing a CAGR of 16.2% from 2024 to 2033.
Summary
ArcGIS, with its tiered user types and complex pricing, caters to organizations with dedicated GIS teams but poses challenges for small businesses due to high costs and extensive training needs.
Maptive, conversely, offers user-friendly, cloud-based GIS with pricing from $250 to $2,500, requiring no coding or lengthy onboarding. Its white-glove support simplifies map creation and data integration, enabling immediate productivity.
The decision between ArcGIS and Maptive depends on organizational priorities and available resources. ArcGIS serves organizations with dedicated GIS teams and substantial budgets who need deep technical capabilities. These companies can afford the time, money, and expertise required for implementation and ongoing management. Maptive wins for businesses seeking powerful location intelligence without traditional barriers.
Read full story at BusinessMole…
Beyond the Map: Scaling Geospatial Intelligence in Federal Civilian Agencies
by Google Public Sector
Geospatial Intelligence: Transforming Federal Civilian Agencies for 21st-Century Governance
Summary
Federal civilian agencies face mounting pressure to deliver faster, smarter, and more transparent services amid tightening budgets and growing demands. Geospatial intelligence is emerging as a critical enabler, transforming governance by providing real-time insights into mission operations. However, only 17% of agencies report fully integrated geospatial data, limiting decision-making and coordination.
Survey data from May 2025 highlights that 63% of federal civilian leaders value geospatial tools for improved decision-making, while 51% see enhanced collaboration as a key benefit. Barriers like insufficient training (56%) and budget constraints (47%) hinder adoption. By prioritizing funding, workforce training, and AI/ML integration, agencies can leverage geospatial intelligence to drive efficiency, resilience, and proactive governance.
Read full story at NextGov…
From Satellites to Survivors: How GIS Powers Disaster Response
by Julie H. Case
For humanitarian nonprofits, Geographic Information Systems have become essential to delivering aid. Here's how Team Rubicon uses GIS disaster response tools to map storms, prioritize survivors, and deliver faster, smarter disaster relief operations.
Summary
Team Rubicon, a veteran-led nonprofit, leverages Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enhance hurricane disaster response. By integrating National Hurricane Center forecasts with data on population density, flood zones, and resources, GIS dashboards identify vulnerable areas and guide resource allocation.
Post-landfall, real-time satellite imagery and field data from apps like ArcGIS Field Maps update operational maps, revealing blocked roads, damaged homes, and power outages. During Hurricane Helene, GIS tracked NGO presence to prioritize unmet needs, ensuring equitable relief. For long-term recovery, GIS analyzes data like insurance coverage to identify ongoing needs. Team Rubicon's GIS cadre trains volunteers, turning raw data into actionable insights for effective disaster response.
Read full story at Team Rubicon…
GIS Data Helps California Utility Prepare for Increasing Wildfire Threats
by Kaitlyn Levinson
In Southern California, where water can be hard to come by, one utility is increasingly relying on GIS data to proactively prepare critical resources to combat wildfires.
Summary
The Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD), located 50 miles south of Los Angeles, is leveraging geographic information system (GIS) data to combat increasing wildfire risks and enhance water resource management. Facing limited groundwater, SMWD uses Esri's ArcGIS platform to manage three billion gallons of water for firefighting and 500 million gallons for emergency drinking water for over 220,000 residents.
During last year's Airport Fire, which burned 23,526 acres, GIS mapped fire spread and water assets, ensuring 700,000 gallons were available for firefighters. The technology also supports infrastructure planning, monitoring fire hydrants and pipelines to improve water resiliency and prepare for future fire demands.
Read full story at Route Fifty…
Inside the Frantic Push to Change Online Maps to Say “Gulf of America”
by Dave Levinthal
The U.S. Geological Survey director oversaw the “chaotic” process of getting agencies and big mapping companies like Apple to change the name, according to emails obtained by NOTUS.
Summary
Following President Trump's proclamation of “Gulf of America Day,” the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) engaged in a frantic effort to update maps and databases to reflect the new name.
This involved coordinating with various government agencies and private mapping companies like Google and Apple. Despite initial challenges, by the end of the week, USGS reported significant progress in updating maps and databases to reflect the new name.
Read full story at NOTUS…
Industry News
In Government
California Adopted AI Safety Legislation. Here Are 5 Things It Does.
by Ryan Kushner
New state legislation regulating artificial intelligence requires transparency and safety incident reporting and establishes whistleblower protections.
Summary
On Monday, California enacted the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, the nation's first law to establish “commonsense guardrails” for AI development. Amid debates over AI regulation, with the Trump administration advocating fewer federal restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill, emphasizing a balance between safety and innovation. The law, effective Jan. 1, impacts California's AI industry, home to giants like Google and Nvidia, in five key ways:
1. Transparency: Large AI developers must publish AI standards and safety protocols.
2. Safety Reporting: Developers must report risks to the Office of Emergency Services, with critical incidents reported within 24 hours.
3. Whistleblower Protection: Safeguards prevent retaliation against employees raising concerns.
4. Penalties: Noncompliance fines may reach $1 million per violation.
5. CalCompute: A public consortium will promote safe, ethical AI innovation.
AI academics stress the law supports scientific review while keeping America technologically competitive.
Read full story at SmartCitiesDive…
How Trump's OPM Director Wants to Attract Tech Talent After Months of Workforce Cuts
by Natalie Alms
OPM Director Scott Kupor wants to bring on new feds with cutting edge skills, but the government's recent flood of layoffs and resignations could complicate that effort. With a government shutdown ongoing, too, the administration is threatening more layoffs.
Summary
OPM Director Scott Kupor aims to prioritize hiring new federal employees with “cutting-edge, modern tech skills” but faces major hurdles following months of significant workforce reductions. Since President Trump took office, agencies have seen widespread layoffs and resignations, including cuts to technology-focused teams like the GSA’s 18F office and staff at the U.S. Digital Service, a trend Kupor admits has hurt morale.
Kupor, a former venture capitalist, believes the biggest challenge is the “narrative challenge”—convincing tech talent to join after so many have left. He is focusing on skills-based hiring to attract early-career employees. However, the recent departures, fueled in part by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have made experts skeptical about how easily Kupor will be able to “turn the tide” of recruitment.
Read full story at NextGove/FCW…
Report: Government Needs a Sweeping Anti-Scam Strategy to Counter Modern Fraud
by Natalie Alms
Though many federal agencies have fraud-prevention responsibilities, no one agency has the authority to coordinate such efforts.
Summary
A group of over 80 public, private, and nonprofit actors, led by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, released a strategy urging the government to address scams as a national security crisis.
The group argues that scams, often perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations, pose a significant threat to national security and cost U.S. consumers an estimated $158 billion annually. The strategy recommends making scams less profitable, modernizing law enforcement databases, and strengthening identity verification systems.
Read full story at Route Fifty…
In Technology
As AI Redefines Work, US Employers Cut Jobs and Remain Cautious in Hiring
by Lucas Mearian
Private employers shed 32,000 jobs in September, according to one report.
Summary
Despite a strong economy, US employers are making job cuts and slowing hiring, according to reports from ADP and ManpowerGroup. Private employers shed 32,000 jobs in September, with mid-size and small firms seeing the largest losses, while larger companies added workers. Knowledge workers, including technologists, were a bright spot, seeing hiring gains.
The market is described as “under pressure” with new job postings and open roles at their lowest levels in months or years. Pay gains for those who changed jobs were higher than for those who stayed put. In this environment, employee motivation among knowledge workers remains high, and companies are focusing more on internal mobility and skills-based hiring over traditional resumes. Experts also note that AI is beginning to displace workers in both white-collar and potentially blue-collar jobs, changing the requirements for entry-level talent.
Read full story at Computerworld…
Elon Musk Tries to Make Apple and Mobile Carriers Regret Choosing Starlink Rivals
by Jon Brodkin
SpaceX Starlink's mobile power play: 50 MHz of spectrum and 15,000 new satellites
Summary
SpaceX's Starlink is set to enhance its mobile service through a $17 billion deal to acquire EchoStar's spectrum licenses, securing 50 MHz in the 1.9 and 2 GHz bands. Combined with plans for 15,000 new satellites, this could challenge competitors like AST SpaceMobile and Globalstar, prompting AT&T, Verizon, and Apple to reconsider their partnerships.
The spectrum will enable phone, text, and broadband services, especially in areas lacking terrestrial coverage. Regulatory approval is pending, and new satellites and chip integration are needed by 2027. While Starlink won't replace major carriers, it aims to complement them in remote areas, potentially reshaping the satellite-to-mobile market.
Read full story at arsTechnica…
OpenAI Wants ChatGPT to Be Your Future Operating System
by Maxwell Zeff
At OpenAI's Developer Day, CEO Sam Altman showed off apps that run entirely inside the chat window—a new effort to turn ChatGPT into a platform.
Summary
Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, aims to transform the platform into a new type of operating system, inspired by web browsers, hosting third-party apps to enhance its 800 million weekly users' experience.
At OpenAI's third annual developer conference in San Francisco, Turley discussed integrating apps from companies like Expedia and DoorDash to make ChatGPT an e-commerce hub, allowing developers to reach users directly. While past efforts like the GPT Store faltered, OpenAI is refining its approach, emphasizing user privacy through minimal data collection and potential features like partitioned memory. Turley sees ChatGPT as the “delivery vehicle” for OpenAI's mission to distribute artificial general intelligence (AGI) to benefit humanity.
Read full story at TechCrunch…
In Utilities
AI for Utilities: The New Front Line in Defending Against Cyberthreats
by Peter Dunn
From asset discovery to threat detection and response, AI helps force multiply their resources.
Listen (06:51)
Summary
Federal, state, and local governments face increasing demands with limited resources, especially in public utilities where cybersecurity threats loom large and budgets are tight. Federal funding cuts, including to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, exacerbate pressure on critical infrastructure security.
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn't a cure-all but serves as a force multiplier in cybersecurity. It enhances smart grid monitoring, phishing detection, and vulnerability prioritization, enabling utilities to work smarter. AI shifts utilities from reactive to proactive security, offering real-time threat detection and automated responses like isolating endpoints, reducing damage.
AI also strengthens physical security by enhancing video surveillance and monitoring edge devices like ruggedized laptops in utility trucks, which often connect to sensitive systems. By focusing on specific use cases and leveraging cost-effective AI tools, utilities can improve visibility, map environments, and secure unmanaged devices, making them better prepared.
Read full story at StateTech…
Investor-Owned Utilities Could Spend $1.1T Between 2025 and 2029: EEI
by Robert Walton
U.S electricity generation rose 3% in 2024 “and is expected to rise for the foreseeable future,” the Edison Electric Institute said Tuesday.
Summary
The article describes the increasing capital expenditures of investor-owned utilities in the U.S. The sector is projected to spend over 1.1 trillion between 2025 and 2029 to meet growing demand.
The article also highlights the impact of data centers on capacity prices and the role of state regulators in ensuring that utility investment prioritizes the public interest.
Read full story at UtilityDive…
Why Big Tech Could Outpace Utilities in Deploying Multi-Day Storage
by Phoebe Skok
With hyperscalers searching for clean, round-the-clock power, developers see a new market for battery systems that can run for 100 hours or more.
Summary
Big Tech and hyperscalers are poised to outpace electric utilities as early adopters of multi-day energy storage (MDS), which offers dozens of hours of capacity for data centers requiring constant power. Aric Saunders of Noon Energy, a start-up developing batteries using reversible solid oxide fuel cell technology, told pv magazine USA that speed is critical for data centers facing shipping and tech development delays.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which provide 4-8 hours of storage, MDS could eliminate reliance on diesel generators. Saunders sees MDS following lithium's path from niche to mainstream, driven by Big Tech. Noon Energy is focusing on derisking its technology and demonstrating its value, with Saunders noting that solar or wind paired with MDS creates an onsite power plant.
Read full story at PC Magazine…