The Harlow Report-GIS
2025 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
December 8, 2025
Remember When?
A “Harlow Report” From December 9, 2024 —5 Trends in the Geospatial Market For 2025 - 2030
by Clarence Oxford
By 2030, there will be significant improvements in the ways to gather geospatial data. Drones and satellites powered by cutting-edge technologies will provide more precise information quickly.
The geospatial sector is expected to grow significantly between 2025 and 2030. Different patterns will be used to specify this transition. In particular, artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in geospatial technology. Demand for services that use location data is also rapidly expanding. Geospatial data-collecting technologies are becoming increasingly complex. Customized geospatial solutions are becoming increasingly widespread, increasing their application in a variety of areas. These advancements are propelling geospatial technology's adoption into previously unknown domains. These advancements appear to transform the market totally.
Read full story at Space Daily…
Now back to 2025
OPN USA, Inc. joined the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) as a Catalyst Member
by Dennis Klein
OPN USA is committed to driving the worldwide adoption of Universal Common Parcel Indexing (UCPI)
Summary
OPN USA, Inc. has joined the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) as a Catalyst Member, marking a significant step toward global geospatial interoperability.
OPN USA is dedicated to promoting Universal Common Parcel Indexing (UCPI), an innovative system that assigns internationally consistent, dynamic parcel IDs to break down data silos.
Their vision includes a worldwide cadaster where authorized parcel map producers automatically update the OPN HUB, enabling near-real-time statewide map synchronization, transparent authentication of global property transactions, and greater ownership accountability to promote stability, inclusivity, and prosperity.
This aligns closely with OGC’s mission to foster open standards and geospatial innovation. The OGC community welcomes OPN USA’s contributions toward a more transparent, interconnected geospatial future.
Learn more about OGC Membership: here
Read full story at LinkedIn…
GIS Needs Geodesy
by Juan B. Plaza
Why Accuracy Matters Now More Than Ever
Summary
Reflecting on a career in geodesy that began in 1976 with slide rules and optical transits, the author traces the dramatic evolution of surveying technology—from heavy Tellurometers to pocket calculators, total stations, multi-constellation GNSS, and today’s laser scanners capturing millions of points per second. Parallel to this, Geographic Information Systems emerged in the 1960s and exploded with computing advances, becoming inseparable from precise geodetic data.
Modern GIS has shifted to 3D environments and digital twins—dynamic, real-time replicas of cities, infrastructure, and assets. Achieving seamless integration of diverse datasets (LiDAR, DTMs, orthophotos) demands rigorous geodetic frameworks like ITRF, WGS84, and the upcoming NATRF2022, which account for tectonic drift and Earth’s constant changes.
For utilities, autonomous vehicles, drones, flood mapping, and offshore operations, centimeter—or even millimeter—accuracy is no longer optional; it’s the operational foundation for safety, automation, and resilience. As the planet keeps moving, mapping is never finished, making geodetic precision a perpetual strategic necessity.
Read full story at xyHt…
Google Maps Has a Hidden View That Makes Navigation So Much Easier
by Adaeze Uche
Turns out Google Maps has a mode that stops you from walking the wrong way.
Summary
Google Maps' “Live View” is an augmented reality tool that overlays directional arrows and markers onto your phone's camera feed, helping users navigate unfamiliar areas more intuitively. Instead of struggling to interpret a flat 2D map, you simply hold up your phone to see instructions superimposed on the real world. This feature utilizes global localization to identify nearby buildings, making it especially useful for orienting yourself after exiting transit stations or navigating through complex, chaotic intersections.
However, Live View is not designed for continuous, lon-duration navigation due to potential battery drain and device heating. It functions best outdoors in well-lit areas that have strong Street View coverage. While it shouldn't replace the standard map entirely, it acts as a powerful supplement for specific moments of disorientation — providing visual clarity exactly when you need it most.
Read full story at Make Use Of…
Hexagon Launches GeoMonitoring
by Francesca Guerra
IDS GeoRadar, part of Hexagon, announced its latest concrete scanning solutions at World of Concrete in Las Vegas.
Summary
Hexagon launched GeoMonitoring, a web-based safety monitoring platform. This platform features powerful, interactive 3D visualisations, enabling geotechnical engineers and geologists to manage the full monitoring cycle—from field data collection to interpretation.
Landslides and ground deformation can severely impact urban areas and critical infrastructure. GeoMonitoring's visualisation and analysis tools provide actionable insights for early safety interventions, protecting people and assets.
The platform combines a user-friendly interface with seamless data management, collaborative analysis tools, and automatic alerts. Enhanced IT security standards allow multiple stakeholders to work securely within the same project. “GeoMonitoring is a growing platform built with users at the core,” says Niccolo Coli, President, Radar & Monitoring at Hexagon.
About IDS GeoRadar: Part of Hexagon, IDS GeoRadar specializes in radar technology for mining, civil engineering, and monitoring applications.
Read full story at Hexagon…
Mapmaking in the AI Age: How TomTom Builds Maps You Can Trust
by Snigdha Bansal
As with any other new phenomenon, AI faces questions on the ethical implications of its widespread use.
Summary
As AI-powered tools risk creating “AI slop”—unlicensed, error-ridden content—mapmaking company TomTom emphasizes ethical data sourcing and quality for its new Orbis Map.
TomTom, a frontrunner in using Machine Learning and Computer Vision for real-time, updatable maps, contrasts with the ‘grab-first-ask-questions-later’ approach. The company uses a hybrid ecosystem* of proprietary data, like anonymized Sensor-Derived Observations (SDOs), and open data from sources like the Overture Maps Foundation, all validated through rigorous licensing frameworks and multi-layered quality analytics.
This approach, adhering to regulations like GDPR and proactively aligning with the EU AI Act, tackles AI hallucinations by incorporating regression checks and human oversight at every stage. TomTom’s commitment to data integrity and accuracy has built Orbis Maps, covering over 235 countries and more than 90 million kilometers of roads.
Read full story at TomTom…
Industry News
In Government
AWS to Invest $50B in AI, Supercomputing for Government Agencies
by Sandeep Dorawala
The federal government can no longer afford a cautious approach to modernization.
Summary
Federal agencies face mounting pressure to transform outdated financial management systems, driven by Executive Order 14249, OMB memo M-24-30, and Treasury Department mandates. Legacy platforms — built for batch processing rather than real-time oversight — hinder accountability, increase cyber risks, and fail audits while relying on vanishing vendor support and shrinking expertise.
True modernization demands more than cloud migration of broken processes. Agencies must adopt cloud-native, government-specific financial platforms that deliver AI-powered automation, real-time visibility, standardized reporting, and seamless interoperability. Treasury's FM-QSMO marketplace offers pre-vetted solutions designed for federal requirements.
Success requires equal focus on technology and change management: data cleansing, workforce training, and process redesign. With fraud prevention and efficiency now non-negotiable, leaders must treat financial management transformation as a mission-critical imperative — or risk failing both taxpayers and agency missions.
Read full story at FEDSCOOP…
Congress Revives State and Local Cyber Grants, But Funding Remains Unclear
by Mickey McCarter
A shutdown deal temporarily reauthorized the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program as the House advances a 10-year extension.
Listen (06:04)
Summary
Congress has twice extended the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) this month, first through the November continuing resolution that ended the government shutdown and kept the program alive until Jan. 30, 2026, and then via House passage of the PILLAR Act (H.R. 5078) on Nov. 17.
While these moves prevent the popular $1 billion program — created by the 2021 infrastructure law — from expiring, neither provides new funding. State CIOs and county officials welcomed the reprieves but called them temporary patches, stressing the need for long-term reauthorization and reliable annual appropriations so governments can plan multiyear cybersecurity investments.
The bipartisan PILLAR Act would extend SLCGP through fiscal 2033, modernize it by codifying cost-sharing rules, boosting federal contributions for multifactor authentication adoption, and expanding eligibility to operational technology and AI systems. With rare unity from states, localities, and industry, leaders now urge the Senate and appropriators to pair lasting authority with sustained funding to defend critical community infrastructure.
Read full story at StateTech…
Ending Fraud, Waste and Abuse Requires True Financial Management Transformation
by Sandeep Dorawala
The federal government can no longer afford a cautious approach to modernization.
Summary
Federal agencies face mounting pressure to transform outdated financial management systems, driven by Executive Order 14249, OMB memo M-24-30, and Treasury Department mandates. Legacy platforms — built for batch processing rather than real-time oversight — hinder accountability, increase cyber risks, and fail audits while relying on vanishing vendor support and shrinking expertise.
True modernization demands more than cloud migration of broken processes. Agencies must adopt cloud-native, government-specific financial platforms that deliver AI-powered automation, real-time visibility, standardized reporting, and seamless interoperability. Treasury's FM-QSMO marketplace offers pre-vetted solutions designed for federal requirements.
Success requires equal focus on technology and change management: data cleansing, workforce training, and process redesign. With fraud prevention and efficiency now non-negotiable, leaders must treat financial management transformation as a mission-critical imperative — or risk failing both taxpayers and agency missions.
Read full story at FEDSCOOP…
In Technology
The Top 2 Linux Distros Windows 10 Users Are Fleeing to Right Now – and Why
by Jack Wallen
Windows 10 is gone, and millions are turning to Linux. Here are the distros benefiting most, and what makes them so great.
Summary
With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, millions of users faced a tough choice: buy a new PC for Windows 11 or seek alternatives. Many are turning to Linux, and two distributions have seen explosive growth.
Zorin OS, designed to feel instantly familiar to Windows users, recorded one million downloads in just two months —78 % of them from Windows machines. Meanwhile, the gaming-focused, immutable Bazzite delivered a petabyte of downloads (roughly 150,000 installs) in a single month.
These surges highlight two clear migration paths: everyday users flocking to the user-friendly Zorin OS and gamers embracing Bazzite’s seamless, secure gaming experience. Long-time Linux observers see this as the long-awaited tipping point. Combined with Linux’s superior security, stability, zero cost, and flexibility, the author predicts 2026 will finally be the year of the Linux desktop, potentially pushing market share into double digits.
Read full story at ZDNET…
What is Cloudflare?
by Chance Townsend
The biggest company you've never heard of, and why they're so important.
Summary
For the second time in 2025, Cloudflare—the internet infrastructure giant that powers and protects about 20% of all web traffic—suffered a major outage caused by an “unusual spike in traffic.”
Often called “the biggest company you’ve never heard of,” Cloudflare operates a vast global network of servers acting as a Content Delivery Network and security middleman. By caching content and routing requests through nearby nodes, it dramatically speeds up websites and shields them from overloads.
When Cloudflare falters, the ripple effects are massive. [Tuesday’s] incident disrupted or slowed major services including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the social platform X, and even NJ Transit’s digital tools, underscoring how deeply this “internet middleman” is woven into everyday online life.
Read full story at Mashable…
Why Microsoft's AI is being criticised | Explained
by Sahana Venugopal
Users are lashing out against Microsoft's active efforts to infuse its devices and platforms with more agentic AI features
Summary
Microsoft's introduction of new AI features in November sparked negative reactions from users, highlighting a disconnect between the company's AI roadmap and customer demands.
The announcement, made by Pavan Davuluri during Microsoft's Ignite event, received significant backlash on social media, with users expressing concerns about the integration of AI into their devices and platforms. This incident underscores the challenges faced by tech companies in balancing innovation with user expectations.
Read full story at The Hindu…
In Utilities
Charlotte's Data Center Surge — Pricey, Power-hungry and Shrouded in Secrecy
by Catherine Muccigrosso & Caitlin McGladeBig Tech is pouring billions into Carolinas data centers to meet AI demand. But the public remains in the dark on the scope of what's here and what's coming.
Summary
The Charlotte region is experiencing a surge in data center development, driven by the increasing demand for artificial intelligence.
This growth raises concerns about energy consumption, water usage, and the lack of public transparency regarding the number and scale of these facilities. Despite the significant impact on the power grid and local resources, there is limited public information available about the number, location, and energy needs of data centers in the area.
Read full story at Charlotte Observer…
Georgia Power Awaits Crucial Decision on Major Energy Expansion
by Marshall Benveniste
The expansion could bring new power plants, battery storage systems, grid upgrades, and related infrastructure, creating possible opportunities for contractors and trades.
Summary
Georgia Power is seeking approval for a 10,000 MW energy expansion to support the state's growing data center market.
The expansion, which could include new power plants, battery storage systems, and grid upgrades, is contingent on a December 19th vote by the Georgia Public Service Commission. The decision will impact Georgia's data center growth, power grid, and construction industry.
Read full story at Constructconnect…
Three Nebraska Utility Companies Part of Joint Effort to Explore New Nuclear Technology
by Mark Fischer
Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, Lincoln Electric System and Grand River Dam Authority will form the Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium.
Summary
Three Nebraska utility companies–Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, and Lincoln Electric System–joined Oklahoma's Grand River Dam Authority to launch the Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium. This collaborative effort intends to explore the feasibility of deploying 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts of advanced nuclear technology in Nebraska to serve the Southwest Power Pool. Although no construction commitments exist yet, the partners will conduct site evaluations and technology assessments.
NPPD CEO Tom Kent noted, “Nuclear technology has long proven to be a dependable and resilient energy source.” The utilities aim to share expertise to reduce costs while ensuring reliable service. Any future investment will require public engagement and independent board approvals, building upon NPPD's ongoing state-funded siting feasibility study.
Read full story at KLKN Nebraska News…