Background

GeoAI is a transformative tool that not only enhances community resilience but also modernizes cartography. By integrating diverse location data including satellite imagery, aerial and drone photography, sensor readings, and historical aerial records, GeoAI transforms complex data sets into clear, actionable intelligence. This advanced synthesis enables rapid hazard detection, near‑real‑time situational awareness, and the development of dynamic “living” basemaps that evolve as roads, buildings, vegetation, and shorelines change.

These innovations support a wide range of applications, from land‑use planning and permitting, and transit management, to utilities coordination and public health outreach. By streamlining map production, GeoAI facilitates clearer communication and inclusivity, while leveraging archival imagery to illustrate temporal changes, thus empowering communities to make better-informed decisions for development, resilience, and long‑term strategic planning.

This side event continues progress under the GeoAI Community of Practice (CoP) 2025‑26 workplan.
The CoP was created following resolution 10/03 at the tenth session of UN-GGIM: Americas. It aims to facilitate regional collaboration, capacity-building, and innovation in the application of GeoAI to advance progress under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Contact the UN-GGIM: Americas Executive Secretariat if you are interested to learn more about the CoP.

Objective

The UN-GGIM: Americas Side Event “From Regional Priorities to National Action: Experiences, Strategies and Challenges to Strengthen Geospatial Information Management in the Americas” on Monday, 3 August 2026 enabled a regional discussion on shared experiences, challenges and opportunities.

In the technological sphere, challenges were identified concerning the interoperability, integration, and accessibility of geospatial datasets and databases, as well as the need to modernize infrastructure to respond to emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and GeoAI were identified as areas requiring new capacities, institutional adaptation, and increased cooperation. The value of communities of practice in facilitating knowledge and experience sharing in these areas was also highlighted.
In order to facilitate the goal of continuing to promote innovation and preparedness for emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and GeoAI, this side event will review progress under the GeoAI CoP to date and discuss future direction.

Specific Objectives

• Review progress and milestones under the GeoAI CoP 2025-26 Workplan;
• Discuss governance, web presence, potential future directions and priorities for the group.
 

Expected Outcomes

• Participants will have a better understanding of the GeoAI CoP 2025-26 Workplan, and progress achieved;
• Participants will be able to contribute to the development of the future direction, priorities and activities of the group, to meet the needs of regional Member States on GeoAI.

Participation

The side event is intended primarily for representatives of UN-GGIM: Americas Member States participating in, or interested in contributing to the GeoAI Community of Practice.

Organizers

• Thibaud Henin – Canada - [email protected]
• Nouri Sabo – Canada - [email protected]
• David Cole – Guyana - [email protected]