Geographic Business Intelligence

This is a continuation of the transcript of a Webinar hosted by InetSoft entitled "Geographic Business Intelligence." The speaker is Mark Flaherty, CMO at InetSoft.

How do you make the business case to senior management for a geographic business intelligence project?

Mark Flaherty (MF): It is important to not underestimate that you need to step back and make some basic points. Even in a large enterprise, it may well be the case that the CEO is not familiar with GIS and what it can offer. And the mistake sometimes people make is to go into too detailed an explanation of what the technology can offer. From a senior executive’s point of view, they might not discriminate between geographic business intelligence and a spreadsheet of zip codes, and that would be because the benefits have never been articulated to them.

There are three main messages to take to this audience. The first is the added value of geographic information. This is simply making the point that there are things that you can only do with a geographic approach that can’t be done with traditional reporting or spreadsheets. List examples that you have in mind for your project.

View the dashboard gallery

The second message has to do with the concept of business data visualization. Once a chief executive or a CFO sees information that they have not seen before, such as the financial performance of their operations laid out across a map, the level of interest goes through a step change. Mock up an example, preferably using an evaluation version of the software, like we offer.

The third point has to do with the power of integration. Geography has an inherent value of being a common attribute that can be found in many data sources. You always have information about customers and their addresses in one system, and in a separate database you have information about complaints or work tickets. Through geography you can combine those two data sets and understand which customers are most affected by whatever operations your are looking at. So you can mash up information from these various sources using this common key. It’s important to make sure that senior executives are clear on these very basic points that we might take for granted.

View live interactive examples in InetSoft's dashboard and visualization gallery.

How can you quantify the benefits of geographic business intelligence?

What benefits might accrue to the customers, consumers or citizens? Does it increase satisfaction or improve quality for them? Secondly you can look at processes that you are embedding geographic business intelligence into in terms of increased efficiency or decreased risk. Does it make you less liable to make a mistake? The third angle is in terms of outputs. Does it increase productivity or capacity? Lastly financial impact. Does it raise revenues or lower costs?

You don’t need to make the case on each of these dimensions, but it’s a useful checklist to come up with the business case drivers for your BI project.

Case Study: Utilizing Observation Satellites and Geographic Business Intelligence in the Agricultural Sector

Observation satellites provide a wealth of data about the Earth's surface, offering detailed and continuous monitoring capabilities that can be leveraged for various industries. This case study explores how AgriTech Solutions, a leading agribusiness company, utilized observation satellites and geographic business intelligence (GBI) to optimize agricultural production, improve resource management, and enhance decision-making processes.

Background

AgriTech Solutions is a prominent player in the agricultural sector, managing vast tracts of farmland across multiple regions. The company faced several challenges:

• Variable Crop Yields: Inconsistent crop yields due to varying soil conditions, weather patterns, and pest infestations.
• Resource Management: Inefficient use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to increased costs and environmental impact.
• Decision-Making: Lack of real-time data and insights hindered timely and effective decision-making.

To address these issues, AgriTech Solutions decided to integrate observation satellites and GBI into their operations, aiming to leverage advanced technology for better agricultural management.

Implementation

1. Satellite Data Acquisition: AgriTech Solutions partnered with several satellite data providers to obtain high-resolution imagery and remote sensing data. These satellites provided various data types, including multispectral images, thermal infrared images, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, covering different aspects of the agricultural landscape.

2. Geographic Business Intelligence (GBI) Platform: The company implemented a comprehensive GBI platform that integrated satellite data with geographic information systems (GIS) and business intelligence tools. This platform allowed for the visualization, analysis, and interpretation of spatial data, providing actionable insights for agricultural management.

3. Key Functionalities: The GBI platform was designed to offer several key functionalities:

• Crop Monitoring:

  • NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) maps to assess crop health.
  • Growth stage monitoring to predict harvest times and yields.
  • Detection of pest and disease outbreaks through anomaly detection.

• Resource Management:

  • Soil moisture mapping to optimize irrigation schedules.
  • Precision agriculture techniques to apply fertilizers and pesticides only where needed.
  • Monitoring of water bodies and watershed management.

• Climate and Weather Analysis:

  • Real-time weather monitoring and forecasting.
  • Climate impact assessment on crop production.
  • Analysis of long-term climate patterns and trends.

4. Training and Integration: AgriTech Solutions conducted extensive training sessions for their agronomists, farm managers, and data analysts to ensure effective use of the GBI platform. Integration with existing farm management systems was also prioritized to create a seamless operational workflow.

Results

1. Optimized Crop Yields: The use of NDVI maps and growth stage monitoring allowed AgriTech Solutions to identify underperforming areas and implement targeted interventions. This led to a 20% increase in overall crop yields within the first year of implementation.

2. Efficient Resource Management: Soil moisture mapping and precision agriculture techniques significantly improved the efficiency of resource use. Water usage was reduced by 25%, and the application of fertilizers and pesticides was optimized, resulting in a 15% cost reduction and minimized environmental impact.

3. Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time data and insights from the GBI platform empowered farm managers to make informed decisions quickly. The ability to predict weather patterns and assess climate impacts allowed for better planning and risk mitigation, leading to improved crop resilience and stability.

4. Environmental Benefits: The implementation of precision agriculture and efficient resource management contributed to sustainable farming practices. Reduced chemical usage and optimized irrigation helped preserve soil health and local ecosystems.