GIS Trends in 2025

In 2025 Geographic Information Systems are undergoing rapid innovation and expansion. Their applications have significantly broadened and this year is expected to witness substantial growth in their usage. Let’s explore the key trends shaping GIS and how GISCARTA aligns with these developments.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI has become a transformative force in nearly every industry, and cartography is no exception. Working with unstructured data can be complex and time-consuming. AI technologies streamline and organize this data, making it more accessible and understandable.

On GISCARTA platform this is exemplified by the Geodata AI widget.

• This widget enables users to load data from OpenStreetMap (OSM) and Overture Maps using queries.

• OSM is a nonprofit mapping project created collaboratively by internet users to produce a free and open map of the world.

• Overture Maps, launched in 2022 with backing from tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and TomTom, focuses on creating open and high-quality cartographic data for large-scale commercial purposes.

Examples of Queries:

• Buidings in Paris with 5 floors

• Pubs in London

• Schools in Madrid

2. Business Intelligence (BI)

GIS integration into Business Intelligence (BI) adds a spatial dimension to analytics, enabling companies to make data-driven decisions based on geographic context.

Applications include:

• Sales analysis across different regions.

• Monitoring logistics routes.

• Optimizing the placement of retail stores or warehouses.

• Demographic and social data analysis in geographic contexts.

On GISCARTA BI is powered by the Dashboard widget, which supports visualizations such as:

• Ring charts

• Pie charts

• Line charts

• Bar charts

• Pyramid charts

These tools help users identify trends, dependencies, and dynamics of various phenomena.

3. 3D Cartography

Adding a third dimension (Z) to maps enhances visualization, particularly for terrain and building heights. While GISCARTA doesn’t yet support adding 3D layers, the platform allows the integration of 3D models using the Inset Map widget.

Features:

• Displays external web resources, 3D models, and other GISCARTA projects.

• The layer styling tool “Cartodiagram” supports 3D graphics visualization.

4. Web GIS

Web GIS has revolutionized the industry, making GIS tools accessible on the web. Historically, GIS software was confined to desktop systems, leading to challenges like limited data storage and difficulty in accessing and managing large datasets.

GISCARTA is a robust web-GIS platform for creating cartographic projects on virtually any topic, offering:

• Easy access to tools.

• Simplified data handling without local storage constraints.

5. Cloud Technologies

Cloud services are becoming the standard for storing and processing geospatial data. They allow users to access large datasets from anywhere and enable real-time data processing.

GISCARTA utilizes cloud storage to:

• Store uploaded data on its servers, eliminating the need for high-powered computers.

• Support data uploads from external sources via OGC standards such as WMS, WFS, and WMTS.

6. Open Data

The growing use of open data is shaping GIS practices. Open data provides access to valuable information for decision-making and analysis.

GISCARTA offers pre-processed datasets in user-friendly formats, including:

• Cities and rivers of the world

• Time zones

• Soil and climate zones

• Geological maps

• Airports

• World countries

Additionally, users can upload custom data from open sources, such as GeoJSON, SHP, ArcGIS JSON, GeoPackage, KML, KMZ, Excel, CSV, GPX or raster formats like TIF or GeoTIF.

7. Mobile GIS

The rise of powerful mobile devices has made them indispensable for GIS applications. Modern mobile GIS tools enable data collection, analysis, and mapping directly from smartphones and tablets.

GISCARTA is fully mobile-friendly, ensuring users can work on maps anytime, anywhere.

8. Big Data and Real-Time Data

Web GIS excels in processing real-time data, enabling users to monitor parameters like wildfire boundaries or traffic flows.

While GISCARTA doesn’t yet support real-time data processing, the Timeslider widget allows users to visualize time-based changes through animation.

Diverse Applications of GISCARTA

GISCARTA continues to evolve, offering tools that cater to an ever-expanding range of industries, including:

Geomarketing:

• Analyze retail locations and optimize logistics.

• Plan new stores based on geographic insights.

Government and Municipal Services:

• Manage cadastral data and land resources.

• Monitor infrastructure and urban projects.

Real Estate:

• Analyze property markets and assess neighborhood potential.

• Manage real estate portfolios.

Agriculture:

• Analyze farmland and monitor crop conditions.

Ecology and Natural Resources:

• Predict environmental changes and manage forest and water resources.

• Track pollution sources and assess their impact.

Conclusion

Geographic Information Systems are transforming industries by providing innovative tools for data analysis and decision-making. GISCARTA embraces these trends, delivering cutting-edge solutions for GIS professionals and fostering new possibilities across multiple sectors.