(formerly the Geospatial Specialist Group)

Location Information technology has recently become much more prominent in the public view and the media after the launch of Google Earth and other Google and Microsoft geospatial sites, and the increasing availability of in-car navigation systems and location-based services on mobile phones.

Location Information has been a growing sector of IT for some time. Location Information technology is now mission critical for a number of industries, particularly the utilities, and a key business tool for forward-thinking organisations in other sectors such as retail and insurance.

Government interest in geospatial is also rising fast, with the Department for Communities and Local Government particularly active in promoting use of location information technology in central and local government.

Provision of location information technology has extended beyond specialist niche vendors to broad-view 'horizontal application' organisations such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Google.

The increasing ability to integrate geospatial technology into a wide range of IT systems, and the increasing visibility of it to business and the public, makes this an appropriate time to form a specialist group within BCS so that BCS members may be well informed and understand the issues and best practices associated with the technology, and so that BCS may have a focus for those involved in or interested in the technology.

• Location Information Specialist Group website
• How to join

General enquiries:
Specialist Groups Team
Email: groups@hq.bcs.org.uk

Technical contact:
Chair: Dan Rickman
Email: dan@dral.co.uk