How Geospatial Technology Has Evolved, and What It Teaches Us About Adaptability

 Lately, I have been reminding myself not to lose touch with my writing. While I spend most of my time learning, coding, and exploring new tools, I still want to preserve the creative side that writing brings out in me. Writing has always been my way of reflecting, a habit that dates back to my primary school days. I even wrote an unpublished storybook during secondary school, which one of my teachers kindly reviewed. Writing, for me, is a way of making sense of how far I have come and where I am heading. So, let us start with a short perspective on the growth of geospatial technology and how I see it.

When I think about it, one of the most fascinating things I have witnessed in my career is how fast geospatial technology evolves. My journey into this world began back in 2012 when I first encountered a piece of software called ILWIS. For those in the geospatial community, that name probably brings back memories. ILWIS (the Integrated Land and Water Information System) was one of the early GIS and remote sensing tools capable of handling both raster and vector data. It allowed users to digitise, modify, analyse, and visualise data to produce detailed maps. At that time, it felt revolutionary.

Soon after, I began learning and exploring with other platforms like ERDAS, ENVI, and eventually ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop. Each new software opened up a different way of seeing and interpreting the Earth. But technology doesn’t stand still, and neither can we. Being the first to learn something doesn’t make you the best; the key is to keep adapting to the rhythm of change. If you don’t strive to improve and continue learning, you might become obsolete, just like some of the software we once relied on.

It is amazing to see how much has changed over just a decade. Today, ArcGIS Pro has replaced ArcGIS Desktop as the industry standard. According to ESRI, as of 1st March 2024, ArcGIS Desktop (including ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene, and other extensions) entered its Mature Support phase. That means no more software updates, patches, or hotfixes. It was officially deprecated on 1st July 2024, and is scheduled for retirement by 1st March 2026. For those of us who built our early GIS skills on ArcMap, it truly feels like the end of an era.

But in technology, every ending opens a doorway to new beginnings. The field is now embracing GeoAI, machine learning, deep learning, and advanced Earth observation systems. We are witnessing a blend of data science and geospatial analysis that is reshaping how we understand the world. From automated land cover classification to flood prediction and environmental monitoring, the possibilities seem limitless.

Coming to Malaysia for my master’s and using GeoAI for air pollution prediction opened my eyes to new perspectives, showing me how to apply theory in practise and gain deeper insights. (Just so you know, I studied Remote Sensing and GIS for five years.)

Looking back, I feel both nostalgic and excited. The tools may change, but the core curiosity, the desire to map, model, and make sense of our environment, remains the same.

So, so far, the lessons I have learnt are:

1. Adaptability is essential. Technology never stops evolving, and neither should we. What matters is our ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn.

2. Tools may change, but purpose endures. Whether ILWIS, ArcMap, or GeoAI, the goal remains to understand and improve our world through data.

3. Continuous learning keeps you relevant. The more you explore, the more you realise how much there is to learn, and that’s what keeps the field exciting.

4. Theory without practice is incomplete. My experience applying GeoAI to real-world problems like air pollution taught me the importance of hands-on engagement.

5. Reflection strengthens growth. Writing about what we learn helps connect our past experiences with future possibilities.

As I continue learning new codes and experimenting with AI-driven models, I also want to keep writing. Writing helps me pause, reflect, and connect the dots between the past, present, and future of this fascinating field.