Ian James: A Life at OS

In this episode, Ed and Steven reflect on their summer experiences, celebrate listener engagement, and discuss upcoming events in the geocommunity. They share insights on business updates, challenges with large customers, and milestones such as Mappery's 7th birthday. The conversation also touches on the ease of organizing local geomob events and the importance of community involvement. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

Join us for episode 302. of the Geomob Podcast as Steven hosts Will Cadell of SparkGeo to discuss the GEOFESTO, a manifesto for the geospatial sector. They delve into five key principles that aim to reshape how geospatial professionals approach their work, from promoting spatial thinking to fostering collaboration and focusing on outcomes. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Episode 301. of the Geomob Podcast sees Alastair interview Greta Vega, a lead ecologist at Versant. From her early days digitising data to her current role using geospatial tools for ecological compensation, Greta shares her insights on the intersection of ecology and technology. Discover how her work is shaping the future of renewable energy projects and the importance of visualising data for impactful decision-making. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This isn't just a normal episode... this is Episode 300 of the Geomob Podcast! Join hosts Ed, Steven, and Alistair as they reflect on their journey, memorable episodes, and the impact of their community. They discuss the importance of feedback, the potential for new formats, and their aspirations for future episodes, including the possibility of new hosts and exploring diverse topics within the geospatial field.Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

In the latest episode of the Geomob podcast, Richard Conway from Telespazio discusses the EOEPCA initiative with Alastair. EOEPCA is an ESA project aimed at improving the interoperability of Earth Observation platforms. He explains the architecture of EOEPCA and its evolution into EOEPCA+, emphasising the importance of stakeholder engagement and open-source development. The conversation also covers points around user access management, workflow management using the Common Workflow Language, and the integration of these building blocks into existing platforms. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

In this episode of the Geomob podcast, hosts Ed and Steven are joined by Ed Parsons for a rich conversation about the evolution of geospatial technology, the impact of Google on the industry, and the future of geospatial data. They discuss the transition from corporate life to freelancing, the importance of community in the geospatial field, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. The discussion also explores the utility of geospatial information in everyday life and the need for innovative thinking to address ongoing problems in the industry. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.    

In this episode of the Geomob Podcast, host Steven welcomes Ian James, who shares his extensive career at the Ordnance Survey. James, who spent over 40 years at the organization, discusses the dramatic evolution of cartography from traditional paper maps to modern digital databases. He reflects on the challenges of digitization, the impact of open data on the mapping industry, and the future of national mapping agencies, all while emphasizing the importance of integrating various data sources. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

Ed interviews Olivia Ragone, a GIS data officer at the National Trust, discussing the integration of OpenStreetMap in the mapping the UK's historic sites and trails. Olivia shares insights into the challenges faced in mapping, the importance of community engagement, and the future of interactive mapping for visitors. The conversation highlights the significance of open data in conservation efforts and the collaborative approach needed to maintain accurate geographic information. The NT Paths & Trails program has been funded through partnership with Cotswold Outdoors and included within on-going joint work with Sport England. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

In this episode of the Geomob podcast, Ed interviews Gregory Marler, a key member of the OpenStreetMap community an organizer of the State of the Map Europe conference (14-15 Nov 2025). They discuss the upcoming event in Dundee, Scotland, its logistics, audience engagement, and the importance of community participation in the geospatial field. Gregory shares insights on the conference format, proposal process, and the diverse audience it aims to attract, emphasizing the need for collaboration and interaction among attendees.Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

In this episode of the Geomob podcast, host Alastair speaks with Laura O'Brien and Lewis Rattray from Frontierra, an environmental geospatial consultancy. They discuss the integration of satellite data into financial institutions to assess climate and nature risks. The conversation covers the role of geospatial data in decision-making, the importance of understanding nature-related risks, and the emerging applications of Earth observation data in finance. They also touch on the challenges of supply chain transparency and the future of environmental assessments in the financial sector. Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.