As the Location Data Scotland programme enters its fifth year, Scotland is poised to harness a wave of geospatial innovation powered by AI, remote sensing, and a growing talent pipeline. From public sector data initiatives to academic-industry partnerships, the nation is aligning its assets to address pressing challenges like climate change, skills shortages, and energy transition. Featuring insights from key figures across government, academia, and industry, this article explores the opportunities and outlook for Scotland’s geospatial sector in the year ahead. With flagship events like State of the Map in Dundee and pioneering programmes like Fife College’s Geospatial Foundation Skills course, 2025 is poised to be a landmark year for positioning Scotland as a global leader in spatial data and climate-driven innovation.

Alan Corbett, Head of Geospatial at Scottish Government:

“The Scottish Government has made strategic investments in high-resolution remote sensing datasets, including nationwide LiDAR and Planet satellite imagery. These datasets are now being made available to public and private sector organisations across key industries such as renewable energy, infrastructure planning, precision agriculture, and housing development. Our goal is to unlock their full potential by enabling advanced machine learning and AI-driven analytics that can support smarter, faster, and more data-informed decision making across Scotland.”

Damien Griffith, Community Risk Manager, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service:

“We’re facing a persistent skills shortage in geospatial disciplines, particularly in roles requiring deep technical expertise. However, the growing use of AI in geospatial processes, such as automating hazard mapping, routing analysis, and spatial risk modelling, has the potential to ease the burden on under-resourced teams. This shift will allow us to deliver life-saving projects more efficiently, while reserving expert time for critical decision-making.”

Ashley Stewart, Director at Optimat, and Delivery Lead for Location Data Scotland:

“The Geospatial Foundation Skills Programme, delivered in partnership with Fife College, represents a transformative step for the sector. It’s not just about teaching GIS software or how to capture spatial data, it’s about cultivating a new generation of thinkers who understand spatial relationships and can apply that thinking across industries. Graduates come away with hands-on skills in tools like ArcGIS and remote sensing platforms, but more importantly, they bring real-world readiness and a drive to contribute immediately to Scotland’s geospatial ecosystem. This approach directly addresses the talent pipeline challenge we’re seeing across the sector.”

Rob Dunfey, Geomatics Manager at Shell:

“Geospatial data is now central to how we approach energy transition challenges in the North Sea. We’re using location intelligence to balance and coordinate the siting of carbon storage facilities, hydrogen projects, offshore wind farms, and existing oil and gas operations. Thanks to the North Sea Transition Authority’s (NSTA) release of over a petabyte of open-access geoscience and engineering data, much of it spatially enabled, we have the information infrastructure needed to make evidence-based decisions at scale. Initiatives like State of the Map in Dundee this November and the new Space Hub at the Bayes Centre are evidence that Scotland is becoming a nucleus for global geospatial collaboration.”

Zoë Russell, Founder and Director, Rethink Carbon:

“Over the next year, we’ll see geospatial data play a bigger role in tackling climate and nature challenges. Advances in satellite imagery, remote sensing, and AI modelling are making it easier to monitor land use change in near real time. These tools are essential for developing robust carbon markets and measuring nature restoration outcomes with precision.

Scotland’s mix of academic expertise, public investment and a growing nature tech sector gives us a unique opportunity to be a global leader on this front. But to succeed we need to invest in data interoperability, strengthen partnerships between industry and academia, and enable open access to high quality spatial data.”

Bruce Gittings, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh & Chair, AGI Scotland:

“The availability of new types of remote sensing data, whether from satellite constellations or aerial platforms, is opening up powerful new applications across sectors. However, I’m concerned about the UK’s long-term access to global datasets, particularly those maintained by US agencies. Scotland has the potential to become a globally recognised hub for spatial data infrastructure and research, but to get there, we need to ensure continued investment in national data assets and policies that secure access to international data streams.”

As Scotland looks to the future, the convergence of technological innovation, data accessibility, and a renewed focus on skills development creates a powerful foundation for growth in the geospatial sector. The collective ambition of government, academia, and industry stakeholders is clear; to not only harness the benefits of spatial data for domestic priorities but to position Scotland as a globally recognised leader in geospatial excellence. With continued investment, open collaboration, and a bold vision for climate and digital transformation, Scotland is not just adapting to a geospatial future, it is actively shaping it.