Space is no longer the exclusive domain of a few—it is becoming increasingly democratized, data-rich, and commercially driven. In this new era, advantage no longer comes from who can observe the most, but from who can most effectively interpret and act on the massive volumes of data being collected. Commercial GEOINT sits at the center of this transformation. This session will explore how far the industry has come and the growing power of commercial GEOINT, driven by persistence, speed, scalability, accessibility, and partnerships. Through real-world examples, the presentation will highlight both the opportunities and the challenges that arise from this evolution, including data overload, questions of trust and provenance, and the impacts of regulation, ethics, and global competition. Looking ahead, the next frontier will be defined by integration, automation, and continued democratization—advancements that will require significant investment in talent. The future of geospatial intelligence will rely not only on data scientists and engineers, but also on policy analysts, ethicists, and storytellers. The session will conclude with a call to action: to invest in partnerships, to prioritize ethics and trust, and to empower people—because data alone is just noise without the values and vision to make it meaningful.
If you are potentially impacted by a government shutdown, click here for more information on registration.
