Welcome to Mapping The Conversation, the podcast hosted by geospatial scientist, author, and entrepreneur Valrie Grant. Join us as we explore the world of geospatial technology and how it empowers businesses to seize new opportunities.
In each episode, we engage in insightful conversations with influential figures and changemakers in the geospatial industry. Discover how location intelligence shapes business progress and unlocks growth. If you're seeking valuable insights and innovative strategies to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape, this podcast is your guide to success.
Data for Decisions: Lessons from UN-GGIM’s Frontline with Fernand Balé
In this episode of Mapping the Conversations, host Dr. Valrie Grant is joined by Fernand Balé, Director of Côte d’Ivoire’s Center for Geospatial Information & Digital and former Co-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). Together, they unpack how global geospatial frameworks move from concept to impact — transforming decision-making, governance, and resilience on the ground.
Fernand shares his journey in the geospatial sector and his leadership role at UN-GGIM, offering insights into the evolution of global geospatial governance and what it takes to strengthen national and regional geospatial ecosystems. The conversation explores the critical importance of geodesy — the invisible infrastructure underpinning everything from navigation and finance to disaster response.
They also discuss how the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF) is beingtranslated into local action, the importance of centers of excellence and regional reference frames, and how South–South cooperation can accelerate capacity building and innovation. Fernand shares compelling examples, including how Côte d’Ivoire is using AI to map deforestation cost-effectively, illustrating the power of data-driven solutions for national development.
Whether you’re a policymaker, geospatial professional, or just curious about how data shapes decisions, this episode offers invaluable lessons from the frontline of global geospatial leadership.
Join us for this insightful conversation as we explore howglobal geospatial initiatives translate into national impact.
Connect with Us:
Host : Valrie Grant: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valriegrant/)
Mapping the Conversations: Mapping TheConversations | GIM International (gim-international.com) (https://www.gim-international.com/mapping-the-conversations) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/mapping-the-conversations/)
Don’t forget to subscribe to Mapping the Conversationsfor more episodes with leading voices in geospatial innovation and resilience — and leave a review to let us know what you think!
12 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Maximizing Geospatial Data Integrity with Dr. Justin Bennett
Dr. Justin Bennett — 26-year DoD geospatial veteran, repeat entrepreneur and DBA joins Mapping the Conversations to unpack what really drives successful geospatial programs. He explains how interoperability improves data integrity, introduces his Geo IQ maturity ideas, and explores how Geo AI is reshaping geospatial research and practice.
They dive into:
Justin’s journey: USAF → federal mapping roles → serial entrepreneurship → doctorate and new venture
Why standards & interoperability should be your first investment to improve data integrity
Geo IQ — a simple, actionable maturity lens for measuring organisational geospatial capability
Entrepreneurship lessons from the field: “Do things people can’t do or don’t want to do.”
The human side of mapping — curiosity, craft, and how diving became a mirror for Justin’s work
Who should listen: practitioners building geospatialcapacity, data managers wrestling with messy datasets, geospatial entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about where Geo-AI meets real-world practice.
Tune in and discover how better standards, a practical maturity lens, and smart AI augmentation can turn messy geospatial data into decisions that matter.
Connect with Us:
Host : Valrie Grant: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valriegrant/)
Mapping the Conversations: Mapping The Conversations | GIM International (gim-international.com) (https://www.gim-international.com/mapping-the-conversations) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/mapping-the-conversations/)
Don't forget to subscribe to Mapping the Conversationsfor more episodes featuring leading voices in geospatial science and innovation. Leave your feedback and tune in for our next episode!
18 Jun 2025
Talking Digital Twins with Ron Chapple
Host Valrie Grant interviews Ron Chapple, VP at NV5, about digital twins, geospatial intelligence, and visual storytelling, revealing how immersive visuals enhance environmental understanding and stewardship in this interview.
Inside a recent episode
Maximizing Geospatial Data Integrity with Dr. Justin Bennett
Published 12 Sept 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] What trends do you see shape in the future of interoperability in geospatial systems? Yeah, a lot of this ends up being grounded into, you know, as we bleed into more AI geo AI capabilities. It's more than just a buzz word nowadays and everybody's trying, I would say the industry at geo industry in general is racing to figure out how to put these complex workflows and structures in place. Case in point, you know, I wouldn't be, I would be mystified in actually talk about the geospatial research platform that we put together, which is leaning forward to help not only the geo AI community, but also to help geospatial research. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
