The Geospatial Commission
is to invest up to £2 million in around 30 projects that
investigate ways to improve transport integration, capacity,
safety and infrastructure.
The commission is an expert committee set up by the Cabinet
Office to promote the best use of geospatial data – data about
location that has the potential to unlock significant economic,
social and environmental value in many fields.
Location data could help to create new transport connections,
improve transport logistics and road maintenance, and support
autonomous vehicles.
Funding for the competition is from the Geospatial Commission
under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and managed
by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.
The best and most promising projects could go on to receive
between £500,000 and £1 million to prototype their ideas in a
second phase of the competition.
Projects must tackle a public sector challenge
Projects must identify a public sector lead customer or challenge
owner with an interest in the solution. Areas of work could
include feasibility studies into integrating transport modes,
improving safety, improving supply and delivery chains,
increasing capacity, and addressing infrastructure challenges.
Projects must demonstrate an application of geospatial data
and/or technology. This could include:
- Earth observation and satellite-derived data
- artificial intelligence or machine learning applied to
spatial datasets
- internet of things sensors capturing spatial information
- surveying, 3D laser scanning or spatial imaging
- advanced geographic information systems analysis or
geovisualisation and environmental modelling
Are you a public body facing a challenge that fits in one of the
four themes?
We are looking for public bodies (eg departments, agencies, and
local authorities) that can support and engage with projects
funded through this competition. This will require a small time
commitment in phase 1 and could involve offering support or
advice on testing and demonstrating solutions in phase 2.
In return, the public body would have an opportunity to interact
with innovative suppliers, and to help shape and trial innovative
solutions to transport challenges that they face.
Please consider registering as a lead
customer or challenge owner and connect to applicants working
on solutions that interest you.
- the competition opens on 29 September 2020, and the deadline
for applications is at 11am on 4 November 2020
- organisations of any size may apply
- we expect projects to be awarded contracts of up to £75,000
and to last up to 12 weeks
- an online briefing event takes place on 8 October 2020, and
help is available to find public sector partners
