GeoMate: AI-Powered Mapping for Smart Mobility
Success Story: Unlocking Community Insights with GeoMate
Intro
Embarking on a journey to revolutionize community development, the Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab looked to better understand and serve the needs of children and youth and identified the need for a transformative mapping tool. Faced with challenges such as data visualization gaps and the limitations of existing mapping software, the lab sought a solution that would not only be cost-effective but also align seamlessly with their mission.
This success story of how GeoMate became the instrumental partner in crafting a customized map that not only addressed these challenges but laid the foundation for a groundbreaking approach to community engagement and well-being. In this case study, we delve into the objectives, decision-making process, onboarding experience, quality assessment, results achieved, and recommendations from the perspective of Grayson Bass and the Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab.
SWR's Objective
Community development is a noble cause that continues to be at the forefront of many municipalities’ list of objectives. In this project, the Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWR) carried the torch for the region on a mission to enhance the well-being of children and youth in our community. The challenge lay in bridging the gap in data visualization, particularly in mapping crucial points of interest. “There’s a gap in how we can share data, visualize data, and understand what’s happening,” Grayson Bass, Lab Manager, recalls. “A mapping tool seemed like that was going to be the best way we could show assets in the community [to] help understand what’s happening.”
The Decision to Choose GeoMate
The journey began with a quest for an innovative mapping tool. Faced with expensive and inadequately tailored solutions, the lab turned to GeoMate. “Most decisions in government procurement come down to cost and quality,” says Grayson. In addition to the quality product at a low cost option, GeoMate was able to offer SWR a fully customizable map to better suit the Lab’s goals.
“GeoMate was able to customize the platform in a way that made it far more accessible, much more exciting, and is foundational to the work that we’re doing,”GeoMate’s Customer Service & Onboarding Process
Implementing new technology often comes with challenges, but GeoMate proved to be an exceptional partner.
“Anytime you onboard someone, something should break, because nothing should work perfectly the first time. But I can say that GeoMate has been one of our best and most understanding partners at the lab.” Grayson notes. The onboarding process was smooth, accommodating, and any issues were promptly addressed. The responsiveness of the GeoMate team played a significant role in building a long-term relationship.
Quality of Data
GeoMate’s unique approach, combining AI capabilities with high-resolution geospatial imagery is always a factor. But in the case of SWR, aligned with GeoMate’s core values of accessibility and sustainability, the socially minded aspirations of the lab inspired the GeoMate team to go above and beyond. The customization and co-creation of the platform performed perfectly with the lab’s vision. Grayson highlights, “The tools that they’ve created for us to be able to input data that we get from the Region and Open Government have turned out to be exceptional.”
“The ability for us to create a tool that shows us what it looks like within 15 minutes of a community, whether that’s through cars, through bikes, on foot – that type of specialized use is really really incredible and helpful.”The Results
The impact map, GeoMate’s creation, became a transformative tool for the lab. Demonstrating the potential of the solution had a measurable effect on the lab’s reputation and its ability to deliver innovative solutions. “GeoMate is a part of that story. The lab would not have been able to show what we want to do without GeoMate as a partner,” emphasizes Grayson.
Recommendations
In assessing the cost and pricing structure, Grayson states, “Geomate was able to over-deliver.” The partnership not only met expectations but exceeded them. When asked if he’d recommend GeoMate, Grayson quickly responded “Absolutely.” GeoMate’s unique ability to make GIS software accessible and applicable to a broader audience proved to be integral to SWR’s initiatives and has the potential to help any number of other businesses and organizations realize their goals.
“[GeoMate] makes information accessible at a geographic level, and for anyone who’s doing social work, anyone in municipalities, in government – that needs to have that type of data, the fact that we can work with a partner like GeoMate, [and] what we’re building together – I think every community should have something like this.”Future Plans
Looking ahead, the partnership between Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab and GeoMate is set to scale. Grayson expresses excitement about the upcoming version and the potential to launch publicly. GeoMate has become a vital part of the lab’s conversations about the future and scalability of their initiatives. The collaboration between Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab and GeoMate showcases the power of customization, innovation, and a shared vision for creating positive community impact. This case study stands as a testament to how technology, when tailored to specific needs, can empower organizations to unlock valuable insights and transform the way they serve their communities.
