Geomob

Jeremy Morley interviews Professor David Martin about how the UK census evolved from paper maps and manually drawn boundaries to a fully digital, GIS-based system. Martin describes his role in developing Output Areas, the small statistical geographies introduced for the 2001 Census that became the foundation for many government datasets, including deprivation indices and neighbourhood statistics.

The conversation also examines the impact of online data collection, the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the 2021 Census, and the future of census-taking. Martin concludes that while administrative data can supplement population statistics, a national census remains essential for collecting social and household information that routine government records cannot provide.

Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Aba Osunsade, Ecosystem Lead at Geovation, discusses how Geovation helps startups and innovators unlock the value of location data through accelerator programs, community events, and expert support. She highlights the free Ecosystem Explorer membership, which provides access to Geovation’s London hub, networking opportunities, and resources for entrepreneurs. The interview also explores the growing role of geospatial data in areas such as climate, transport, and privacy, emphasizing the need for responsible innovation.

Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

In this Geomob podcast episode, Daveron Smith from Natural England discusses the importance of beavers as “ecosystem engineers” that create wetlands, reduce flood risk, improve water quality, boost biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change.

He also introduces the Beaver Consideration Assessment Toolkit (BCAT), a public tool developed by Natural England and the Environment Agency to assess the suitability and potential impacts of beaver reintroductions. The toolkit combines multiple models to support decision-making and identify areas where beaver activity may bring benefits or require monitoring. While BCAT is designed for national use, Smith notes that its outputs rely on modeled data and should be used alongside local knowledge.

Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This episode of the Geomob podcast is sponsored by the Open Geospatial Consortium.

In this episode, Ed talks with Bernie Conners about the inaugural Geomob Fredericton. They explore Bernie’s journey into the geospatial community, recap the talks from the event, and discuss the challenges and rewards of organizing a first-time Geomob. Interested in hosting a Geomob in your city? Reach out to us at geomob at opencagedata dot com — we’d be happy to help you get started.

Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This episode of the Geomob podcast is sponsored by the Open Geospatial Consortium.

Ed and Steven discuss the recent Geomob London and the first-ever Geomob Dublin, as well as the upcoming Geomob Berlin on 18 June 2026 and an OpenCage blog post about geosearch improvements.

Show notes on the Geomob website, where you can also learn more about Geomob events and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

This episode of the Geomob podcast is sponsored by the Open Geospatial Consortium. Thank you!