Greg Milner

That is not quite true.

The term spatial computing dates to the 1980s. Its modern definition entered the lexicon in 2003. Simon Greenwold, a graduate student in the Program in Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), described spatial computing wherein a human interacts with a machine, and that machine retains and manipulates referents to objects and spaces in the real world.

But spatial computing extends back even further. It has been the cornerstone of geographic information system (GIS) technology since the software programs debuted in the late 1960s. Indeed, the theoretical foundation of GIS is that it is not only possible but inherently useful to retain and manipulate real objects within some form of virtual space.

In the first GIS programs, virtual space was synonymous with cartographic space. Spatial computing means using maps to organize large amounts of data in a visually intuitive manner.

The Roots of Spatial Computing

Early geospatial technology pioneers applied the concepts of such theorists as Ian McHarg, who described the world as a series of layers of information that exist and interact in the same physical spaces. If we analyze any spot on Earth, we encounter such informational layers as elevation, soil type, hydrology, biology and land use.

GIS brought this idea to life. The technology allows us to visualize and analyze layers of data on a map. In this way, GIS has become a key integrator of information about our world, from science to engineering to commercial operations.

Through innovation, GIS has grown beyond the bounds of mere 2D map layers to generate maps that are, in effect, 1:1-scale 3D models we call geospatial digital twins.

The major benefit of geospatial digital twins is the ability to provide maximum context. This is especially useful for smart planning of our urban environments. For example, architects can use a digital twin to test how their proposals will fare in such situations as flooding and extreme heat brought about by climate change. City planners can understand the effects of large-scale shifts in the urban environment with interventions focused on enhancing livability. The combination of visualization and hard data allows them to predict impacts and modify plans before making expensive changes to the physical world.

Spatial Computing and Digital Twins

Each advance in GIS technology has improved our ability to visualize, link and manipulate real objects and spaces in a digital realm.

GIS has evolved to offer truly immersive experiences. In particular, the combination of GIS and game engines such as Unreal and Unity has transformed the process of large-scale infrastructure projects.

In Brisbane, Australia, for example, a digital twin of the ongoing subway construction has been used to display progress. People can walk virtually through planned subway tunnels and stations. This contextual experience helps project leads show Brisbanites how the work is shaping up.

The experience also allows planners, architects, engineers and construction workers to make decisions with more information than could be provided by a paper map or even a traditional digital twin. They can stand on a platform and see how the design elements of a station will look to people moving through it.

Spatial Computing to Visualize What Could Be

Digital twins can be crystal balls. The virtual spaces can be reconfigured to model different versions of an environment. In practical terms, digital twins allow various stakeholders to have the same vision. This is especially useful in the age of climate change.

Planners and architects can test different versions of a project. If they are designing a subdivision in a coastal community, they can calculate the flooding and storm surge that will likely occur from storms of different magnitudes. Just as important, they can visualize this data, inhabit it, and study it with maximum context.

At root, what they are doing is investigating spatial relations against a realistic backdrop of the world. For the subdivision, these objects include homes, streets, streetlights, and parks, and what matters is their existence in relation to water under multiple scenarios. This is spatial computing: manipulating referents to real objects in a virtual world that, unlike the real one, can be changed at will.

Spatial Computing to Visualize Hidden Real Spaces

Immersive environments also offer the promise of displaying a world that is real and already exists yet remains largely invisible.

Public utilities and other companies involved with underground infrastructure have been some of the most enthusiastic adopters of digital twins because the experience can reveal critical connections buried beneath the earth — made visible without the need to dig.

In 2017, the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority (TRMUA) in Toms River, New Jersey, began using mixed reality (MR) headsets to help crews find underground utility assets for electric, gas, water, telecommunications and sewer services.

GIS stores the location of these assets, and MR displays the underground infrastructure. Traditionally, utilities display this detail on a 2D map. What MR provides is maximum context. Workers in the field can visualize exactly what is under their feet—and see how it’s related spatially to what is all around them.

TRMUA credits MR with saving time and lowering the chances of breaking connections in the networks residents rely on for modern living — savings in the tens of thousands of dollars every day.

Many utilities have since followed TRMUA’s lead. MR setups serve multiple purposes, including training new employees and sharing information between teams in the field and staff in the office.

One utility industry publication recently noted that what these systems ultimately provide is the elimination of guesswork. The ability to know exactly where an asset is located — and to understand how changes will affect the area around it — leads to increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The World in Sharper Focus

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is not the only recent example of XR rebranded as spatial computing. Meta and Microsoft have also marketed their XR headsets — Quest 3 and Hololens, respectively — as spatial computers.

Spatial computing will continue its mainstreaming. Eventually, it will likely be the norm. As XR hardware increases in number and power, more organizations will look to unlock the value of all the spatial data recorded in GIS. Being able to experience data will add further value to the systems and workflows that create it.

GIS pioneers began exploring the outer limits of spatial computing a half-century ago. More recently they have realized its potential for smarter urban planning, climate risk mitigation, management of operations across industries and virtual exploration of real-world systems or scenarios via geospatial digital twins. Someday soon, those limits will be reachable by anyone.

As GIS users have learned through the decades, when we get a better sense of where we are in relation to things we care about, we can create the world we want to see.

To explore immersive spatial computing experiences in browser, visit 360 VR Experiences. Read more about Esri XR experiences in ArcGIS.

This article originally appeared on Esri Blog.

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From paradise to panic… Or not

Tourists at the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, drove their car into the harbor after following directions on a mobile map application, and were surprised when the car filled with water, reported Insider and the Washington Post. A witness to the incident took a video showing two women in a Dodge Caravan driving “confidently” into the harbor. The witness also stated that the women were not panicked and were smiling as the car tipped forward into the water. The driver and passenger eventually climbed out of the car and were not injured in the incident. An information specialist for the Hawaii Department of Transportation stated that mobile mapping applications are inaccurate and tourists should always be aware of their surroundings.

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Apple tags to the rescue again

New York City will give out free Apple AirTags to residents in an effort to stunt an increasing number of car thefts, reported the New York Post. A local nonprofit donated 500 AirTags to the city to be handed out to residents, especially those in New York Police Department’s (NYPD) 43rd Precinct in The Bronx. NYPD encourages drivers to purchase the device if they are not able to receive one from the city. An equitable distribution plan is being designed by the Crime Prevention Unit of NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau. The city will also be fundraising to purchase more AirTags or similar devices.

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Keeping ballots valid

The Ottawa County Clerk’s office in West Olive, Michigan, is using location data to track vital election data around the county in real time, reported KATV News Channel 7. Once the election machine scans the results of a ballot, the data is uploaded to a flash drive and sealed with a tabulator. Then, a bipartisan group of election workers places the flash drive in a sealed container with a GPS receiver and a radio transmitter that communicates the container’s location in real time to the county clerk’s office. Ottawa County Clerk, Justin Roebuck, believes the receivers add an extra layer of security and will instill faith in voters that nobody is tampering with their ballots.

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Driving blind

GPS plays a quiet, but integral role in Formula 1 (F1) racing. In a sport where split-second reactions are vital, GPS helps drivers and their teams improve race to race and navigate tracks safely. The importance of live location data was seen in the opening practice session at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix FP1. A red flag was flown due to loss of location data triggered by a glitch in the distribution of live tire information. This caused several near-misses on the track because drivers no longer received traffic advisory calls from their teams, reported Autosport. It took more than nine minutes to restore the real-time location data.

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Image: Apple

Apple Products Meet Accuracy with GPS

Apple launched the Ultra Watch, which contains a dual-frequency GPS antenna that can receive L5 signals, as well as the iPhone 14, which features a dual-band GPS receiver combining the L1 and L5 signals. The company is also harnessing signals from more than 70 satellites to boost the accuracy of its services such as SOS alerts and alerting emergency responders, per The National News. The dual-frequency abilities of the new products provide accurate location for calculating distance, pace and routes. The L5 signals also are a critical component of Apple’s health and safety features, providing more accuracy than in previous products.

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Collar Accidently Tracks Python

Wildlife researchers in Key Largo, Florida, accidently discovered a way to locate and eradicate invasive Burmese pythons, per WFLA News Channel 8. The team of researchers were observing racoons and possums that were fitted with tracking collars to note their behavior. After months of observation, a possum collar sent a mortality signal due to lack of movement. To the researchers’ surprise, the collar then started moving again. They later discovered the possum had been eaten by a python. While this was not the intent of the team’s research, they proved this could be an effective way to lower the increasing population of the invasive python species.

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Remote-Sensing Finds Wild Camels

Scientist Liu Shaochuang and his team have used satellite remote-sensing technology to study and track wild camels. Shaochuang studies the interrelationship between endangered animals and their environments, which may help protect the species against climate change. To track a camel, Shaochuang attaches a GNSS-enabled collar, which transmits the camel’s location every day. The short message function is provided by China’s BeiDou satellite system, which transmits and receives signals in real time. Based on the data, Shaochuang and his team can observe migratory paths, living environments and possible threats.

Image: Screenshot of CNN video

Former South Carolina Attorney Convicted with Location Data

On March 3, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his son Paul Murdaugh and wife Maggie Murdaugh. With limited evidence, the prosecution used a phone video and vehicle navigation data to prove Alex’s guilt. During the trial, Alex claimed he was visiting his mother during the time the murders took place. However, General Motors OnStar data accessed by investigators from his Chevrolet Suburban contradicted the alibi, putting Alex at the scene of the crime during the time of the murders. Plus, in a smartphone video taken by Paul that night, Alex’s voice could be heard, placing him at the scene.

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Image: Reviver

Digital license plates gone wrong

A security research team has gained administrative access to Reviver, the only company in California that sells digital license plates, which has allowed them to track the physical location of all of Reviver’s customers. With this vulnerability, anyone could remotely update, track and delete someone’s Reviver plate. The access also enabled the researchers to change a section of the text at the bottom of the plate, designed for personalized messages, to anything they want, according to Vice.com. California launched the option to buy a digital license plate in October 2022, and Reviver has since addressed the license plates’ security vulnerability.

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Bill makes secret tracking illegal

Indiana state legislators have filed a bill that would make tracking someone with a GPS-based device without their knowledge a crime, reported WTHR of Indianapolis. The bill is in response to the growing number of criminal cases involving Apple AirTags and other GPS-based tracking devices. Tracking someone secretly is not currently a crime in Indiana; however, laws vary from state to state. Under the proposed bill, the penalty would be increased from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor if the person tracked is under a protective order. The penalty could be enhanced for someone convicted of using a tracking device when committing a felony. Similar incidents are on the rise around the United States involving the use of AirTags and other tracking devices for criminal purposes.

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Cellphones cause demise

On New Year’s Day, six rockets were launched from a United States-made Himars rocket system at a vocational college in Ukraine, killing at least 89 Russian soldiers. Russia is blaming this on illegal cellphone usage by Russian soldiers, defying a ban. Ukrainian officials say 400 Russian soldiers were killed and another 300 were wounded, contradicting Russia’s report. However, this is the largest number of deaths Russia has acknowledged during the war. Russia says that the obvious cause of the attack was the use of mobile phones, as the enemy was able to locate and determine the troops’ coordinates for the strike. Two of the rockets were shot down before reaching Makiivka in the occupied Donetsk area of Ukraine. 

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Can GPS forecast rain?

Researchers at the Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics at the Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kochi, India, say that heavy rainfall can be detected more than six hours in advance using GPS signals, reported The Hindu. During rainy seasons, as GPS signals pass through the atmosphere, how much they are delayed depends on the amount of water vapor present. By using continuous GPS signals and rainfall data collected in Thiruvananthapuram, the study showed that any heavy rainfall could be detected using this delay. 

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Image: WTHR

Indiana state legislators have filed multiple bills that would make tracking someone with a GPS-based device without their knowledge a crime, reported WTHR of Indianapolis. The bills are in response to the growing number of criminal cases involving Apple AirTags and other GPS-based tracking devices.

Tracking someone secretly is not currently a crime in Indiana; however, laws vary from state to state. Under one proposed bill, the penalty would be increased from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor if the person tracked is under a protective order. The penalty could be enhanced for someone convicted of using tracking devices when committing a felony.

Similar incidents are on the rise around the United State regarding the use of AirTags and other tracking devices for criminal purposes. In December 2022, two women in California filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple for privacy concerns after being stalked by ex-partners using AirTags.

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San Francisco Not Keen on Avs

San Francisco officials aren’t happy with autonomous vehicles (AV) on their streets. They say the AVs are at fault for traffic violations and congestion, delays in emergency response and public transport — even trips onto public sidewalks. California officials granted the first AV deployment permits this year, allowing companies to release self-driving cars onto city streets and to provide passenger service as robotaxis. State governments have the legal power to grant permits to AV companies to conduct testing and ride-hail services, leaving city officials powerless to control self-driving car incidents that affect public safety.

Image: Apple

AirTag under Fire 

Two women have filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, claiming its AirTag trackers are being used for malicious and criminal purposes. Both women say they were tracked by ex-partners using Apple AirTags hidden in their belongings. They are seeking damages for negligence and privacy violations, and are hoping to prevent Apple from continuing to manufacture the product with “design flaws.”

Image: TU Delft/Frank Auperlé

Navigating Urban Canyons with SuperGPS 

Researchers at Delft University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and VSL have developed an alternative positioning system that is more robust and accurate than GPS, especially in urban settings. The aim of the project — SuperGPS — was to develop an alternative positioning system that makes use of mobile telecommunications networks instead of satellites and that has better accuracy than GPS. A prototype of the infrastructure achieved an accuracy of 10 centimeters. The new technology is important for the implementation of a range of location-based applications, including automated vehicles, quantum communication and next-generation mobile communication systems.

Image: Allison Usavage/Cornell University

Robots Head to Vineyards

Cornell researchers have designed PhytoPatholoBots (PPB) that will be deployed in vineyards across the country next spring in the first of a four-year project at Cornell, which is led by the University of Minnesota. The autonomous robots will collect data on the health of each grapevine, helping growers to evaluate their vineyards. The robots are part of the Specialty Crops Research Initiative, bringing innovation to the wine and grape industries.

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Photo: Apple

Two women have filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple for privacy concerns as Apple AirTags are being widely used for malicious and criminal purposes.

Both women and their families were tracked and stalked by ex-partners using Apple AirTags hidden in their personal belongings. They are now suing Apple for negligence and privacy violations stating the company failed to protect its customers. They are both seeking damages and are hoping to prevent Apple from continuing to manufacture this product with “design flaws.”

The location device was designed by Apple in 2021 and its intent is to be attached to such items as keys, suitcases and purses to make them trackable. However, the $29 Bluetooth-enabled AirTags can be used as a weapon by abusers, stalkers and traffickers to easily find and track their victims.

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The Indian government is pushing smartphone makers to sell devices that receive NavIC signals along with GPS.

India originally stated NavIC would be required in smartphones sold starting in January 2023, according to Reuters, but strong reaction from smartphone manufacturers Apple, Xiaomi and Samsung apparently caused the government to push back or remove the deadline.

A deadline of January 2023 would not allow enough time for smartphone makers to integrate NavIC-enabled receivers to their devices. Steps include redesign, securing parts, testing and assembly. Many smartphones sold in India by the companies are economy-level devices priced under US$200.

The three tech giants met with government officials, seeking an extended target date of 2025, Reuters reported.

However, India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT issued a statement via Twitter :

A media report has claimed citing a meeting that mobile cos were asked to make smartphones compatible with NavIC within months. This is to clarify: (1) No timeline has been fixed. (2) The cited meeting was consultative; and (3) the issue is under discussion with all stakeholders.

— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) September 26, 2022

India has been pushing for adoption of NavIC since at least 2021, while chipmaker Qualcomm has been producing NavIC-enabled modules since 2020.

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is the operational name for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) developed by India’s space agency for military and commercial purposes. NavIC consists of eight satellites that cover the Indian mainland and the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundaries.

“NavIC can help in navigation on land, air, sea and also in disaster management,” Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a press release. “NavIC satellites are placed at a higher orbit than the GPS of United States. NavIC satellites are placed in geostationary orbit (GEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GSO) with an altitude of about 36,000 km; GPS satellites are placed in medium earth orbit (MEO) with an altitude of about 20,000 km.”

“NavIC uses dual-frequency bands, which improves accuracy of dual-frequency receivers by enabling them to correct atmospheric errors through simultaneous use of two frequencies,” Singh said. “It also helps in better reliability and availability because the signal from either frequency can serve the positioning requirement equally well.”

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