Whilst our jobs as GIS professionals should begin with a workable data set, we all understand that some additional data preparation is an essential part of the process. Some elements of this can be automated using Python and FME, however it can still be a time-consuming exercise.
Since its inception in 2021, Synativ has been working to develop a Geospatial AI Agents designed to automate the lengthy data preparation process. Synativ tools help users identify and correct issues such as duplicate values, missing attributes, and geometry errors in datasets. What makes their tool stand out is the chat, map, and data table interface, the combination of which provides users with a detailed view of their data and an understanding of how the AI agent has refined and queried their dataset.
In the summer of 2024, I was approached by Synativ to assist with the roadmap development of this tool. Our collaboration began with a discovery session to explore how key GIS operations and Synativ AI could be integrated. This led to a series of weekly roundtable discussions, where GIS and data professionals came together to discuss the tool’s potential functionality and ideal features.
Synativ’s offerings (synativ.com)
Andrew Kanapatski and Dr. Tom Bruls make up Synativ’s leadership team, bringing a strong combination of strategic and technical expertise to the company. Andrew’s experience in product & growth at companies like SAP and start-ups like Kira Systems, combined with Tom’s technical background as a former Research Scientist at Amazon, positions them to understand both the business and technical challenges their product addresses. Their approach is focused on building integrated solutions for GIS professionals. Backed by the likes of AWS Startup Loft, Sequoia Capital, AVP and the NVIDIA Inception program, Synativ has recently secured $2,000,000 in seed funding, underpinning investor confidence in their ability to deliver tools of true value to GIS users across the globe.
Both Tom and Andrew understand the importance of user engagement in product development. Their focus on gathering real user feedback has resulted in a tool that effectively addresses the needs of GIS professionals. If you are interested in learning more about Synativ, check out their website.
