8. Geospatial Rwanda

Football and geospatial are very similar to each other. Both are about strategy and both are concerned with geographic characteristics such as location, movement, interactions and patterns.

It’s little coincidence therefore that Rwanda hosted two strategy focused events in recent months. One was the African Cup of Nations football tournament and the other was the International Conference on Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Urban and Rural Development (details here).

Just as preparations for a football match happen well in advance of kick-off, so too does planning for an event such as the African Cup of Nations. And geospatial technology is becoming increasingly central to this activity.

Consider the infrastructure which needs to be upgraded or constructed in order to host these events (including stadiums, accommodation and transportation and telecommunication systems). During the events they must also efficiently manage and coordinate security and logistics as large numbers of people move around seeking places to eat, sleep and relax.

But the use of geospatial technology doesn’t just stop there.

Other considerations which require a strategic perspective include monitoring natural and man-made events which may have an impact.

“What is the forecasted weather and what should we do in case the main route to an event is closed for some reason?…Where should we relocate football matches in case air pollution levels exceed minimum standards?”

It’s also finding it’s way onto the football pitch with the technology being used to map and track the movements of the players.

Even marketers are finding uses for it in order to determine the characteristics of potential customers. “Based on overseas sales figures is there an expected demand for colourful hats and if so where should we source them from?”

So it’s little coincidence that Rwanda hosted two major strategy focused events in recent months and it’s clear that this type of strategic thinking is the way forward.

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