GeoFutures Programme
GeoFutures
Working Groups
GeoFutures Working Groups initial meeting 29th October 2026
A first meeting of all those interested in supporting the GeoFutures Programme through the proposed Working Groups will be held on 29th October 2026 at 13.00.
It is hoped to establish three working groups, one for each of the key themes those came from the GeoFutures Workshop in March 2026:
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Trust in maps
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Education and awareness
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Communication and advocacy
We are keen to hear from anyone interested in being involved, either as an active participant or as an observer. You can contact the organisers by using the email link below.
GeoFutures Report Published at BCS Conference in Edinburgh
GeoFutures Workshop
Report
Summary
In 2024 the British Cartographic Society (BCS) launched its GeoViz programme to support the geospatial community develop innovative and effective visualisations for their geospatial data. The first version of the GeoViz Toolkit was developed in partnership with the Government Geography Profession and was published in 2025.
Linked to this, the BCS wanted to support an Ordnance Survey initiative to envisage the ‘map’ of the future in a “hyper-connected, data-saturated society. Information flows in real time from satellites, sensors, smartphones, and social platforms. We have many challenges which are complex, dynamic, and deeply interconnected.”
The BCS believe this is not just a challenge for cartographers but for everyone who collects, processes and generates geospatial data in all its derivative forms.
To better understand the potential opportunities and challenges that all map users might face and what actions we can take today to facilitate better geospatial visualisation in the future, the BCS organised the GeoFutures Workshop in March 2026, which was open to everyone from the BCS and across the geospatial community.
A wide range of speakers contributed opinion pieces, with group discussions providing insightful feedback on the key issues.
In summary, the three most important themes to emerge were:
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Trust in maps
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Education and awareness
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Communication and advocacy
From the discussions the BCS has developed at set of objectives that will help target an Action Plan that it will be implemented over the next couple of years. The Action Plan proposes a series of activities with targeted deliverables and timelines.
The overall goal is to increase the awareness of geography as a foundation to decision making in all forms of government, business and society, and to improve the way maps are created and used at all levels from decision-makers downwards.
