Geo Connect Asia 2022 returns to meet strong demand for industry solutions

Themed “Geospatial & Location Intelligence Solutions for Asia – Underground, Land & Sea to Sky, Geo Connect Asia 2022 (GCA 2022) is expected to double in the number of participants and in floor space, catering to a largely in-person format enhanced by a virtual component.

Scheduled for 1 & 2 June 2022, GCA 2022 will be held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre together with Digital Construction Asia (DCA) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UVA) Asia. It is expected to host over 80 international exhibitors and 2,500 delegates, alongside 100 enterprises, associations and agencies.

GCA 2022 sees over 30% of new participating companies such as drone and aerial providers AECA Solutions, Amuse Oneself Inc, Viscoy and YellowScan; image capture experts PhaseOne; and inspection tech pioneers Screening Eagle. This second edition underscores Singapore’s position as a technology-centric business gateway for the ASEAN region, particularly its interest in geospatial innovations to support smart services and solutions.

GCA 2021 made a timely debut and contribution to key industry sectors that needed geospatial technologies, especially for those that played an active role in pandemic management. Geospatial data has provided information on Covid-19 risk factors, setting-specific disease transmission, forecasts of viral prevalence, and more.

Said Co-founder of GCA Rupert Owen, “As geospatial solutions become more applicable in most industries, and more accessible via ground and satellite imagery, especially in the Southeast Asian region, the desire to meet and discuss developments and opportunities is evident.

“With ever-expanding opportunities, we see the industry being transformed into an exciting space in which to operate. The addition of digital construction and UAV solutions as complementary industries in one event will enable solution providers to experience first-hand a full range of exciting industry developments in Singapore.”

Moving forward, GCA has gained valuable first-mover advantage in setting the organiser playbook for safety protocols and in adopting a hybrid format. It was one of the foremost large-scale events to have been given approval by Singapore Tourism Board to proceed in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. While engagement among attendees might be contained due to safety distancing measures, it doesn’t detract from the key purpose of attending GCA 2022.

Christopher McCuin, MD of the organiser Montgomery Asia shared that they remain very focused on driving value for GCA, which means facilitating business connections and transactions is the top priority. “People are ready to get back to doing business and on the experiential side of things, we will deliver the physical tech that they can see, and they want to meet the people that are building and selling it. That's what we'll focus on – we want to bring business back and facilitate that face-to-face meeting.”

McCuin added that holding GCA in Singapore has had its advantages in bringing back the delegates and exhibitors to conduct business. “We're getting good bookings from people who want to come. This year, we've got a huge amount more from many other countries because of the VTL scheme, and Singapore advertises itself very well. Yes, it's got very stringent SMMs. But then again, the results of what the country has delivered are fabulous. With a 91% vaccination rate, it provides a solid foundation for getting large-scale events back on its feet."