By: Prince Charles Afedzi-Hayford
Today’s headlines are filled with arguments for and against the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. One area that should be firmly in the pro column is the use of AI in infrastructure projects.
Businesses in agriculture, mining, construction, transportation, and urban development can harness geospatial intelligence to optimize outcomes and reduce risks across emerging markets.
What is geospatial intelligence?
Geospatial intelligence derives from analyzing data and imagery tied to specific locations, rooted in geospatial science—the study of human use of Earth’s resources.
From the 1960s GIS origins to today’s AI-enhanced platforms, these tools collect, integrate, analyze, and distribute planetary data on physical changes.
In Africa, geospatial intelligence drives sustainable growth, improving land administration for World Bank projects exceeding $500M continent-wide (Afrigis Geospatial Report, 2025).
“Geospatial intelligence is key to solving Africa’s challenges like poverty, unemployment, and climate change,” says Emmanuel Sampson, a leading geospatial business leader whose work shapes industry and infrastructure policy across 20 countries in Africa.
“These solutions automate data analysis, predictions, and pattern recognition, enabling governments and businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize resources,” says Sampson, who is the Regional Manager for Leica Geosystems in Eastern and Central Africa, overseeing regional offices in Nairobi and Accra.
Leica Geosystems: Driving Geospatial Innovation in Africa
Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company and global leader in measurement and positioning technology since 1921, is revolutionizing operations for companies in Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, thanks to Sampson’s strategic leadership. By deploying Leica’s GNSS, total stations, CORS, laser scanners, monitoring solutions, and radars, firms in mining, construction, oil and gas, and infrastructure have boosted productivity and profitability through cost reductions associated with less rework and downtime, as well as improved safety via real-time monitoring and hazard detection—preventing incidents in high-risk environments (UN-GGIM Africa Report, 2025).
“Geospatial infrastructure fuels economic growth and resource management, underscoring its transformative potential,” explains Sampson, whose current leadership at Leica Geosystems drives adoption in mining and industry in East and Central Africa (including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone).
Debate and Future of Geospatial Technology
Skeptics highlight job displacement risks in manual surveying, with Africa’s geospatial sector facing underutilization—only 20–30% of businesses adopt these tools due to low awareness (Africa Geospatial Expo Report, 2025). Counterfactually, without geospatial technology, mining disputes and land conflicts could persist at 50% rates, delaying projects by years and costing billions, as seen in pre-GIS eras (SAGE Mining Impacts Review, 2023).
Benefits are proven: GIS and remote sensing in African mining boost productivity by 35–40% through precise volumetrics, cut costs by 20–25% by reducing rework, and lead to a 40% increase in safety through hazard mapping—evident in operations in Botswana and Zimbabwe (ReSAKSS AI-Geospatial Report, 2025; WorldPop Africa Study, 2025). Globally, the sector is projected to reach $100B by 2030, powering resilient cities like Lagos’ LASGIS (Afrigis Geospatial Report, 2025).
Demerits persist: high upfront costs ($50K–$200K per system), skills gaps (80% of firms lack trained operators despite university GIS courses), limited connectivity (only 25% of sub-Saharan Africans are online), outdated data, and fragmented policies hinder 70% of deployments (ITWeb Africa Geospatial Analysis, 2025; UN-GGIM Implementation Strategy, 2025).
The future integrates AI-LiDAR digital twins and ESG platforms for predictive infrastructure. Sampson foresees Africa leading with hubs like Kenya’s: “Policy and training investments will unlock trillions in sustainable growth” (Africa Geospatial Innovation Report, 2025).
Geospatial Intelligence’s Global Impact
“Geospatial intelligence equips urban planners and built environment professionals worldwide to build adaptable, resilient infrastructure against environmental threats,” says Sampson. Amid rising disasters, tools like Leica’s geospatial technology and solutions help in assessing:
- Mapping
- Demographics
- Transportation
- Environmental impacts
- Community needs
- Industry trends
- Disaster response
Sampson’s critical role scales these technologies, helping professionals in multiple industries translate data into sustainable growth. His frameworks enhance situational awareness, workflow efficiency, and forecasting while minimizing environmental footprints.
“Geospatial technology is central to sustainability,” Sampson affirms, reflecting his decade-long acclaim as a pivotal figure in Africa’s geospatial transformation.
