Geospatial information contributes more than €69m to Irish economy – report

8 May 2014

The geospatial information industry contributed €69.3m to the Irish economy in 2012 and when multiplier impacts are included, this estimate is more than €120m, a new report commissioned by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) suggests.

The use of maps loaded with information on demographics, environmental resources and financial worth of an area are used by many Irish businesses to determine markets. Other scientific and historical organisations use the maps to determine the area’s importance in an investigation or review.

According to the report, the industry generated sales or output valued at €117.5m in 2012, and spent a total of €84.4m on salaries of 1,677 full-time equivalent persons who were directly employed by the industry, which, in total, supports the employment of 3,087 people.

The report also found the use of geospatial information has saved the public sector money, estimating €82 per year is saved on administrative costs in both local and national government.

Explaining the significance of the report’s findings, OSI chief executive Colin Bray said, “This is the first-ever assessment of the economic value of geospatial information in Ireland. For the first time, we have a quantified view of the important role the geospatial industry plays in the Irish economy.

“Of particular significance are the efficiencies and savings geospatial information can provide for the public sector. This is important in the context of the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2015, which refers to an intention to improve public services through more efficient usage of geospatial information.”

Ordnance survey map image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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