Page 27 - Mapping the Nation: Taking Climate Action

temperatures are causing sea levels to rise, threatening social stability around the world. To solve planetary decline we must curtail our overconsumption. We face many barriers to action, including resistance from those comfortable with the status quo and a lack of awareness about our impact on the problem. But there is also hope. If we truly understood the nature of the built environment and its relationship to the natural environment, we could mobilize necessary change. With better data and tools for managing built forms, we would have better insight to overcome obstacles and bring about balance. Understanding precedes action, and now humanity needs to contribute more. One key area where we can make progress is in facilities management. GIS-based digital transformation of building operations provides a great opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. With GIS, we can quickly identify areas of inefficiency and waste; improve the design, operation, and use of buildings; and develop policies to promote sustainable practices. Smart space utilization starts with understanding how the different areas of the facilities are being used and making data-driven decisions about space allocation based on occupancy, capacity, and amenities to reduce overhead costs to meet business objectives. Parkroyal Collection in Pickering, a luxury hotel in Singapore, is a "hotel-in-a-garden" with elevated terraced gardens. There are new GIS-driven tools that can digitally transform the built environment. They convert building design and operations documents into digital representations and data about processes that can be integrated into GIS, helping users understand the greater geographic context of buildings. Through GIS, buildings are no longer islands unto themselves, and this allows us to address how they fit into the natural environment. With digital twins of buildings and surroundings powered by GIS, facility managers can identify locations for improvement and make plans to reduce carbon footprints and other impacts on the environment. We Can Connect and Rebalance the Built World Together More broadly, GIS provides an evidence- based ecosystem to collaborate across sectors, including policy makers who create regulations; facility managers who oversee construction projects from design through maintenance; urban planners who design communities around principles like sustainability and equal access; and technologists who build the tools used to shape the future. All these professions have something important to contribute, and GIS maximizes the value of all inputs to analyze impacts and inform decision-making. We need to chart a new course, focusing on sustainability and ensuring that our decisions today help build a better future. To do so, we'll need to increase our productivity, using advanced collaboration and data management tools to connect the best minds and the most intrepid field operators. With the right tools, data, and support, we can create contextual awareness to transform the built environment and build more sustainably. 26 to Climate Action A Geographic Approach