Making geospatial data more accessible: Moving beyond hard drives and emailed data

Presenting geospatial data shouldn’t be a juggling act. But for many teams working with drone data, ground-based photos, lidar, 360° imagery, and 3D models, it still is. Maps are printed, files are copied onto hard drives, and reports are sent off in fragmented formats, often leading to delays, confusion, and gaps in understanding.

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If your workflow still involves hard copy maps, physical drives, or a tangle of disconnected tools, it might be time to shift gears.

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Why data accessibility matters

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When you're sharing complex spatial data with a range of stakeholders, it’s not just about storing the data. It’s about making it understandable and useful to each person who needs it. Whether someone wants to explore a 3D model or just get a quick overview of site conditions, they should be able to access the right level of detail without needing special software or technical know-how.

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The current challenge: A fractured workflow

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In many cases, different data types are kept in different places: drone imagery in one folder, lidar scans on another drive, and 3D models locked away in specialist software. The result?

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• Inaccessible data for people who don’t have the tools or skills to open technical formats
• Missing context for those who need a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground
• Inefficient sharing that leads to back-and-forth emails, delays, and duplicated effort

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It’s a workflow that creates silos instead of clarity—and that can slow things down when it matters most.

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A better way to present geospatial insights

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With a cloud-based platform like Birdi, all your spatial data can live in one place. That means drone imagery, 360° footage, ground-based photos, lidar and 3D models are accessible through a single online map — no installs, no exporting, no confusion. And, we're designed specifically with ease of use in mind: for both technical and non-technical teams.

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With all your geospatial data in the one place, you can:

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• Combine multiple data types into a clear visual view
• Add annotations, overlays, or time-based comparisons
• Share a simple link instead of a file or drive
• Control who sees what, based on roles or responsibilities

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So instead of searching for files and reports across disparate systems, your team can focus on making decisions and moving forward.

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Real-world example: Bringing it all together on one map

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Let’s say you’re overseeing a multi-stage project and receive data from different sources each week—lidar scans from surveyors, drone footage from site monitors, 3D models from consultants. Normally, this would mean separate systems, formats, and update cycles.

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But by centralizing everything on a single platform, you can:

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1. Keep all datasets in one place so nothing gets overlooked
2. Compare changes over time with side-by-side visual layers
3. Highlight key areas with annotations or callouts
4. Give access to others with a shareable link—no technical steps required
5. Ensure consistency by maintaining one live version of the map

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Whether someone needs a high-level snapshot or detailed spatial measurements, they can find it—fast.

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It’s not just about data. It’s about clarity

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Geospatial data is only as valuable as it is accessible. By moving away from fragmented tools and manual handovers, you're making space for better decisions, smoother collaboration, and faster progress.

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And when your team sees the same map—no matter where they are or what format the data came in—that’s where things really start to click.

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