GIS industry must adapt to survive - expert: "Geospatial software companies will have their business stolen by mass market rivals such as Google and Microsoft if they don't adapt, says a visiting industry pundit.

Speaking at an event in Wellington, Peter Batty, the chief technology officer of geospatial information systems (GIS) specialist Intergraph, said GIS products from established vendors now offer more than most users need. Many customers will opt for cheaper alternatives such as Google Earth and Microsoft's MSN Virtual Earth.

'I feel that they will have a major impact on the industry. Five years ago to do any kind of mapping you had to buy an expensive piece of GIS software,' he says.

GIS is becoming 'just another data type', and the industry will face stiff competition from business software vendors who incorporate it into their existing products, as Oracle has done, he says.

'It's really hard for people to justify buying a major GIS. They want something that solves a business problem that happens to have GIS.'

GIS companies should see these problems as opportunities rather than threats.

Mr Batty sees Intergraph's own future in developing applications for niche verticals such as defence, government and emergency services.
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It's also critical, he says, for Intergra"