Cape Town: Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos stated that they have officially opened the GIS & Surveys Tech Day 2026 under the theme ‘Smart Data, Smarter Decisions: Building the Future Together’ on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Vos said that the critical role of geospatial data plays in supporting City operations underpins planning, infrastructure management, property oversight, safety operations, and land management. Accurate and accessible data allows them to make better evidence-based decisions as it strengthens governance, improves service delivery, and ultimately benefits every Capetonian.
The Tech Day, which began as a professional development initiative for the GIS & Surveys team of the City of Cape Town, has evolved into a city-wide platform that fosters collaboration across departments, academia and industry partners. This event exposes staff to cutting-edge technologies such as BIM integration, drone monitoring, digital twins, and AI-driven feature extraction, while also promoting cross-departmental problem-solving.
According to James Vos, the economic impact of the City of Cape Town’s geospatial work, which includes tools like the Property Assessment Model, and the Property Disposal and Land Release Programme are not just technical innovations. They allow them to release land for private-sector development, from homes to commercial and social infrastructure. No government can do it alone, partnering with the private sector creates construction jobs and long-term economic activity in the communities. This is exactly how smart data translates into smarter decisions and stronger economic growth.
Furthermore, the city is focused on data-driven governance that also contributes directly to improve the ease of doing business in Cape Town. It enables clearer processes, faster approvals, and greater confidence for investors and developers. When departments collaborate and share information, they make it easier for business and investment to thrive, which benefits everyone in the city.
The upcoming FIG Congress, that the Cape Town is going to host, is an example of the City’s leadership in geospatial innovation and an opportunity to demonstrate how Cape Town is applying technology to strengthen governance, attract investment, and shape the future of cities globally.
The GIS & Surveys Tech Day reinforces Cape Town’s commitment to a connected, data-driven approach to city management. James Vos thanked the GIS & Surveys team and geomatics practitioners across the City for their vital work. Events like this remind them that collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation are not optional, they are essential to build a kind of city they want.