Matt Forrest

@forrest.nyc

All things modern GIS. https://forrest.nyc/

📣 Exciting News! I'm thrilled to announce the release of my new book: Introduction to GIS Programming: A Practical Python Guide to Open Source Geospatial Tools! ✨ What’s Included: All code examples are freely available. Access to 26 hours of free video tutorials to complement your learning.

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For years I’ve watched smart and motivated GIS professionals struggle to keep up with modern tools. Not because they’re not capable. But because the way we teach GIS hasn’t evolved with the technology.

So I have a question - can you all help me understand the need or use cases for digital twins? Most of the ones that I see are 3D representations of a city or place, which is cool but what are they used for? And how can they create value?

🔮 What do you think the next year will hold for geospatial? Which areas are going to grow the most? What new companies are going to emerge? Here are my top 3 (share yours as well!):

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I’ve been exploring Esri’s approach to modern GIS and found some interesting signs of progress—but also some critical gaps. Let’s dive in. 🧵

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To get in the habit of posting on 🦋, this is one of the first Landsat images capturing the region around Rome (11 August 1972). Here's me looking at my current home from space, over 2 decades before I was born. Open data programmes are an extraordinary treasure.

Landsat satellite image in the red channel of the Rome area

Our microclimate in San Francisco Bay Area is sensitive to the Pacific fog. You know they say the fog enters through the Golden Bay Bridge and goes right to North Berkeley? Occasionally satellite images capture this precise moment. #Landsat

Part of a Landsat satellite image showing fog entering San Francisco Bay Area