In 1969, humans got to experience the geography of the moon firsthand. Also in that year, a company was founded that was far more concerned with geography here on earth. That company was Esri, which provided geographical information systems over six different verticals, including local government, agriculture, mining, transport and more.

Esri’s services can be useful for cable providers. Its solutions can determine, for example, if services are available in a certain location. One must merely look at the appropriate area on the map and make a determination. If it’s off the network, does the provider want to serve that area and, if so, how much would it cost to do so? Engineers can decide if they can make money building out that route, calculating potential ROI by determining if the lines will run past certain businesses – potential sources of revenue, of course. Providers can also identify customers along the route, and then check with sales and marketing team members to see if those companies are worth targeting.

The overall spatial platform can integrate any data into the system. For example, in the event of a natural disaster, FEMA could create a map using aerial imagery to get a bird’s-eye view of the situation. Then, a cable provider can see where it needs to restore service. The map will tell you a code that indicates the amount of damage, and help you determine where you need to go in order to get service back up, without even sending someone into the field. The software integrates with business intelligence suites as well, providing additional insight, including marketing analysis and operational analysis.