MapAI Announces New Phase of Growth with Leadership Transition and Strategic Investments
23 January 2025
MapAI, an Australian leader in geospatial innovation, is entering a transformative stage of growth following a successful $1.3 million funding round and a series of pivotal developments over the past year. This funding, supported by FrontierSI and UNSW Sydney, will accelerate the commercial rollout of MapAI’s platform, bringing advanced geospatial solutions to businesses and the public alike.
MapAI is revolutionising geospatial data analysis by integrating Generative AI chat capabilities with advanced geospatial technologies. This groundbreaking system allows users to interact with mapping data through natural language, making complex spatial analyses accessible and enhancing decision-making in urban planning and environmental management.
Over the last 12 months, MapAI has rapidly built technical capabilities, secured key partnerships and established a robust operational foundation. The newly secured funds will drive integration with the Urban Copilot initiative—a $6.5 million, three-year partnership with Archistar, PEXA, and UNSW—which aims to redefine urban planning through advanced AI technologies. As a core technology provider in this initiative, MapAI is set to play a central role in shaping the future of urban development.
Leadership Transition
MapAI’s current CEO Phil Delaney has taken on a new opportunity, leaving the organisation at the start of 2025. Graeme Kernich will serve as interim CEO with the MapAI Board working closely with the leadership team to ensure effective oversight and a smooth transition. Dr Kernich emphasised the continuity and strength of MapAI’s foundations: “The MapAI product development is tracking well with an excellent technical team and operational capabilities. We are well-placed to build on the foundation and successes of 2024.”
“We thank Phil for his contributions to the development of MapAI over the past 18 months, including his tenure as inaugural MapAI CEO,” said FrontierSI’s Chair Dr Gillian Sparkes AM. “With the partnerships, funding, scientific and leadership teams in place, we are well positioned to continue to develop and deliver world-class solutions in geospatial analytics. MapAI is all set and on track for its next phase.”
Looking Ahead
MapAI’s progress includes the launch of a publicly available site in early 2025, allowing users to explore Australian geospatial data with unprecedented ease. The funding also underscores the growing importance of generative AI technologies in transforming how we understand and interact with data, showcasing Australia’s global leadership in AI innovation.
MapAI’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives will continue seamlessly, supported by UNSW’s research engine and plans for ongoing recruitment in 2025.
“The innovation pipeline for MapAI is in a very strong position,” said Scientia Professor Chris Pettit, Director of the UNSW City Futures Research Centre. “We are excited to be employing new researchers and PhD students to support MapAI’s product development roadmap in 2025.”
For further information
Graeme Kernich
MapAI Interim CEO
ceo@mapai.net
0409 134 923
About MapAI
MapAI is an Australian-grown award-winning innovator in geospatial analytics, focused on making geospatial data accessible and actionable through conversational artificial intelligence (AI). Developed in collaboration with UNSW and FrontierSI, MapAI’s platform enables users to interact with geospatial data using natural language, transforming complex analytics into intuitive, transparent solutions. With a vision to make geospatial data accessible for all, MapAI is committed to pushing the boundaries of generative AI to tackle real-world challenges. For more information, visit https://mapai.net/.
About City Futures Research Centre, UNSW
UNSW Sydney is a public research university ranked 2nd in Australia and 27th in the world for Graduate Employability. Since its establishment in 2005, the UNSW City Futures Research Centre has provided a training ground for the next generation of urban thinkers, city shapers, and urban scientists. The Centre provides ethical, evidence-based inputs to contemporary urban policy debates and the planning of 21st Century cities, with a vision to create a better and more sustainable future. For more information, visit https://cityfutures.ada.unsw.edu.au/about-us/
About FrontierSI
FrontierSI has a strong record of delivering spatial information services throughout Australia, New Zealand and around the world. We harness the transformative power of collaboration and robust networks to curate top-tier teams dedicated to effective problem-solving. As a trailblazing social enterprise, we focus our deep spatial expertise on developing and implementing solutions using positioning and geodesy, spatial data management and data analytics. For more information, visit https://frontiersi.com.au
