Reflecting on the collaboration and breakthroughs that defined the year
From major national events to lifesaving interventions, scientific discoveries and global education efforts, 2025 offered powerful examples of how communities everywhere are working to protect people, safeguard infrastructure and better understand our changing planet.
Hexagon customers across regions and disciplines advanced new models of coordination, monitoring and research that strengthened resilience at local, national and international levels. Entire countries upgraded their emergency communications infrastructure, regions invested heavily in transportation services and countries strengthened their defense capabilities.
Here are some of the standout moments from the year:
Securing one of the largest events in the world
In January, Washington, D.C. coordinated one of the most complex security operations in the world during the U.S. presidential inauguration. Local, state and federal agencies relied on a shared cloud-based collaboration platform to maintain real-time visibility, align information and support rapid response. The event demonstrated how modern communication tools help agencies work as one during high-pressure moments.
Rio de Janeiro strengthens real-time city monitoring
Rio de Janeiro continued to advance its approach to urban resilience by expanding how it monitors floods, landslides and major events in real time. The city’s operations center brought together data from sensors, cameras and field teams in one shared platform, improving how agencies coordinate during emergencies and planned events. With faster alerts and clearer situational awareness, Rio is setting a new benchmark for managing risk in a complex and densely populated urban environment.
Image courtesy of LinkedIn/Cantonal Police of St. Gall
Opening a new emergency operations center in Switzerland
In eastern Switzerland, Kanton St. Gallen marked the opening of a modern emergency call and operations control center after years of planning and construction. The facility brings together specialists from multiple cantons, creating a unified environment for police and fire and emergency medical services – dispatching police and fire in St. Gallen, and EMS across multiple cantons. The center reflects a growing movement toward integrated regional response and shared infrastructure.
Advancing security at critical substations
A fire at a major electricity substation in England earlier this year underscored how essential these facilities are to national infrastructure. In response to increasing risks, new approaches to substation safety gained momentum in 2025. One project, led in collaboration with EG.D, demonstrated how volumetric detection and LiDAR-based monitoring can help identify intrusions, safeguard high-voltage environments and better protect maintenance teams on-site.
Advancing digital twins for future-ready cities
At Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Summit, city leaders and researchers explored how innovation can address complex urban challenges. Hexagon’s Bill Campbell joined a panel on how digital twins support climate adaptation and city resilience. Said Campbell, “Digital twins, once mainly visualization tools, are becoming engines for adaptation. They help cities detect change faster, simulate outcomes and make real-time decisions that protect people and infrastructure before a crisis happens.”
Strengthening environmental stewardship in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions
In Colombia, CAR Cundinamarca advanced a landmark effort to protect ecosystems by building a unified environmental spatial data infrastructure that brings critical information together in one place. The environmental smart monitoring system helps scientists, planners and communities monitor biodiversity, track risks and make better decisions about land, water and natural resources.
Image courtesy of Stanly County Emergency Services
A lifesaving intervention during a routine call
In North Carolina, a routine meeting between emergency services and a technology partner turned into something far more urgent. During the call, Stanly County’s 911 director recognized a Hexagon employee on the other end was showing signs of medical distress. His quick action, paired with the immediate response of a colleague who phoned for help, resulted in lifesaving intervention. Also in Stanly County, Hayley Franklin, a founding member of the county’s 911 center, received the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award for more than 30 years of dedicated service.
Image courtesy of Ted Dubowski
Exploring the ancient past beneath the Sahara
When you think of the Sahara and wider Northern Africa, images of desert and endless sand dunes will likely come to mind. However, Researcher Ted Dubowski believes that this was not always the case. Using remote sensing software, this modern-day explorer is mapping the region from his base in Northern England and believes there is strong evidence that the region was once subject to glaciation. He’s building a community of like-minded experts from around the world, to collaborate with him on the journey to better understand how the geology of the North African region has changed over the last 100 million years, and ultimately what this might mean for the future. Look for an update on his research in January.
Supporting women shaping the future of geospatial science
One of the year’s standout geospatial education stories focused on expanding opportunities for women in geospatial fields. Through talks, workshops and mentoring, university partners and Hexagon created space for students to connect, gain confidence and explore careers in mapping, climate research and spatial analysis.
Looking ahead to 2026
From securing major events to protecting critical infrastructure, from global scientific exploration to lifesaving action on the front lines, 2025 delivered powerful examples of innovation and service around the world. These stories reflect a shared commitment to building safer, more resilient and better-informed communities across regions and disciplines.
We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to this progress and look forward to continuing this important work together in 2026.
