MAGIC Geospatial Conference 2026
Keynote Presentation
Geospatial Intelligence - From Data to Decision Advantage.
How location intelligence is transforming government, infrastructure resilience, public safety, and emergency preparedness.
While geospatial intelligence may be thought of as a discipline of national defense and the intelligence community, it has application in various government and business operations. The analysis of spatial data can be used to provide a decision advantage in various situations, from emergency preparedness and response to law enforcement to infrastructure protection. This talk will demystify geospatial intelligence, providing examples of practical applications beyond the world of espionage and top-secret information. Simply put, geospatial intelligence is the analysis of human activity on the Earth over place and time using geographic information science and technology to provide a decision advantage or solve a problem. As an intelligence function, it is anticipatory and proactive, attempting to analyze optimal opportunities of a situation or avoid adverse events from occurring. I wish I had realized and appreciated the value of analyzing geospatial information in my earlier careers. I hope this presentation provides useful information in your application and analysis of geographic information.
Gregory Thomas (website) is a teaching professor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University.
In this capacity, he oversees the graduate-level geospatial intelligence program and teaches classes in the Geography Department’s geospatial education program. Prior to his full-time appointment in 2014, Dr. Thomas taught courses as an adjunct instructor in the program.
Prior to working for Penn State, Dr. Thomas had 26 years of intelligence and analytical experience in the law enforcement field. He previously worked for investigative agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania Crime Commission, the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General, and most recently, the Pennsylvania State Police. In his position with the State Police as an intelligence analyst supervisor, Greg selected, trained, and managed analysts as they provided support to criminal investigators and law enforcement personnel. Analysts under his supervision examined criminal intelligence information using techniques including geospatial intelligence applications, communications analysis, social network analysis, and event analysis. At the State Police, he assisted with intelligence-led policing functions, complex conspiratorial and organized crime investigations, and homeland security and anti-terrorism initiatives. He was involved in establishing the Commonwealth’s criminal intelligence center.
Dr. Thomas obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in Administration and Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation work focused on the role of local law enforcement in homeland security.
Dr. Thomas assisted in developing analytical training and academic courses for intelligence analysts. He has been a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts since 1988 and currently is on the executive advisory board and is the editor of the association’s journal. He is a lifetime Criminal Intelligence Certified Analyst. He has published articles relating to organized crime, criminal intelligence analysis, geospatial intelligence, intelligence-led policing, and terrorism.
