Github Bio
👋 Hi, I'm Andrew Turner (@ajturner)
I'm a geospatial technologist, open-source advocate, and neogeography pioneer. Currently serving as CTO of ArcGIS Hub and Director of Esri's R&D Center in Washington, DC, where I lead development of technologies for open data sharing and geospatial web collaboration.
🌍 About Me
My work enables organizations worldwide to provide public digital infrastructure for citizen and community engagement, spanning global organizations like World Resources Institute and World Bank to federal agencies and local governments.
📚 Publications & Advocacy
- Author of "Introduction to Neogeography" (O'Reilly Media, 2006) - a seminal work that helped popularize the concept of personal geography and democratized mapmaking
- Author of "Trends in Where2.0" business report - analyzing the geospatial technology landscape
- Published in MacTech and Make magazine on home-automation and geospatial hacking
🚀 Community Leadership
- Co-founder of CrisisCommons - a global volunteer organization that supports humanitarian assistance in disasters through technology
- Elected charter member of the OSGeo Foundation - championing open-source geospatial software
- Active in OpenStreetMap - contributing to the world's free and open geographic database
- Early organizer of WhereCamp - unconference series for location-based technology enthusiasts
- Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) - promoting open standards for geospatial data and services
- Served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Geographic Sciences Committee
💼 Professional Journey
- Current: CTO of ArcGIS Hub & Director of Esri R&D Center, Washington, DC
- Previous: CTO of GeoIQ (acquired by Esri in 2012) and co-founder of Mapufacture (acquired by GeoIQ in 2008)
- Background: Aerospace engineer who worked on spacecraft control systems, including the GOCE satellite project for Astrium
- Recognition: Named a Top 25 Doer & Driver of Government by GovTech
🎓 Education
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science - University of Virginia
- Masters in Aerospace Engineering - Virginia Tech
🔧 What I Work On
My focus is on building connected geospatial ecosystems using open standards, mixed technology stacks, and community-driven solutions. I'm passionate about making advanced geospatial technology accessible to everyone and enabling people to use geography for storytelling, analysis, and civic engagement.
📫 Connect With Me