The Big Read

Ground Truth

What the map says about the decisions in front of local government.

Latest · Week of November 2, 2026 · 8 min read

America’s Flood Forecasts Reach Nearly Everyone. Can Cities Turn Warning Into Action?

Expanded NOAA flood forecasts and AI research exposing gaps in federal hazard maps offer cities new intelligence, but protecting residents and infrastructure depends on local coordination, reliable data and timely decisions.

By The Spatial Signal Editorial Board

November 7, 2026

CLIMATE & RESILIENCE | GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE

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Previous editions

Week of November 2, 2026November 7, 202610 min readAmerica's Lead Pipe Problem Is Becoming a Geospatial Intelligence ChallengeEPA guidance encourages predictive modeling to identify unknown service lines, while GIS connects records, field verification and construction planning to help utilities decide where to investigate and replace lead pipes.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of November 2, 2026November 6, 20264 min readDigital Twins Are Moving Beyond 3D Maps. Are Cities Ready?Esri and NVIDIA are advancing AI-enabled digital twins, but research suggests cities still face significant data, interoperability and organizational barriers to turning digital models into operational intelligence.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of October 26, 2026October 27, 20267 min readStop Paying to Rediscover the Same GroundThe next infrastructure-data breakthrough may be better coordination, not better sensors. A USGS funding call and an award-winning Ontario utility show what that looks like, and the deadline for local governments is December 4.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of October 19, 2026October 22, 20266 min readThe Map Looks Right. Prove It.Drones, satellites and AI need fewer surveyed ground markers than ever. New federal standards and a new national coordinate system mean cities will have to prove their maps are accurate, not just assume it.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of October 12, 2026October 14, 202611 min readRobots Need Ground Truth, Not Just Artificial IntelligenceAs robots move beyond the laboratory, their ability to understand and navigate the physical world is becoming as important as artificial intelligence itself. For local governments, the spatial data they collect today could become the foundation of tomorrow’s autonomous infrastructure systems.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of October 5, 2026October 9, 20268 min readThe Fiber Is Coming. Do You Know What’s Already Underground?Federal broadband construction could generate 8.1 million utility locates, making accurate underground records, adequate staffing and construction coordination essential priorities for local governments.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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October 5, 20264 min readSandersville's Pavement RFP Is Really a Decision-System PurchaseA small Georgia city's roadway digital twin solicitation pairs advanced surveying with municipal software, putting accountability, reusable data and long-term ownership at the center of the purchase.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

Week of October 4, 2026October 5, 20265 min readThe New Geography of Climate ResilienceA 2026 analysis of 72 of the world’s largest cities finds that climate exposure is only half the story. Infrastructure, policy, early-warning systems and adaptation investment can dramatically change how much risk a city ultimately carries.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of September 28, 2026September 28, 20262 min readMeasure the Water Before the Walls DryThe nor'easter flooded the same streets again, and the federal flood map isn't built to notice, so local crews have to put this weekend on the record themselves.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

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Week of September 28, 2026September 27, 20264 min readYour Council Is Voting on the Wrong Half of the DroneThe aircraft is the easy part. The flight map, the retention schedule and the redaction rule are the decision — and Washington is about to claim the sky.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →

Week of September 21, 2026September 24, 20263 min readSacramento Just Handed Cities a Veto They Can't UseNew data center laws assume local governments know what's under, around and upstream of every parcel. Most don't.By The Spatial Signal Editorial BoardRead the editorial →