A step ahead of the future
Raphaël Rollier is implementing innovation processes at swisstopo and fostering digital transformation. He works together with universities, cantonal and other authorities in order to initiate future-oriented projects.
«Whatever applies today has already been superseded in five years’ time,» says Raphaël Rollier. As an expert in the field of digital transformation, he knows that technological development takes place at a high pace today. Those who do not want to be left behind have to possess comprehensive specialised know-how and a strong innovative spirit. Raphaël Rollier has both. He joined swisstopo’s Geodetics and Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying Division three years ago as process manager for innovation and product management. Together with his team and various partner organisations he now initiates projects with a pioneering nature. «For swisstopo, the integration of new technologies is an essential requirement,» he points out.
Converting data into knowledge
The Federal Office of Topography is playing a pioneering role in the field of digital transformation – a field with plenty of development potential. If the data generated by swisstopo are transformed into knowledge, this opens up new perspectives. One of Raphaël Rollier’s team’s areas of focus concerns the ongoing development of «swipos», the geolocation service that permits an extremely high degree of precision. Here, people and objects can be located with a degree of accuracy in the centimetre range. «swipos» is being used to an ever greater extent, for example in the agriculture sector in which robots are being increasingly deployed. Geolocation will also be of importance in the future in connection with the use of autonomous vehicles and drones for transport purposes.
Need to enhance cyber security
However, automated systems are also exposed to certain risks in that they can be disrupted, for example by hackers. «We are currently focusing on issues relating to cyber security,» says Raphaël Rollier, who holds a Master’s in micro-technology and has become a specialist in digital transformation within the telecommunications sector. He regularly works on the cyber defence campus of armasuisse (Federal Office for Defence Procurement), which is located in the innovation park of the Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. This combination of cyber security expertise and specialised surveying know-how creates synergies, and this forms the basis for innovation.
Artificial intelligence
“Progress through cooperation” is Raphaël Rollier’s motto. This is illustrated by the Swiss Territorial Data Lab (STDL) project, in which he is coordinating a team comprising cantonal, federal and academic partners. The STDL is a flexible data laboratory for public administrations that permits innovation in digital sectors. The main objective is to facilitate the development of future-oriented solutions with the aid of artificial intelligence by combining data science and geodata analyses. For example, the project is examining ways in which heat panels can be automatically detected using aerial images. “The obtained data are important for cantonal energy policies and the development of the use of renewable forms of energy,” explains Raphaël Rollier.
Support for start-ups
Raphaël Rollier invests around ten percent of his work time in a mentoring programme and on the jury of Venture Kick, a programme for financing start-ups. Thanks to this activity he is able to acquaint himself with the new technologies and processes: this is clearly a “win-win situation” he points out. “I support start-ups and simultaneously keep an eye on the progress of new business concepts,” he adds. This source of inspiration nourishes his spirit of innovation and ensures the continued progress of digital transformation within swisstopo. “We are moving in a direction in which we have to resolutely proceed,” he says. This is a development that cannot be halted.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
One of swisstopo’s innovation projects is devoted to the digitalisation of the construction sector. Construction projects are now being implemented with the aid of building information modelling to an increasing extent. This method facilitates the networked planning and management of real estate. In this area, swisstopo is working closely together with the Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) and the Coordination Conference of Public Building and Real Estate Organisations (KBOB) and is contributing valuable know-how to the construction industry.
Further information:
Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Seftigenstrasse 264
3084 Wabern