FME 2026.1: Advancing FME Data Integration and Workflow Automation

FME 2026.1 has arrived, and it is designed to help businesses manage their data more easily. This new release focuses on making the software ready for large companies, improving how it connects to the cloud, and giving you more control over your work.

Better Control Over Your Daily Work

One of the most helpful changes in this version is real-time data caching. In the past, you often had to stop a process to see if your data looked correct. Now, you can look at your data while the software is still running. This makes it much easier to find and fix mistakes in long tasks. If a task stops halfway through, FME will even save the data it has already processed so you don’t lose your progress.

To make your workday smoother, FME can now send notifications to your desktop the moment a task finishes. Tables inside the software now have row numbers, which helps you find specific pieces of information faster. Safe Software have also added a small icon that lets you show or hide your password while you type it, which helps prevent mistakes.

New Ways to Connect and Use AI

FME 2026.1 introduces a new tool called the MCPCaller Transformer. This tool allows FME to use external tools from other systems directly within your workspace. It is a big step toward helping FME work with a growing world of AI-style tools.

If you use the AI Assist feature, the software now clearly shows you which part of your project is being shared with the AI. This makes the process more transparent and gives you more control over your information. Additionally, a new connection for Microsoft Fabric lets you work with data stored in many different cloud locations while following high security standards.

Supporting Modern Data and Big Projects

For people who work with very large sets of data, Delta Lake is now fully ready for professional use. It works reliably across major cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The Databricks tool also now supports special types of geographic data, making it easier to analyse locations.

They have also improved how FME handles JSON files, which are commonly used for web data. You can now create complex files with many layers of information more easily. If you use a Mac computer, you will find that reading certain database files is now faster and more reliable thanks to a new driver.

Stronger Security and Specialised Tools

Safety is a major focus in this update. FME Flow Apps are now more secure because they use a new method to run that hides sensitive security keys. For those who use Augmented Reality (AR) in the field with FME Realize, Safe have added new joystick and slider controls. These help you move and rotate 3D models with pinpoint accuracy.

Finally, the entire FME platform now supports the newest versions of Linux and Python 3.14. This ensures that your system remains fast, secure, and compatible with the latest technology.

To download the latest version of FME 2026.1 please click HERE.

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Safe Software bridges the AI Gap with Model Context Protocol

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Safe Software Bridges the AI Gap with Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Safe Software has announced that Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities are coming soon to the FME Platform, marking a significant step in their “All-Data, Any-AI” mission. This integration is designed to help organisations move AI from experimentation into production by solving challenges related to context management, interoperability, and security. By adopting this standard, FME will act as a governed connection layer between enterprise data and the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source standard created to connect AI applications to external systems. It is often described as the “USB-C port for AI applications”. Just as USB-C provides a universal way to connect physical devices, MCP provides a standardised way for AI models, such as Claude or ChatGPT to interact with databases, local files, search engines, and complex workflows.

Within the FME ecosystem, MCP serves as the bridge between established enterprise systems and AI, allowing users to securely connect any AI to all their data without code and without vendor lock-in.

Why is it Important?

The integration of MCP into FME is critical for several reasons:

Freedom of Choice: Organisations are no longer forced to adapt to a single AI provider. FME Flow‘s MCP server allows you to bring your data and workflows to any model your organisations chooses.
Standardisation Over Customisation: Traditional integrations are often hard-coded to specific models, making them difficult to scale. MCP standardises this layer, allowing you to reuse capabilities across different models as technology evolves.
Trusted by Design: FME provides a single, governed integration layer, ensuring AI agents only connect to tools and data sources that you explicitly control.
Eliminating Hallucinations: By allowing AI models to interact directly with real-time API’s and services rather than relying on stale training data, FME ensures AI actions remain predictable and grounded in your “source of truth”.

How it Works:

Safe Software is implementing MCP through two primary mechanisms that allow for both the consumption and provision of AI tools.

The MCPCaller Transformer

The MCPCaller Transformer is the bridge that allows FME workflows to consume tools from any MCP server, instantly extending FME’s reach to any system that supports the protocol. It features a dual-mode architecture:

Design-Time (Deterministic): The author specifies exactly which MCP tool to use, ensuring precise execution for known workflows.
Run-Time (Dynamic): The FME workspace evaluates intent at run time and autonomously selects the most appropriate tool from the available inventory, enabling context-aware execution.

To manage the unpredictability of external environments, FME includes Adaptive Error Handling, allowing authors to define “safety-net” pathways if a tool fails.

FME Flow MCP Server

FME Flow is being extended with MCP Server capabilities, allowing you to turn existing FME logic into secure, AI-ready tools.

Easy Tool Creation: You can quickly transform established workspaces into tools that AI can discover and execute.
Universal Discovery: The registry automatically generates and maintains metadata so any MCP client can “understand” how to interact with your FME workspaces.
Enterprise Security: Every AI-triggered tool call is governed and protected by enterprise-grade controls, including OAuth 2.0 support.

What does this mean for FME Customers?

For existing FME users, this announcement represents a future-proof way to integrate AI into their operations without rebuilding integrations as new models emerge.

Real-World Impact Across Industries

Public Sector: Agencies can use the MCP Server to securely expose approved government systems and policy data, providing 24/7 citizen support without exposing sensitive data.
Utilities: Teams can use the MCPCaller to retrieve and validate asset registry, work order, and IoT data in real time, reducing manual lookups during outages.
Transportation: Agencies can expose construction schedules and asset inventories as MCP tools, providing a consistent and authoritative operational view across fragmented systems.

Cost and Availability

Safe Software has confirmed that these capabilities will be included at no additional cost for customers with FME Form and FME Flow.

The rollout will happen in phases:

FME 2026.1: The MCPCaller Transformer will be available as a full feature.
FME 2026.2: The FME Flow MCP Server will be introduced as a beta capability, with general availability to follow in a future release.

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Year in review 2025

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IMGS & DataBuilders Year in Review 2025

2025 was a landmark year for IMGS and DataBuilders, defined by innovation, collaboration, and continued growth. From industry events to certifications, community initiatives and customer success stories, the year reflected our shared commitment to delivering trusted, data-driven solutions.

January

Our Operations Director Ciaran Kirk kicked off the year by authoring an article for the Analytics Institute exploring the power and potential of Spatial Analytics. The article highlighted how location intelligence continues to drive smarter decision-making across sectors. You can dive into the full article HERE.

February

In early February, we were delighted to announce the appointment of Garrett Cronin as Commercial Director for IMGS and Databuilders. Garrett’s appointment further strengthened our executive leadership team and set the stage for growth across both organisations.

March

In early March, the team enjoyed a well-earned night out at Escape Rooms Dublin, putting our collaboration and problem-solving skills to the test outside the workplace. We also announced our sponsorship of team jerseys for the St. Columbans Under-16 Ladies Football Team, supporting grassroots sport in the local community.

April

In April, Garrett Cronin featured in our Staff Profile Blog Series, sharing insights into his background, his role as Commercial Director, and his vision for IMGS and DataBuilders. You can read the interview in full HERE.

May

May was a standout month, with several team members travelling to Seattle for the Safe Software Partner Summit. The event provided an inspiring opportunity to collaborate with peers, share ideas, and connect with the global FME community.
We were extremely proud to receive a Safe Software Partner of Excellence Award, recognising our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and delivering real value through FME technology.

While in Seattle, Garrett also sat down with Douglas Atkinson, President of Solutions Review, to discuss how IMGS and DataBuilders enable smarter business decisions through data integration, automation, and AI-driven enterprise solutions. You can watch the full interview HERE.

Mid-May also saw the release of an interview with Garrett reflecting on his first 120 days in his new role and outlining his priorities for the year ahead. You can read the full interview with Garrett HERE.

June

On June 10^th, the team organised a sponsored hike in beautiful Glendalough in support of Make-A-Wish Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of participants and supporters, we were proud to present a cheque for €4,068 to Make-A-Wish Ireland.

Later in the month, IMGS was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor and Exhibitor at the AGI NI Annual Conference at Queens University Belfast. The day included excellent discussions and presentations, including Ciaran Kirk’s talk on Unlocking Access to Geospatial Data through Interoperable Digital Portals with FME.

June concluded with a Team Spotlight on Ciaran Kirk, reflecting on his 20+ years with the company and his continued focus on customer success with data-driven technologies. You can read the interview in full HERE.

September

September was a month of milestones and celebration. Aoibhinn Stuart, Delivery Director at IMGS and DataBuilders, marked her 10-year anniversary with the business. Over the past decade, Aoibhinn has been an invaluable part of the company, and her hard work and expertise have played a leading role in the growth and success of the business.

We also celebrated professional achievements, with Andrew Paul earning FME Certified Professional Accreditation and Robyn Dennehy achieving FME Certified Trainer status, meaning she now holds all three FME technical certifications.

On Tuesday, 9th September DataBuilders hosted the annual Data Intelligence event in the Ashling Hotel Dublin. It was a fantastic event with a superb line-up of speakers and topics. Presentation highlights included:
Providing Better Biodiversity through Better Data – Jon Hawkins, National Biodiversity Data Centre.
From Data Chaos to Housing Clarity, FME and Beyond – Jacinta Somers, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Operational Efficiency through Intelligent Robotic Process Automation, Colm Carlin and Matthew Neeson, Northern Ireland Water.
Transforming Transport Reporting with FME, Vanessa Tebbitt, Compass Informatics.
Ripple – Smart Content Discovery for ArcGIS Powered by FME, Kieran O’Donnell, Ripple.
The Power of Choice in the Age of Data and AI, Don Murray (On-line), Safe Software.

Mid-September also marked the launch of the new DataBuilders website, designed to make it easier to explore our services, access resources and connect with our team.

October

In October, we came together for a coffee morning in support of the Rehab Group, raising funds while enjoying a cuppa and a sweet treat.

We were also proud to share a customer success story with Peak Sports Media, demonstrating how automated FME workflows transformed complex, multi-country survey data into scalable, actionable insights using Sisense. You can read the full customer story HERE.

November

November brought a mix of team building and outreach. The team braved the Dublin drizzle for a city-centre scavenger hunt, followed by a delicious lunch in Davy Byrnes.

December

The IMGS and DataBuilders team had a wonderful evening at our Christmas party in Clontarf Castle, such a beautiful, festive setting with great company and amazing food. A brilliant night and the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit!

As we enter 2026, we are excited to build on a momentum of a strong year and continue delivering value through trusted data, automation, and analytics. A huge thank you to our clients, partners, and team for making 2025 a year to be proud of.

Year in review 2025 Read More »

From GIS to Analytics: A Spotlight Interview with Ciaran Kirk, Operations Director

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From GIS to Analytics: A Spotlight Interview with Ciaran Kirk, Operations Director

Can you describe your role at IMGS & DataBuilders and what a typical day looks for you?

My normal day, since our move in IMGS to a 4 day remote working arrangement, is balancing meetings & customer calls with dog walking and school runs!

I have found since then, that the working day has completely changed with pretty much meetings from morning until evening. This means the day goes fast and is always interesting (even if it is a little hectic sometimes).

As Operations Director my focus is on designing solutions for our customers and ensuring these solutions are successful from implementation through to support (in some cases working with customers for more years than I care to count).

In the last 5 years my focus has moved to supporting the vision of our Delivery Director Aoibhinn, for data driven solutions, which has led to the creation of DataBuilders. While still keeping my hand in GIS, my main focus is working with new DataBuilders customers using FME and Sisense.

To ensure customer success I spend a lot of time training our customers on these solutions which I really enjoy. In particular I have enjoyed running our accelerator program with FME which has been a huge success with the biggest training audiences I have ever seen.

We have also been delighted to be selected by Sisense, as a trusted onboarding partner, to support the implementation of Sisense solutions which I have really enjoyed leading.

How has your role evolved since you first joined?

In my 20 plus years I have had a few different titles but my role has always been focused on ensuring our customers get value from their investments in our partner solutions.
As a company we have always partnered with world class technology partners starting with Intergraph (now Hexagon) and Safe Software (FME) to bring these global solutions to customers on this island.
But in the past number of years, DataBuilders in partnership with Sisense, has expanded outside of Ireland working on analytics projects across the UK, Europe, India, USA, which has been great fun (even if it has forced me to slow down my Dundalk accent when speaking).
I have really enjoyed the move into analytics and also working with customers in completely different domains. With Sisense I onboard organisations who want to embed analytics into their software products. I am constantly surprised by the innovation and the varying product solutions we work with.
But all these customers do share a common drive, to increase analytics adoption in their software products (and hence with their customers). What we are seeing now is that using analytics isn’t just an added value, and organisations that don’t provide analytics are being left behind (Aoibhinn’s vision was right)!

Is there a project that you are especially proud of and what was your role in it?

There have been so many projects that I am proud of in IMGS. In a lot of cases, the projects we worked on were the first of their kind such as building a Fibre to the Home GIS in Siro and creating public portals with Dublin City Council. What I am really proud of is how long these solutions have lasted and continue to deliver.

How would you describe the company culture in a few words?

I think our culture is light hearted and fun but with a strong work ethic and a drive to help each other.

What do you enjoy most about working with the team?

I always enjoy coming to work and I have great fun with my colleagues especially with our Commercial Director Garrett who gets my humour and doesn’t get offended with my constant constructive advice / insults!
While I don’t the miss the commute every day to the office, I do miss the fun in the office and I do worry for the future society, as younger people may miss out by always working from home.
In IMGS we strive to have regular meetups and some really good nights out and I think that’s very important.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I am a big fan of Western Films and love nothing more than watching a John Wayne Western – particularly the John Ford directed films.
For those looking for a quick fix of a simpler time in film – start with Ford Apache featuring a very young Wayne and Henry Fonda.

What's your favourite way to unwind after work?

I spend a lot of time walking the country roads where I live, usually with our dog, listening to sport podcasts. Its interesting now that I spend more time listening to people talk about sport than actually watching sport.
With 2 teenage kids it’s hard to find the time, but I do love watching rugby and attend Leinster and Ireland matches when I can.

What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self?

Make sure to buy a few shares in that online book company and I would say enjoy every day because time goes so fast.
I joined IMGS in 2002 and have seen such changes in that time but it still feels like it was yesterday which probably is a good complaint as I have enjoyed it so much.

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IMGS at the Safe Software Peak of Data Integration Conference

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IMGS & DataBuilders at the Safe Software
Peak of Data Integration and AI Conference

Earlier this month, our team including Andrew Paul and Robyn Dennehy had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Safe Software Peak of Data Integration and AI Conference in Seattle, Washington.
With jam-packed sessions, global insights and powerful demonstrations, it was an energising experience for both, with each bringing back unique learnings and inspirations to share.

Both Andrew and Robyn delivered excellent presentations, highlighting the FME projects that they worked on the past few months. Andrew gave a presentation on “Land and Property Management with FME”, while Robyn presented “Automating the Placement of Medical Interns”.

We asked the team to report their key highlights from the event under each of the following headings.

Favourite New Feature:

Robyn: It is tricky to pick just one new feature as a favourite and there’s a lot of overlap here with ideas/features our customers would love.
Data virtualisation is being widely marketed ahead of its release with 2025.1, and with good reason. Organisations will be able to build secure REST APIs through FME’s no-code interface. It will be incredibly powerful for functions such as enabling real time access to data sources/filtered data views and secure AI platform integration.
I was also excited to see that one click HTTPS configuration will be coming on stream shortly. At present, administrators carry out several different steps depending on the certificate type to enable HTTPS on their FME Flow instance. This takes place after FME Flow is installed. This one click solution, available from 2025.1, will allow administrators to configure HTTPS, with one click, during installation of FME Flow on their server. Distributed installations will also benefit from an improved configuration process.

Andrew: The most exciting new development in FME 2025 for me was the introduction of Data Virtualisation capabilities in FME Flow. This was announced in the keynote session as it is such a game changer for Safe Software.
What it means in simple terms is that FME Flow can now expose the results of a workspace as a virtual API or live service, allowing other systems or users to query the data on demand. This is a major shift from FME’s traditional extract-transform-load (ETL) model. FME Flow becomes not just a processing engine, but a live data service provider.
This means you can dynamically create and deliver interactive charts, maps, or dashboards in a visual format without needing to build separate front-end systems. This is part of the 2025 beta release, and I am looking forward to testing the capabilities of this feature on FME Flow.

Favourite Presentation (and why):

Robyn: One Map to Rule Them All: Improving Infrastructure Planning and Resilience in New Zealand (Angus Bargh – Founder of Open Plan, Keith Hastings – Geospatial Developer with Jacobs).
This presentation shared details around the creation and function of the National Forward Works Viewer (NFWV) in New Zealand. It is a single authoritative source of upcoming infrastructure projects which can be used by organisations and the public to determine upcoming work to be carried out locally on utility/road networks. Communities had previously found it difficult to coordinate these projects which then impacted road users, businesses and communities, while also increasing carbon emissions and affecting the local economy. Digital Built Aotearoa (a not-for-profit foundation) utilises the FME platform to ingest, aggregate and map these projects into a spatial Viewer which provides visibility of these projects to end users. This type of visibility has many benefits including enabling clash and opportunity detection, reduction in disruption, avoiding costly rework and improving asset longevity.
The presentation stood out to me because the foundation of the NFWV came from a missing piece in rebuilding communities after an earthquake hit a region of the country. There wasn’t a single source location for data that could be shared with agencies to plan the reconnection of utility/road networks. The spatial viewer was created by DBA for local authorities in that area at the time of the rebuild. It was instrumental in providing a coordinated effort in the region. However, the platform has grown now with more and more local authorities across New Zealand signing up and submitting forward planning data. The NFWS symbolises a mindset shift when it comes to data, that collaboration rather than silos can have such a positive impact. This viewer is becoming instrumental in day-to-day planning for local authorities across New Zealand. I believe it has the potential to be utilised for collaboration across more than just forward planning data as the platform continues to gain popularity.
Andrew: The presentation that left the greatest impact on me was delivered by Jesse Hamlin from The HALO Trust, showcasing their incredible use of FME in humanitarian demining efforts. HALO’s mission is to rid the world of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Jesse gave us practical examples of how FME is helping them collect, clean, and analyse data across some of the most dangerous regions.
What stood out was how FME empowers their field teams to process spatial data from legacy systems and GPS devices, allowing them to map hazardous areas more accurately and make faster, safer decisions. It was a powerful reminder of how geospatial technology, and FME in particular, can truly make a difference not just in business workflows, but in saving lives.

Something New You Learned:

Robyn: When attending the Building Data Products Powered by FME presentation by Gavin Jeter (Locus), I learned about how Build Farms can be used with FME to carry out processing heavy workflows in much faster timeframes. As an FME user from a GIS background, I am still learning about the optimisation of FME workflows on infrastructure in different customer’s environments. Hearing about how Build Farms took years of processing time down to hours for Gavin, had me jotting it down to remember to look into it in more detail. More and more organisations are having to handle larger quantities of data and depending on the organisation’s capacity, a solution including Build Farms could be vital in processing large amounts of data.
Andrew: While I’ve worked with remote sensing data throughout my career classifying objects in satellite and aerial multispectral imagery, I didn’t realise just how powerful the AI integration has become in FME for image analysis.
Safe software demonstrated this at the conference by showing us the ability to upload an image into a workspace of a worker about to enter a factory site and using the HTTP caller were able to pass the image to an AI tool to detect if the employee had the correct PPE to be allowed to work on the site. The PPE was then outputted as 3 vector rectangles which were attributed with the type of PPE e.g. hard hat, goggles, gloves…etc. This then allows the end users to develop a workflow to produce a report to state if the worker has passed the requirements to enter the site.
This is incredibly powerful and can be rolled out to large sites with 1000s workers and will allow employers to monitor compliance. This is incredibly advanced image classification that I couldn’t have imagined with traditional remote sensing techniques that can be adapted for use in many different workflows – including traditional remote sensing!

Top Tip or Idea Our Customers Would Love:

Robyn: FME Form end users will be able to connect directly to knowledge base articles and FME Academy from within their own workbench. While it may seem like something small, this integration between the two makes it easier to troubleshoot, learn best practices and helps empower FME users in an organisation when authoring and building processes. AI Assist in FME Form will also provide context aware responses when working with transformers and parameters. I think this new feature will be really nice functionality to have for new and seasoned FME users alike.
Andrew: One of the most impactful new features for our customers in FME 2025 is going to be the PDF Styler and update to the PDF Writer. It allows you to create fully designed, multi-page PDF reports from your data, all within FME for the first time ever.

I know many of our customers use FME for reporting property summaries, asset reports or planning notices already and sometimes output these in HTML, Word and Excel formats but would love to be able to produce PDFs that have corporate logos, styling and can display charts, maps and all the information they require from their data. The update of the writer and introduction of the styler tool means all this can be done within FME. I know our customers are going to love this and it is already available on FME Form 2025 to implement into workflows now.

In Summary:

The Safe Software FME Conference reminded the team just how innovative and collaborative the FME community is. Whether you’re a seasoned user or just getting started, the possibilities continue to expand, and the team are excited to bring these learnings back to our customers and partners.

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Leading With Vision: A Conversation with Garrett Cronin, Commercial Director, IMGS & DataBuilders

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Leading with Vision: A Conversation with Garrett Cronin, Commercial Director, IMGS & DataBuilders

Interview by Tanya McDonald, Marketing Executive IMGS & DataBuilders

As part of our team spotlight series, I sat down with Garrett Cronin, who was recently appointed Commercial Director at IMGS & DataBuilders. In this interview, Garrett reflects on his first few months in the role, the evolving commercial strategy, and what the future holds for the business.

Thanks for joining me today, Garrett. I’d like to start by offering congratulations on your promotion to Commercial Director at IMGS & DataBuilders. How have you found the transition into the new role over these first 120 days?

Thank you Tanya. The transition has felt familiar in many ways, but also very different. While I’ve been part of the leadership team for some time, stepping into the role of Commercial Director brought a fresh set of responsibilities and a broader remit. One of the most significant changes has been taking on a larger team, which has required a new level of coordination and leadership.
At the same time, I’ve gained much deeper insight into how the company operates behind the scenes, from commercial strategy and financials to operational decision-making and cross-functional planning. It’s given me a clearer understanding of the moving parts that support our growth.
I like to think I’ve managed the transition well, balancing the demands of the role while continuing to stay connected with our customers. Engaging directly with them remains one of the most rewarding parts of what I do, and it’s a key part of how I stay grounded in what we’re trying to achieve.

It sounds like you’ve hit the ground running. What have been some of the key responsibilities or priorities you've taken on in these first few months?

One of the biggest focuses has been forming a new commercial vision for both IMGS and DataBuilders, ensuring we have a clear direction for growth. That’s included expanding into new regions and industries, which has been both challenging and exciting. I’ve also prioritised strengthening existing alliances and exploring new partnerships that can add real value to our customers.
Of course, hitting our commercial targets is central to everything, and with a multifaceted team to manage, it’s about creating the right structure and support to drive performance and collaboration.

With so much happening in a short space of time, have there been any standout moments or early wins you’re particularly proud of?

There have been quite a few exciting developments, but nothing I can share publicly just yet. Hopefully in the coming months, I’ll be able to announce some new customer wins in new regions, along with strategic partnerships that we’ve been working hard to secure. It’s all part of laying the groundwork for long-term, sustainable growth.

What have you learned so far in the role about the business, your team, or even yourself?

Great question. On a personal level, I’ve been reminded just how important time management is. With ambitious goals and a strong desire to make an early impact, time quickly becomes a precious commodity. It’s been a real exercise in prioritisation and focus.
When it comes to the team, I’ve been genuinely inspired by how resilient and open they are. There’s a real willingness to embrace new ideas, and their collective commitment to the company’s success has made a big impression on me.
From a business perspective, I’ve gained a much deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes operations, the back-office functions, financial processes, and systems that keep everything running smoothly.
I’m learning it is a complex balancing act, and being guided through that by Aoibhinn Stuart, our Delivery Director, and Ciaran Kirk, our Operations Director, has given me a whole new level of respect for what they’ve been doing consistently for over a decade. Seeing it up close has really underscored what it takes to sustain and grow a business at this level.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for IMGS and DataBuilders over the next 12 months?

As a management team, we’ve set ambitious but realistic goals for the year ahead. One of our key goals is to expand DataBuilders into the UK market, and we’re aiming to win several strategic accounts in the enterprise space by showcasing the value of our solutions, particularly FME and Sisense.
While we’re proud of our current team, the growth in projects may lead us to expand both here in Ireland and in the UK. That said, we’re equally focused on responsible growth ensuring that as we scale, we protect our profit margins and remain commercially sound, especially in the face of rising operational costs.
We’re also keeping a close eye on geopolitical factors, not just for our business but for our customers too. It’s important that we remain agile and continue to deliver reliable, value-driven solutions that help our clients adapt and thrive.

And finally, what advice would you give to someone stepping into a senior leadership role for the first time?

I’d say, remember that your greatest strength as a leader is the people around you. No matter how strong your vision is, it only becomes reality if your team understands it, believes in it, and feels part of it.
Take the time to get to know the business in detail, not just what it does, but who makes it work. Be realistic, be thoughtful, and above all, be inclusive. Their success is your success, and creating that alignment from day one is absolutely critical.
One piece of advice that’s stuck with me is: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” That’s the mindset I try to carry into everything.

Thank you so much for your time, Garrett. It’s clear you’ve had a great start in your new role, and we’re excited to see what’s next for IMGS and DataBuilders under your leadership.

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Garrett Cronin Staff Profile

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Spotlight on Garrett Cronin:
Driving Commercial Success at
IMGS & DataBuilders

Can you describe your role at IMGS & DataBuilders?

My core responsibilities revolve around managing sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships. However, like many of us now a days, I wear many different hats depending on the needs of our customers and business. From time to time, I’ll help manage some of our smaller projects, support our accounts team or give support a dig out. I really enjoy working in a dynamic environment which has kept my role exciting over the past nine years and allowed me to continually learn new skills.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

There are couple of things, the first which I mentioned above is the dynamic nature of my role and the industry we work in. I don’t think it has ever stood still over my past nine years and it only seems to speed up, especially with the increased adoption of Cloud & AI. The second and most enjoyable reason is the people. I consider myself very fortunate to work alongside an incredible group of bright, intelligent, and very funny people. Their energy makes every day enjoyable and time fly.

Do you have a favourite work event that you've attended in the last 12 months and why?

I’ve attended a number of great events over the past 12 months, however, there are a few that stand-out events like the FME User Conference in Bonn, Germany. The event was hosted in the World Conference Centre on the banks of the Rhine, which was a stunning backdrop to an incredible event. It was a great week of networking and getting inspired by the incredible real-world stories from around the globe.
The Hexagon partner meeting in Athens, Greece was also a standout event. Like Bonn, the backdrop of the beautiful and historic city of Athens added to the event, and even though it rained the entire time we were there, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the partner community.
Gartner’s “Data & Analytics Summit” in London early last year was also brilliant. We enjoyed speakers from Microsoft, Amazon, Databricks and our own Jon Hawkins, previously of Waterford City & County Council. Don Murray, Safe Software also spoke about the importance of spatial data and how, if ignored, it can become an blind spot in your analytics.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I have a young son Oscar, so most of my free time is spent outdoors with him trying to burn off his energy which seems to double daily, while mine halves. In the evenings Emma & I might get to watch a movie, and if I’m really lucky I might to go out for a cheeky Guinness on the weekend.

If you could meet any historical figure or celebrity, who would it be and what would you ask them?

This is a great question. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to the universe, so it would have to be Albert Einstein. I wouldn’t go in with a specific question as I’m not sure I’d even understand his answer, but I’d love to just talk to him and get a glimpse of how his mind worked. It’d be incredible to experience his thought process firsthand.

What types of books/ movies do you enjoy?

I’ve only started listening to audio books while commuting to and from work. I’ve gravitated towards biographies for some strange reason and I’m currently listening to “Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula 1” by Guenther Steiner. Last month was “The Trading Game” by Gary Stevenson which I really liked. From a movies perspective I’m very basic, I love action and sci-fi so anything with explosions and lasers . . . . please don’t judge me, we all have our guilty pleasures.

If you could quickly and easily learn any new skill, what would it be?

There are so many things that come to mind like learning an instrument or another language. We bought a new house a couple of years ago and I’ve realised my handyman skills are lacking, with this fresh in my mind I’m leaning towards carpentry as a useful skill to have.

Did you ever imagine yourself in another occupation? If so, which one and why?

Don’t laugh, but an Astronaut. Clearly, I didn’t have the grades among many other missing attributes but as a kid (and still now if I’m honest) I would love to travel into space, I can only imagine how incredible that weightless and awe-inspiring feeling is to look down on Earth from space.
Quick fun fact, the term “astronaut” derives from the Greek words meaning “star sailor”. You can stop laughing now by the way 😊 !

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Year in review 2024

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IMGS & DataBuilders Year in Review 2024

2024 was an extraordinary year for IMGS and DataBuilders, marked by exciting milestones, collaborations, and achievements. Here’s a look back at the highlights in our “Year in Review 2024”.

January - Space, Surveyors and Students Training Session

We kicked off the year with Operations Director Ciaran Kirk participating in the 5*S – Space, Surveyors, and Students training session for the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland on January 17th. This event set the stage for the 2024 Transition Year workshops held in schools nationwide.

We kicked off the year with Operations Director Ciaran Kirk participating in the 5*S – Space, Surveyors, and Students training session for the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland on January 17th. This event set the stage for the 2024 Transition Year workshops held in schools nationwide.

February- Irish Naval Service Customer Story

In February, we released a compelling customer case study with the Irish Naval Service titled “Tracking Marine Vessels in Real Time to Enforce Common Fisheries Policy.” Built on M.App Enterprise, this solution transformed fisheries enforcement by streamlining operations, enhancing compliance monitoring, and empowering decision-making. Read the full case study HERE.

March - A Month of Dynamic Engagement and Learning

Early March: Garrett Cronin and Ciaran Kirk attended the Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial Partner Conference in Athens, Greece, where they delivered a presentation and live demo on “Building Inspections with M.App Enterprise.”

Early March: Garrett Cronin and Ciaran Kirk attended the Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial Partner Conference in Athens, Greece, where they delivered a presentation and live demo on “Building Inspections with M.App Enterprise.”

March 6th: IMGS and DataBuilders hosted a fully booked FME Accelerator workshop. Designed for beginners and those refreshing their skills, this session empowered participants to maximise their data capabilities.

April - Brought New Opportunities for Upskilling and Leadership

April 10th: DataBuilders hosted a hands-on Sisense workshop, teaching participants how to embed dynamic dashboards and widgets seamlessly into applications.

April 10th: DataBuilders hosted a hands-on Sisense workshop, teaching participants how to embed dynamic dashboards and widgets seamlessly into applications.

April 24th: Our first Data Webinar of 2024 explored the Sisense Compose SDK, equipping users with the tools and knowledge to build bespoke analytics solutions. Watch the webinar HERE.

We congratulated Andrew Paul, Managed Service Lead IMGS, on his appointment as Chair of the AGI Northern Ireland Board. Andrew’s goal is to work closely with the board to expand the AGI Community and networking opportunities for geospatial professionals in the region.

We congratulated Andrew Paul, Managed Service Lead IMGS, on his appointment as Chair of the AGI Northern Ireland Board. Andrew’s goal is to work closely with the board to expand the AGI Community and networking opportunities for geospatial professionals in the region.

May - Packed with Events and Milestones

Garrett Cronin and Ciaran Kirk joined Safe Software at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit in London, showcasing innovations in data management and analytics.

IMGS partnered with Enet, Ireland’s largest open-access network provider, to publish a compelling customer story. Enet faced the challenge of managing approximately 120 network routing requests each month, a process that previously required extensive manual effort. To overcome this, Enet collaborated with the IMGS team to create “Click Before You Dig,” an innovative online portal that automates the request workflow.
This solution has streamlined operations, reclaiming 12 resource hours weekly and enabling Enet’s planning team to focus on strategic priorities. Read the full customer story HERE.

IMGS partnered with Enet, Ireland’s largest open-access network provider, to publish a compelling customer story. Enet faced the challenge of managing approximately 120 network routing requests each month, a process that previously required extensive manual effort. To overcome this, Enet collaborated with the IMGS team to create “Click Before You Dig,” an innovative online portal that automates the request workflow.
This solution has streamlined operations, reclaiming 12 resource hours weekly and enabling Enet’s planning team to focus on strategic priorities. Read the full customer story HERE.

May 20th: Ciaran Kirk and Gavin Park delivered a webinar titled “FME Powering Enterprise Dashboards”. This webinar steps into the world of advanced data visualisation and real-time analytics with FME. Watch it HERE.

May 29th: Ciaran Kirk delivered a webinar titled “Navigating the DataGalaxy: Best Practices for Data Cataloguing and MetaData Management”.
This session equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to transform your organisation’s data management practices, ensuring that your data is not just a collection of information, but a strategic asset. Watch it HERE.

May 29th: Ciaran Kirk delivered a webinar titled “Navigating the DataGalaxy: Best Practices for Data Cataloguing and MetaData Management”.
This session equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to transform your organisation’s data management practices, ensuring that your data is not just a collection of information, but a strategic asset. Watch it HERE.

June- Innovation, Collaboration & Team Summer Event

June 5th: We hosted our webinar “FME 2024 Unleashed – Transform Your Data World”. This session showcases how to streamline your data workflows, enhance your data analysis capabilities and unlock new opportunities for innovation. Watch it HERE.

IMGS were proud to be a platinum sponsor and exhibitor at the AGI NI Annual Conference, on June 13^th in Queen’s University Belfast. It was a fantastic day catching up with industry colleagues and attending some great presentations, including one from our Operations Director, Ciaran Kirk, titled “Mobile Working and Changing Work Practices”.

IMGS were proud to be a platinum sponsor and exhibitor at the AGI NI Annual Conference, on June 13^th in Queen’s University Belfast. It was a fantastic day catching up with industry colleagues and attending some great presentations, including one from our Operations Director, Ciaran Kirk, titled “Mobile Working and Changing Work Practices”.

On the last Friday in June the IMGS and DataBuilders team enjoyed a summer evening out at LaPeniche, the charming floating restaurant on the picturesque Grand Canal. With fabulous food and great company, all had a wonderful evening.

July - Cork City Council Customer Story

In early July, we published the Cork City Council Customer Story, demonstrating how our modern asset management solution revolutionised the council’s property management operation. This initiative, improved data accuracy, streamlined records and enhanced future planning capabilities. Read the story in full HERE.

In early July, we published the Cork City Council Customer Story, demonstrating how our modern asset management solution revolutionised the council’s property management operation. This initiative, improved data accuracy, streamlined records and enhanced future planning capabilities. Read the story in full HERE.

August - Analytics Institute Masterclass

On August 28, Ciaran Kirk delivered a virtual masterclass at the Analytics Institute, diving into spatial analytics with FME. Attendees learned how to source, integrate, and visualise spatial data using this no-code platform.

September - A Month of Innovation and Community

In early September, we published the NBI Customer Story, detailing how FME automation optimised workflows, enhanced data accuracy, and improved efficiency in the execution of broadband infrastructure projects. Read the story HERE.

In early September, we published the NBI Customer Story, detailing how FME automation optimised workflows, enhanced data accuracy, and improved efficiency in the execution of broadband infrastructure projects. Read the story HERE.

Tuesday, 17^th September DataBuilders hosted the annual Data Intelligence event in the Ashling Hotel Dublin. It was a fantastic event with a superb line-up of speakers and topics. We were delighted to be joined by Don Murray, President, Safe Software, who travelled from Vancouver to give a keynote speech on “The Future of FME”. Other presentation highlights included:

Digital Transformation with FME – Cathy Heffernan, HSE

Enabling Data Linkage on Pseudonymised Address Data – Justin McGuirk, CSO

ArcGIS REST API & AGOL, Andrew Murphy, NI Water

Empowering Public Sector Innovation with FME, Rob O’Loughlin & Kevin Rajiv, Compass Informatics

Conversational Analytics with Generative AI, Ciaran Kirk, IMGS & DataBuilders

While in Ireland, Don Murray enjoyed a road trip with the team, to the NI Water HQ.

Don couldn’t come to Dublin and not pay a visit to our No. 1 Tourist Attraction, the Guinness Storehouse at St. James’s Gate.

September 18th: Our team volunteered at My Lovely Horse Rescue, supporting their incredible work rescuing and rehabilitating animals. A rewarding and fun day was had by all!

September 18th: Our team volunteered at My Lovely Horse Rescue, supporting their incredible work rescuing and rehabilitating animals. A rewarding and fun day was had by all!

October - Sisense Building Dashboards Accelerator

October 9th: We hosted a virtual Sisense Building Dashboards Accelerator, where participants explored advanced modelling techniques, how to create impactful dashboards and leveraging Sisense AI for powerful analytics.

November - NI Water Customer Story and GeoComm 2024

In late November we published our latest customer story “NI Water Enhances Operational Efficiency through Intelligent Robotic Process Automation”, highlighting the fantastic work and outcomes that NI Water have achieved with FME.
NI Water’s adoption of automation, particularly through FME integrated with AI, has transformed their operations. Read the case study HERE.

In late November we published our latest customer story “NI Water Enhances Operational Efficiency through Intelligent Robotic Process Automation”, highlighting the fantastic work and outcomes that NI Water have achieved with FME.
NI Water’s adoption of automation, particularly through FME integrated with AI, has transformed their operations. Read the case study HERE.

On November 28th, Andrew Paul, Managed Service Lead IMGS and AGI-NI Chairperson joined the geospatial community from across the UK and Ireland at The Royal Geographic Society buildings in London for AGI GeoCom 2024. The event showcased innovation, collaboration, and future directions in the geospatial industry.
Andrew penned a blog providing an overview of highlights from the event and key takeaways for the Geospatial Community. To read this blog in full click HERE.

December - FME Certification and Festive Fun

Robyn Dennehy, Managed Service Lead at IMGS was awarded the FME Flow Certification of Accreditation in early December. Congratulations Robyn!

Robyn Dennehy, Managed Service Lead at IMGS was awarded the FME Flow Certification of Accreditation in early December. Congratulations Robyn!

Also, congratulations to Gavin Park, Chief Technology Office at IMGS and DataBuilders, who renewed his FME Certified Training certification from Safe Software in December. Well done, Gavin!
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The IMGS and DataBuilders team finished the year in style at our Christmas Party in the stunning Clontarf Castle Hotel on Saturday, December 14th. It was a night filled with festive cheer, exceptional food, lively entertainment, and fantastic company. A perfect way to wrap up the year together!

The IMGS and DataBuilders team finished the year in style at our Christmas Party in the stunning Clontarf Castle Hotel on Saturday, December 14th. It was a night filled with festive cheer, exceptional food, lively entertainment, and fantastic company. A perfect way to wrap up the year together!

As we start 2025, we’re excited to build on last year’s achievements and embrace new opportunities. Thank you to our clients, partners, and team for making 2024 a remarkable year!

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Reflections on GeoCom 2024: Advancing Geospatial Insights

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Reflections on GeoCom 2024:Advancing GeoSpatial Insights

By Andrew Paul, Managed Service Lead, IMGS and Chair of AGI Northern Ireland

Last week, the geospatial community from across the UK and Ireland gathered in the Royal Geographic Society Buildings in London for AGI GeoCom 2024. The event showcased innovation, collaboration, and future directions in the geospatial industry. This year’s conference celebrated the theme of “Geospatial Empowerment for a Connected Future” and brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts.
Here are some highlights from the event and key takeaways for the geospatial community:

Opening the Stage for Geospatial Excellence

GeoCom 2024 kicked off by reflecting on AGI’s achievements, including hosting the 2024 AGI Awards during GeoBusiness earlier this year. Plans are already underway for the 2025 Awards, promising to celebrate even more groundbreaking contributions to geospatial science and practice.

Andrew Paul & Dr. Sara Stewart at GeoComm 2024

Government Priorities and Geospatial Strategy

Insights from the UK Government and the Geospatial Commission took centre stage. Alexandra Notay highlighted the importance of geospatial data in connecting places, housing, and planning, with initiatives like the Radix Big Tent focusing on housing delivery and urban development strategies.

Geospatial in Land, Property, and Infrastructure

The property sector stood out as a key beneficiary of geospatial advancements:
The Data Sharing Gateway and promotion of UPRNs (Unique Property Reference Numbers) aim to enhance property data integration.
Addressing infrastructure planning challenges, such as flooding impacts, brought the importance of geospatial data into sharper focus.
Projects like broadband rollout underscore the critical need for streamlined access to land registry data to address issues like wayleaves and bureaucratic hurdles.

Geospatial Technology Transforming the Future

From the macro to the hyper-local, technology and innovation sectors highlighted some of the innovative work being supported by AGI. Highlights included:
WorldPop showcased satellite-derived small-area population data, including applications like estimating building footprints and monitoring settlement changes with AI models.
CREDO demonstrated how climate resilience relies on geospatial insights by integrating energy, water, and telecoms data to assess risks to critical infrastructure.
World Forest ID used genetic testing to trace illegal timber trade, spotlighting the global impact of geospatial data on sustainability and governance.
Ken Field’s keynote session on ethical cartography touched on the ethics and politics of mapmaking, reminding us of the responsibilities that come with presenting data visually.

Looking Ahead: Regional Focus and AGI's Future

GeoCom 2024 concluded with exciting announcements for the AGI’s roadmap:
Networking events in Bristol (2024) and Greater Manchester (Q1 2025).
GeoCom 2025 is set to take place in Scotland on February 27th, 2025, hosted by AGI Scotland.
AGI Northern Ireland’s conference will return again to Belfast (Q2 2025).
A return to London in November 2025 at the Royal Geographical Society, where the AGI Foresight Report 2030 will continue the tradition of forward-looking geospatial insights.
At IMGS, we are inspired by the vibrant discussions and cutting-edge developments showcased at GeoCom 2024. The future of geospatial technology is brighter than ever, and we look forward to playing our part in shaping this exciting landscape.

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Tanya McDonald

Women In Tech at IMGS / imgsblog / Leave a Comment

Tanya McDonald, Marketing Executive,
IMGS & DataBuilders

Work, Family Life & Everything In-Between

Can you describe your role at IMGS?

I hold the position of Marketing Executive at IMGS and DataBuilders, with key responsibility for branding, event management, marketing, budget management and sales support across both brands.

What do you love about your job?

I’d have to say the variety is what I enjoy most – no two days are ever the same. Every day brings an opportunity to learn something new, which keeps things interesting. On top of that, we have an amazing team that creates a positive and supportive work environment.

What would your perfect weekend look like?

Long walks, good food, a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire, trying out new recipes and cheering on my kids at the sidelines of their GAA games.

What movie genres interest you the most?

I’m a sucker for a rom com, you can’t beat them for the feel good factor. I also enjoy World War II movies, 2 of my favourites are Saving Private Ryan and the Imitation Game.

What would your perfect weekend look like?

Long walks, good food, a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire, trying out new recipes and cheering on my kids at the sidelines of their GAA games.

What movie genres interest you the most?

I’m a sucker for a rom com, you can’t beat them for the feel good factor. I also enjoy World War II movies, 2 of my favourites are Saving Private Ryan and the Imitation Game.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

I travelled a lot in my life so far, but one destination that remains on my bucket list is Hawaii, with its breathtaking scenery, rich culture, history and unique wildlife.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

Growing up I always wanted to be a primary school teacher; however my grasp of the Irish language was a barrier to entry unfortunately. I think teaching is such an important profession because it allows you to shape young minds and inspire future generations.

What's something that you've always wanted to try or learn?

I would love to play a musical instrument, in particular piano as it’s such a beautiful instrument with a soothing sound.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I’ve given this alot of thought, and I always come back to teleportation as the top choice. It would make daily life so much more convenient, with the added bonus of being able to travel anywhere in the world effortlessly – no more airports or long flights to deal with!

What's something that you've always wanted to try or learn?

I would love to play a musical instrument, in particular piano as it’s such a beautiful instrument with a soothing sound.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I’ve given this alot of thought, and I always come back to teleportation as the top choice. It would make daily life so much more convenient, with the added bonus of being able to travel anywhere in the world effortlessly – no more airports or long flights to deal with!

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