How can AI and public data help promote nature in cities? This is the question that Gismap is working on – and here Danmarks Miljøportal plays an important role.
Danmarks Miljøportal, 26 August 2025
Gismap is a natural tech startup based in geodata and green transition. The company was founded by Laurids Sund during his geography education, where he helped contractors with data registration for the operation and care of green areas. Over time, more people joined, including co-founder Eigil Albæk, who has a background in artificial intelligence from DTU.
"Eigil got Christmas lights in his eyes when he discovered how much geodata is freely available in Denmark. Because he has a background in AI, it became obvious to dive into the potential for using this data actively," says Laurids.
This was the beginning of the development of Gismap's AI model, which can map areas and support municipalities, consultants and operating companies in their work with urban nature and biodiversity.
The next step in the AI adventure is a scenario planning algorithm that will be able to model the effects of various green initiatives and support sustainability reporting.
The first time Laurids came across Danmarks Miljøportal was during his studies, and Miljøportalen's data was therefore a natural starting point for Gismap's development.
Today, Gismap uses a large number of public datasets via Danmarks Miljøportal and the Danish Climate Data Agency, from, among others:
Arealdata and biodiversity maps
APIs from Danmarks Miljøportal and GBIF
We are always curious about how our data is used and how it can support new technologies and green innovation in the private sector. As part of our AI strategy, we are working purposefully to make data more AI-usable, e.g. through better and more metadata as well as suitable interfaces (e.g. use of MCP frameworks). We are therefore very proud that we can contribute to Gismap's work.
Gismap collaborates with master's students from the University of Copenhagen, who have investigated the potential for developing an algorithm to identify green corridors in urban areas. Here, they have used biodiversity maps from Aarhus University and other datasets found via Danmarks Miljøportal.
By linking several data sources together, it is possible to create more precise analyses of the biodiversity potential in a given area and point to specific initiatives, e.g. where planting, conversion or changed operations will have the greatest effect.
"The whole idea is that the more data we can put in, the cooler the reports we can make and ultimately use it to work purposefully and future-proof," says Laurids.
Gismap is also in dialogue with Danmarks Miljøportal about the project Urban Nature, where the possibilities of using an UrbanBioScore to measure and strengthen biodiversity in urban spaces are being looked at.
With its experience from the operation of green areas in the private sector, Gismap has a unique insight into everyday practices and data needs, which complements Danmarks Miljøportal's knowledge of data exhibition and public standards.
A common ambition is to ensure that data registered through, for example, Gismap's solutions, can eventually be shared and made available to others, for the benefit of nature, cities and those who work with it.
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Danmarks Miljøportal is a public partnership owned by the state, municipalities, and regions, aimed at supporting digital environmental management in Denmark.
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