Professor Avi Degani, Founder of Geocartography Group, Dies at 88
Professor Avraham (Avi) Degani, founder and president of the Geocartography Group and a pioneering figure in Israeli market research and public opinion studies, passed away at the age of 88. Born in Tel Aviv in 1938 and later raised in the Beit Shearim moshav, Degani served in the Golani Brigade before studying geology, geography, and climatology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He pursued advanced studies in the United States and returned to Israel in 1971 to join Tel Aviv University's geography department, where he served as a faculty member for many years.
Degani was an early pioneer of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Israel, developing spatial analysis models applied to urban, economic, and social planning. Together with his wife, Dr. Rina Degani, he established the Geocartography Institute, which bridged the gap between academic research and business sectors by integrating market research, urban planning, real estate, and public sector studies. He served as president of the group in recent years.
Widely recognized beyond academia, Degani was a frequent media commentator on Israeli public opinion, often highlighting the limitations of polling methods. Notably, after the 2008 Kadima primary polling discrepancies, he attributed the issues to the nature of primaries rather than polling errors. His influence was especially felt in Tel Aviv, where Geocartography contributed to numerous urban projects such as the rehabilitation of the Hatikva neighborhood, Sarona complex, the Eastern Fair at Tel Aviv Port, and major shopping centers including Dizengoff Center and Ramat Aviv Mall. He is credited with coining Tel Aviv's famous slogan, "Tel Aviv, the city that never stops," during Mayor Shlomo Lahat's tenure.
In 2023, Degani was honored as a Worthy Citizen of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, recognized by the municipality as a scientist, geographer, and "information strategist." He remained active in research until late in his career, marking over five decades of professional contribution to Israeli geography, market research, and urban development.
