Geo Week 2026 to spotlight convergence of uncrewed systems and geospatial technology

Drones and other uncrewed platforms are now integral to how spatial data is collected, processed and applied across a wide range of industries – from surveying and mapping, to construction, environmental monitoring and infrastructure management. As a result, Geo Week 2026 – taking place from 16-18 February in Denver, USA – will focus strongly on how closely uncrewed systems and geospatial technology have become intertwined.

With uncrewed systems increasingly embedded in geospatial operations, Geo Week 2026 positions itself as a forum for examining not only technological innovation, but also the strategic and operational decisions shaping the future of the geospatial business landscape.

The event is expected to attract geospatial professionals seeking practical insights into selecting and deploying drones, sensors, cameras and software that are tailored to specific operational needs.

The programme will therefore feature multiple sessions examining how uncrewed systems are reshaping geospatial workflows and creating new opportunities for efficiency, accuracy and scale. Sessions will also address how uncrewed and related technologies are being integrated into broader digital ecosystems, supporting applications from energy and transportation to environmental management and urban development.

Sharing experience across sectors

Among the sessions highlighting this convergence is ‘Executing Wide-Area Airborne Mapping Projects: A Practical Guide’. The panel will bring together senior executives from mapping companies to discuss the execution of large-scale aerial survey projects, many of which rely on crewed aircraft equipped with Lidar and large-format camera systems.

Drawing on experience across sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, mining, and oil and gas, the discussion will examine technical considerations, emerging technologies and the regional challenges associated with wide-area mapping.

Ground sample distance: fact or fiction?

Another session at this year’s Geo Week, ‘Imaging Resolution in Ground Sample Distance: Fact or Fiction’, will take a closer look at how image resolution is defined and communicated across satellite, airborne and UAS platforms. Experts will explore whether ground sample distance remains an adequate indicator of spatial detail, how it is calculated and validated, and whether alternative approaches are needed to better describe image quality and content for professional applications.

Platform selection and operational trade-offs will be the focus of ‘Exploring UAS, Helicopter, and Ground Survey Tradeoffs’. Based on lessons learned from real-world projects, panelists will compare cost, accuracy, efficiency and logistical considerations across different data acquisition methods. The session aims to help surveyors and mapping professionals assess which combination of technologies delivers the greatest value for their specific use cases.

Reality-capture breakthroughs

Geo Week 2026 will also address advances in reality capture and digital twins through the two-part session ‘Latest Breakthroughs in How We Capture, Process, and Visualize the Built World’. Topics will include integrated workflows combining terrestrial, UAV, mobile and wearable Lidar with SLAM mapping for transportation projects, as well as emerging techniques such as Gaussian splatting and enhanced photogrammetry pushing the boundaries of high-fidelity 3D visualization.