

Elevating knowledge: read our in-depth features

We recently had the privilege to sit down with Prudence Xu, regional sales director at ComNav Technology, to hear more about his company’s vision on the evolving geospatial landscape. In this conver...

When people think of geospatial technologies, they often imagine drones, sensors and smart maps, but rarely think about the underlying reference frames that provide reliability. Awareness of geodesy's...

Many surveying professionals – and contract specifications – use the term ‘accuracy’ without fully defining it, according to our technical editor Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk. Using the ASPRS and IH...

Despite what some equipment manufacturers claim, quick and easy geospatial surveys are not always the answer. Some projects call for best-practice survey principles and accurate, controlled data. What...

The revolutionary use of active GNSS control points and cutting-edge geomatics equipment is setting new standards for accuracy in the construction of high-rise architecture, as demonstrated by this sk...

On 24 January 2023, the European Union declared the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) operational for testing, and it is scheduled to become fully operational in 2024. This free signal adds precise...
In order to offer integrators a way to keep navigating when GPS can't be trusted, Javad GNSS has introduced a new GNSS+INS product line. The family of tightly integrated GNSS and inertial navigation s...
Emlid has introduced Emlid Corrections, a new RTK correction service integrated directly into its Reach line of GNSS receivers and the Emlid Flow mobile app. The service, powered by Point One Navigati...
The capability, resilience and operational autonomy of Europe's Galileo satellite navigation constellation have been reinforced by the official joining of two new satellites. SAT 33 and SAT 34 bring a...
Netpipe’s 3tag, a standalone handheld GNSS surveying solution, has been designed and engineered in Germany to put survey-grade accuracy in the hands of every construction and landscaping site team. ...
Global decentralized positioning network onocoy is bringing a new geodetic-grade reference station to market in partnership with Sixents Technology (Beijing). This signals the continued buildout of th...
Europe's satellite navigation ambitions reached a new milestone on 28 March, as the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the first two satellites of its Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission from New...
Positioning, in its essence, represents the meticulous process of accurately determining the spatial location of an object concerning a specific framework or datum. This fundamental concept of positioning plays an indispensable role in the domains of geography and hydrography, persistently guiding the quest to pinpoint the precise locations of the objects and features we seek to measure and understand.
Depending on the specific application at hand, the framework within which positioning occurs can be either of a global or local nature. When thinking on a global scale, the utilization of advanced techniques like Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) comes into play. In this scenario, the framework for positioning is meticulously defined by geodetic coordinate reference systems, ensuring the utmost accuracy in spatial determinations on a planetary scale.
Conversely, in more localized settings, positioning takes on a distinct character, tailored to the unique demands of specific tasks. For instance, in the realms of construction and engineering, the precision of positioning is paramount, and it's achieved through instruments such as the Total Station, allowing for the highly accurate alignment and placement of structures and infrastructure. Meanwhile, indoor navigation is another intriguing facet of local positioning, where the frameworks are often established within the confines of buildings, where technologies like indoor positioning systems enable precise and efficient navigation.
As we delve deeper into the world of positioning, it becomes evident that this art and science of location determination extends its influence far and wide, offering versatile solutions for diverse applications, all while maintaining an unwavering commitment to spatial accuracy.