

Elevating knowledge: read our in-depth features

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...

What is the current state of GNSS, from both a constellation, augmentation and receiver perspective? Spoiler alert: it is more of an evolution than a revolution! It is almost impossible to imagine geo...

'GIM International' spoke to Blickfeld, a developer of Lidar sensors and software, to hear about other potentially relevant applications in smart cities, besides for autonomous driving. Despite the n...

Read this interview with Topcon's Ulrich Hermanski for his views on the current status of the surveying profession, the key advances and the future role of surveyors. Since graduating in Geomatics Eng...

RIEGL tested the performance of its topobathymetric airborne laser scanning system in a transition zone context along the French Mediterranean coast. Initially planned as a UAV survey, tests were cond...

GNSS… it’s almost impossible to run a modern geo-related business without it. But what if a problem should occur? Whether in navigation, surveying or even agriculture, countless activities almost ...
Marking a further step in BDStar Navigation’s expansion into international high-precision positioning markets, subsidiary TruePoint has introduced its TruePoint.CM network real-time kinematic (NRTK)...
Quantum Systems has strengthened its position in AI-driven uncrewed systems by bringing Spleenlab’s VISIONAIRY AI suite and edge-perception expertise directly under its roof in a full acquisition. Q...
Emlid has introduced a new generation of all-band RTK receivers including the Reach RX2, Reach RS4 and Reach RS4 Pro. They are built for surveyors, GIS specialists and construction teams seeking relia...
Topcon Positioning Systems has unveiled a dedicated business structure to advance high-precision technology, software and services for geomatics. The new organization consolidates and expands Topcon's...
Inertial Labs is integrating its industry-recognized IMU-P modules with Javad’s advanced OEM GNSS receivers. This strategic collaboration delivers a next-generation GNSS+INS platform designed to ach...
Advanced Navigation has successfully demonstrated a hybrid solution for long endurance GNSS-denied navigation, proving that a software-fused inertial-centred architecture is the defining standard for ...
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.