Latest Articles

Navigation in your Pocket
GPS

Navigation in your Pocket

In my March editorial I took you along on my adventure with fellow conference participants as we got lost in Prague. Despite having to hand a GPS device, we ended up at the wrong metro station. Ensui...

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Precision GPS Products
GPS

Precision GPS Products

From entrepreneurs to incorporation to becoming publicly traded and now ISO certified, Hemisphere GPS has evolved into a major player in the design and manufacture of precision GPS products. With corp...

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Ambiguity Resolution in the Air
Survey

Ambiguity Resolution in the Air

The need for ambiguity resolution in aerial survey limits aircraft banking angle to a flat turn. It also inhibits flying far from reference stations. Technology is now in place to eliminate these hurd...

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GPS and GIS for the Blind
GIS

GPS and GIS for the Blind

To date the visually impaired have received navigational aid from a wide range of technologies such as tactile maps, tactile graphic displays, acoustic devices, distance measurement by ultrasound or l...

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VRS Two Years On
Survey

VRS Two Years On

In the Insider’s View of November 2006 I wrote about the participation of my firm in a newly established GPS RTN (VRS) network in the Washington, DC-Baltimore metropolitan region (see http://vrs.ke...

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Integrating GNSS and INS
INS

Integrating GNSS and INS

GNSS provides accurate positional information with relatively low integrity, while INS offers position and attitude information subject to drift but with relatively high integrity. Integrating the two...

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Latest news

SOMAG advances airborne data precision with GSM 5000

SOMAG advances airborne data precision with GSM 5000

SOMAG AG Jena unveiled its latest innovation in gyro stabilization technology at Intergeo 2024 with the launch of the GSM 5000. As the successor to the widely used GSM 4000, the new model brings signi...

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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.