Following an independent industry appraisal released this month, the research group Gartner identified Hexagon as the front-runner in the rapidly expanding planetary-intelligence AI arena, highlighting the company’s data-driven edge.

Within that study, the firm’s analysis appears in a recent report on the vendor race in AI that evaluates leadership among providers of Earth-focused insight systems; the write-up places Hexagon ahead of rivals and signals momentum that could accelerate adoption of its ai-enabled technology.

At its core, this field fuses orbital and airborne sensor networks with machine learning to turn vast, multi-source datasets into actionable insights about human and natural activity occurring on, around, and in near-Earth space.

“For us, the nod affirms a commitment to provide clarity powered by AI that helps organizations grasp and manage their environment more effectively,” said Mladen Stojic, Chief Technical Officer at Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial. “While the company evaluates a possible separation of Octave, we will keep untangling complexity, improving efficiency, and supporting customers with digital twins and analytics across the full lifecycle of geospatial operations.”

For additional details, please refer to the corporate site, available at .

Articles

Hexagon Emerges as a Geospatial AI Front-runner

For readers surveying the best GIS masters programs in the world, it helps to note how specialized this graduate landscape has become. Beyond marketing claims, weighing structure, cost, and employment outcomes in a graduate program matters more than ever as the geospatial market keeps expanding; the U.S. labor bureau anticipates roughly a three-tenths increase in roles tied to mapping technologies over the next decade. Professionals aiming to elevate their careers will find the following ten institutions deliver some of the most thorough options in GIS education.

UCLA’s Master of Applied Geospatial Information Systems and Technologies: GIS Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Within a compact plan of study, UCLA’s MAGIST concentrates intensive technical training into 36 units. Seven core courses cover advanced toolsets and methods, and a two-course capstone completes the sequence. Finishing in a single academic year comes to $36,640 in total charges—$981 per unit for $35,386 in tuition, plus $1,254 in campus service fees over three quarters—making budgeting straightforward for a graduate program in information systems.

Regarding timing and admissions, three entry points arrive each year in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Most cohorts begin in the autumn term, with unique application deadlines for each intake. A 3.0 GPA (B average) is the usual threshold, though candidates slightly below may be considered via a Dean’s Special Action review when their background indicates readiness for rigorous coursework in spatial analysis and data science.

University of Maryland’s Dual Online Programs: Online GIS Education Options

According to ’s 2026 list, the University of Maryland earned the second spot among online master’s offerings in GIS and GEOINT. Two distinct academic pathways are available: an MS in Geospatial Information Sciences and a separate MS in Geospatial Intelligence tailored to security-focused roles.

The Geospatial Information Sciences route spans programming, spatial analysis, database management, web development, image processing, and advanced remote sensing, providing students a broad technical base. By contrast, the GEOINT track prepares graduates for national security work with imagery intelligence and artificial intelligence applications, leading to roles across government and private contractors.

As an Esri Innovation Program participant, Maryland supplies ArcGIS access and related resources to graduate students. The MS in GIS can be completed in five quarter-length terms—about 16 months when taking two classes per term—or extended to ten terms (roughly 33 months) for those who prefer a one-course pace, ensuring flexibility in online education.

Penn State’s Customizable Online Master’s Program: Elective-Heavy Academic Program

Designed around choice, Penn State’s online Master of Geographic Information Systems requires only three core classes—GISystem design, spatial data and statistics, and geospatial project management—allowing the rest of the plan to be tailored with electives. Learners can complete certificates in GIS, Geospatial Programming & Web Map Development, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Intelligence, or Geodesign to reach 33–36 credits, or assemble advanced GIS electives before a culminating capstone.

Tuition is $1,007 per credit ($3,021 per class), for an estimated total of $36,252. The department suggests one course per quarter, a cadence that usually spans three years. Program oversight comes from the Department of Geography and an external advisory board of industry experts, and participation in the Esri Innovation Program deepens ties to professional practice in geospatial data and analytics.

Johns Hopkins University’s Geospatial Intelligence Focus: GIS Degree Pathways

Two master’s programs are available at Johns Hopkins through different schools. The Krieger School offers a USGIF-accredited MS in Geospatial Intelligence requiring 40 credits, which most learners finish in roughly 16 to 24 months. Tuition totals $68,412, commonly billed as $17,306 per term across four academic sessions.

The online MS in Geographic Information Systems follows a 10-course structure with three concentration choices: GIS Programming and Application Development, Geospatial Data Science and Predictive Analytics, and Advanced Geospatial Technology. With classes averaging $4,520 each, the program comes to about $54,240, and typical completion ranges from a single year to two.

For early-career candidates in particular, the Johns Hopkins reputation is a strong signal to employers. The Advanced Academic Programs framework emphasizes applied skills alongside theory, from Python-oriented workflows to visualization for spatial decision-making.

University of Southern California’s Accelerated Programs: GIS Courses and Online Education

Through the Spatial Sciences Institute, USC delivers six master’s degrees that can be wrapped up in about 24 months, plus four GIS certificates achievable in close to eight months. Taught by globally recognized faculty, these offerings connect research and theory to hands-on practice with contemporary data sourcing and real-world mapping problems.

The online MS in Geographic Information Science and Technology features three tracks. Spatial Data Management includes spatial databases and remote sensing for GIS; Spatial Computing centers on spatial programming with web and mobile GIS; and Spatial Analytics focuses on cartography and spatial econometrics. Each path concludes with a thesis that synthesizes advanced coursework in geospatial data and analytics.

USC also provides a USGIF-accredited online MS in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence emphasizing risk reduction, disaster response, and threat assessment. Learners study geospatial intelligence tradecraft, project management for technology, and security studies, and both degrees include a fieldwork week at the Wrigley Institute on Catalina Island. Most students complete their chosen degree in approximately 20 months, and USC’s designation as an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence reinforces the program’s alignment with national security needs.

Ohio State University’s NGA-Designated Program: Degree Requirements for Online GIS

Ohio State’s fully online Master of Geographic Information Science and Technology carries recognition from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as a Center for Academic Excellence in Geospatial Sciences—an indicator of leadership in research, technology development, and workforce preparation for GIS graduates.

Structured to support a range of schedules, the MGIST may be finished in four consecutive semesters by full-time learners, while working professionals can opt for a lighter load. Starts in Spring and Autumn facilitate planning, and the curriculum readies students for leadership in GIS analysis, spatial data science, and remote sensing across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

University of Arizona’s Industry-Aligned Curriculum: GIS Curriculum and Elective Design

Among the nation’s largest GIST communities, the University of Arizona has refreshed its graduate programs to match emerging technologies in web, mobile, and open-source ecosystems. The curriculum aligns with the GIST Body of Knowledge from the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, reinforcing a strong bridge between academic rigor and industry needs.

With an estimated program cost near $25,720 for the online MS-GIST, the School of Geography, Development & Environment is cited by the National Academy of Sciences among the country’s top departments. GIS also highlights UAGIST as a leading destination for geospatial study in 2026, making it an appealing option for a master of science focused on geospatial data and visualization.

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Program Status: Academic Program Changes

Once ranked third on this list, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has announced that its Master of Science in Cartography & GIS Development will sunset near the end of 2026. The institution—recognized by Best Colleges among the top 50 nationwide—has long shaped education in geographic information science, and even as this specific degree winds down, its broader impact on the field remains significant.

UC Santa Barbara’s Research-Oriented Approach: Geographic Information Science Leadership

UC Santa Barbara continues to stand out for contributions to geographic information science. Based in Santa Barbara and ranked among the top public universities by Best Colleges, UCSB is well known for research excellence and a curriculum that connects theoretical foundations to applied spatial analysis and problem-solving for complex geographic questions.

Clark University’s Historical Legacy: GIS Courses and Electives

The Graduate School of Geography at Clark University offers a 12-course master’s in GIS. Historically, Clark is the birthplace of one of the world’s most widely adopted GIS platforms, a distinction that filters into classroom practice and research culture.

Four concentration choices are available—Global & Community Health Applications, GIS for Development & Environment, Remote Sensing, and Conservation—so students can align advanced coursework with career goals. That historic connection to the origins of geospatial technology, paired with modern training in analytics and urban planning, helps graduates understand both fundamentals and frontiers.

Career Prospects and Salary Expectations: Analytics and Data Science Outlook

Across the labor market, master’s-level study in GIS is associated with stronger pay trajectories. Early roles such as GIS technician or junior surveyor frequently start around $40,000 per year, while experienced positions move well beyond $90,000, especially for those who manage teams or conduct advanced scientific work with geospatial data.

Certificate holders in the United States often earn near $60,000 on average, and many titles—analyst, developer, project manager, and cartographer—recognize certificates as meaningful preparation. High earners in cartography with a master’s degree can surpass $103,000, and civil engineers who add an online master’s oriented to geographic systems may see top-decile compensation above $144,560. Industry revenue is projected to approach $9.76 billion between 2021 and 2026, propelled by cloud platforms, richer spatial datasets, and growing demand for GIS-enabled analytics.

Making Your Choice: Graduate Students and the Right GIS Degree

Within the United States alone, 116 universities provide master’s-level study in GIS, and more than 957,000 international students choose the country for higher education, supported by roughly 1,403 scholarships. Program lengths commonly run from one to three years, with many schools now supporting virtual delivery for online GIS learners.

Selecting the right fit goes beyond rankings. Think about the plan of study, specialization pathways, cost profile, and delivery format. Some routes concentrate on hard technical skills in Python or ArcGIS; others emphasize research or sector-specific applications. Accreditations such as USGIF approval or Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence status can open specialized doors in GEOINT. In day-to-day practice at organizations like Maptive, GIS professionals transform location data into insight through location-based analysis, and the programs featured here equip graduates to thrive as the field grows more sophisticated.

Best GIS Masters Programs in The World: Geographic Information Science Guide

Across many sectors today, professionals rely on digital platforms such as Geographic Information Systems after evaluating the best drones for GIS mapping, because these tools recast how locations are recorded, studied, and shown to stakeholders. In earlier eras, practitioners leaned on satellite scenes, crewed flights, and boots-on-the-ground surveys; now, compact unmanned aircraft provide richer detail, greater agility, and lower cost for aerial intelligence.

With modern payloads aboard, small aircraft carry advanced sensor packages and high-resolution cameras that capture precise geospatial observations. As a result, GIS applications gain improved accuracy and faster geospatial data collection from UAVs.

Building on this momentum, Sairone from Saiwa blends artificial intelligence with machine learning to automate decisions across farms, greenhouses, and ecological monitoring. When paired with drone technology, Sairone streamlines data acquisition and analysis, helping teams act sooner and with better outcomes.

In the pages that follow, the interplay between drones and GIS takes center stage, covering enabling tech, real-world uses, tangible benefits, and the hurdles that still need thoughtful solutions.

To anchor the discussion, the next section clarifies core concepts and sets up the surveying workflow used throughout the article.

What Is GIS Mapping for Surveying and Mapping?

Far beyond simple cartography, this discipline provides a cohesive way to build, manage, analyze, and display location-based information. The approach supplies context for how places connect and how patterns evolve over time.

At its core, a GIS combines hardware, software, and structured datasets to capture, store, transform, and present geographically referenced content. Information commonly appears as stackable layers, letting analysts compare elevation with land use, population intensity, utilities, or habitat characteristics inside one spatial view.

By interrogating these layers and their relationships, decision-makers uncover spatial trends and hot spots that guide action in many fields. Representations can describe mountains and rivers, but also roads, buildings, pipelines, power corridors, and additional human-made features on the Earth’s surface.

The following building blocks make up a typical geospatial workflow, from first capture to final map products and 3D model outputs.

Best Drones For Gis Mapping: Uav Power For Geographic Information Systems

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Data acquisition comes first: teams gather locations from satellites, conventional aerial sources, drones, ground GPS, LiDAR scans, and even community contributions. Choices depend on needed precision, budget, and the survey objective.

Data storage follows: geodatabases organize geospatial content so it can be retrieved efficiently, edited safely, and maintained at scale for ongoing projects.

Data analysis provides the payoff: spatial operations transform raw inputs into insight, from flood-risk screening to route optimization to habitat distribution modeling.

Data visualization closes the loop: clear maps, charts, and 3D scenes convey complex findings in a form stakeholders can understand and act on.

Drones and GIS: The Drone Mapping Workflow

When combined, drones and GIS form a capable system: UAVs collect high-resolution inputs, and GIS platforms assemble, analyze, and present them with photogrammetry or LiDAR-derived surfaces.

Before takeoff, crews define corridors, heights, forward and side overlap, and safety buffers while considering air regulations, the area of interest, GSD targets, and obstacles. Solid planning reduces risk and speeds fieldwork.

During flight, aircraft carry RGB imagers, multispectral payloads for vegetation indices, thermal sensors for heat signatures, and laser scanners for dense point clouds. Autonomy keeps the aerial vehicle on its programmed course for consistent coverage.

Back at the workstation, imagery and point clouds are aligned to a coordinate reference, then orthorectified and mosaicked into a seamless orthomosaic. Software such as Agisoft Metashape accelerates data processing, enabling clean outputs ready for spatial analysis.

Data Integration Using ArcGIS and Other GIS

Processed layers flow into ArcGIS or similar systems, where they combine with base maps, DEMs, or census attributes to produce a more complete view of the study area.

Analysis and Visualization in Drone Surveying

Within the GIS, practitioners compute areas, distances, slopes, and viewsheds, or generate a 3D model to share results. Visual outputs support concise communication and quicker decision cycles.

The sections below outline the main advantages of pairing unmanned aerial platforms with geospatial analysis for operational gains.

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At very small ground sampling distances, aircraft capture surfaces with centimeter-level clarity, surpassing many satellite and traditional aerial options. That fidelity supports precise measurements, confident feature extraction, and deeper terrain understanding.

Steep slopes, dense canopy, disaster footprints, and protected habitats become reachable from above. By using UAVs, teams reduce costs and expand coverage into locations where ground crews would face delays or hazards.

For compact projects or focused inspections, operating light aircraft can be far more economical than hiring crewed planes. This affordability opens the door to frequent high-resolution updates.

Rapid Deployment and On-Demand Collection

Because mobilization is quick, responders acquire fresh aerial intelligence in time-critical situations such as incident response, active construction, or environmental events, enabling near real-time choices.

By shifting exposure from humans to machines in unstable or contaminated locations, organizations mitigate safety concerns without sacrificing data quality.

Different airframes serve different survey goals; the right choice depends on endurance, maneuverability, and the space to be covered.

Long-range coverage and energy-efficient flight make these airplane-style vehicles ideal for regional mapping, agricultural survey blocks, and linear infrastructure checks, particularly when LiDAR or multispectral payloads must span large corridors.

Excellent hovering, tight maneuvering, and VTOL let quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters document compact sites, complex structures, and close-range inspections with careful positioning. Many DJI systems exemplify this class.

By marrying extended flight with vertical takeoff and landing, hybrid UAVs handle both broad-area passes and pinpoint station-keeping in one sortie, increasing versatility for mixed survey areas.

Adoption spans numerous domains, where aerial inputs reshape daily workflows and inform planning.

Using multispectral or hyperspectral payloads, growers monitor crop vigor, irrigation status, and nutrient issues, then guide variable-rate treatments within precision agriculture programs.

Teams quantify forest loss, observe wildlife, assess damage from spills or storms, track shoreline change, and measure glacier retreat with repeatable aerial campaigns.

Cities benefit from up-to-date 3D cityscapes, urban sprawl tracking, infrastructure siting, traffic assessments, and urban heat island studies based on frequent aerial updates.

Site documentation, as-built verification, structural inspection, and progress tracking become faster and safer, while photogrammetry enables accurate volumetrics and terrain change detection.

Immediately after an event, responders map impacts, outline flood extents, support search efforts, and improve situational awareness through synchronized, high-resolution flights.

Operations measure stockpiles, monitor pits, audit environmental effects, and enhance safety procedures using routine aerial surveys with consistent flight planning.

Researchers chart sites, document historic structures, and create shareable 3D reconstructions while tracking changes to fragile locations over time.

Advantages of Using Drones in GIS Mapping

The comparative strengths below explain why UAV-supported geospatial projects often outperform legacy methods on accuracy, schedule, and budget.

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Combining high-resolution sensors with controlled flight paths yields sharper maps and tighter measurements, elevating confidence in extracted features and elevation models.

Faster Turnarounds and Efficient Workflow

Streamlined capture and automated processing shorten timelines from field to finished products, allowing teams to iterate quickly on survey deliverables.

By keeping crews out of hazardous zones, organizations maintain data quality while minimizing exposure during challenging assignments.

Compared with many crewed-aircraft missions, small-drone surveys can deliver budget-friendly, high-resolution outputs for compact sites and targeted tasks.

Because UAVs can be retasked for different environments and objectives, the same platform supports diverse mapping needs under changing field conditions.

Challenges With Drones in GIS and Mapping

Responsible deployment requires navigating policy, technology limits, and quality controls to ensure reliable geospatial outcomes.

Rules differ by jurisdiction, operation type, and airspace class, so operators must stay current on permissions and procedures to maintain safe, legal flights.

Large imagery sets and dense point clouds demand capable software, solid computing, and disciplined data management practices to sustain throughput.

Limited airtime per pack affects coverage and mission length; careful sortie planning and power strategies help maximize efficiency.

High winds, precipitation, snow, or temperature extremes can ground aircraft or degrade results, making forecast checks and go/no-go criteria essential.

Reliable outputs depend on thoughtful mission design, calibrated sensors, robust georeferencing, and ground control points to validate positional accuracy.

Across disciplines, unmanned aircraft now underpin GIS initiatives with unprecedented detail, flexibility, and accessibility, reshaping how spatial information is gathered and interpreted. As sensors improve, data processing advances, and AI expands automation, the capability envelope widens—despite ongoing constraints around regulation and endurance. Looking ahead, the fusion of UAVs with GIS will keep accelerating informed decisions and revealing new spatial insights.

Note: Certain illustrations featured here were created with AI-based tools.

Best Drones For GIS Mapping: Uav Power For Geographic Information Systems

In a move set to quickly scale output, Echodyne will shortly broaden manufacturing for its advanced radar portfolio to meet rapidly growing global demand.

Echodyne Announces Major New Manufacturing Facility

At a newly planned site totaling 86,350 sq ft, the new facility will give the company room to build and deliver over 30,000 radar units annually. Using a modular, building-block model on the factory floor, output can rise or fall with shifts in demand across product ranges while also enabling rapid rollout of new lines and features. This capital outlay underscores commitments to public safety as uncrewed systems proliferate in combat and civilian settings, to keeping pace with fast-rising orders in the United States and allied nations, and to reinforcing the U.S. defense manufacturing ecosystem.

Radar Technology for C-UAS and BVLOS Missions

Across use cases such as countering uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS), operations conducted past visual range (BVLOS) supporting drone first responders (DFR), protecting forces, securing borders, and mobile on-the-move missions (OTM), organizations are seeking sharper sensing over airspace and ground. At the core of that response, the firm’s patented MESA electronically steered metamaterial array supplies exceptional data quality: precise geolocation, durable track continuity, machine-learning threat classification, and documented, low-latency APIs that simplify incorporation into larger federated architectures—all within a compact, solid-state unit eligible for commercial export.

Echodyne Expands Radar Production at a New Manufacturing Facility

Across measurement-heavy projects worldwide, a new benchmark has arrived: the Emesent GX1 pairs independently verified five‑to‑ten millimeter absolute precision with the pace of portable capture, giving the AEC community and surveying teams proof they can defend.

Drawing on deep robotics research, a next‑generation instrument steps forward; Emesent today introduced GX1, an integrated system combining SLAM with RTK that pushes scanner precision to a new high. For teams who document space at scale, capabilities converge here, uniting the sensing stack and imaging inside one compact unit.

In head‑to‑head checks against legacy methods, verified absolute error stays within five to ten millimeters, unlocking certainty for topographic work and civil builds. On past jobs that consumed entire schedules, the duration can drop by about ninety‑five percent, often compressing into one day of mobile scanning for survey teams.

From capture through quality‑checked outputs, an end‑to‑end package fuses the sensor, an RTK engine, panoramic imagery, and software automation. By uniting these modules, the system carries field‑proven methods into routine surveying, including SLAM technology that thrives in GPS‑denied spaces, and removes the old speed‑versus‑accuracy trade‑off while streamlining the workflow.

Deployment Options: Backpack, Handheld, and Vehicle Mount

Across transportation corridors, sites under development, and BIM creation, teams will find the GX1 straightforward to learn—new surveyors can be productive within days—while seasoned specialists get the headroom they expect for topographic mapping and road work.

To minimize costly revisits, crews get options: backpack rig, pole for surveying, vehicle‑mounted kit, and a supported hand grip, with RTK capture on‑site or control points applied in post — Emesent GX1.

For defensible measurements, teams can rely on repeatable results reaching five‑to‑ten millimeters of absolute accuracy while scanning fast; a client‑focused design with integrated RTK and a proprietary SLAM algorithm underpins this — GX1.

Across some of the harshest underground sites on earth, validation of the algorithm behind Hovermap shows consistent indoor‑outdoor accuracy, even in GPS‑denied conditions where competing SLAM systems often drift — Emesent.

Emesent Gx1 Slam Rtk Scanner Sets a New Standard

Aimed at field crews, a new all-in-one unit arrives from Topcon Positioning Systems: the CR-S1 fuses LiDAR, 360-degree cameras, vision-based SLAM imagers, plus a GNSS receiver antenna into a portable handset.

Anchoring end-to-end operations is a mass-data environment from Topcon called Collage, which serves as the hub for an integrated process across teams and sensors.

Compared with its stablemate, this unit delivers more detail, an extended range of capture, and sharper 360-degree imagery. As part of Topcon offerings, it stands alongside CR-S2 as a higher-performance choice in the Capture Reality portfolio for surveying and construction tasks. Beyond core build sites, teams can apply it to forest analytics and utilities mapping. In addition, overhead line inspection is covered, alongside mining sites, land surveys, and tunnel mapping and modeling.

From the perspective of Ron Oberlander, the top priorities for customers include flexibility and streamlined steps, and the portfolio of scanners and software was built to meet that need through simplified processes, open integrations, and support for mixed fleets; with Collage operating as the central hub for data and combining readings from many sensors, teams gain precise, information-rich results for confident decisions. — Ron Oberlander, head of the Topcon Geomatics Platform

For day-to-day use, MAGNET Flow is available on Android and iOS; desktop processing is handled by MAGNET Bridge, and Collage Web enables browser-based review and sharing.

Topcon Cr-s1 Handheld Scanning System Joins The Capture Reality Portfolio

Following months of cross-continental talks, a wide-ranging accord now links Synspective and Airbus Defence and Space, enabling delivery of synthetic-aperture imaging radar (SAR) services and analytics within a comprehensive radar-information framework.

From a Europe–Japan standpoint, the tie-up stands out as a milestone, weaving Synspective’s high-frequency SAR streams into Airbus’s Earth observation lineup.

Through the new arrangement, additional capacity becomes available to Airbus from Synspective’s growing StriX fleet, augmenting the company’s current radar lineup of TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X with wider scenes and denser tasking.

Thanks to inclined trajectories, observers gain markedly better visibility, especially across equatorial regions that underpin maritime safety, resource stewardship, and time‑critical logistics.

In parallel, the approach meshes with PAZ, reinforcing Airbus’s broader radar portfolio.

Notable Advantages for the SAR Constellation

Below are the principal benefits customers can expect from the combined SAR capabilities.

Finer detail and broader footprints — clients of Airbus can tap Synspective imagery at resolutions as fine as 25 centimeters, captured in familiar modes such as Staring Spotlight and Stripmap.

Continuity regardless of clouds or night — SAR sensing cuts through smoke, overcast, and darkness to deliver information for public safety and disaster response in all conditions.

Starting in 2028, Synspective targets a fleet exceeding thirty satellites, creating a resilient, high‑cadence stream of observations with short revisit intervals for dynamic monitoring and information advantage.

Beyond raw imagery, the companies intend to co‑develop capabilities and co‑build offerings, pursuing co‑creation that addresses evolving needs across Europe and worldwide markets.

Synspective Sar Partnership With Airbus Defence And Space

For teams racing the clock, a carry‑on‑ready camera–laser package streamlines fieldwork and setup, then gets to work fast as a photo‑capture and laser‑scanning system for airborne mapping and related tasks.

Announced this season, a new platform unites optical capture with laser ranging in one unit. From Leica Geosystems, the Leica MultiMapper arrives as a compact hybrid platform for use aloft, fitting helicopters of many sizes and small fixed‑wing planes, and supplying crisp datasets for a wide mix of mapping applications.

Leica MultiMapper: Ready Fast and Built for Flexible Operations

For crews seeking minimal hassle, the sensor stays portable at under 25 kg, easy to carry, ship, and mount. Flights with just the pilot are feasible, trimming mission complexity. The nimble package enables same‑day mobilize–fly–pack‑down cycles, so teams can reach remote zones and tackle difficult conditions without delay—ideal for airborne mapping teams.

Drawing on years of integrated flight‑survey work, the platform merges a multi‑angle camera—oblique and nadir viewpoints—with a dense LiDAR in a single mount. Photos and LiDAR data are captured together, unlocking uses that span digital city twins, linear‑route surveys, infrastructure inspections, and after‑incident analysis. This integrated data collection shortens missions.

From planning to delivery, a streamlined workflow backs the system end to end. On a tablet, the Leica AirPro FIELD app lets crews manage sensors while airborne, adjust mission profiles, and check flight metrics on the spot, which builds trust in results and sustains efficiency throughout each sortie.

“According to Werner Kirchhofer, refining ten years of know‑how in hybrid imaging and LiDAR into a carry‑anywhere form factor reshapes how aerial mapping can be launched and scaled. Quicker, more adaptable execution across varied tasks, he added, broadens access for newcomers while enabling long‑time customers to grow capabilities and extend their service portfolios.” — Werner Kirchhofer, VP of Product Development, Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon), Scanning & Mapping Division

Hybrid Airborne Mapping With Imaging And Lidar

With a focus on production pipelines, the company has added full compatibility for the Phase One iXM‑FS130 sensor inside Correlator3D, its photogrammetry suite from SimActive.

Sub-Centimeter Aerial Imaging and Verified 1 cm GSD

For field teams focused on precision work, the combined setup handles imagery below one centimeter per pixel without trading off pace or precision. Engineered for fixed‑wing sorties, the camera records scenes at a verified 1 cm ground‑sampling distance, and the model—Phase One’s iXM‑FS130—suits long‑leg survey flights.

Workflow Gains With Correlator3D and Photogrammetry

Across the processing pipeline, high‑resolution collections move effortlessly, and inside Correlator3D rigorous block adjustment builds 3D point sets, dense surface representations, and orthomosaics fit for demanding engineering and survey tasks. This approach scales to large data volumes while preserving visual fidelity end to end.

As Louis Simard noted, the pairing lets customers extract the full benefit of the iXM‑FS130’s optics within a resilient, scalable processing stack, delivering exceptional detail and streamlined throughput for ultra‑detailed aerial mapping.

Simactive Backs Phase One Ixm-fs130 For Aerial Mapping

A fortnight out, on 4–5 March at ExCeL London, the continent’s flagship gathering for the space sector—Space-Comm Expo Europe—opens its doors.

Across two packed days, the gathering expects upwards of 5,400 participants, plus 250 exhibiting organizations and 200 on‑stage voices representing 50 nations, with unmatched access to public‑ and private‑sector leaders and demonstrations of frontier space technology. Following a landmark heavy‑lift mission achieved only days ago, momentum builds to accelerate ambitions for the region’s next era in orbit, highlighted by Ariane 6.

With its sixth edition now approaching, this award‑winning gathering has become the continent’s reference point. Situated in a city that anchors diplomacy, business, and finance, London offers an ideal platform for relationship‑building, collaboration, and growth across the wider aerospace community.

Keynote Perspectives and International Space

Among the year’s standouts, this forum uniquely unites experts from across sectors—industry, government, and science—and is, in my view, the place to be. — Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General, European Space Agency

Against a shifting geopolitical backdrop, orbital capabilities now sit at the core of security and resilience for the UK and Europe. For the UK economy, the sector contributes £18.6 billion; ESA’s 2026–28 programmatic budget totals €22.1 billion; and by 2030, analysts foresee the global space market approaching $1 trillion.

Space and Defense: Assets, Data, and 2026 Outlook

At this moment in time, an industrial‑scale shift is reshaping orbit: dual‑use satellite data and technology are spreading rapidly across military and civilian applications, while launch capacity, mega‑constellations, and on‑orbit infrastructure are expanding at breakneck pace; SpaceX’s Starship is a major catalyst. For the industry and its backers, the combination recently announced between SpaceX and xAI will be seismic, echoing Seraphim’s view that AI, climate, defense, and connectivity are converging above Earth. Crucially for the ecosystem, the show convenes public and private leaders to spark collaboration and channel investment that can unlock the UK and European opportunity. — Will Whitehorn OBE, Executive Chair, Space‑Comm Expo; Chair, Seraphim

Program Highlights: National Security, Keynotes, and Meet the Buyer

Taking the spotlight are representatives from leading agencies and institutions—including NASA, ESA, the UN, NATO, and the UK Space Agency—alongside entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, astronauts, academics, and defense voices. Attendance at the show floor is free, while ticketed access is available for the Conference and curated networking; highlights span an international Government & VIP Programme, a Defence and state‑level security summit, and symposia on investment, insurance, and international space law.

Across two days, four theatres host keynotes, panels, and briefings; buyers and suppliers connect through a dedicated meet‑the‑buyer program, with technology showcases and networking throughout.

Sponsors and exhibiting organizations span aerospace, finance, legal, and advanced satcom services.

Global aerospace manufacturing and services — Airbus

Maritime, aviation, and nuclear support engineering — Babcock

Mission‑critical defense and security engineering — BAE Systems

Banking and capital solutions for innovation — Barclays

Legal advisory for aerospace and defense — DLA Piper

Launch services and orbital logistics — D‑Orbit

Enterprise training and simulation software — DiSTI

Immigration and global mobility counsel — Fragomen

Earth observation analytics, methane detection — GHGSat

Secure mission systems and defense integration — Lockheed Martin

Prime spacecraft integrator and satellite solutions — OHB

Strategy, digital, and operations consultancy — PA Consulting

Risk transfer and specialty coverage — Relm Insurance

Systems integration and public‑service delivery — Serco

UK launch vehicle development — Skyrora

Advanced RF and antenna technology — Sofant

Space domain awareness and logistics community — Space Logistics Network

Satellite services and geoinformation — Telespazio

Heritage Geospatial Symposium in York by Riegl UK

What to Expect at the Heritage Geospatial Symposium

RIEGL UK: How to Join and Attend

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