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		<title>GPS World EAB Q&#038;A: Which emerging sectors are driving the most demand for advanced PNT?</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/march-april-2026-gps-world-eab-pnt-qa/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/march-april-2026-gps-world-eab-pnt-qa/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jesse Khalil]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:39:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[0326]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[0426]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autonomy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital edition]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[oneNav]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Septentrio]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>We asked our Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) which emerging sectors are driving the most demand for advanced positioning and timing solutions right now?</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/march-april-2026-gps-world-eab-pnt-qa/">GPS World EAB Q&amp;A: Which emerging sectors are driving the most demand for advanced PNT?</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>We asked our <strong><a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/editorial-advisory-board/" data-type="post_tag" data-id="12771" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Editorial Advisory Board</a></strong> (EAB) which emerging sectors are driving the most demand for advanced positioning and timing solutions right now? </p>



<p>Find their responses below.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Paul McBurney, <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/onenav/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="40673" rel="noreferrer noopener">oneNav</a></strong></h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="216" height="216" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/paul-mcburney-216.jpg" alt="Paul McBurney" class="wp-image-114203" style="width:148px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/paul-mcburney-216.jpg 216w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/paul-mcburney-216-210x210.jpg 210w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/paul-mcburney-216-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px" /></figure>



<p>“The <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/defense-2/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="829" rel="noreferrer noopener">defense</a> sector needs an off-the-shelf GNSS module that is small, light and low power, yet also highly resilient — such as a military-grade location system — to satisfy the insatiable growth in drones. While this segment is about a tenth of the total commercial vehicle market, it is significant compared to the emerging autonomous driving segment, where the need for resilience is still trying to figure out the cost-benefit of mitigating intentional interference.”</p>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Jules McNeff, <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/overlook-systems-technologies/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="9193" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overlook Systems Technologies</a></strong></h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="200" height="269" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jules-McNeff-200px.jpg" alt="Photo: Jules McNeff" class="wp-image-113161" style="aspect-ratio:0.7435294117647059;width:142px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jules-McNeff-200px.jpg 200w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jules-McNeff-200px-156x210.jpg 156w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jules-McNeff-200px-74x100.jpg 74w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></figure>



<p>“If I had to pick newly emergent sectors with the highest need for precise and continuous PNT, I would say the autonomous system operations sector and portion of the <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="5537" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> (AI) sector. AI cannot provide spatially or temporally ‘intelligent’ support if it does not have access to precise positioning and timing information from outside itself. PNT sources do not depend on AI, but ‘autonomous’ AI must have reliable PNT.</p>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">MigueL Amor, <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/septentrio/">Septentrio</a></h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="200" height="248" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Miguel-Amor-Hexagon-EAB-W.jpg" alt="Miguel Armor" class="wp-image-68920" style="aspect-ratio:0.8065317713880015;width:143px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Miguel-Amor-Hexagon-EAB-W.jpg 200w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Miguel-Amor-Hexagon-EAB-W-169x210.jpg 169w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></figure>



<p>&#8220;The primary driver is the broad adoption of <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/autonomy/" data-type="post_tag" data-id="6656" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autonomy</a> and automation across industries such as construction, logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, defense, or even entertainment. Amplifying this demand is the proliferation of smaller and lighter UAVs, drones and robots. Where a single manned platform once required one navigation system, a drone swarm may require hundreds or thousands of units. It is the combination of these two forces, adopting autonomy and automation and multiplying platforms, that is driving demand growth.&#8221;</p>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Mitch Narins, <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/strategic-synergies/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="6106" rel="noreferrer noopener">Strategic Synergies</a></h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="216" height="288" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/C4E964FC-D5F2-4265-8DC0-76F17A46DCAE_4_5005_c.jpeg" alt="Mitch Narins" class="wp-image-89411" style="width:144px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p>For many, the meaning of advanced positioning and timing solutions equates to solutions that provide higher accuracy and precision. For me, achieving an advanced PNT solution must require equal focus on the other PNT metrics — availability, integrity, continuity and coverage. Given the tumultuous state of the world these days, there is an emerging demand for solutions that enable resilient PNT in the defense sector, the commercial aviation and maritime sectors, in telecommunications and in power</p>



<p></p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/march-april-2026-gps-world-eab-pnt-qa/">GPS World EAB Q&amp;A: Which emerging sectors are driving the most demand for advanced PNT?</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Peak XV: The framework that measured Mount Everest</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/peak-xv-the-framework-that-measured-mount-everest/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/peak-xv-the-framework-that-measured-mount-everest/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[RJ Simon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:30:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Survey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research & Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[0326]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[0426]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital edition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mount Everest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nepal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[surveying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[topographic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115031</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Surveying and mapping are jobs of courage and determination exploring the unknown, risking death in malaria-infested jungles, Everest working while stricken with partial paralysis, Abdul Hamid crossing a forbidden border, and Gautam’s predawn climb. They all understood what mattered was worth the risk. It is the surveyor’s call to arms: measure the Earth.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/peak-xv-the-framework-that-measured-mount-everest/">Peak XV: The framework that measured Mount Everest</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>A ceiling fan slowly churned, stirring the hot, humid air. Outside, warm rains pelted the muddy streets as distant langurs whooped in the thick jungle mists below.</p>



<p>An incessant fly caught the attention of the office’s lone occupant, hunched over a table covered with a large grid-lined sheet of paper. Pencils, erasers, French curves and straightedges lay scattered next to a stack of calculation sheets, but the man holding a pencil in one hand gripped a rolled newspaper in the other, intent on his battle with the fly.</p>



<p>Suddenly, the door burst open.</p>



<p>“Mr. Waugh!” the intruder exclaimed, panting as he rushed in.</p>



<p>“Radhanath,” Waugh replied in surprise, looking up from his maps. “I thought you were in Calcutta, 1,600 km away.”</p>



<p>“Yes, Mr. Waugh, I was, but this is too important to deliver by post.”</p>



<p>“Really, Radhanath. You intrigue me,” replied Waugh. “Come out with it. Your excitement is adding to this already unbearable heat.”</p>



<p>“Sir,” Radhanath tried to say calmly. “I have discovered the highest mountain in the world!”</p>



<p>That conversation happened in 1852. It was the crown jewel of an effort that began 50 years earlier. Britain was on the ascent. <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/surveying/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="1386" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surveying</a> was the mathematics of empire. <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/india/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="855" rel="noreferrer noopener">India</a>, Britain’s largest protectorate, had never been systematically mapped. The British East India Company needed to know what minerals, crops and commodities could be turned into profitable enterprises, where they were, and how to move them to ports. This depended on accurately mapping India. Infantry officer William Lambton proposed an audacious solution: measure the entire subcontinent with triangles.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="500" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px.webp" alt="William Lambton" class="wp-image-115032" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px.webp 500w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px-210x210.webp 210w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px-370x370.webp 370w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px-100x100.webp 100w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/william-lambton-500px-250x250.webp 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">William Lambton</figcaption></figure>



<p>Lambton was granted the commission, and on April 10, 1802, the Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) of India began with a humble but critical baseline from St. Thomas Mount near Madras, 12 km south to Perumbauk Hill. Everything depended on the accuracy of this first baseline: even the smallest error would multiply as triangles spread across the subcontinent. Perfection was essential. The distance was measured with a 100-ft steel chain protected from the sun beneath A-frame tents to prevent thermal expansion. It moved slowly, 100 ft at a time from start to finish. Every link mattered. The baseline took 57 days.</p>



<p>To guarantee perfect alignment, Lambton relied on a massive custom-built theodolite. It weighed 1,102 lbs, requiring 12 men to carry. <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/surveyor/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="3314" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surveyors</a> planted stakes, stretched strings, and used the theodolite to correct for every change in elevation, turning a simple chain measurement into the geodetic foundation of the entire survey.</p>



<p>Time marched on faster than the survey. The East India Company estimated five years, but by 1818, the survey reached west to Mangalore and north to Hinganghat. It was too slow. Lambton’s vision of “an uninterrupted series of triangles…from sea to sea…to an unlimited extent in every other direction,” a complete geometric quilt covering India, proved implausible. Malaria took its toll. Lambton’s health declined and in 1823 he died at Hinganghat. George Everest inherited the survey.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="854" height="364" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426.webp" alt="The map of triangles covered Madras to Mangalore." class="wp-image-115034" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426.webp 854w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426-300x128.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426-245x104.webp 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426-768x327.webp 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-triangles-GPS0426-235x100.webp 235w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The map of triangles covered Madras to Mangalore.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="500" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px.webp" alt="George Everest" class="wp-image-115035" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px.webp 500w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px-210x210.webp 210w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px-370x370.webp 370w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px-100x100.webp 100w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/george-everest-500px-250x250.webp 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George Everest</figcaption></figure>



<p>Everest recognized Lambton’s dream of total coverage would take centuries. Instead, he conceived a “gridiron” of chains running north–south and east–west, intersecting at right angles, scaffolding to which localized surveys could be tied. The shift is evident on the GTS map: dense triangulation in south-central India reflects Lambton’s ambition, while the more open, structural network elsewhere reveals Everest’s pragmatism.</p>



<p>By the 1830s, Everest’s survey party had grown into slow-moving caravans, reaching as many as 1,000 people at peak times. Contemporary accounts describe columns supported by elephants, horses and camels, with hundreds of porters carrying tents, instruments and provisions. The <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/logistics/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="2326" rel="noreferrer noopener">logistics </a>were immense: scouts rode ahead to negotiate passage with villages, reapers with scythes gathered grass for the animals, hunters supplied fresh meat and a traveling treasury paid workers and suppliers. To villagers, an approaching column appeared like a military invasion. Negotiations for assistance and safe passage could halt the survey for days.</p>



<p>The survey’s path was relentless. The Great Arc bisected India along the 78th meridian, from Cape Comorin to Bangalore, across the Deccan Plateau, through Hyderabad, over the northern plains to Dehra Dun at the Himalayan foothills. They didn’t simply pass through. They stayed. Sometimes for weeks, building 50 ft masonry towers to mount the theodolites.</p>



<p>When daytime heat and haze made measurements impossible, Everest shifted to night surveying using powerful lanterns visible from 30 miles away. They constantly adapted due to temperature, atmospheric refraction, verification baselines measured at the chain ends. Every measurement propagated from that first line at Madras; a minor error would compound over thousands of miles.</p>



<p>The price was paid in lives. Malaria wiped out entire parties. Three officers died in the Terai, the malarial lowlands of northern India. Two more retired, health-shattered. Everest himself contracted malaria repeatedly, suffering partial paralysis. The climate, he wrote, was “very deadly.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="500" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px.webp" alt="Andrew Waugh" class="wp-image-115036" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px.webp 500w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px-210x210.webp 210w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px-370x370.webp 370w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px-100x100.webp 100w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/andrew-waugh-500px-250x250.webp 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrew Waugh</figcaption></figure>



<p>The survey transformed the land. To achieve clear sight lines, villages were razed, sacred hills appropriated, and community supplies exhausted. Yet the work continued. In December 1841, almost 40 years since the GTS began, the 1,500-mile Great Arc was complete. The spine was in place. Everest retired in 1843, passing the work to Andrew Scott Waugh, who extended the gridiron eastward. Nepal and Tibet were closed to outsiders. Waugh understood the distant Himalayan peaks, more than a hundred miles away, would have to be measured from the border stations anchored to the GTS framework. Accuracy became even more critical. This shift in focus from Everest’s large sprawling triangles inching north like a spider’s web forming the Great Arc, to Waugh’s tight triangles hugging the Himalayan frontier is visible on the GTS map.</p>



<p>Over the next decade, Waugh’s teams pushed eastward through the jungles of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, verifying baselines, fixing latitudes and longitudes astronomically, establishing stations that brought the peaks within mathematical reach. Along the entire border, surveyors recorded the peaks. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="840" height="446" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey.webp" alt="Close-up of the border survey stations used to observe Peak XV. (Credit: Royal Geographical Society)" class="wp-image-115037" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey.webp 840w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey-300x159.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey-245x130.webp 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey-768x408.webp 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey-697x370.webp 697w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/mt-everest-border-survey-188x100.webp 188w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Close-up of the border survey stations used to observe Peak XV. (Credit: Royal Geographical Society)</figcaption></figure>



<p>To measure Peak XV, six observation stations were selected across the Terai, the deadly malarial lowlands chosen for the clear site lines to the summit. From these stations, surveyors recorded azimuth and elevation angles across multiple seasons. They measured the summit at sunrise, when the peak was first illuminated. None of the surveyors knew the height of the mountains they were observing because distance could not be measured directly. Only when all stations were plotted on a map could the peak’s position be fixed and the elevation calculated. This high-level mathematics fell to the human computers in Calcutta, led by Radhanath Sikdar.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="500" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px.webp" alt="Radhanath Sikdar" class="wp-image-115038" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px.webp 500w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px-210x210.webp 210w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px-370x370.webp 370w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px-100x100.webp 100w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Radhanath-Sikdar-500px-250x250.webp 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Radhanath Sikdar</figcaption></figure>



<p>By 1851, Sikdar had risen to chief computer, directing the department that transformed field observations into verified measurements. The 1851 Survey Manual acknowledged his distinction: “Babu Radhanath Sickdar, the distinguished head of the Computing Department…whose intimate acquaintance with the rigorous forms and mode of procedure&#8230;render his aid particularly valuable.” Yet, neither his education nor his geodetic calculation training prepared him for the complexities of the Himalaya problem. Nonetheless, he took the raw observations and calculated the mountains’ heights to determine which, if any, of the distant peaks was truly the highest point on Earth.</p>



<p>Sikdar calculated the height of each of the peaks. There were many. It was slow, meticulous work. Peak XV required more than standard calculation. Six observation stations produced six independent height measurements, each requiring corrections for atmospheric refraction (light bending through air layers of varying density and temperature), Earth’s curvature (the summit was more than 100 miles away), and plumb-line deviation (the Himalayas’ mass pulled survey instruments slightly toward the mountains).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="468" height="304" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/peakXV-stations.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-115039" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/peakXV-stations.webp 468w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/peakXV-stations-300x195.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/peakXV-stations-245x159.webp 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/peakXV-stations-154x100.webp 154w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px" /></figure>



<p>Sikdar applied the Method of Least Squares, a statistical technique for extracting the most probable value from multiple observations. Each station’s measurement carried uncertainty; combining all six through rigorous mathematics yielded a more reliable result.</p>



<p>The calculation took months. When Sikdar finished, he was stunned: exactly 29,000 ft recalculated and received the same result. The precision seemed too perfect. Sikdar knew the stakes. This wasn’t just another mountain. His calculations were correct. Peak XV was the highest point in the world, Chomolungma, meaning the goddess mother of the Earth. Such a discovery demanded the honor of delivering the news in person.</p>



<p>In April 1852, Sikdar traveled 1,600 km from Calcutta to Dehra Dun. The journey took weeks. He carried the calculations in his satchel and the announcement in his mind.</p>



<p>When Sikdar burst into Waugh’s office with the news, Waugh worried that exactly 29,000 ft (8,830 m) would make surveyors appear to have simply rounded. 2 ft were added, a small fiction to preserve credibility. The official height for Peak XV became 29,002 ft.</p>



<p>Waugh spent four years verifying before the official announcement in March 1856. The mathematics were sound from the moment Sikdar burst into that office. Then, 20 years later, the 1875 Survey Manual erased Sikdar’s name entirely. The British press called it “robbery of the dead.”</p>



<p>Sikdar’s calculations have stood the test of time. The 1954 Survey of India measurement, 102 years later, yielded 29,028 ft, a minimal difference. In 1999, GPS technology placed a receiver on Everest’s summit for the first time: 29,035 ft. The 2015 earthquake prompted the most comprehensive measurement yet.</p>



<p>On May 22, 2019, at 3 a.m., Nepali surveyor Khimlal Gautam departed Everest’s South Col for the 10-hour climb carrying 90 lbs (41kg) of equipment. The pre-dawn timing avoided crowds: the weight included a Trimble R10 GNSS receiver and ground-penetrating radar to distinguish rock height from snow depth. Eight continuously operating reference stations (CORS) were positioned across Nepal to receive signals from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou. Chinese surveyors simultaneously measured from the north.</p>



<p>Gautam spent hours on the summit, collecting data while his body slowly consumed itself in the death zone. He lost a toe to frostbite. A team member nearly died from oxygen depletion. Gautam understood, “Mount Everest symbolizes something in Nepal, but it’s not only a Nepal asset, it’s a world asset.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="340" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-trigonometrical-survey.webp" alt="The map of the Great Trigonometrical Survey. (Credit: Survey of India, via David Rumsey Collection)" class="wp-image-115040" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-trigonometrical-survey.webp 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-trigonometrical-survey-300x170.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-trigonometrical-survey-245x139.webp 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/map-of-trigonometrical-survey-176x100.webp 176w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The map of the Great Trigonometrical Survey. (Credit: Survey of India, via David Rumsey Collection)</figcaption></figure>



<p>On Dec. 8, 2020, <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/nepal/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="3022" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nepal</a> and <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/china/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="434" rel="noreferrer noopener">China</a> jointly announced their result, agreeing for the first time the height was 29,031.69 ft. Sikdar’s error across 168 years was 31.69 ft, an accuracy of 0.11%.</p>



<p>From that moment in Dehra Dun, Sikdar, dusty from the road, calculations in hand, certainty in his voice, we trace backward through 50 years of framework building to understand what made that measurement possible. Peak XV, hidden in plain view, seen for hundreds of miles, refusing to be known, was finally measured.</p>



<p>Once we have measured it, we want to believe we know it, but the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates continue to collide, pushing the mountain up four millimeters per year. Earthquakes in the region change the <a href="https://www.gpsworld.com/tag/topography/" target="_blank" data-type="post_tag" data-id="7735" rel="noreferrer noopener">topography</a>. The geoid problem persists: What does “sea level” mean 440 miles from the coast in a gravitationally dense region? Modern surveyors still grapple with the fundamental question: What does “height” mean when measured against a theoretical reference surface?</p>



<p>The Great Trigonometric Survey proved that surveyors could measure what they couldn’t touch, calculate what they couldn’t reach, and verify what they couldn’t see. It required building the geodetic infrastructure across a subcontinent, maintaining mathematical precision across decades, and accepting brutal human costs.</p>



<p>Then, the computer was a man. The information was in his satchel. The message was delivered in person. It was the first time the height of the highest known point was determined not by a physical barometer on a summit, but by mathematics alone, a man solving equations in a room 440 miles away. Sikdar proved the impossible: What couldn’t be touched could be measured, what couldn’t be reached could be calculated, and a man dusty from the road could hold the height of the world in the palm of his hand.</p>



<p>Four names for one mountain. Each represents a different understanding. Its ancient name, Chomolungma, and Sagarmatha, its national identity. Peak XV, its cartographic name marking the audacious attempt to measure it, and the name Mount Everest, the crowning achievement, a proclamation honoring mathematics, from Hipparchus who is credited with developing trigonometry to the computers, like Sikdar. It stands as a monument to all the surveying and cartography, especially of the 19th century accomplishing the impossible against extraordinary odds.</p>



<p>Surveying and mapping are jobs of courage and determination exploring the unknown, risking death in malaria-infested jungles, Everest working while stricken with partial paralysis, Abdul Hamid crossing a forbidden border, and Gautam’s predawn climb. They all understood what mattered was worth the risk. It is the surveyor’s call to arms: measure the Earth.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/peak-xv-the-framework-that-measured-mount-everest/">Peak XV: The framework that measured Mount Everest</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>Lockheed Martin launches GPS III satellite</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/lockheed-martin-launches-gps-iii-satellite/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/lockheed-martin-launches-gps-iii-satellite/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jesse Khalil]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:20:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[GNSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GPS III]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lockheed Martin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Space Force]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115066</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The final GPS III satellite delivers major upgrades in constellation resilience and accuracy, including a crosslink demonstration payload.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/lockheed-martin-launches-gps-iii-satellite/">Lockheed Martin launches GPS III satellite</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 10 (SV10) on April 21, marking the final satellite in the GPS III series and bringing the GPS constellation to its largest size to date.</p>



<p>Signal acquisition was achieved shortly after launch. The spacecraft is being managed at Lockheed Martin’s Denver-based launch and checkout operations center while it undergoes initial testing before integration into the operational network.</p>



<p>SV10 includes enhancements designed to improve the accuracy and resiliency of the constellation. Among its payloads is an optical crosslink demonstration designed to test direct satellite-to-satellite communication in orbit, a capability intended to strengthen system robustness.</p>



<p>The launch represents the fourth consecutive GPS mission conducted on an accelerated schedule.</p>



<p>GPS III satellites provide improved performance over earlier generations, including increased positioning accuracy, stronger resistance to jamming, and the addition of secure M-code signals for military users. The constellation supports positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services for military, civil and commercial applications worldwide.</p>



<p>SV10 also carries a demonstration digital rubidium atomic frequency standard, an advanced clock designed to improve onboard timekeeping precision.</p>



<p>The deployment of SV10 concludes the GPS III series and precedes the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites. The upcoming series is expected to introduce additional capabilities, including enhanced anti-jamming features such as Regional Military Protection.</p>



<p>More than 30 GPS satellites are currently in orbit, providing global PNT services to billions of users across defense, infrastructure and commercial sectors.</p>



<p></p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/lockheed-martin-launches-gps-iii-satellite/">Lockheed Martin launches GPS III satellite</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>UK scientists unite to map southwest coast seabed</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/uk-scientists-unite-to-map-southwest-coast-seabed/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/uk-scientists-unite-to-map-southwest-coast-seabed/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:12:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Space & Earth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maritime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ocean mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seabed survey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UK Centre for Seabed Mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United Kingdom]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115061</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (UK CSM) will undertake a seabed mapping survey – CSM2026 – to explore and map the seabed along the UK’s southwest coastline. The research survey takes place between April 20 and May 19. It consists of two survey legs, starting in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and ending in Falmouth, Cornwall. Throughout [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/uk-scientists-unite-to-map-southwest-coast-seabed/">UK scientists unite to map southwest coast seabed</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The <a href="https://www.admiralty.co.uk/uk-centre-for-seabed-mapping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (UK CSM)</a> will undertake a seabed mapping survey – CSM2026 – to explore and map the seabed along the UK’s southwest coastline.</p>



<p>The research survey takes place between April 20 and May 19. It consists of two survey legs, starting in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and ending in Falmouth, Cornwall. Throughout the four-week survey, using cutting‑edge survey technology deployed from the Research Vessel Cefas Endeavour, a team of 26 scientists from across the field of maritime research began collecting vital hydrographic, geological and environmental data when they set sail from Lowestoft next week.</p>



<p>The survey represents an unprecedented level of collaboration within the maritime sector. By combining skills and capabilities in a single survey, the team aim to secure data to deliver the UK government’s commitments and make advances in how the seabed is mapped, understood and managed.</p>



<p>UK CSM includes more than 30 public sector organizations commited to collect and share high-quality marine data. For the coastline mapping project, the 11 involved are the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA); the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO); British Geological Survey (BGS); Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas); Department for Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs (Defra), The Crown Estate; Historic England; Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC); Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland (AFBI); Natural England and the Royal Navy.</p>



<p>Over the course of the survey, the scientists on board will have the opportunity to work with experts from other public sector organizations, share skills, and source key seabed mapping data that supports a wide range of applications including offshore energy and infrastructure, marine ecosystem science, safety at sea, marine policy, and defense.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/uk-scientists-unite-to-map-southwest-coast-seabed/">UK scientists unite to map southwest coast seabed</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>CHCNAV launches AlphaAir 6 long-range airborne lidar for UAV mapping</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/chcnav-launches-alphaair-6-long-range-airborne-lidar-for-uav-mapping/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/chcnav-launches-alphaair-6-long-range-airborne-lidar-for-uav-mapping/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Applications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Autonomous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lidar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Survey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AlphaAir 6]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHC Navigation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IMU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inertial navigation system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lidar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAV mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAV surveying]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115027</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) has released the AlphaAir 6, a flagship airborne lidar system designed for UAV-based laser scanning, drone lidar mapping, and aerial surveying in high-relief and complex terrain. Combining prism scanning technology with a high-grade inertial navigation system (INS), the AlphaAir 6 delivers a maximum ranging capability of up to 2,100 meters and supports [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/chcnav-launches-alphaair-6-long-range-airborne-lidar-for-uav-mapping/">CHCNAV launches AlphaAir 6 long-range airborne lidar for UAV mapping</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) has released the <a href="https://geospatial.chcnav.com/products/chcnav-alphaair-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AlphaAir 6</a>, a flagship airborne lidar system designed for UAV-based laser scanning, drone lidar mapping, and aerial surveying in high-relief and complex terrain. </p>



<p>Combining prism scanning technology with a high-grade inertial navigation system (INS), the AlphaAir 6 delivers a maximum ranging capability of up to 2,100 meters and supports efficient data capture at typical flight altitudes of 400 to 600 meters above ground level.</p>



<p>The AlphaAir 6 integrates an upgraded laser engine and a high-grade IMU with 0.3°/h bias stability to improve trajectory accuracy and point cloud quality. This design removes the need for pre-mission IMU calibration and supports stable, efficient data collection for topographic mapping, corridor mapping, and wide-area aerial survey workflows.</p>



<p>The AlphaAir 6 combines fifth-generation real-time waveform processing with advanced multi-period technology to capture richer, denser, and more precise lidar data across complex terrain, vegetation, and built environments. According to CHCNAV, even at an ultra-high pulse repetition rate of 2,000,000 pulses per second, it continues to support real-time point cloud output, giving operators immediate in-flight visibility and a faster path to survey-grade 3D results.</p>



<p>To meet different project requirements, the AlphaAir 6 is available in single-camera and dual-camera configurations. Both options use large-format CMOS sensors to deliver high-resolution imagery, while the dual-camera version adds an ultra-wide field of view to improve image coverage and increase mapping efficiency.</p>



<p>With an integrated design and a weight of 1.35 kg, the AlphaAir 6 reduces payload burden on UAV platforms and helps extend flight endurance. Open interface protocols support integration with mainstream multirotor and fixed-wing UAVs, giving surveying and mapping professionals more flexibility across different mission types.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/chcnav-launches-alphaair-6-long-range-airborne-lidar-for-uav-mapping/">CHCNAV launches AlphaAir 6 long-range airborne lidar for UAV mapping</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>New Geodash intends to bring map-free, AI-driven precision spraying to industrial agriculture</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/new-geodash-intends-to-bring-map-free-ai-driven-precision-spraying-to-industrial-agriculture/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/new-geodash-intends-to-bring-map-free-ai-driven-precision-spraying-to-industrial-agriculture/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:02:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Machine Control / Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Applications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Autonomous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crop spraying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DroneDash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Geodash Aerosystems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GEODNET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heavy-lift drone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Singapore]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115022</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Joint venture between DroneDash and Geodnet targets oil palm, sugarcane and broad-acre operations across Southeast Asia, the United States and South America. DroneDash Technologies and Geonet are forming Geodash Aerosystems Pte. Ltd. — a Singapore-incorporated joint venture to develop a new class of agricultural spraying drone for large-scale, industrial farming operations. Commercial deployment is set [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/new-geodash-intends-to-bring-map-free-ai-driven-precision-spraying-to-industrial-agriculture/">New Geodash intends to bring map-free, AI-driven precision spraying to industrial agriculture</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>Joint venture between DroneDash and Geodnet targets oil palm, sugarcane and broad-acre operations across Southeast Asia, the United States and South America.</em></p>



<p><a href="https://www.dronedash.one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DroneDash Technologies</a> and <a href="https://geodnet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geonet</a> are forming <a href="https://www.gdauav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geodash Aerosystems</a> Pte. Ltd. — a Singapore-incorporated joint venture to develop a new class of agricultural spraying drone for large-scale, industrial farming operations. Commercial deployment is set for Q3 2026.</p>



<p>Unlike conventional agriculture drones that require repeated manual pre-mapping before each deployment, Geodash Aerosystems’ platform uses real-time AI vision and centimeter-accurate RTK positioning to perceive, navigate, and adapt dynamically during flight. The result is faster deployment, lower operating costs, and continuous agronomic intelligence from the same system that does the spraying.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="572" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/heavy-lift-ag-drone-DroneDASH-1024x572.jpg" alt="The GDA80-120 heavy-lift agricultural UAV has with centimeter-level RTK accuracy and autonomous AI vision. (Credit: GeoDash)" class="wp-image-115023"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: DroneDash</figcaption></figure>



<p>Most agricultural spraying drones in operation were adapted from general-purpose UAV platforms. Before each deployment, operators must manually survey and map the field, generate static flight plans, and repeat the entire process whenever terrain, planting patterns, or canopy profiles change. In oil palm plantations and large-scale row-crop environments, this mapping overhead directly limits how many hectares a team can cover and how quickly they can respond to emerging crop conditions.</p>



<p>The operational constraints are compounded the larger the estate. Manual pre-survey and field mapping is required before each deployment. Static flight plans must be recreated when terrain or canopy profiles change. Plans have limited adaptability to uneven terrain and mixed-age crops, when erosion or other changes occur.</p>



<p>Geodash Aerosystems’ drone architecture removes pre-mapping from the deployment workflow entirely. Using DroneDash’s proprietary AI vision system, the aircraft performs real-time perception of plantation structure, canopy height, and terrain features during flight. Geodnet&#8217;s RTK correction network delivers centimeter-level positional accuracy throughout each mission.</p>



<p>This combination enables:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>deployment without pre-mapping or manual mission surveys</li>



<li>dynamic interpretation of rows, trees and operational zones</li>



<li>continuous altitude and spray-rate adjustment over variable terrain</li>



<li>rapid redeployment after replanting or field reconfiguration</li>



<li>tree-level and zone-specific variable-rate application.</li>
</ul>



<p>Situational awareness is generated dynamically during flight — not through a separate pre-deployment process. Each aircraft maintains geofencing controls, safety constraints, and full operational data logging for regulatory compliance and audit traceability.</p>



<p><strong>Agronomic Intelligence Layer</strong></p>



<p>Each GEODASH Aerosystems drone is integrated with DroneDash’s AI Smart Farming backend, which transforms every operational flight into a continuous data-collection activity. Spraying missions generate field data used to produce:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>canopy density and uniformity analysis</li>



<li>crop stress and anomaly detection</li>



<li>zone-level health scoring</li>



<li>spray effectiveness validation</li>



<li>terrain and drainage profiling</li>



<li>historical trend analysis across blocks and seasons.</li>
</ul>



<p>Backend AI analytics then deliver actionable decision support to plantation managers and agronomy teams: early indicators of pest, disease, or nutrient stress; identification of underperforming zones; optimized spray timing and dosage; and data-informed planning for replanting and fertilization. The drone functions as a continuous aerial intelligence layer, not a standalone spraying machine.</p>



<p>Geodash Aerosystems targets industrial agriculture markets where deployment speed, terrain adaptability, and precision matter most: oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia; sugarcane, soybean and corn operations in the United States; and palm, sugar and broad-acre estates in South America.</p>



<p>Pilot deployments and system validation have been conducted throughout 2025 and into early 2026 in collaboration with plantation operators. Commercial deployment is targeted for Q3 2026, following completion of manufacturing readiness and regulatory approvals.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/new-geodash-intends-to-bring-map-free-ai-driven-precision-spraying-to-industrial-agriculture/">New Geodash intends to bring map-free, AI-driven precision spraying to industrial agriculture</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>GNSS reveals fourfold turbulence during Antarctica&#8217;s Ross Ice Shelf melt</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-reveals-fourfold-turbulence-during-antarcticas-ross-ice-shelf-melt/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-reveals-fourfold-turbulence-during-antarcticas-ross-ice-shelf-melt/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:09:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Space & Earth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research & Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antarctica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MIT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ross Ice Shelf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weather observation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115018</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Observations suggest a major melting event at the Ross Ice Shelf was connected to atmospheric turbulence. The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica typically melts on its underside as warmer ocean water flows beneath. But in January 2016, an unusual melting episode occurred on its topside. A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-reveals-fourfold-turbulence-during-antarcticas-ross-ice-shelf-melt/">GNSS reveals fourfold turbulence during Antarctica&#8217;s Ross Ice Shelf melt</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
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<p><strong>Observations suggest a major melting event at the Ross Ice Shelf was connected to atmospheric turbulence.</strong></p>



<p>The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica typically melts on its underside as warmer ocean water flows beneath. But in January 2016, an unusual melting episode occurred on its topside. </p>



<p>A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack Observatory used data from existing GNSS stations, in conjunction with 13 stations installed on shelf, to examine the turbulent state of the atmosphere. Key were delay differences at each station and between stations that showed the strength (or rockiness) of atmospheric turbulence over the ice shelf. </p>



<p>Wind, water vapor, and temperature variations drawn in by warm and humid air caused the surface to melt, with turbulence four times greater than usual during the 2016 surface melting event. </p>



<p>The study also demonstrated a novel application of the GNSS station data to remotely observe unusual atmospheric conditions.</p>



<p>The open-access study was <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL120181" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> Feb. 27 in <em>Geophysical Research Letters</em>.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-reveals-fourfold-turbulence-during-antarcticas-ross-ice-shelf-melt/">GNSS reveals fourfold turbulence during Antarctica&#8217;s Ross Ice Shelf melt</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>PlanetiQ awarded $15M US Air Force contract for GNSS-RO weather data</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/planetiq-awarded-15m-us-air-force-contract-for-gnss-ro-weather-data/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/planetiq-awarded-15m-us-air-force-contract-for-gnss-ro-weather-data/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:50:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Space & Earth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS reflectometry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS-PRO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS-R]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS-RO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[government contract]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PlanetiQ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[radio occultation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[STRATFI award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Air Force]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Air Force contract]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weather]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115015</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>PlanetiQ has been awarded a $15 million, 48-month Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract by the U.S. Air Force. The program will support the development and launch of spacecraft equipped with next-generation GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO) and GNSS polarimetric radio occultation (GNSS-PRO) instruments and the delivery of high-value weather data to the U.S. Air Force. The mission [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/planetiq-awarded-15m-us-air-force-contract-for-gnss-ro-weather-data/">PlanetiQ awarded $15M US Air Force contract for GNSS-RO weather data</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
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<p><a href="https://planetiq.com/\" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PlanetiQ</a> has been awarded a $15 million, 48-month Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract by the U.S. Air Force. The program will support the development and launch of spacecraft equipped with next-generation GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO) and GNSS polarimetric radio occultation (GNSS-PRO) instruments and the delivery of high-value weather data to the U.S. Air Force.</p>



<p>The mission will focus on advancing GNSS-RO, GNSS-PRO and GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R) capabilities. The program includes the development of advanced data assimilation techniques to integrate enhanced GNSS-PRO data into numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, improving forecast accuracy and enabling new insights into atmospheric conditions.</p>



<p>After spacecraft commissioning, PlanetiQ will provide on-orbit data delivery during the contract period. This will support multiple applications across the Department of the Air Force, including artificial intelligence (AI) model training, data assimilation, and performance evaluation.</p>



<p>As the largest commercial provider of GNSS-RO data, PlanetiQ operates a global constellation of satellites, including spacecraft equipped with advanced receivers capable of capturing high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) GNSS-RO and GNSS-PRO measurements. GNSS-PRO has demonstrated strong efficacy for measuring precipitation, a key capability for improving severe weather forecasting.</p>



<p>This STRATFI award will enable the development of a next-generation receiver that adds GNSS-R capabilities, supporting new applications such as ocean surface wind measurement, sea state characterization, and soil moisture monitoring over land.</p>



<p>&#8220;This award represents a major step forward in delivering more advanced, actionable weather information to the warfighter,&#8221; said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ. &#8220;By combining GNSS-RO, PRO and R measurements in a single platform, we are unlocking a more complete picture of the atmosphere and Earth&#8217;s surface. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force to accelerate these capabilities and bring next-generation environmental data into operational use.&#8221;</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/planetiq-awarded-15m-us-air-force-contract-for-gnss-ro-weather-data/">PlanetiQ awarded $15M US Air Force contract for GNSS-RO weather data</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>Thales secures military navigation with TopStar Smart Receiver</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/thales-secures-military-navigation-with-topstar-smart-receiver/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/thales-secures-military-navigation-with-topstar-smart-receiver/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:38:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Receivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anti-jamming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dual-constellation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS receiver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TopStar]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115011</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Thales has launched the TopStar Smart Receiver, a three-in-one ultra-compact solution designed to provide land forces with resilient positioning, navigation and timing capabilities, while maintaining radio communications in increasingly contested electronic warfare environments. The TopStar Smart Receiver can be integrated into land vehicles, drones and munitions. Key features Produced entirely within a sovereign European industrial [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/thales-secures-military-navigation-with-topstar-smart-receiver/">Thales secures military navigation with TopStar Smart Receiver</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
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<p>Thales has launched the TopStar Smart Receiver, a three-in-one ultra-compact solution designed to provide land forces with resilient positioning, navigation and timing capabilities, while maintaining radio communications in increasingly contested electronic warfare environments. </p>



<p>The TopStar Smart Receiver can be integrated into land vehicles, drones and munitions.</p>



<p><strong>Key features</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Dual-constellation GNSS receiver. </strong>The receiver integrates signals from military constellations, Galileo PRS and civilian GPS, and provides resistance to spoofing with enhanced accuracy and availability.</li>



<li><strong>Anti-jamming function. </strong>Its adaptive controlled radiation pattern antenna (CRPA) reduces interference from jammers, and enables operation at distances up to 30 times closer than with a conventional GPS receiver.</li>



<li><strong>High-performance clock. </strong>The clock ensures synchronization of tactical radios for up to 48 hours following GNSS signal loss, versus 30 minutes with conventional equipment.</li>
</ul>



<p>Produced entirely within a sovereign European industrial base, the TopStar Smart Receiver is assembled at Thales’ site in Valence, France. The receiver is now available for testing in real-world conditions.</p>



<p>“Powered by cutting-edge technologies, the TopStar Smart Receiver delivers resilient, high-performance PNT capabilities for land platforms, drones and munitions,&#8221; said  Florent Chauvancy, vice president of avionics and flight activities, Thales. &#8220;Innovative, reliable, competitive and compact, it ensures mission continuity in the most demanding operations, showcasing Thales’ expertise and commitment to innovation in support of the armed forces.”</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/thales-secures-military-navigation-with-topstar-smart-receiver/">Thales secures military navigation with TopStar Smart Receiver</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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		<title>Taoglas to showcase antenna innovation and host GNSS masterclass at EuCAP 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.gpsworld.com/taoglas-to-showcase-antenna-innovation-and-host-gnss-masterclass-at-eucap-2026/</link>
					<comments>https://www.gpsworld.com/taoglas-to-showcase-antenna-innovation-and-host-gnss-masterclass-at-eucap-2026/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tracy Cozzens]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:16:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Antennas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Receivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EuCAP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNSS antennas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taoglas]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gpsworld.com/?p=115008</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Taoglas will showcase its latest antenna technologies at the 2026 European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) in Dublin, Ireland, taking place April 19-24, in the Dublin convention center. Taoglas will display at Stand 52. At this year’s exhibition and conference, Taoglas will underline the increasing complexity of antenna integration in electronic systems, where performance [&#8230;]</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/taoglas-to-showcase-antenna-innovation-and-host-gnss-masterclass-at-eucap-2026/">Taoglas to showcase antenna innovation and host GNSS masterclass at EuCAP 2026</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://www.taoglas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taoglas</a> will showcase its latest antenna technologies at the 2026 European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) in Dublin, Ireland, taking place April 19-24, in the Dublin convention center. Taoglas will display at Stand 52.</p>



<p>At this year’s exhibition and conference, Taoglas will underline the increasing complexity of antenna integration in electronic systems, where performance depends on interactions between the antenna, PCB, enclosure and multi‑radio environment.</p>



<p>The company also will host a “GNSS Evolution Masterclass: Bridging Theory and Field Performance” on April 21, 15:50-17:30. The session will cover the evolution from single‑band to multi‑band GNSS and provide practical guidance on antenna characteristics, performance metrics, correction services and evaluation methods for real‑world positioning performance.</p>



<p>At its booth, Taoglas will highlight its AI-driven Antenna Product Recommendation Engine, designed to help users identify antenna options based on needs. It complements Taoglas’ existing design and configuration tools, including the Antenna Integrator for PCB placement, which adds new features and antenna models frequently, enabling a seamless path from initial selection through to integration.</p>



<p>In the technical conference programme, Taoglas will also present new antenna design work, including a poster on innovations in tri‑band Wi‑Fi antenna integration and a paper on compact antennas for LPWA and IoT devices.</p>



<p>“EuCAP is a unique opportunity to connect cutting‑edge research with real‑world engineering challenges,” said Dermot O’Shea, co‑founder and CEO of Taoglas. “With Taoglas’ roots in Ireland, it is especially rewarding to highlight local RF and antenna expertise while engaging with the global engineering community.”</p>



<p>Taoglas is supporting EuCAP 2026 as a gold sponsor. Visitors can meet the Taoglas team at the event or visit <a href="http://www.taoglas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.taoglas.com</a> for more information.</p>
<p>&lt;p&gt;The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/taoglas-to-showcase-antenna-innovation-and-host-gnss-masterclass-at-eucap-2026/">Taoglas to showcase antenna innovation and host GNSS masterclass at EuCAP 2026</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.&lt;/p&gt;</p>
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