GIM - Issue 4-2025 by Geomares Publishing

Sensor fusion transforms aerial mapping How integrated sensors deliver comprehensive geospatial intelligence

Stockholm Metro Expansion: surveying beneath the surface

Deep learning: extracting cadastral boundaries from EO data

Geodesy: the invisible foundation of our modern world

Director Strategy & Business Development

Durk Haarsma

Financial Director Meine van der Bijl

Technical Editor Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk

Contributing Editors Dr Rohan Bennett, Lars Langhorst

Head of Content Wim van Wegen

Copy Editor Lynn Radford, Englishproof.nl

Marketing Advisors Myrthe van der Schuit, Peter Tapken, Sandro Steunebrink

Circulation Manager Adrian Holland

Design Persmanager, The Hague

GIM International, one of the worldwide leading magazines in the geospatial industry, is published five times per year by Geomares. The magazine and related website and newsletter provide topical overviews and reports on the latest news, trends and developments in geomatics all around the world. GIM International is orientated towards a professional and managerial readership, those leading decision making, and has a worldwide circulation.

Subscriptions

GIM International is available five times per year on a subscription basis. Geospatial professionals can subscribe at any time via https://www.gim-international.com/subscribe/ print. Subscriptions will be automatically renewed upon expiry, unless Geomares receives written notification of cancellation at least 60 days before expiry date.

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How turnkey is turnkey?

The exhibition halls at events like Intergeo are filled with a wide array of turnkey solutions: out-of-the-box mapping systems, plug-and-play drone platforms and ready-to-use processing tools. It all sounds wonderfully convenient: just unbox, switch on and get results instantly. And I don’t dispute that many of today’s scanners and sensors are staggeringly user-friendly. But I can’t help wondering how ‘turnkey’ such solutions really are, and for whom? Because, as we all know, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ geospatial user. As reflected by the broad range of topics featured throughout the year in this magazine and through our online media platform, the surveyor’s toolkit contains countless different instruments and approaches, depending on the task at hand – from complex, high-end survey projects to simple 3D modelling jobs. Similarly, Intergeo – where this edition of GIM International is being widely distributed –annually brings together all kinds of visitors: national mapping agencies, small surveying startups, university researchers, construction site managers, municipalities, data analytics companies and more. They all have wildly differing needs, and also different definitions of ‘ready to use’. What serves as a finished product for one might be just a building block for another.

The difference between user needs can be particularly extreme in the case of new and innovative technologies, and especially the latest hypes. Take the current interest in Gaussian splatting. Like photogrammetry, this technique makes use of photographic input and builds upon a basic SfM point cloud. This means the accuracy of the model is largely dependent on the photo quality, whereas tools like Lidar and total stations provide the surveyor with known accuracies beforehand. While millimetre-level precision has been demonstrated in certain controlled setups, many practical applications of Gaussian splatting still experience errors in the

centimetre range (or worse). It’s also important to note that Gaussian splats and point clouds are not directly interchangeable. Converting from one to the other results in either information loss or missing information in the other direction. This limitation can easily create a bottleneck within data flows. So if manufacturers of 3D scanners start offering complete hardware and software systems as ‘turnkey Gaussian splatting solutions’, they may create beautiful visualizations that address existing needs in certain use cases, such as real estate. However, Gaussian splatting will rarely give usable output for surveyors’ existing workflows that rely on accuracy and precision, with traceable results. Therefore, for surveying, engineering and construction professionals who need structured, dependable and reusable data, Gaussian splatting is not yet a universally robust tool.

This is just one example of how the ‘turnkey’ label can come unstuck. At first glance, a solution may seem complete, but it might still require extensive calibration, configuration, quality control or scripting before it fits into real-world workflows. Users might need extra training, documentation or support to get it (and keep it) up and running. It may be fast to deploy, but hard to integrate with existing platforms or standards. This underlines the importance of thinking about the geospatial ecosystem when adding new tools. The value of any innovation depends on how well it connects with the wider network of sensors, software, data pipelines, open standards and, crucially, the people involved. True turnkey solutions are not the ones that work alone, but the ones that slot into this complex web without friction. So perhaps the real question should not be whether a new solution you spot at Intergeo is turnkey in a universal sense, but whether it is turnkey for you. This mindset will allow you to tap into one of Intergeo’s strengths: rather than offering onesize-fits-all breakthroughs, it enables every visitor to find the missing piece that completes their own puzzle.

Wim van Wegen head of content wim.van.wegen@geomares.nl

CHC Navigation presents new mobile mapping system for detailed 3D data capture

CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) has released a new vehicle-mounted mobile mapping system combining high-performance Lidar technology, versatile sensor support and intelligent data processing. Designed for accurate and efficient collection of 3D spatial data, the AU20 MMS provides a practical and flexible solution for professionals involved in road surveying, asset management and infrastructure documentation. The AU20 MMS is equipped with a sophisticated Lidar system that utilizes fourth-generation real-time waveform processing (RWP) technology. This enables the system to achieve a scan rate of two million points per second and 200 revolutions per second, producing point cloud data with 5mm accuracy and 3mm precision. Such detailed capture capabilities allow for the identification of fine surface characteristics and features for comprehensive asset inventories and condition assessments. The system’s long-range, multi-cycle laser technology facilitates high-density data capture at up to 250m in vehicle-mounted applications. Constructed on the adaptable AP7 vehicle platform, the AU20 MMS can support a dual laser scanner setup, which significantly increases data density. The platform design incorporates a 45° scanning angle to reduce data shadows and improve the detection of vertical structures and road signage. Furthermore, the AP7’s built-in processor accommodates the integration of up to eight external sensors, including specialized pavement detection cameras and panoramic cameras such as the Ladybug5+ and Ladybug6, offering users flexibility in data acquisition strategies.

New ETH Zurich Earth observation centre receives multimillion-franc donation

ETH Zurich will receive ten million Swiss francs per year from the Jörg G. Bucherer-Foundation over the next ten years, amounting to a total donation of 100 million francs (approx. €107 million). The university will use this generous funding to establish a globally oriented competence centre for Earth observation, with a physical presence in the Canton of Lucerne. The canton will support the project as an infrastructure partner. Earth observation using satellites, drones and sensors has become indispensable in many areas, yet its potential is still far from fully realized. While enormous quantities of data are already available, they are often not used in a sufficiently targeted way. The planned centre aims to change this by combining state-of-the-art data collection with advanced analysis. Under the name ETH Swiss GeoLab, the new centre will harness data from space, the air and the ground, using AI-assisted analysis methods and high-performance computing to better understand our planet and address concrete challenges. The research spectrum will be broad: from early detection of natural disasters, such as the recent landslides in Blatten and Brienz, to predicting agricultural yields and supporting farmers with planning – and much more beyond that.

New Kodifly mobile mapping system for advanced road mapping and asset management

The SS360 system features 360° Lidar, high-definition cameras, GNSS and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to deliver dense, survey-grade 3D data in real time. (Image courtesy: Kodifly)

Kodifly, a frontrunner in the urban spatial-tech landscape, has unveiled its SpatialSense360 (SS360) mobile mapping system, aimed at elevating the standards of road infrastructure mapping, monitoring and maintenance. Engineered for seamless integration with any inspection vehicle, the system’s multi-sensor configuration empowers high-speed 3D mapping of road corridors, immediate detection of city assets, and the generation of precision georeferenced digital twins. As cities continue to expand, technology that delivers geospatial intelligence to support resilient, connected urban ecosystems is becoming increasingly critical. The SS360 system features 360° Lidar, high-definition cameras, GNSS and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to deliver dense, survey-grade 3D data in real time. The integrated Lidar and imagery capture provides both geometric detail and visual context in a single pass, offering a rich and actionable dataset for maintenance planning, infrastructure upgrades and compliance reporting. By enabling inspections at normal traffic speeds, SS360 minimizes disruption, saves time and enhances worker safety for municipalities, contractors and asset managers involved in infrastructure digitization.

The AU20 MMS is a vehicle-mounted mobile mapping system that enables precise and efficient acquisition of 3D spatial data. (Image courtesy: CHC Navigation)

Prof Pius Baschera, president of the ETH Foundation, Dr Urs Mühlebach, president of the Jörg G. Bucherer Foundation, and ETH President Prof Joël Mesot sign the funding agreement. (Image courtesy: ETH Foundation/Manuel Rickenbacher)

Javad GNSS and Inertial Labs partner up on next-generation GNSS+INS platform

Inertial Labs is integrating its industry-recognized IMU-P modules with Javad’s advanced OEM GNSS receivers. This strategic collaboration delivers a next-generation GNSS+INS platform designed to achieve unmatched accuracy, stability and resilience – even in environments where GNSS signals are challenged or denied. At the centre of this innovative partnership is the Javad TR-3Si, a receiver purpose-built for seamless integration with professional IMU modules. Combined with the advanced IMU-P, the system ensures mission-critical performance across aerospace, defence, autonomous systems, UAVs, robotics, precision agriculture and other demanding applications. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Inertial Labs to bring this cutting-edge technology to our customers,” said Simon Baksh, vice president of product development at Javad GNSS. “The integration of Inertial Labs’ IMUs with our OEM GNSS receivers underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality navigation solutions. This partnership enhances our customers’ capabilities, ensuring they can rely on Javad GNSS for accurate PVT in their most demanding applications.”

At the core of the next-generation GNSS+INS platform is the Javad TR-3Si, a receiver designed for seamless integration with professional IMU modules. (Image courtesy: Javad GNSS)

SI Imaging Services secures contract for 25cm-resolution SpaceEye-T imagery

SI Imaging Services has signed a multimillion-euro, multi-year contract with a European customer to lease capacity on its newly launched SpaceEye-T optical satellite, which delivers native 25cm resolution. The South Korean Earth observation solutions provider says the agreement underscores growing international interest in its Satellite-as-a-Service (Sat-aaS) model. Under the Sat-aaS model, customers don’t need to own a satellite to benefit from it. Instead, they secure dedicated access to SpaceEye-T’s tasking capacity, enabling them to collect imagery over chosen areas and receive the data in near real-time. The multi-year deal marks a milestone for Korea’s commercial satellite technology, underlining its growing competitiveness in a field long dominated by Europe and the USA, where leading commercial satellites typically provide 30cm resolution. Moongyu Kim, CEO of SI Imaging Services, stated: “The Sat-aaS model offers clear advantages in terms of data accessibility and security, with global demand rising rapidly. In this context, the agreement shows that SpaceEye-T has earned international trust, marking a significant step in joining the global space industry trend.”

SpaceEye-T satellite image captured over Dubai, UAE. (Image courtesy: Satrec Initiative)

Hexagon’s SIG division set to form the core of new company Octave

In a big shift for the geospatial community, Hexagon intends to spin off several key business units – including the Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial (SIG) division – into a new standalone company called Octave. The plans were announced at the global Hexagon Live event held in Las Vegas in June this year. If approved, the dedicated software and SaaS company is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, combining Hexagon’s geospatial portfolio with other digital tools designed to help organizations make smarter, data-driven decisions. The spin-off, which is still subject to stakeholder and regulatory approvals, is designed to sharpen the focus of both the new company and Hexagon itself. For the geospatial community, the announcement

Octave, Hexagon’s spin-off, was announced during the opening keynote at Hexagon Live in Las Vegas. (Image courtesy: Wim van Wegen)

signals a big shift. While much of the leadership and product portfolio will remain familiar, Octave will bring together Hexagon’s SIG division with tools such as Bricsys and ETQ, currently housed in other parts of Hexagon’s broader business. The goal? To provide users with a more integrated and data-driven experience across infrastructure, public safety, asset management and beyond. “As we prepare for the potential separation from Hexagon, Octave will be a powerful identity to reflect the significant growth opportunity,” said Mattias Stenberg, current president of Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence and Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial divisions and incoming Octave CEO. He added that as a separate company, Octave will have the depth, scale and expertise needed to take full advantage of software and services opportunities across both industry and the public sector – and to deliver intelligence at scale.

Final fieldwork completed in Finland-Norway border inspection

After more than three years of meticulous fieldwork and collaboration, the Finnish and Norwegian border commissions have completed their final inspection of the shared national boundary. The comprehensive review, conducted along the rugged terrain separating the two nations, marks the final stage of a process designed to reaffirm and document the state border’s official alignment. The findings will now be submitted to the Foreign Ministries of both countries for approval, paving the way for parliamentary ratification in both countries. Once confirmed, the updated documentation will formalize the international border’s position for decades to come, reinforcing cross-border clarity and cooperation between the two Nordic neighbours. Members of the Finnish and Norwegian border commissions convened in Ivalo before heading into the remote border regions of Kaldoaivi and Vätsäri to carry out the final field inspection. This marked the last step in a systematic, jointly agreed review of the state boundary between the two countries. The work involved verifying and restoring border markers, conducting surveys, and performing essential maintenance along the rugged terrain. All collected data is being compiled in a digital format, ensuring that the information can be easily updated ahead of any future boundary reviews – supporting long-term accuracy and cross-border cooperation.

Brigadier general Mika Rytkönen from the Finnish Border Guard, Director-general Pasi Patrikainen from the Finnish National Land Survey and Director-general Johnny Welle from Kartverket inspect border marker number 353. (Image courtesy: Kartverket)

UltraCam Osprey 4.1 selected for digital twin projects in Saudi Arabia

To support its digital twin initiatives in Saudi Arabia, GeoTech has acquired Vexcel Imaging’s UltraCam Osprey 4.1 aerial camera system. The projects include high-precision models of Jeddah, Makkah, Al Ula, NEOM and other cities, covering both urban and surrounding areas. The purchase was facilitated through regional sales partner Atay Mühendislik. With demand for precise geospatial data on the rise, especially in urban mapping and smart city development, new technologies are playing a central role in meeting the growing need. The UltraCam Osprey 4.1 combines nadir and oblique image capture in a single flight, making it well suited for detailed 3D city modelling. Its high image quality, accuracy and efficiency enable the production of rich datasets for applications in urban mapping, infrastructure planning and environmental analysis. Together with the UltraMap workflow, the system offers a complete end-to-end solution, from capture to processing, ensuring the delivery of reliable, high-quality insights. GeoTech is a leading geospatial solutions provider with a strong presence across Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Middle East and Central Asia. In partnership with MipMap Holdings, the company is extending its capacity to support projects across the Middle East and beyond, where accuracy and efficiency are critical to large-scale digital initiatives. The addition of the UltraCam Osprey 4.1 further improves GeoTech Overseas Saudi Arabia’s ability to deliver high-resolution datasets for 3D modelling of terrain, buildings and public spaces. It also supports the company’s mission to provide the most precise and comprehensive urban mapping solutions in the industry.

Feima Robotics releases SLAM200E handheld Lidar scanner

Feima Robotics

SLAM200E handheld Lidar scanner. (Image courtesy: Feima Robotics)

By integrating the UltraCam Osprey 4.1, GeoTech Overseas Saudi Arabia strengthens its ability to provide clients with high-resolution datasets for advanced 3D modelling of terrain, buildings and public spaces. (Image courtesy: Vexcel Imaging) junipersys.com | rugged@junipersys.com | +44 (0) 1527 870773 Visit us at INTERGEO Stand #1C130

Feima Robotics, a rapidly growing Chinese manufacturer of dynamic 3D laser scanners, has released the fourth generation of its SLAM scanner: the high-precision, high-performance and high-efficiency SLAM200E handheld Lidar scanner. It is equipped with a high-frequency Lidar sensor, dual 12MP panoramic cameras, a built-in high-precision GNSS module and a high-performance onboard computing unit that enables real-time acquisition, mapping and colouring. The SLAM Instant app provides instant post-measurement mapping, fast capture of points/lines/ areas/volumes and on-site report generation for specific industries. As the successor to the SLAM100, the SLAM200E retains the proven performance with the addition of new features from Feima Robotics. These include resume-from-last-station, aerialground data fusion and 3DGS – making high-precision mobile measurement more convenient and efficient. As a survey-grade high-precision mobile mapping tool for GNSS-denied sites, the SLAM200E supports relative accuracy of 5mm within a 60m range and 1cm within 100m. When connected to an external RTK module or integrated with ground control points (GCPs), it can achieve absolute accuracy of up to 2cm.

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How integrated sensors deliver comprehensive geospatial intelligence

Sensor fusion transforms aerial mapping

By Ada Perello, EAASI

As demand grows for comprehensive geospatial intelligence, across sectors from agriculture and forestry to infrastructure management and urban planning, sensor fusion is emerging as the key enabler of more efficient, accurate and actionable aerial mapping missions. The technique represents a fundamental shift from single-sensor operations toward integrated sensing platforms that leverage the combined strengths of multiple technologies.

When a survey aircraft flies over Italy’s ancient olive groves, multiple sensors working in perfect harmony can detect a deadly bacterial infection weeks before any farmer notices the first signs of disease. This is just one example of how the convergence of multiple sensing technologies – known as sensor fusion – is transforming aerial surveying from single-purpose data collection into comprehensive environmental intelligence gathering.

The evolution of multi-sensor platforms

Over the past decade, the concept of sensor fusion in aerial surveying has evolved from experimental research to operational reality. While early missions typically deployed single sensors optimized for specific applications –Lidar for topographic mapping, RGB cameras for photogrammetry, thermal imagers for specialized inspections – modern platforms increasingly integrate multiple sensors to capture comprehensive datasets in single flight operations. This evolution reflects both technological advancement and market demand. Miniaturization of sensors, improved data processing capabilities and declining operational costs have made multisensor configurations technically feasible and economically viable. Simultaneously, end users across industries require richer, more contextual geospatial information to support complex decision-making processes.

Crewed aerial platforms offer distinct advantages for sensor fusion applications. Unlike uncrewed systems, crewed aircraft can accommodate multiple high-end sensors

simultaneously, provide extended flight endurance for large-area coverage, and offer real-time operator oversight of data collection quality. These capabilities prove essential for missions requiring precise coordination between multiple sensing systems.

Core

sensor technologies and their synergies

Modern sensor fusion configurations typically integrate several complementary technologies, each contributing unique capabilities to the overall dataset:

• Lidar systems provide the geometric foundation for most fusion applications. These sensors emit laser pulses and measure return times to generate precise 3D point clouds of terrain and surface features. Lidar excels in areas where optical imagery faces limitations – such as dense vegetation canopies – and delivers consistent geometric accuracy regardless of lighting conditions. When combined with other sensors, Lidar data serves as the spatial framework for registering and interpreting complementary information.

• RGB cameras capture high-resolution true-colour imagery, forming the visual foundation of most surveys. They provide the reference dataset for interpretation, mapping and visualization that end users readily understand.

• Multispectral sensors expand on RGB by adding near-infrared (NIR), enabling vegetation health analysis, species differentiation and environmental

In September 2022, hyperspectral images were acquired in three bands (R: 695nm, G: 515nm and B: 410nm) in the Apulia region of Italy. A mask of ‘infected’ (yellow) and ‘not infected’ (red) tree crowns was overlapped with the RGB images to show the spatial distribution of the trees in each dataset: Gorgognolo (b) and Polignano (c). (Image courtesy: D’Addabbo et al.)

monitoring. NIR reflectance reveals plant stress and biomass data essential for agricultural applications.

• Hyperspectral sensors collect reflectance data across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, enabling precise material identification for mineral exploration, precision agriculture and water quality assessment. These complex datasets typically require georectification to spatial frameworks provided by Lidar or multispectral imagery.

• Thermal cameras detect heat signatures emitted from surfaces, making them ideal for energy efficiency audits, infrastructure inspections and environmental monitoring. Thermal sensors operate effectively in lowlight conditions and can reveal subsurface conditions invisible to optical sensors. When fused with RGB imagery and Lidar data, thermal information provides both spatial context and interpretive depth for anomaly detection.

Bathymetric Lidar uses green-wavelength laser pulses to penetrate water and measure depths, enabling accurate mapping of shallow coastal zones, riverbeds and inland water bodies. When integrated with topographic Lidar and imagery, bathymetric data supports seamless terrain modelling across land-water interfaces, benefiting flood modelling, habitat monitoring and infrastructure planning in aquatic environments.

• Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offers unique capabilities for fusion applications, particularly its ability to penetrate clouds and operate in all weather conditions. Though

less common on crewed platforms due to payload constraints, SAR contributes valuable information about surface conditions and ground movement when integrated with optical and Lidar datasets.

How does the magic happen?

Successful sensor fusion requires precise coordination of multiple data streams with different temporal, spatial and spectral characteristics. At the core of any fusion process lies synchronization, ensuring that data from different sensors can be accurately aligned and integrated:

• Temporal synchronization uses precise timestamps to align data captured simultaneously during flight operations. Modern systems typically employ GPS time references to coordinate sensor triggering across platforms.

• Spatial alignment requires careful calibration of sensor positions and orientations relative to the aircraft coordinate system. This boresight calibration process ensures that data from different sensors can be accurately co-registered in geographic space.

• Georeferencing systems, particularly integrated GNSS/IMU platforms, provide the common spatial reference frame that enables fusion of datasets from multiple sensors. These systems deliver precise position and orientation information that transforms sensor measurements into georeferenced products.

Processing workflows typically involve several stages of data integration. Point cloud-

Fused datasets are increasingly analysed using AI and machine

learning

texture fusion overlays RGB or multispectral imagery onto 3D Lidar models, creating visually rich and geometrically accurate representations. Orthorectification processes use Lidar-derived elevation data to correct geometric distortions in imagery, ensuring accurate spatial registration across datasets.

Advanced processing techniques increasingly employ artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to extract meaningful information from fused datasets. These tools can identify patterns and relationships across different sensor types that would be difficult to detect through manual analysis.

Sensor fusion in action: real-world applications

Case 1: Airborne sensor fusion technology protects Italy’s olive heritage

The Mediterranean basin is one of the world’s most important regions for olive oil production. Countries like Italy, Spain and Greece are among the top producers of this precious commodity. Olive trees have been cultivated in this region for thousands of years, and the Mediterranean climate and soil conditions are ideal for the growth and development of these ancient trees. Volume and price of the olive oil vary widely from one year to another. The recent low production had led to a sharp increase in prices and volume of the exports. Some of this variation in production is due to an invisible threat: Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterial pathogen that devastates trees before visual symptoms appear.

High-resolution nadir imagery from the Phase One GS120 camera (1.9 cm GSD), detailed enough to reveal pavement cracks and surface defects (Image courtesy: Phase One)

Via the REDoX project, the Italian Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) – Istituto per il Rilevamento Elettromagnetico dell’Ambiente developed an innovative solution using airborne sensor fusion technology to detect infections in their earliest stages. CNR utilized airborne sensors from ITRES Research Ltd and deployed a crewed aircraft equipped with complementary sensing technologies. The CASI-1500 hyperspectral sensor captures data across 288 spectral bands in visible and near-infrared wavelengths, while the MICRO TABI 640 thermal imager operates in the 3.7-4.8µm range for canopy temperature analysis. Flying at optimal altitude, the integrated sensor system delivers 50 × 50cm ground resolution imagery, enabling individual tree analysis across hundreds of hectares per flight mission.

Processing teams can extract 56 vegetation indices from hyperspectral data and thermal stress indicators, generating 62 variables per tree. Advanced radiative transfer models translate spectral measurements into comprehensive physiological profiles. The combined dataset feeds Support Vector Machine classifiers trained on ground-truth data from qPCR testing. Classification accuracies exceed 74%, successfully identifying asymptomatic infections in apparently healthy trees.

This early detection capability transforms disease management from reactive to proactive intervention. The project incorporates diverse geographic locations and olive cultivars to develop robust detection models applicable across Mediterranean regions. This scalability proves essential for addressing threats that transcend boundaries, contributing to efficient agricultural management and preservation of the area’s irreplaceable olive heritage.

Case 2: Hybrid sensor fusion for corridor and pavement mapping in the USA

In early 2024, a corridor mapping project was conducted in Oro Valley, Arizona, to assess road surface conditions and pinpoint areas in need of maintenance. The survey was performed by consultancy McKim & Creed using a hybrid sensor setup housed in the AISPECO Helix LITE pod aboard a crewed aircraft. The survey combined several advanced sensors to create a unified dataset. At its core was the Phase One GS120 camera, capturing nadir imagery at a

1.9cm ground sampling distance (GSD), which was sharp enough to detect surface-level issues such as pavement cracks. This was complemented by a RIEGL VUX-240 Lidar scanner, delivering precise 3D point cloud data, and an Applanix AP+50 GNSS/IMU system ensuring accurate georeferencing of all sensor outputs.

This sensor fusion approach enabled the simultaneous capture of high-resolution imagery, 3D terrain data and structural features such as poles, wires and bridge clearances. Data was processed using Esri’s ArcGIS Reality Studio, producing an integrated digital environment that included 3D meshes, true orthophotos, DSM and infrastructure classifications.

By merging multiple data streams into a single source of geospatial truth, the project delivered a detailed and operationally valuable overview of the corridor. It allowed transportation officials to assess road quality, detect early signs of degradation and make informed decisions about maintenance scheduling. This example highlights the increasing role of hybrid airborne systems in supporting public infrastructure management – delivering not only greater spatial detail but also faster, more comprehensive analysis from a single flight operation.

Case 3: Sensor fusion for benthic habitat mapping in the Great Lakes To support the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a comprehensive mapping project was launched to classify nearshore benthic habitats across the Laurentian Great Lakes. Led by a consortium using Teledyne Geospatial technology, the initiative combined multiple airborne and satellite sensors with in situ observations to create high-resolution habitat maps for ecosystem restoration and resource management.

The core of the sensor fusion approach was bathymetric Lidar (Teledyne Optech CZMIL, 532nm), which provided detailed digital elevation models of the submerged lakebed and water column. This was complemented by topographic Lidar (1,064nm) to model the coastal terrain and vegetation, ensuring seamless integration between terrestrial and aquatic zones. To characterize substrates and aquatic vegetation, hyperspectral imaging (ITRES CASI-1500 and PhaseOne 150MP) was deployed alongside satellite imagery to extend spatial and temporal coverage. Divercollected ground truth data, acoustic surveys and irradiance measurements ensured reliable model calibration.

The data obtained was processed in Esri’s ArcGIS Reality Studio to generate 3D meshes, true orthophotos, DSMs and infrastructure classifications. (Image courtesy: Esri / AISPECO)

The project adopted the NOAA Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) and applied machine learning techniques to fuse data sources and deliver multi-tiered classification outputs ranging from general substrate types to species-level differentiation. The approach achieved over 90% classification accuracy for substrate and biotic features, providing actionable data for habitat restoration, conservation zoning and environmental impact assessments while demonstrating transferability to other shallow coastal ecosystems.

Case 4: Hybrid Lidar and imagery acquisition for rail corridor mapping in Styria AVT’s project for ÖBB Infrastruktur AG demonstrates the value of integrated sensor

Data, workflow and sensorintegration challenges persist under platform constraints

platforms in infrastructure monitoring. Using the UltraCam Dragon hybrid aerial mapping system from Vexcel, AVT surveyed rail corridors in Austria’s Styria region, specifically along the Steirische Südbahn and Radkersburger Bahn lines. The mission’s aim was to support planning for the modernization and expansion of the region’s railway infrastructure.

The UltraCam Dragon combines highresolution nadir and oblique RGBI imagery with precise elevation data captured by an integrated 2.4MHz RIEGL Lidar sensor. This synchronized cost-effective data acquisition within a single system ensures perfect alignment between imagery and Lidar data, eliminating the need for separate flights or dual-sensor aircraft configurations. The

Dragon offers a dedicated corridor mapping collection mode with sideward-looking obliques disabled.

Deliverables included a classified point cloud (ground/non-ground), digital terrain and surface models (DTM and DSM), and RGBI imagery and orthophotos at a ground sampling distance of 2.5cm. These datasets enable planners to perform accurate assessments in areas where conventional survey techniques reach their limits. They support a wide range of applications, from noise modelling and route alignment to precise terrain evaluation.

Future directions and challenges

Several key trends are shaping the future of sensor fusion technology. Real-time

Photogrammetric measurements were conducted using measuree, AVT’s browser-based tool for 3D evaluation of oblique imagery. (Image courtesy: AVT Airborne Sensing)

Lidar point cloud from a rail corridor survey by AVT Airborne Sensing using the UltraCam Dragon. Data acquisition parameters: 2.5cm GSD, 620m AGL, 120 knots, 80%/30% overlap (forward/side), 2.4MHz PRR, 500 lines/sec, 45pts/m², sun angle ≥ 35°. (Image courtesy: AVT Airborne Sensing)

About the author

Ada Perello is the communications manager at the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI), which was established in 2019 to unite companies generating geographic data from crewed aerial platforms and has experienced rapid growth ever since. Prior to joining EAASI, Perello worked in external communications for organizations like IMO, FAO and the private sector. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and International Business Administration.

processing capabilities are emerging for applications requiring immediate decision-making, such as emergency response and dynamic environmental monitoring. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing increasingly important roles, enabling the identification of complex patterns across different sensor types and more sophisticated analysis of integrated datasets. However, challenges remain in data volume management, processing requirements, standardization of workflows and the integration of multiple sensors on single platforms while considering payload constraints and operational complexity.

Sensor fusion represents a fundamental shift in aerial survey methodology towards integrated sensing platforms that leverage the combined strengths of multiple technologies. The real-world applications across diverse sectors demonstrate practical benefits in efficiency, accuracy and actionable geospatial intelligence. As technology continues evolving, sensor fusion is positioned to become the standard approach for comprehensive spatial data missions, with crewed platforms offering unique advantages in payload capacity, flight endurance and operational flexibility for next-generation geospatial applications.

Further reading

https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/olive-sector-statisticsapril-may-2025

D’Addabbo, A., Matarrese, R., Lovergine, F., Refice, A., Belmonte, A., Bovenga, F., Gallo, A., Amoia, S.S., Abou Kubaa, R., Mita, G., et al. Toward an Operational System for Automatically Detecting Xylella fastidiosa in Olive Groves Based on Hyperspectral and Thermal Remote Sensing Data. Remote Sens. 2025, 17, 1372. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17081372

Reif, M.K., Krumwiede, B.S., Brown, S.E., Theuerkauf, E.J., and Harwood, J.H., Nearshore Benthic Mapping in the Great Lakes: A Multi-Agency Data Integration Approach in Southwest Lake Michigan, Remote Sens. 2021, 13(15), 3026. https://www.mdpi. com/2072-4292/13/15/3026

UltraCam goes 811: Vexcel Imaging at Intergeo 2025

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Vexcel Imaging - Home of the UltraCam

Reflections on the present and future of France’s geospatial sector

Shaping the raison d’être of surveyors

In June 2025, Séverine Vernet was unanimously confirmed as the first permanent female president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètres-experts (the national council of licensed surveyors in France). With 25 years of field experience, Vernet blends technical practice with institutional leadership. In this exclusive conversation with GIM International, she shares her views on the current state of France’s geospatial sector and lays out her vision and ambitions for guiding the profession through major transformations: from digital innovation to environmental responsibility, to governance reforms and a renewed raison d’être for surveyors.

Wim van Wegen, GIM International

In 2025, you became the first woman to be confirmed as president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètresexperts (OGE) after more than a quarter of a century in land surveying. Looking back at your journey, which experiences have most shaped your vision for the profession?

First of all, I want to say how proud I am to be the first female president of the national council of licensed surveyors in France. For me, it shows that this path is now open to everyone; that it no longer matters whether you are a woman or a man. I’ve been a land surveyor for over 25 years, and that hands-on experience is essential for leading a profession like ours. I care deeply about staying connected to what professionals experience every day in their offices. Ours is a profession rooted in practice, and practice is the best experience you can have. I became involved in the work of our institution early on in my career, and that shaped my belief that you have to give in order to receive. My work on training, on issues related to our professional monopoly and later as a regional president all gave me insight into how our institution functions. This inspired me to continue this commitment with a clear understanding of both the system and the reality on the ground.

How would you describe the current state of the surveying sector in France?

I would say the profession is at a real turning point. The real-estate crisis is slowing activity and making it harder for firms to plan ahead. At the same time, it’s fair to say that our work has never been more crucial: ensuring land security, supporting urban densification, contributing to more efficient land use, and helping achieve the Zéro Artificialisation Nette (Zero Net Land Take or ‘ZAN’) targets. We also need to embrace digital innovation, especially 3D modelling. New ways of collecting and processing data are transforming how topography is done. So yes, the sector faces serious challenges, but there are also huge opportunities that highlight its strategic role in sustainable land planning.

What are your key priorities for OGE over the next years, and how do they align with the evolving role of land surveyors?

Actually, I have set four main priorities. First, updating the governance of our institutions. Second, guiding the digital transition, bringing in new 3D data collection and processing methods, making digital tools standard practice and helping our members adopt emerging technologies like AI. Third, ensuring the profession’s long-term future by raising its profile, making it more attractive and inspiring young people to join. And lastly, strengthening the image of licensed surveyors as essential players in spatial planning, committed to ecological transition and responsible land management. These priorities are in line with how our profession is evolving: at the crossroads of law, technology and the environment. We need to be credible, visible and innovative.

You’ve spoken about making OGE more agile and inclusive. What concrete steps are being taken to reform governance and strengthen professional standards?

The goal is to build a more agile, participatory organization. We’re developing a new strategic plan that fully integrates environmental and social issues. We’ve also launched the Assises ordinales, which is a new forum that brings together all regional and national representatives to work collectively on the future of the profession.

This is very much needed, as it is helping us foster dialogue, transparency and better representation, especially of younger generations and women. At the same time, we’re updating the profession’s code of ethics and working on clarifying both our raison d’être as surveyors and OGE’s own purpose. We’re also weaving in stronger commitments around compliance, ethics and environmental responsibility.

At the FIG Working Week 2024, you presented OGE as a “second-level regulator” with a responsibility to instil a compliance culture and define a raison d’être for the profession. How will this process support surveyors in meeting societal expectations, from climate action to data governance?

By “second-level regulator”, we mean moving beyond a purely disciplinary approach and building a true culture of compliance. Instead of only enforcing obligations, we want to help surveyors anticipate the challenges ahead. At the Assises ordinales, we will unveil both the profession’s raison d’être and that of OGE. The idea is to strengthen our ability to tackle climate, environmental and digital challenges so we can play an even bigger role in shaping the territories of tomorrow. When it comes to data, our focus is on ensuring reliability, confidentiality and ethics. This proactive approach gives every licensed surveyor the tools to meet society’s expectations with credibility.

During the recent Universités d’été annual national meeting of French surveyors, you emphasized the housing crisis. How can licensed surveyors and the wider geospatial community contribute to solutions such as urban densification and the more efficient use of already-developed land?

The housing crisis France is facing calls for concrete, responsible solutions – and licensed surveyors are very central to that effort. With our legal and technical expertise, we can spot opportunities for densification in urban areas, design appropriate subdivisions or consolidations, and make sure projects are legally secure. We also work with local authorities to assess soil conditions, check development feasibility and factor in environmental and climate constraints. And by providing reliable data, we support the redevelopment of brownfields and urban renewal projects. In short, I like to say that

we help build more housing without taking more land.

OGE is an active member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). In your view, how can the institution contribute to FIG’s global agenda, and what are the benefits for French surveyors of being part of this international community?

Our involvement in FIG shows a clear ambition: putting the French profession at the heart of the global conversation. We contribute our expertise in compliance, governance, raison d’être, land-use efficiency and the fight against land artificialisation. In return, French surveyors gain access to a wealth of international know-how, technological innovations and on-theground experience. This global outlook helps us modernize and makes the profession more attractive. Moreover, in 2028, FIG will celebrate its 150th anniversary in Paris. Hosting this historic congress is both an honour and a major milestone, and it also

poses a great opportunity to showcase how dynamic and influential French licensed surveyors have become on the international stage.

From climate change to digital transformation, surveyors worldwide face growing responsibilities. How should the geospatial industry position itself as a key actor in addressing these global challenges?

The geospatial sector should position itself as a crucial link between data, public policy and sustainable transition. French licensed surveyors already work around the world on land security, cadastre development and legal reforms, helping build stable, equitable living environments. OGE also monitors European developments closely, especially on climate, environmental, human rights and compliance issues. With our legal rigour, data quality and strong social commitment, we can become a cornerstone of global transitions that are working for both territories and citizens.

Digital twins, building information modelling (BIM) and advances in reality capture are all reshaping the surveying profession. How is OGE helping its members to adopt and integrate these technologies into their daily practice? We actively encourage the adoption of digital twins, BIM and other emerging technologies. Producing reliable data is key to any digital twin, so we promote better data quality as well as advanced visualization, geolocation and simulation tools. We’re also involved in national initiatives, such as the open call from IGN, CEREMA and INRIA to build a digital twin of France. Acting as a bridge between surveyors and public institutions helps ensure these tools are actually used on the ground – in land, urban planning and infrastructure projects. I’d also like to mention that we’re currently developing a ‘data qualification’ tool to track and label essential criteria like acquisition dates, processing methods and so on. This will help strengthen both reliability and interoperability.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing surveying and geospatial workflows. How do you see AI transforming the role of surveyors, and which opportunities or risks should the profession be preparing for?

AI offers huge potential to boost both efficiency and precision. It can handle repetitive tasks like image processing, classifying geospatial data or spotting anomalies, and can free up time for higher-value work like analysis, consultancy and legal security. It also allows us to cross-reference massive datasets to inform public policy on housing, mobility or climate. But we must also be very aware that there are risks: algorithmic opacity, dependence on private tools, and the danger of losing control over our data. That’s why we need clear ethical and professional standards to guide its use. In fact, AI will be the central theme of our next national congress, so we can explore these issues together as a profession.

Many countries face a shortage of young surveyors. Is this also the case in France? If so, how is OGE helping the industry to attract and retain the next generation?

Yes, France faces the same challenge; we definitely risk running short of young talent in the coming years. This is something we need to address – and already are addressing in several ways. We are strengthening ties with schools and universities, supporting courses that are aligned with new needs like land-use efficiency, digital twins and data. We are also running awareness-raising initiatives: summer universities, competitions and educational events such as the Expert Game. Through our networks, we actively promote diversity and inclusion to better reflect society and attract a wider range of profiles. The goal is to show young people an exciting and meaningful profession that is full of opportunity at the crossroads of law, digital tech and the environment.

Beyond FIG, which opportunities do you see for stronger collaboration and knowledge exchange with the wider geospatial community?

I strongly believe in European and Francophone cooperation. OGE is part of European regulatory networks and projects on digital twins and land-use efficiency. We also work closely with the Fédération des Géomètres Francophones (FGF), which is an excellent platform for exchanging knowledge and sharing common standards across the French-speaking world, and for supporting countries where land

About Séverine Vernet

Séverine Vernet is the president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètres-experts, the national council of licensed surveyors in France. An engineering graduate of the École Supérieure des Géomètres et Topographes (1996), she has practised as a land surveyor at Bonnier Vernet Floch since 2000, and also serves as an expert at the Court of Appeal of Versailles. She chaired the Île-deFrance Regional Council from 2013 to 2017, became vice-president of the National Council in 2015 and first vice-president in 2021. After acting as interim president from March 2024 to June 2025, Séverine Vernet was confirmed as the first woman to permanently lead the institution.

security is still a major issue. Additionally, we very much value bilateral partnerships and research consortia that bring together institutions, universities and local authorities, since these collaborations enrich our practice and strengthen the international reach of French licensed surveyors.

By the end of your mandate in 2027, what impact would you like to have achieved, both within OGE and within the broader profession?

By 2027, I hope that OGE will be more agile and inclusive, as outlined in our new strategic plan. I also want our governance to be more representative and transparent, and our partnerships with private operators, local authorities and public bodies to be much stronger. Above all, I want the profession to have fully embraced a culture of compliance, built on a strong raison d’être that links our work to climate, digital and social challenges. And I hope surveyors will be widely seen as key players in spatial planning – ready to meet the challenges of the next decade and expand their influence both nationally and internationally.

Rounding off, what is your message for GIM International readers?

That licensed surveyors are here to serve society. Our mission goes far beyond measurement; it’s about securing land rights, supporting the ecological transition and helping to shape well-balanced territories. In a world changing rapidly due to climate pressures, digital innovation and new citizen expectations, we must stand firm on our raison d’être and our culture of compliance as guarantees of trust and credibility. Last but not least, I wholeheartedly invite the international community to come together in Paris in June 2028 to celebrate FIG’s 150th anniversary: a truly historic milestone and a unique opportunity to shape the future of our profession, together.

Bringing the geospatial world’s silent foundation into the spotlight

The visibility challenge of geodesy

By Martin Sehnal, IAG

When people think of geospatial technologies, they often imagine drones, sensors and smart maps, but rarely think about the underlying reference frames that provide reliability. Awareness of geodesy’s scientific foundations as well as its practical applications is essential to safeguard investment in infrastructure. At IAG, they are working to bring the ‘invisible framework’ to the forefront, but they cannot do it alone. It requires a whole community.

Imagine you wake up tomorrow to find your smartphone navigation no longer works. Even your clock shows the wrong time. Air traffic controllers cannot plan safe routes for planes, ships drift off course, tsunami warning systems go silent. What’s happened? In short: geodesy has gone missing.

Geodesy is the invisible foundation of our modern world. It measures the Earth’s shape, gravity field and rotation. Geodesy provides stable reference frames that support everything from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to climate monitoring. Despite its vital importance, geodesy is still largely unfamiliar to those outside the scientific community.

Why geodesy matters

Anyone working with coordinates, maps or positioning relies daily on global geodetic reference frames. The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), for instance, enables positions and movements to be measured with millimetre-level precision. Without these highly accurate coordinate frames, surveys drift over time, digital twins misalign and GNSS positions

become unreliable. Geodesy is also essential for monitoring sea-level rise, glacier melt and land subsidence, supporting disaster management such as earthquake or tsunami warnings, and keeping global time systems in sync. Whenever accuracy, stability and trust in geospatial data are critical, geodesy is quietly at work.

The global geodetic supply chain

Behind every coordinate lies a global infrastructure of geodetic observatories equipped with GNSS receivers, satellite laser ranging (SLR) systems, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) radio telescopes, and Doppler Orbitography by Radiopositioning Integrated on Satellite (DORIS) beacons (see Figure 1). These stations gather raw observations, which are then analysed by universities, research institutes and mapping agencies around the world.

Through the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and its Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), all this data is transformed into reliable products like the ITRF. Hundreds of organizations worldwide contribute, usually funded nationally but

serving global needs. These freely available products showcase IAG’s collaborative and generous nature. At the same time, IAG remains vulnerable. As current funding cuts in some US government agencies show, reductions at the national level can directly

Figure 2: This geodesy cartoon humourously illustrates that GNSS and its applications fundamentally depend on geodesy. (Image courtesy: IAG-GGOS https://geodesy.science/ cartoon, cartoonist Riccardo Barzaghi)

Figure 1: VLBI radio telescope alongside a permanent GNSS receiver at the Onsala Space Observatory in Sweden, illustrating key geodetic infrastructure that forms the backbone of the global geodetic supply chain and underpins the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). (Photo by Martin Sehnal, May 2023)

affect IAG-related entities and, in turn, threaten the resilience of the global geodetic supply chain.

From science to policy

Political support is essential. In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on a Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) for Sustainable Development, recognizing the importance of reference frames and the fact that no country can build or maintain such a reference frame alone. While IAG has been providing the scientific geodetic backbone since 1862, it does not operate on a political level. To fill this gap, in 2023 the United Nations established the Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) in Bonn, Germany. Its mission is to connect science with policy: raising awareness, securing resources and strengthening global geodetic infrastructure.

One major task is mobilizing sustainable funding for critical supply chain elements: building geodetic stations in underrepresented regions (e.g. the southern hemisphere), modernizing aging observatories, and supporting experts who transform raw measurements into global reference frames. Progress takes time, but geodesy is steadily gaining a firmer place on the international political agenda.

The visibility challenge: bringing geodesy into the spotlight

Geodesy is largely invisible. When people think of geospatial technologies, they frequently imagine drones, sensors and smart maps, but rarely the reference frames that make these tools reliable. This invisibility risks underinvestment in infrastructure, education and awareness. At IAG and GGOS, we strive to bridge the gap between geodesy’s scientific foundations and its practical applications in geomatics.

Accessible entry points are crucial. To this end, we recently redesigned the IAG website and switched to a more descriptive domain name: ‘https://geodesy.science’. It provides an introductory step into geodesy, complemented by the GGOS information platform, which presents geodetic observation techniques and products in clear, easy-to-understand language. We have also invested in visual storytelling. The geodesy films Discover GGOS and Geodesy and Terrestrial Reference Frames were produced with volunteers from across our community and are now available in up to 14 languages. Between them, they have already reached more than 77,000 viewers worldwide. Due to this success we are continuing to develop videos to explain geodetic products in simple, engaging ways.

To make geodesy even more accessible, we turned to humour and creativity. The Geodesy Cartoons initiative (see Figure 2) started with a few sketches by a geodesy professor who happened to draw in his spare time. Today, it has evolved into a recently launched international Geodesy Cartoon Competition that invites scientists, students and artists to ‘turn science into smiles’ with their own geodesy-themed cartoons. By visualizing geodesy in a playful, relatable way, we open the door for new audiences to see its relevance.

Another milestone is the upcoming GGOS Portal, which will serve as a one-stop access point for geodetic data and products. Instead

About the author

Martin Sehnal studied geodesy and is director of IAG’s GGOS Coordinating Office, secretary of the IAG Communication and Outreach Branch (COB), and assistant secretary general of IAG. He performs these roles while working at the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) in Vienna, Austria. He is a corresponding member of the Austrian Geodetic Commission (ÖGK).

of searching across dozens of specialized databases, users will be able to discover geodetic resources in a structured, user-friendly way. For geomatics professionals, this means easier access to the foundational data that supports surveying, mapping, navigation and Earth observation.

A call to action

Bringing geodesy to the forefront is not a task for scientists alone; it requires a whole community. Educators can include it in curricula. Media can tell its stories. Surveyors can highlight the value of reference frames to clients. Policymakers can invest in sustaining global infrastructure. And there is another challenge: whereas people immediately recognize terms like ‘geology’ or ‘meteorology’, ‘geodesy’ is barely known outside professional circles. Whenever I told friends or family that I studied geodesy, the inevitable question was, “What’s that?” and I found myself explaining it from scratch each time. This simple experience highlights the reality we face: geodesy is all around us in daily life, but as a concept it is almost invisible. That has to change. If society can connect the word ‘geodesy’ to something they already use, like navigating with a smartphone, checking their location or building a digital twin, then awareness will grow naturally. The more people recognize the name, the more they will understand its importance.

As director of IAG’s GGOS Coordinating Office, I have seen the enthusiasm that emerges when people discover how much geodesy shapes their lives. Whether through a cartoon, a video or an initiative at the UN-GGCE, the message is the same: geodesy matters – for science, for society and for you. So next time you open your GNSS receiver, create a digital twin or simply check your location on your phone, remember the invisible framework that makes it possible. Help us to spread the word about ‘geodesy’. Because only if it is seen, named and understood, can it continue to serve as the indispensable foundation of our geospatial future.

Surveying beneath the surface

Geospatial precision in the Stockholm Metro Expansion

By Wim van Wegen, GIM International

One of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure projects is currently taking shape beneath the streets and waterways of Sweden’s capital city. The Stockholm Metro Expansion will add more than 30km of tunnels and new subway stations to a system that has not seen a major extension in decades. At the heart of this vast undertaking lies geospatial expertise, of course. With millimetre precision, surveyors provide the monitoring, control, verification and guidance that ensure the subsurface operations proceed safely, accurately and in harmony with the city and its residents above.

Driven by rapid population growth and an aging network, Stockholm is expanding its metro system. This programme is a long-term investment in mobility that goes beyond tunnelling. As part of a redesign to strengthen interchanges, spread demand and support transit-oriented development, the Stockholm Region government authority is redrawing the map with new lines and extensions that add capacity, shorten crosscity journeys and unlock underserved areas. The project will also deliver new stations and catalyse new neighbourhoods around them. Openings will be in stages, with some sections opening from 2027 onwards and others following way into the 2030s.

Surveying is central to the success of such a complex scheme, particularly given Stockholm’s geography. Built on a mosaic of islands, with historic structures and sensitive infrastructure in the central districts, the city poses formidable challenges for engineers and surveyors. Excavating an escalator shaft alongside a 40m residential building illustrates the delicate balance faced by the project team. “Imagine how carefully you have to operate when you’re building a tunnel right next to existing infrastructure or even apartment blocks where people are still living. That’s a responsibility you don’t take lightly,” says Elias Olofsson from Clinton Mätkonsult, one of Sweden’s oldest surveying consultancies spanning construction surveying, monitoring and

Navigation of pilot hole for raise boring.

scan-to-BIM modelling. The surveyors’ expertise ensures progress can continue safely, accurately and efficiently in the demanding underground environment.

Building the survey framework

Clinton Mätkonsult firstly became involved in 2019, establishing the tunnel grid and reference network that would guide the years of construction ahead. GNSS receivers and total stations created a geodetic backbone, from which all subsequent excavation and building could be controlled. “The first thing we worked on was creating the tunnel grid,” Olofsson recalls. “The client required a consistent network across the system, and from there we moved into contractor support.”

For this, the surveyors needed a solid understanding of construction methods, such as drill-and-blast or tunnel boring machines, since every method brought its own requirements for measurement and control. Such knowledge is crucial in complex projects such as the Stockholm Metro Expansion where, in the early stages, the work focused on guiding rock blasting and the excavation of access tunnels. As the project gradually advanced, the surveyors turned their attention to concrete works, earthworks and eventually to finishing tasks. At every step, they ensured that designs translated precisely into reality by working side by side with engineers to provide real-time feedback on alignment, positioning and potential deviations. The ultimate test of accuracy came when separate tunnelling drives had to meet. As Olofsson notes, “One of the most

important tasks of the surveyor is making sure that the tunnel is actually built where it’s supposed to be built.”

Underground survey methods

As a sign of how the geospatial industry as a whole – including underground surveying – has been transformed by the digital revolution and technology in recent years, surveyors also increasingly apply laser scanning or inertial systems to ensure precise positioning in GNSS-denied environments. “The use of GNSS is limited in tunnelling because signals are blocked or severely weakened underground. Working in tunnelling was very different 30 years ago,” Olofsson says. “Scanners existed, but they were expensive, complicated and time consuming. Today, scanning is easy.”

In the Stockholm project, laser scanning now accounts for the majority of data collection, supported by total stations for control and verification. Above the surface in the Swedish capital, drones have occasionally been deployed and proved to be a helpful tool, but underground the scanner dominates. Rather than dictating which equipment should be used, the client specifies accuracy and quality thresholds. “It’s up to us whether we use Leica, Trimble or another manufacturer’s equipment,” Olofsson comments. “What matters is delivering scans and measurements that meet the specifications.”

Guaranteeing data quality

Precision is paramount in tunnelling. Continuous instrument checks

Gyro measurement carried out inside the tunnel by Universität der Bundeswehr München to externally check for tunnel misalignment.

Monitoring of retaining wall with a beam-mounted triaxial tilt sensor node from Senceive.

and frequent updates of the control grid are essential in order to prevent cumulative errors, since even very minor deviations can escalate over long tunnel sections. Such errors can harm the strong safety standards and lead to rework that can be very costly, so surveyors adopt a mindset of redundancy. “For total stations and scanners, we do monthly controls,” Olofsson explains. “But beyond equipment checks, quality is about the surveyor’s mindset. A good surveyor doesn’t measure once – they measure twice, sometimes three times.” Ensuring quality is a collaborative effort. The client actively monitored and validated the tunnel grid, while Clinton is also enforcing its own internal safeguards. In a nutshell, it comes down to double-checking results and cross-verifying data. Following these rigorous workflows has reduced the risk of mistakes.

Another crucial aspect of the surveyor’s role is monitoring. In a dense urban environment like Stockholm, protecting nearby structures is just as important as guiding new construction. “In the past, monitoring could be defined as setting up a total station at the site and measuring a few points,” Olofsson recalls. “Thanks to today’s technology, we can now monitor continuously.”

Hundreds of sensors

Besides the part played by automatic total stations, hundreds of sensors were deployed from various contractors, including Senceive and Geosense. These ranged

from tilt sensors on retaining walls to inclinometers installed in soil to measure ground movement. This proved to be a key component in the successful survey works of this massive project. “With sensors, you don’t need line of sight, which is a big advantage in Swedish winters with snow,” he notes. “They measure 24/7, and in our project we set them to log every hour. That way, if the ground moved or a retaining wall was

stressed, we would see it immediately.” This constant stream of data allowed contractors to act proactively, adjusting construction methods before risks escalated. Hourly updates flagged subtle trends at a very early stage, supporting timely construction and protecting adjacent buildings and utilities. This ensured that the expansion of the metro system could advance without threatening homes, roads or tramlines above ground.

Applying the geospatial data

The gathered geospatial data was put to work in multiple ways. Scanning validated that excavated tunnels matched the designs and that clearances were respected. Safety depended on ensuring that no protruding rocks or misalignments obstructed future trains or installations. The data also played a key role in quantity checks, as contractors in projects like these are often paid based on the volume of rock excavated or the thickness of the concrete applied.

“Scanning allows us to compare the rock face to the theoretical tunnel, and also to compare the sprayed concrete thicknesses,” Olofsson comments. “That way, we know exactly how much material was used and can control costs.” Beyond contractual

A Sandviken DT1132i 3 Jumbo, drilling for blast.

A surveyor from Clinton Mätkonsult working on the installation of inclinometers inside a retaining wall.

purposes, such checks also help to identifying any operators applying more material than necessary, allowing practices to be corrected.

Unexpected challenges

Not all the tasks in the survey works for the Stockholm Metro Expansion project could be solved with standard routines. The construction of steep escalator shafts was a prime example. “These shafts were 30-78m long with a slope of around 37 degrees,” Olofsson explains. “We couldn’t blast them like normal tunnels. Instead, we drilled a pilot hole, then used a raise-boring machine with a 5m diameter to ream upwards, before blasting the remaining shape.”

Guiding the pilot hole required extraordinary precision, since even small deviations could lead to major problems. “That was a moment where we as surveyors really had to think outside the box,” he recalls. “Everyone wanted to be involved because it was such an unusual challenge. And let’s be honest, it’s always fun when you’re faced with a problem you haven’t seen before. That’s when surveyors can really show their creativity.”

Teamwork in a 24/7 operation

Needless to say, surveying a metro expansion project is a team effort. Clinton’s crew began with three people and grew to as many as 12 during peak activity. With tunnelling operations running day and night, surveyors also worked shifts to provide constant coverage.

About the author

Wim van Wegen is head of content at GIM International and Hydro International. In his role, he is responsible for the print and online publications of one of the world’s leading geomatics and hydrography trade media brands. He is also a contributor of columns and feature articles, and often interviews renowned experts in the geospatial industry. Van Wegen has a bachelor degree in European studies from the NHL University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

Besides the Swedish project team members from Stockholm Region and Clinton, other participants came from a mix of countries including Slovakia and Italy, with the tunnel crews supplied by Itinera SpA. This multilingual collaboration added another layer of complexity. “Communication was one of the hardest parts,” Olofsson admits. “You need clear systems and data control to avoid misunderstandings.” Handling the vast amount of scanned geospatial data was itself a full-time challenge. With new scans conducted every few metres, the project quickly accumulated enormous datasets, making robust data management essential.

Lessons for the profession

When reflecting on the project, Olofsson stresses that surveyors should prioritize reliable workflows and quality assurance. Redundancy and double-checks prevent costly mistakes, while monitoring technologies make construction both safer and more efficient. He also highlights the importance of communication and organization when working in large, cross-cultural teams. Above all, he emphasizes that surveyors must never lose sight of data management. “When you’re scanning every three or four metres along kilometres-long tunnels, the amount of data is huge. Having a good system to manage it is key to success,” he states.

Central role of surveying in urban infrastructure

The Stockholm Metro Expansion demonstrates the central role of surveying and geospatial expertise in modern urban infrastructure. Using advanced methods, surveyors have laid down the grids that are anchoring construction, guided excavation with scanning and total stations, and safeguarded the city above with nonstop monitoring systems. They have also adapted creatively to unique challenges, such as constructing steep escalator shafts and handling the enormous amounts of data generated underground. Projects of this scale are highly demanding, but they also represent the pinnacle of the surveying profession. For Olofsson and his colleagues, the Stockholm Metro Expansion has been more than just another assignment. The chance to apply their skills in such a significant endeavour was not just a responsibility, it was the icing on the cake in their professional journey.

The raise-boring machine mounted in one of the vertical shafts before drilling began.

A large-scale benchmark dataset and deep learning approach for automated cadastral boundary extraction

Accelerating cadastral mapping with CadastreVision and CadNet

By Jeroen Grift, Claudio Persello and Mila Koeva, University of Twente, the Netherlands

The lack of a large, open benchmark dataset that combines Earth observation imagery with accurate cadastral references has been holding back progress in the land administration community. This article presents a dataset and deep learning model developed in the Netherlands to meet this need. Comparison against baseline architectures shows that this approach delivers higher accuracy and improved boundary continuity, with boundary lines that are cleaner, better connected and more closely aligned with the true cadastral boundaries.

Secure land rights are vital to combating poverty, hunger and inequality, and are central to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While high-income countries typically have robust systems for recording land ownership, many people in lowerincome regions lack access to formal

land registration. It’s estimated that 70 to 75% of the global population do not have official land rights documentation. The fit-for-purpose land administration (FFPLA) approach was introduced by FIG and the World Bank to address this challenge. It leverages that many property boundaries correspond to visible features such as

fences, roads or buildings – features often identifiable in aerial or satellite imagery. As Earth observation (EO) data becomes increasingly accessible and suitable for automated analysis, this approach has gained momentum as a scalable solution for mapping land rights remotely.

Recent deep learning (DL) developments have shown strong potential for cadastral boundary extraction from EO imagery. These methods reduce the number of manual interactions needed to digitize boundaries, significantly improving speed and efficiency. However, most current studies rely on small, localized datasets. This limits both the scalability of these methods and their generalization to new geographic areas. At the same

Figure 2: Top – classification into visible (green)/non-visible (red). Bottom – classification of vegetation, water, built-up and building objects.

time, the field has yet to fully adopt cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as transformer-based architectures, which require large and diverse datasets to perform effectively. Without access to such data, developing and benchmarking next-generation DL methods for cadastral mapping remains constrained.

What’s missing and what’s next?

One of the main bottlenecks is the lack of a large, open benchmark dataset that combines EO imagery with accurate cadastral references. This contrasts with other remote sensing domains, like building detection, land cover classification or road mapping, where benchmark datasets have been pivotal in driving progress. A standardized, publicly available dataset for cadastral boundary extraction would allow the community to test and compare models consistently, helping to bring land administration into the digital era. To push the limits of what’s possible in this field, we must explore how far DL can go when powered by benchmark data and advanced model architectures. Testing these models in a controlled, standardized environment is key to understanding their full potential and developing reliable, scalable tools for real-world applications.

Introducing CadastreVision

To meet this need, the authors developed CadastreVision, a large-scale benchmark dataset that combines Dutch cadastral reference data with high-quality aerial and satellite imagery. Designed to support the training and testing of deep learning

models, CadastreVision offers a standardized resource that can help accelerate cadastral mapping in data-rich and data-scarce regions. It also supports research into model transferability, evaluating whether models trained on Dutch data can be adapted to other parts of the world. Notably, CadastreVision includes a detailed classification of cadastral boundaries as visible or non-visible in the imagery. This distinction is critical, as most DL models today are limited to detecting only visible boundaries. By enabling separate evaluation on visible and invisible boundaries, the dataset supports more nuanced and realistic assessments of model performance.

Building the dataset

The Netherlands was divided into 10x10km tiles, from which 90 were selected to reflect the country’s diverse cultural landscapes, including areas shaped by human activity such as field patterns, dikes and waterways (see Figure 1). For each tile, RGB imagery was collected from a variety of EO sources: high-resolution aerial photos (8 and 25cm), available via Publieke Dienstverlening op de Kaart (PDOK), and satellite imagery from SuperView (50cm), PlanetScope (approximately 3m) and Sentinel-2 (10m). While aerial images were ready to use, due to cloud cover and image extent limitations the SuperView satellite data required manual selection, mosaicking and clipping to align with the vector tiles. PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 images were extracted from cloud-free mosaics provided by the Netherlands Space Office. For each EO image, a corresponding binary mask of cadastral boundaries was created

using Basisregistratie Kadaster (BRK) parcel data from spring 2022. These boundaries were buffered by 0.4m to account for positional uncertainty and rasterized to match the spatial resolution of the imagery.

Visible vs non-visible boundaries

CadastreVision identifies which cadastral boundaries are visible in the EO data and which are not. This was done using open Dutch geospatial datasets (BGT, BRT, BRP and BAG) to extract topographic features, which were then compared with the BRK cadastral boundaries. Boundaries overlapping with topographic objects were classified as visible; the rest were classified as non-visible. This allows researchers to independently assess model accuracy on both types, which is crucial for fair evaluation and practical use in land administration systems.

A full pipeline run across all 90 tiles showed that 72.2% of the total cadastral boundary length could be matched to visible topographic features. This demonstrates the viability of nationally automated visibility classification. A visual example is shown in Figure 1, where visible boundaries (green) and non-visible boundaries (red) are overlaid on aerial imagery. Thematic classifications of the matched segments, such as vegetation, water, built-up area and buildings, are also shown in the image. Analysis of the thematic classification reveals that more than 53% of the matched segments were matched with vegetation, 35% with water, 24% with road, 10% with buildings and 33% with others (due to multi-label classification, the percentages do not add up to 100%).

A new model: CadNet

Building on this foundation, the authors developed a U-shaped deep learning model – a convolutional encoder–decoder network widely used in image segmentation – to automatically extract cadastral boundaries from high-resolution imagery. To benchmark its performance, two baseline models were established using proven encoder-decoder architectures: one with a transformer-based encoder and the other with a ResNet backbone, both pre-trained

on large-scale datasets. To enhance boundary connectivity, they introduced a method that examines neighbouring pixels in multiple directions, generating connectivity maps that help the model better capture how boundary segments link together. The authors also designed a novel multi-stage labelling system that integrates contextual information at different decoding stages. This allows the model to progressively refine its predictions, focusing on the most relevant features and improving the continuity of boundary lines.

The final model outputs both a segmentation mask and connectivity maps, which are combined to produce a clean, one-pixel-wide boundary line. This line is then converted into vector format, ready for use in cadastral mapping systems.

Results

Using a rural subset of the CadastreVision benchmark dataset, the model was evaluated against the two baseline architectures. The results show that the approach consistently outperforms both baselines across standard segmentation metrics, delivering higher accuracy and improved boundary continuity. Visual inspections confirm that the predicted lines are more complete and exhibit fewer breaks, particularly in areas with complex natural features such as vegetation edges or irregular field boundaries (see Figure 3). Compared to the baselines, the model produces boundary lines that are cleaner, better connected and more closely aligned with the true cadastral boundaries, making them more suitable for direct integration into mapping workflows without extensive manual correction.

Future work and applications

Building on the results obtained with CadNet and the CadastreVision dataset, several ways for further research and practical implementation can be pursued to enhance cadastral boundary extraction and mapping:

• Large-scale experiments: A natural next step is to perform experiments using the entire CadastreVision dataset. While previous

Figure 3: Left – cadastral reference data. Right – predictions made by the proposed model.

work has focused on subsets, running the model on the full dataset will allow a more comprehensive evaluation of its performance and scalability, providing insights into strengths and limitations across diverse landscape types.

• Transferability assessment: To evaluate how well the model generalizes beyond the training regions, case study areas should be selected to test transferability. Assessing transferability ensures that the model can perform reliably in different geographic, social and environmental contexts. This is particularly important for supporting land administration in regions where cadastral data is limited or incomplete, contributing to equitable access to land information. By improving model applicability across diverse settings, this research directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG5 (Gender Equality), SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), by enabling better land governance, resource management and legal recognition of land rights.

• Benchmark expansion: Expanding the benchmark dataset with more diverse imagery and cadastral reference data will further improve model robustness. Including a wider variety of rural and urban landscapes, as well as different geographic and climatic conditions, will help ensure the model can generalize globally.

• Human-in-the-loop integration: To improve accuracy and usability in real-world applications, a human-in-the-loop approach should be developed. In this framework, the model proposes candidate boundaries that human operators can review, refine and approve, combining automated efficiency with expert validation.

• Open-source GIS toolbox: Lastly, an open-source GIS toolbox should be created to implement these methods, making them

About the authors

Jeroen Grift has been a GIS developer at Kadaster since 2018. In 2022, he began a PhD at the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), the Netherlands, focusing on deep learning for cadastral mapping. At Kadaster, he works on the ‘Kadastrale Kaart Next’ project, which aims to convert and accurately position millions of field sketches to improve the digital cadastral map of the Netherlands.

Claudio Persello is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of GeoInformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente. His main research interests are in the context of machine learning and deep learning for information extraction from remotely sensed images and geospatial data. He is particularly interested in combining deep learning and Earth observation to address and monitor the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

Mila Koeva is vice dean research and associate professor at the University of Twente, ITC faculty. Her main areas of expertise include photogrammetry and remote sensing for cadastral mapping, urban planning, 3D city modelling and digital twins, among others. She leads the UT Digital Twin Geohub, ISPRS Working Group IV/9 (Spatially Enabled Urban and Regional Digital Twins) and FIG Working Group VII/4 – Artificial Intelligence for Land Administration (AI4LA).

accessible to practitioners, researchers and local authorities. This toolbox would integrate the proposed model, human-in-the-loop workflows and domain transfer methods, providing a practical platform for large-scale cadastral mapping and updating.

By pursuing these directions, future work can advance automated cadastral mapping, improve model transferability and support decision-making in regions with limited cadastral data, ultimately contributing to more efficient land administration and management practices worldwide.

Co-creating, connecting and capacity building with drones, data and AI

A global force of changemakers

By Wim van Wegen, GIM International

Providing that drones, data and AI are used both sustainably and responsibly, they can hold the key to solving many global challenges. This is the firm belief at WeRobotics, the steward of an international network of independent, locally led knowledge hubs called Flying Labs. Combining local expertise with cuttingedge technology, the labs work with civil society, government, academia, research institutes and local communities for the common social good. By stimulating knowledge sharing and collaboration between the labs, which are already in more than 40 countries across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific, WeRobotics supports the network’s growth and helps to cocreate and connect the wider ecosystem of global partners that enables the network to thrive.

WeRobotics and the Flying Labs Network are connected by a joint mission to amplify the power of local expertise around drones, data and artificial intelligence (AI) as the solution to pressing global challenges. However, it was a deliberate choice to have two brands.

“This gives the ‘local expertise’ component of our work a distinct identity, making it clear that the Flying Labs operate independently from WeRobotics,” says Amrita Lal. “This separation allows us to continually co-create the network together, guided by our core values of sharing and collaboration.”

The ‘glocalization’ model assumes that local organizations such as Flying Labs and global organizations – such as WeRobotics and the network’s partners – bring unique value to the table, according to Dania Montenegro. “Collaboration redistributes power, so that each participant can fully leverage its strengths and create lasting impact at scale together. This way, we make space for independence and interdependence, allowing us to bridge local action with a global perspective.”

Shifting the Western-centric perspective Lal, Montenegro and Klaudyna ‘Kaja’ Wrochna are all part of WeRobotics, contributing to and supporting Flying Labs

projects around the world from a technical and/or project management perspective. They are striving to shift the traditionally academic and Western-centric perspective in the geospatial and tech sectors. “These historical inequalities have constrained the social impact potential of emerging technologies by limiting who leads in their application,” comments Lal. “Even when local experts are more qualified, they have

rarely been given the opportunity to lead in the efforts affecting their own communities. But global challenges require localized, community-based solutions.” At WeRobotics, they believe that by focusing on the equitable use of emerging technologies and working with local experts to co-create the conditions necessary for them to thrive in the spaces from which they are often excluded, they can unlock new ways of thinking and working.

Youth and community members receiving safety instructions from WeRobotics’ Dania Montenegro during a field training session in Panama. (Image courtesy: Panama Flying Labs)

“This will result in exponentially greater positive social impact and sustainable economic opportunity,” states Wrochna. To achieve this, the global community needs to embrace models for social impact that place power directly in the hands of the communities they are meant to serve, she believes: “To transfer power to local communities means to transfer trust. It means building relationships with local communities not as benefactors and beneficiaries but as collaborators, allowing knowledge to flow both ways.”

Drones

support participatory approaches

Drones support a shift toward more participatory, communitydriven approaches all over the world, and especially in many parts of the Global South, where access to timely, high-resolution geospatial data is limited due to weak satellite coverage or a lack of local infrastructure. “Drones have become a go-to tool in modern surveying because they make data collection faster, safer and more accessible. They cut down on costs and turnaround time, plus they can reach places that are difficult or risky for people to access,” says Lal. “Moreover, preliminary workflows with drones can be facilitated without the need for a stable internet connection. When operated by local teams, drones also give practitioners full control over the data, allowing for timely, context-specific insights that align with national priorities and support faster, more informed decision-making.”

“What really sets drones apart, though, is how visible and engaging they are. You can’t fly a drone without drawing attention – and that invites curiosity, questions and often real community involvement. This is important, because for too long data has been extracted from communities by outsiders, often without meaningful local input,” comments Wrochna.

Community involvement

“When communities are involved from the start – in planning, flying, analysing and using drone data – they shift from being passive data subjects to active data producers and decision-makers. That kind of openness leads to more transparent, inclusive projects, which is a big part of their value. So drones are more than just efficient tools. They also help make data collection more inclusive, participatory and locally driven,” she continues.

“This shift builds trust, transparency and relevance,” adds Montenegro. “Community members bring invaluable local knowledge that adds depth and context to aerial data, often spotting patterns or explaining changes that wouldn’t be visible otherwise. The result is stronger, more grounded solutions and long-term ownership of outcomes. When people see themselves reflected in the data and decisions, the work becomes more meaningful, and the impact becomes more sustainable. So in many ways, drones are democratizing airspaces and making way for innovative solutions and approaches – especially in the humanitarian sector.”

There are already various examples of how the availability of drone-collected data has led to meaningful change on the ground. “By providing high-resolution and context-specific imagery, drones are enabling practitioners to observe and analyse dynamic land use practices, often common in informal settlements and along coastlines,” states Lal. “For instance, supported by a Turning Data Into Action microgrant from WeRobotics, South Africa Flying Labs conducted a project to map Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, which is prone to fire and flood-related disasters. While the project was primarily focused on mitigation and preparedness for climate change and disaster management, it was equally important to prioritize local stakeholder engagement. Additionally, the team were eager to seize the opportunity to raise awareness of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) among the locals by introducing them to the world of drones and robotics.” Beyond the network, academics are exploring the local use of drones as a tool, such as to monitor flooding and erosion in a fishing community in Ghana’s Volta Delta, and to analyse flash flood events in Kenya’s Enkare Narok river basin.

A matter of life or death

In many cases, bringing local expertise together with technology within the Flying Labs Network makes a decisive difference in how a challenge is tackled – sometimes even becoming a matter of life or death. “One that always comes to mind is the work in Kenya, where Flying Labs joined forces with the Red Cross to rescue a child trapped by floodwaters,” says Lal. “In Senegal, the labs have not only supported national authorities in predicting and managing floods, but also used drones to help preserve the Holy City of Touba. In Burkina Faso, drones are applied to map and manage irrigation schemes, strengthening food security in rural communities. And in Brazil, the

Klaudyna ‘Kaja’ Wrochna collaborating with a Kenya Flying Labs team member during a field operation. (Image courtesy: WeRobotics)

Flying Labs in action – in this case in Kenya, much to the delight of the local children. (Image courtesy: Dan Muniu/Kenya Flying Labs)

‘Fight for the Forest’ project shows how mapping and monitoring can help safeguard biodiversity in fragile ecosystems. Each of these projects reminds us deeply why we do this work: because local expertise, empowered by technology, creates lasting impact.”

While drones and AI often grab attention, many communities still lack basic infrastructure. Navigating the tension between cutting-edge tools and very grounded needs sometimes calls for creative approaches, as Montenegro illustrates with an impactful example. “In 2023, we had the opportunity as Panama Flying Labs to teach women from the indigenous Ixil community in Quiché, Guatemala, about the use of drones and GIS tools as part of a ‘business model’ for the local area. It was not only the first time for most of them to interact with a computer, but not all of them knew how to write, and some of the women could speak only their native language,” she

recalls. “We even used tortillas to explain the value proposition in the lean canvas, and we used clay to explain about rivers, hills and coordinates. But all the participants recognized the technology as an opportunity to bring value to their communities, to provide a service locally to international NGOs, and to collect data about their solar panels. Instead of being worried about the lack of resources, they saw the drones and the data as a new way to generate value and income.”

Diversity is a strength

With the Flying Labs Network spanning over 40 countries, the wide variety of unique local issues could be seen as a hurdle to the global adoption and application of local innovations. Instead, however, the WeRobotics team regard the network’s diversity as its greatest strength. “Besides diversity of contexts, needs, priorities and challenges, it also has diversity of expertise, experience and capacity. By facilitating

effective collaboration and knowledge sharing among all the Flying Labs, we help them to harness this diversity to ensure that local innovations can be adapted and applied sustainably across the Global South,” explains Lal.

This process starts with the local experts in the network designing and implementing the solutions that their communities need. They then globalize their local knowledge by connecting across borders to exchange knowledge and work together, such as through submitting stories of their activities, participating in sector expertise hubs, regional calls and retreats, and engaging in collaborative projects and programmes. “This knowledge is then localized once again when it flows back to their communities, replicable and adaptable. In this way, every Flying Lab contributes to and draws from the network’s collective knowledge, strengthening one another and their own local communities,” she continues.

Tanzania Flying Labs in action, deploying anti-malaria drones above the rice fields of Zanzibar.

International recognition

Each time a Flying Labs project takes shape, it reaffirms the team’s conviction that locally led approaches work. But some projects particularly stand out, such as when South Africa Flying Labs received international recognition for its work in Alexandra. “Seeing how they turned data into action, how community members felt ownership and how their story gained global attention – that made me incredibly proud,” says Wrochna, who had supported the project remotely. “It felt like a shared win. It reminded me that what we’re building isn’t theoretical. It’s happening – and it’s scalable. This is the kind of work that shows the strength of our glocalization model and why I remain so committed to this mission.”

Montenegro is equally passionate about the drone-related field projects. “Every time I know we can reduce the gender gap by training a woman, that we can shorten the distance for a person to receive a medical diagnosis, that our STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Ed.) workshops have inspired a boy from a low-income neighbourhood to continue studying, that coastal monitoring has identified mangroves that need to be protected, that we’re making life easier for biologists monitoring the nesting period of endangered sea turtles – then it’s impossible not to get excited, not to be inspired, and not to want to continue giving everything to my work,” she declares.

Embedding equality and inclusion

The longer-term aim is for Flying Labs to be at the forefront of inspiring the local development and adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, robotics and advanced drones – always anchored in ethical data practices that put communities first. “In five years’ time, I imagine the Flying Labs network as a self-sustaining community where every Lab is thriving locally while actively contributing to and benefiting from the collective intelligence of the network. I see stronger cross-collaboration, with existing Labs mentoring new ones, launching regional projects together and codeveloping tools and methodologies that elevate everyone,” foresees Montenegro. “The result will be a vibrant ecosystem of learning

About the WeRobotics team

Dania Montenegro, a Panamanian nautical engineer, shifted from the seas to the skies in 2018 through a BID LAB project that introduced her to drones and social innovation. She coordinated Panama Flying Labs (2018-2021), co-founded Cobots Lab, and later served as operations director for a DAAS company. Today, she is part of WeRobotics and mentors through regional leadership networks.

Klaudyna ‘Kaja’ Wrochna is a surveying engineer and certified drone pilot with over a decade of experience in aerial mapping. She built CERN’s drone mapping service in 2016 and joined WeRobotics in 2020, where she co-created and now leads the Turning Data into Action programme, supporting Flying Labs worldwide in transforming drone data into meaningful insights and realworld solutions.

Amrita Lal is a GIS and geography specialist and CASA-certified drone pilot with a focus on environmental and community-driven solutions. An Erasmus Mundus scholar, she began her career in Fiji coordinating South Pacific Flying Labs, where she partnered with organizations such as the World Mosquito Program and the Fiji Red Cross to apply drones and GIS in disaster response, public health and climate resilience. She joined WeRobotics in 2020 and now supports global GIS and drone initiatives, developing resources and mentoring Flying Labs internationally.

and innovation, with access to world-class capacity-building, shared infrastructure and local hubs like maker spaces and incubators where talent and opportunity continue to expand.”

Most importantly, diversity, equity and inclusion will be deeply embedded in all of this. “Young people, women and indigenous communities will be leading from the front, shaping how technology is used and how decisions are made. Ultimately, rather than just a group of drone pilots or tech users, we want the Flying Labs to be seen as a global force of changemakers. In my view, that comes down to turning local knowledge, innovation and data into action to build a more resilient future,” she concludes.

A Flying Labs training session in Tanzania.

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Melbourne Airport pioneers UAV-enabled 3D data capture to modernize asset management

Digital facade inspections take flight

By Mina Jahanshahi and Ben May, Australia

Melbourne Airport’s recent facade condition assessment is redefining how large-scale infrastructure inspections are approached. Faced with complex operational constraints, Australia Pacific Airports Melbourne (APAM) partnered with Veris and AECOM to deliver a comprehensive, UAV-enabled photogrammetry and laser scanning programme across more than 10km of building exteriors. The result was a digitally integrated, sub-millimetreaccurate dataset embedded within a building information model (BIM). This is streamlining capital works planning and setting a new benchmark in digital asset management for complex infrastructure.

Melbourne Airport, the primary international and domestic gateway in Victoria and Australia’s second-busiest airport, has expanded significantly since opening in 1970. Its precinct today includes four passenger terminals, two multistorey car parks and numerous ancillary facilities, all with varied construction types, condition levels and access limitations. To support operational excellence and informed capital investment, APAM commissioned a full assessment of over 10 linear kilometres of facades, equivalent to 11 hectares of vertical surface. Traditional inspection methods such as rope access or elevated work platforms (EWPs) were deemed inefficient, costly and disruptive to airport operations. A new approach was required that would prioritize safety, scalability and data richness.

Project challenges

The inspection programme presented three primary challenges: managing operational scale and access, operating UAVs within regulated airspace, and ensuring highresolution data integration. Capturing consistent, high-quality data across such expansive and irregular vertical surfaces required a method that avoided physical contact with the structures. Disruption to terminal activity, public spaces and secure aviation zones was not an option. Uncrewed

aerial vehicle (UAV or ‘drone’) technology was identified as the most suitable capture method. However, operating drones in restricted airspace introduced a new layer of complexity.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) imposes stringent conditions on UAV operations near active runways. Veris needed to engineer a UAV solution that was fully compliant, reliable and capable of sustained performance within tight

Powerpack system for the tethered drone. Continuous power to the drone was a requirement to fly at the airport. (Image courtesy: Veris)

The digital defect tagging from the reality mesh that identified the exact array of images to review the defect in high resolution.

regulatory constraints. Beyond compliance, APAM required sub-millimetre resolution data to inform asset condition and investment decisions. The dataset also needed to be geospatially structured and compatible with BIM and the broader enterprise digital twin.

Integrated spatial capture and digital delivery

Working alongside AECOM, Veris deployed a multi-modal spatial capture methodology combining tethered UAV photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and handheld digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) photography. This combined approach ensured full spatial and visual coverage across tall, irregular and access-restricted surfaces.

To overcome airspace restrictions, Veris developed a tethered UAV system using an electric auto-reeling winch and portable power supply. This innovation enabled precise UAV movement and continuous power, allowing safe, controlled data acquisition while meeting CASA requirements. A detailed drone approval process was coordinated with CASA, Airservices Australia and APAM. Each inspection area was compartmentalized, with formal approval requests and a structured request for information (RFI) process streamlining stakeholder engagement. This allowed the project to maintain momentum while going through rigorous approvals.

The tethered system was subject to strict constraints, including maximum distances from structures, height limits and aircraft

clearance requirements. Internal and external road closures, along with physical site restrictions, added further operational complexity. The UAVs, equipped with 45MP high dynamic range (HDR) cameras, captured more than 55,000 images. Capture angles were carefully planned to optimize coverage while preserving geometric integrity for 3D modelling. For areas inaccessible to drones – such as under eaves, around entrances or near pedestrian zones – handheld DSLR photography filled the gaps, resulting in around 6,000 supplementary images. TLS provided millimetre-accurate scans across groundlevel and occluded areas, with over 3,500 full-colour point cloud captures supporting structural accuracy and defect identification. Due to the site’s length and complexity, survey control required a 13km traditional traverse and level run. This was undertaken at night to reduce operational disruption.

Data processing and BIM integration

The photogrammetry, TLS and DSLR photography data was all processed into a georeferenced 3D photo mesh. This model was visually rich and spatially accurate. The processing was technically complex due to variable lighting, acute viewing angles and pixel-matching challenges caused by reflective surfaces and tethered flight

paths. Defect tagging and classification were conducted within the model via a desktop-based assessment platform. This enabled efficient audit workflows. The UAV and TLS data were then converted to point clouds and integrated into Autodesk Revit to build detailed 3D facade models. These models were embedded within APAM’s BIM environment and linked directly to the enterprise digital twin. This enabled dynamic asset condition tracking, maintenance planning and capital works prioritization.

Defect annotations and image data were also mapped into a GIS-based system to automate the generation of defect reports and an asset register. All of this content was hosted within Veris’ spatial cloud platform.

The tethered drone used to capture the photogrammetry and Lidar point clouds.

A lightweight laser scanner that was used to capture the terrestrial elements of the facades.

This allowed remote access via a secure web interface supporting 3D navigation, annotation tools, version control and scalable data storage.

Outcomes and industry impact

The complete inspection and processing phase was delivered in just four months, which is significantly faster than when using traditional methods. The approach eliminated the need for rope teams or EWPs, reducing labour and safety costs while maintaining CASA compliance. The high-resolution dataset captured detailed facade conditions, from surface cracking to cladding distortion, all accurate to submillimetre tolerances. This level of detail now supports confident budgeting, prioritization of remediation works and repeatable, longterm monitoring.

Integration with BIM and the digital twin enabled a queryable condition reporting framework. This categorized each element’s criticality and condition, laying the foundation for predictive maintenance and asset lifecycle optimization.

Conclusion

Melbourne Airport’s digital facade journey is a strong example of how innovation in data capture can lead to smarter infrastructure management. The facade condition assessment demonstrates how UAVs, laser scanning and BIM integration can modernize asset inspections. This is especially impactful within complex, high-risk environments. The success of the project highlights the value of combining spatial technology, regulatory compliance and digital transformation in infrastructure management.

About the authors

Mina Jahanshahi is the national data insights and solutions lead at Veris, specializing in digital twin strategy and spatial technologies. She has over 15 years’ experience and has received multiple awards for innovation and leadership in GIS, BIM, IoT and data integration.

Ben May is AECOM’s digital leader for ANZ Buildings + Places, with over 20 years’ experience. A pioneer in Australian BIM, he drives digital innovation by integrating process, technology and people to transform project delivery in the built environment sector.

For operators facing increasing pressure to reduce risk and optimize spending, this project provides a clear path forward. By embracing spatial data capture, structuring it for enterprise use and delivering it through accessible digital platforms, organizations can shift inspections from manual overheads to strategic, data-driven processes.

A fit-for-purpose rural land register: Who Owns Scotland

By Dr Robin McLaren and Andy Wightman, UK

The Registers of Scotland (RoS), the nation’s land registration and cadastral agency, is responsible for the registration of land rights in Scotland. Since 1981, the agency has been incrementally replacing the Sasines deeds-based register with a new, title-based Land Register. However, as of January 2025, only 55.9% of Scotland’s land mass had been registered in it. Although the RoS intends to eventually complete full coverage of the Land Register, the current objective has been reduced to functional completion, which means that mostly land and property that regularly transacts in Scotland will be registered. This has left the majority of rural Scotland, predominantly covered by large estates, unregistered. This article describes a private-sector initiative to fill this gap by providing access to land ownership information in rural Scotland through a land information service called Who Owns Scotland.

The RoS manages and maintains 21 public registers relating to land and property ownership in Scotland. The two most important registers are the deeds-based General Register of Sasines, which is the oldest national public land register in the

world dating back to 1617, and the title-based Land Register introduced in 1981:

• Sasines Register

Since the 1870s, properties in the Sasines Register have had chronological lists of deeds called search sheets. These provide a description of the title, current and previous owners’ names, all recorded deeds that affect the title, current and previous mortgage entries, and the price paid for each transfer or sale of the title. A parcel boundary map, at varying scales and accuracy, may also be available in the deed itself. The deeds themselves have now all been digitized in monochrome and are handwritten prior to 1920, typed originals until 1940, as Xerox copies between 1941 and 1995, and as poor-quality microfiche versions from the early 1990s. All are available to inspect (for a fee) at the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh.

• Land Register

Introduced in 1981, the Land Register provides property owners with a state-backed guarantee of title. It is a map-based register and uses the Ordnance Survey GB map at the largest available scale (1:1,250, 1:2,500 or 1:10,000) as its base map. The parcel

boundaries are adjusted to new versions of the digital maps, where appropriate. It is available for public viewing online for a fee.

Transition from Sasines Register to Land Register

The Sasines Register is progressively being replaced by the Land Register. The triggers for the RoS to add a property to the Land Register from the Sasines Register include when a property is bought, sold or remortgaged, and when the current owner undertakes a voluntary registration of the property (for a fee).

The Scottish Government set a target of completing the Land Register by 2024. However, this target was unrealistic; as of 2023, only 52.6% of Scotland’s land mass had been registered (and only 55.9% by January 2025). For some properties, such as social housing or some large rural estates, registration is unlikely to happen for a long time. In these cases, the land details will not appear in the Land Register unless the property owner voluntarily registers the property. This situation is reflected in the current composition of the Land Register which includes only a small percentage of rural land properties.

Figure 1: Land Register completion as of January 2025.

The RoS, in collaboration with the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), has initiated the Indicative Sasines project that provides a spatial index into the search sheets of the Sasines Register. This makes it visually more helpful and accessible to fill the gaps in the Land Register. Field boundaries submitted by farmers for agricultural subsidies have been used to define the parcel boundaries associated with the Sasines Register search sheets. The service provides an indicative boundary and a probable search sheet number with a confidence level. However, this does not provide direct access to the ownership information; users still have to analyse the search sheets. The majority of the land coverage of Indicative Sasines data (boundaries and probable search sheets) were obtained from the Who Owns Scotland service. In January 2025, this service transitioned from a pilot phase to become an integral part of the RoS ScotLIS Business service. Searches on the Indicative Sasines are currently free of charge.

Although the RoS intends to eventually complete full coverage of the Land Register, the aim is now ‘functional completion’. This means that most land and property that regularly transacts in Scotland will be registered. According to estimates, just under 2.5 million properties were functionally complete by the end of 2024. This leaves much of rural Scotland, predominantly covered by large estates, unregistered in the Land Register.

The Who Owns

Scotland LIS

As an authority on land governance and ownership, Andy Wightman has been lobbying for three decades for the completion of records on who owns land in Scotland. With the RoS changing to a ‘functional completion’ strategy, and with the Indicative Sasines project not providing direct access to ownership information, he decided to implement Who Owns Scotland (WOS), an ambitious fit-for-purpose rural land register. The service was launched in September 2022, the third iteration of a project that had begun with his 1996 publication

Who Owns Scotland. This land information system (LIS) provides land ownership parcel boundaries on Ordnance Survey GB 1:50,000 mapping to within +/-5m, and associated property information pages (see Figure 2). This covers around 74.9% of rural Scotland (March 2025) and documents the ownership of over 3,600 landholdings plus the National Forest Estate across rural Scotland. This typically includes estates larger than 200 hectares, but smaller estates will be included over time.

Sources of land ownership data

34% of WOS records (54% of the geographical coverage) are derived from the Sasines Register. The remaining 66% of the records (46% of the geographical coverage) are obtained directly from the Land Register. Data can occasionally be derived from other sources, including organizations such as Scottish Natural Heritage. Interpreting the Sasines Register deeds and matching RPID field boundary data for owner occupiers with search sheets is not an easy task. This parcel boundary data and explicit land ownership information is how WOS significantly adds value.

Data quality

WOS does not provide an alternative service to that provided by the RoS. No warranty is given on the data, and it is not recommended for any legal or commercial purposes. However, it provides an excellent entry point to RoS services to check and validate the WOS data and can be directly used for a wide variety of applications, such as policy evaluation and infrastructure planning (see below). To reduce costs, expedite the solution and make it more accessible, a number of compromises around data quality have been adopted in the WOS solution, including:

• Some of the information will always be out of date. The aim is to have all data current within one year. Since rural estates rarely transact, the currency is less significant. The date when the Sasines

Figure 2: Sample of the Who Owns Scotland property information page.

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• When the owners are trustees, the full list of names is not provided.

• The associated address provided is the one most likely to be relevant for making contact, e.g. through a website, rather than the address on the deed.

• To reduce data volumes, the parcel boundaries have been generalized and simplified when digitized. Boundary points are recorded approximately every 10m.

Users and uses of WOS

The reasonable annual subscription costs for access to the WOS platform have encouraged its wider use, attracting a broad range of users with a variety of use cases. For example, many individuals use the service to identify landowners as part of building up knowledge and awareness of land use in their locality. Some are involved with climate projects or environmental projects for which knowledge of land ownership is important. Other users may be involved in research projects, such as monitoring the distribution of plant species, and would like to obtain the support of landowners.

Large and small business users include renewable energy companies scoping potential sites for new projects, environmental consultants seeking new business opportunities, telecoms companies involved in installing communications equipment, and outdoor recreation providers who, as a matter of good practice, wish to inform landowners of activities on their land. Other typical users are researchers investigating land use, suppliers interested in finding new customers among those who own land, and regulatory bodies who need to quickly obtain land ownership information related to sitespecific incidents.

The WOS data has also been used to analyse the character and pattern of land ownership in Scotland. This has enabled politicians to better understand the potential impact of proposed land reform measures as well as provide insights into the operation of the land market. Additionally, the platform is used by those who wish to buy land, providing them with details of who currently owns it so that they can approach them about its potential sale.

About the authors

Robin McLaren is director of the UK-based independent consulting company Know Edge Ltd., specializing in geospatial information management, land reform and land administration. He is on a mission to make land administration services and security of tenure available to all. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow in 2014 for his contributions to geomatics.

Andy Wightman is a writer and researcher focusing on land governance, land ownership and community land rights. He is the author of publications including Who Owns Scotland (1996), Scotland: Land and Power (1999), Community Land Rights: A Citizen’s Guide (2009) and The Poor Had No Lawyers (2010), and now runs the Who Owns Scotland project. From 2016 to 2021, he was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Conclusions

The Who Owns Scotland LIS is a great example of a fit-for-purpose land administration solution in the developed world. Without the intervention of WOS to augment the limitations of the LIS provided by the RoS, the question of who owns Scotland would have gone unanswered for a long time. Instead, this innovative solution will support much-needed investment in rural Scotland, and above all help to shape and promote future land reform in Scotland, where just 421 people currently own half of the land.

Further reading

1. Wightman, A., 2024. The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland and How They Got It. ISBN: 9781780278834, Berlinn Ltd.

2. Wightman, A., 2025. Who Owns Scotland 2024, accessed 18 March 2025 https://andywightman.scot/2025/03/who-ownsscotlands-2024/

3. Wightman, A., 2024. Rural Land Sales 2020-2022, accessed 10 March 2025 https://andywightman.scot/docs/Rural_Land_ Sales_2020_22_rev2.pdf

4. Wightman, A. and Hollingdale, J., 2023. Forest Ownership in Scotland Ten Years Later, accessed 10 March 2025 https:// www.forestpolicygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ FPG_Forest_Ownership_Nov23_Report_1.pdf

5. Access to the WOS platform https://whoownsscotland.org. uk/subscribe/

Views of Sgorr Tuath, Loch Lurgainn and Beinn an Eoin from the summit of Stac Pollaidh in the Scottish Highlands. As of January 2025, just 55.9% of Scotland’s land mass had been recorded in the new titlebased Land Register. (Image courtesy: Duncan Andison/Shutterstock)

Unlocking unparalleled accuracy and detail for modern geospatial applications

The power of precision: Airbus satellite imagery, basemaps and artificial intelligence

In today’s dynamic digital landscape, mapping has evolved far beyond traditional cartography. Accurate, up-to-date geospatial data is now, more than ever, crucial for creating reliable maps, supporting advanced applications and enabling informed decision-making across diverse sectors. Airbus Imagery Basemaps serve as the essential foundation for precision mapping, ensuring that all derived maps, applications and analyses are accurate, reliable and highly effective.

Airbus Imagery Basemaps are meticulously curated from the freshest satellite imagery, guaranteeing that mapping projects utilize the most current and accurate data available. This freshness is paramount as landscapes constantly change due to urban growth, infrastructure development and natural events. Up-to-date imagery ensures that mapping companies can reflect these changes in real time with accurate data, pinpointing exactly where change is taking place. These basemaps can be seamlessly integrated across large regions through mosaicking and colour-balancing, which reduces seasonal variations and haze.

Unmatched geolocation accuracy and resolution

Airbus offers various basemap options to meet specific precision requirements.

The Global Basemap boasts a geolocation accuracy of 5m CE90, meaning 90% of image points align within 5m of their true location. For even higher precision, the Tailored Basemap can deliver customized imagery options and can incorporate customersupplied ground control points (GCPs) and digital elevation models (DEMs).

Further enhancing this precision are the capabilities of the Airbus Pléiades Neo satellite constellation. The Pléiades Neo satellites provide native 30cm resolution imagery with an impressive geolocation accuracy of <3.5m CE90, representing the highest commercial satellite resolution available. This level of detail is critical for powering geospatial applications like GPS navigation, where inaccurate data can lead to costly errors or delays. Accurate basemaps ensure that points of interest (POIs) are correctly placed, preventing confusion – especially in industries such as real estate, transportation and retail. Furthermore, precise basemaps help avert conflicts in zoning and land use planning by accurately positioning property lines, utility networks and infrastructure assets. Pléiades Neo’s high revisit capabilities allow rapid coverage of large areas within just a few days, ensuring consistent, homogeneous imagery that requires minimal post-processing to generate accurate and seamless basemaps.

For ultra-fine details, Pléiades Neo HD15 imagery takes resolution a step further, enhancing the native 30cm imagery to an astonishing 15cm-like product. This is achieved through a proprietary algorithm leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for image restoration, resulting in brighter colors and enhanced details that make distinguishing the smallest features effortless. Unlike some AI-enhanced imagery, Pléiades Neo HD15 performs image restoration rather than artificial enhancement. This approach ensures reliable, artifact-free results, maintaining the integrity of the data for accurate analysis.

An HD15 image, derived from Pleiades Neo 30cm resolution imagery, over downtown San Diego, USA.

Airbus

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• Enhanced monitoring: Facilitating the identification of small details in images.

• Improved analysis: Providing sharper details for better analysis of infrastructure, road markings and small objects.

• Faster decision-making: Leading to quicker interpretation and reduced ambiguity in operational environments.

• Optimized for AI-powered geospatial applications: Enhancing automated object detection, feature extraction and AI/MLdriven analytics due to superior clarity.

• Mapping, urban planning and civil engineering: Boosting large-scale mapping

and infrastructure monitoring, allowing accurate verification of urban features and helping optimize planning and reduce field inspection costs.

• Land administration and mapping: Ideal for mapping very dense urban areas, rehabilitating substandard housing and relocating households from high-risk areas.

Airbus Imagery Basemaps, supported by the advanced capabilities of Pléiades Neo and Pléiades Neo HD15, provide the indispensable foundational layer for all modern mapping applications. Their unparalleled precision, resolution and freshness empower organizations to make more informed decisions, optimize operations and confidently navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving world.

Mapping and urban planning activities are consistently growing worldwide and evolving continuously for the sustainable benefits of citizens, states and businesses. Geoinformation has long been a necessary data source for mapping, and it continues to play a crucial role in supporting key decisionmakers by turning the latest geospatial data into reliable information.

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Learn more about Airbus Imagery Basemaps, Pléiades Neo and HD15 for mapping applications:

Pléiades Neo 30cm resolution image over Boston, USA, with vectorized building footprints overlaid.

From urban management concept to implementation

Envisioning city digital twins in Indonesia

By Trias Aditya, Ruli Andaru, Aulia Latif and Calvin Wijaya, Indonesia

City digital twins are emerging as essential tools for urban management worldwide, including in Indonesia. In collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, the Department of Geodetic Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada has developed a plan, design and prototype of a city digital twin for Surabaya, a major port city in Indonesia. This article explores the process, from 3D modelling to the integration of land parcel data using advanced modelling software and dynamic datasets. The prototype serves as a blueprint for creating 100 city digital twins across Indonesia by 2027, providing a transformative framework for urban planning and spatial data management.

As the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds continue to blur, digital twins (DTs) are increasingly being utilized in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, construction, energy, climate, transportation, healthcare and urban planning. In urban environments, this has led to the development of city digital twins (CDTs). In these contexts, 3D cadastre and spatial planning data can serve as a canvas for managing the ‘five P’s’ – people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership –associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

CDTs are virtual replicas of urban assets, which encompass infrastructure, human activities and environmental conditions. Many countries worldwide have adopted CDT initiatives for city analysis, simulation and predictive modelling. Acknowledging the significance of this technology, the Indonesian government – and especially the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning – has partnered with the Department of Geodetic Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada to develop a CDT prototype for Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city and home to a major port. This initiative serves as a foundational step toward a broader vision of creating 100 CDTs across Indonesia by 2027.

Indonesia’s land management system

The need for efficient land management has become increasingly urgent in Indonesia over recent decades. The near completion of systematic land registration for over 126 million land parcels in the country, known as PTSL, has established a strong foundation for the implementation of electronic certificates for new first registrations and data maintenance, which began in 2023. Integrating land rights with

detailed spatial plans is also part of the vision to facilitate investments and improve business readiness. The country’s rapid population growth, particularly among productive age groups, supports its vision of ‘Indonesia Emas 2045’, which aims for sustainable development where prosperity and sustainability are achieved through good governance, including effective land governance.

Figure 1: The significance of digital surface models in 3D cadastre, illustrating the delineation of land and legal spaces above, on and below ground in Indonesia.

Indonesia has recognized the need to transition from traditional 2D land administration to advanced 3D cadastre systems. For over two decades, the government has adopted standards and developed use cases for implementing the 3D cadastre concept, culminating in a national policy established in 2021. The regulation now allows for the first registration of 3D parcels above or below ground. However, Indonesia still faces challenges such as the lack of integration among overlapping, multipurpose business processes in 3D permits and spatial plans, as well as a deficit in standards and expertise in this area.

The transition from a traditional 2D land administration approach to a 3D approach involves moving from a conventional cadastre system to a multipurpose cadastre, allowing for the management of rights, restrictions and responsibilities (RRR) to encompass three dimensions: on the surface, above it and below it. This shift highlights the urgent need to develop digital twin technology in Indonesia. Such technology will aid in visualizing real-world updates related to RRR (including transactions, permits and developments) in relation to real-world urban phenomena (like traffic, pollution and movements), which can significantly impact spatial planning and land management outcomes, all supported by a robust land information infrastructure.

Developing digital twins in Indonesia

The development of DTs offers a valuable opportunity to tackle existing challenges. By integrating a variety of datasets, including land information, DTs align with Indonesia’s geospatial vision for efficiency and reliability under the ‘One Data, One Map’ initiative. This fosters interoperability and collaboration among institutions. This digital transformation contributes to the establishment of a unified national spatial framework, paving the way for the Digital Twin of Indonesia. The concept enhances decision-making processes by allowing policymakers to simulate and analyse urban issues. By visualizing these challenges within a collaborative digital twin, governments can proactively improve urban resilience by integrating 3D cadastral data, spatial plans and dynamic urban data.

Furthermore, Indonesia’s extensive and varied geography presents unique challenges for data collection and integration. To overcome these obstacles, technologies such as remote sensing, drones and Lidar mapping are increasingly being used to gather high-resolution spatial data, enhancing the CDT framework. These advanced technologies lay a solid foundation for precise modelling, addressing the complexities found in both urban and rural areas of Indonesia.

When combined with cadastral systems, these tools ensure that 3D models are visually accurately aligned with administrative and legal standards.

3D modelling software

A CDT comprises two primary components: geometric data, which represents the 3D structure of city assets, and semantic data, which encapsulates the associated attributes and information. The geometric complexity of 3D models is commonly classified using the Level of Detail (LoD) standard, ranging from LoD0 (2.5D representation) to LoD4 (highly detailed models including the interior). For the Surabaya CDT prototype, an LoD2 model – featuring roof structures – was selected to balance detail and feasibility.

Two primary spatial data sources were utilized when modelling the city of Surabaya in 3D: orthophotos and point clouds. These datasets were derived from photogrammetry captured by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Lidar surveys, providing high-resolution and highquality inputs for 3D modelling. The raw data underwent extensive processing to ensure accuracy and consistency. Various experiments were conducted to model LoD2 structures, with particular emphasis on capturing detailed roof geometries. Roof modelling required iterative refinement using advanced algorithms and manual corrections to achieve the desired precision.

The generation of 3D models has been an active area of research since the 1990s, employing manual, semi-automatic and automatic methods. Each method has its strengths and limitations. Several software tools were tested in this pilot project, including SketchUp, Blender, ArcGIS, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk InfraWorks, and City4CFD. Additionally, the GeoAI & HD map research team at Universitas Gadjah Mada developed Geo-CARTA and CASCADE3D, the desktop applications for generating LOD1 and LOD2-3D models automatically. Blender, ArcGIS, Autodesk Revit, and Autodesk InfraWorks were tested in different sample datasets. These tools were evaluated comprehensively to determine their suitability for modelling 3D cityscapes.

Prototype of a city digital twin in Indonesia

The resulting 3D city models were evaluated for completeness and geometric accuracy using field measurements. The case study focused on Surabaya employed CityGML, an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard for data interoperability, and was visualized using Cesium, a web-based platform. While the

Figure 2: Results of 3D city modelling using several software applications.

visualization was impressive, it initially lacked integration with real-world dynamics. To address this, multiple sources of dynamic environmental data – including wind, air quality, temperature, UV index, humidity, live traffic and CCTV footage – were incorporated through APIs and local government data. This integration bridged the gap between the physical and digital realms, embodying the essence of a true digital twin. Notably, the system included a feature to update land parcel transactions (e.g. buy-sell, mortgages, or inheritance transfer) in real time, demonstrating a seamless connection between cadastral data and the CDT.

This feature emphasizes the role of digital twins in land administration and land management. A real-world transfer and change of land rights or title also changes the corresponding data in the digital twin, connecting and integrating both worlds. The prototype includes a notification indicating a change of rights happening in the real world, such as sale or purchase of land.

The Surabaya CDT prototype serves as a benchmark for the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning to develop similar models for other Indonesian cities. It supports multi-LoD visualization, crosssectional analysis and attribute filtering, addressing technical challenges in 3D city modelling and data integration. Additionally,

a real-time simulation of transportation such as train movements has also been added to integrate more dynamic data. The prototype emphasizes user accessibility by providing an intuitive web interface, allowing stakeholders to interact with and analyse city data in real time.

The CDT prototype also incorporates features to simulate environmental conditions, enabling urban planners to predict and address issues like air pollution and flood risks. By analysing historical and real-time data, planners can implement targeted interventions to mitigate

Figure 3: Data flow diagram for the CDT prototype of Surabaya.

Figure 4: The interface of the city digital twin and its key features.

environmental challenges. Furthermore, the system supports collaboration among multiple stakeholders, facilitating data sharing and joint decision-making for sustainable urban development.

Ambition and vision

The CDT initiative aligns with Indonesia’s broader smart city strategy, which emphasizes sustainable urban development through advanced technology. Indonesia’s new capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), exemplifies this vision, integrating smart transportation, data management and infrastructure while preserving local culture and green city principles. Digital twin technology plays a crucial role in achieving these goals.

The Surabaya CDT prototype represents a collaborative effort between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Ministry, providing a standardized framework for scaling CDT implementation. By 2027, Indonesia aims to develop 100 CDTs, reflecting its commitment to leveraging digital technology for urban management and sustainability. Indonesia’s ambition extends beyond urban planning; it envisions CDTs as integral to disaster management, climate adaptation and economic forecasting. For instance, CDTs can model potential flood scenarios, enabling authorities to implement effective mitigation strategies. Similarly, the integration of renewable energy data into CDTs supports the transition to sustainable energy systems. By combining technological advancements with local expertise, the nation is well-equipped to overcome challenges and realize its vision of a digitally integrated and sustainable future.

Further reading

Link to CDT prototype: https://3d-surabaya.vercel.app

Ketzler, B., Naserentin, V., Latino, F., Zangelidis, C., Thuvander, L., & Logg, A. (2020). Digital Twins for Cities: A State of the Art Review (4th ed., Vol. 46). Alexandrine Press.

Lehtola, V. V., Koeva, M., Elberink, S. O., Raposo, P., Virtanen, J. P., Vahdatikhaki, F., & Borsci, S. (2022). Digital twin of a city: Review of technology serving city needs. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 114. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jag.2022.102915

City Digital Twin Maturity Models: Haraguchi, M., Funahashi, T., & Biljecki, F. (2024). Assessing governance implications of city digital twin technology: A maturity model approach. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 204. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123409

The 3D city generators from Delft University of Technology, City4CFD and 3DBAG: Pađen, I., Peters, R., García-Sánchez, C., & Ledoux, H. (2024). Automatic high-detailed building reconstruction workflow for urban microscale simulations. Building and Environment, 265, 111978. https://doi. org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2024.111978 and https://www. gim-international.com/content/article/3dbag-automaticallygenerated-3d-models-of-10-million-buildings

Automatic DTM and Building Footprint Extraction from Imageries and Point Clouds in Indonesia’s Land Registration Drone Survey: A Roadmap Towards Reconstruction of LOD1 3D building model. 12th International FIG Land Administration Domain Model & 3D Land Administration Workshop, 53–70., official website of Geo-CARTA: https://geocarta.id/

About the authors

Trias Aditya is a professor of Geodetic Engineering, associated with the Cadastre and Geoinformatics Engineering (CAGE) Research Groups at the Department of Geodetic Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia. His research areas encompass 3D cadastre, land Informatics, geospatial data infrastructure, and cartography/ geovisualization.

Ruli Andaru is an assistant professor with the Department of Geodetic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. His research activities are mostly concentrated in the domain of geoinformatic application, including photogrammetry computer vision, deep learning and Lidar mapping technology.

Aulia Latif is an officer at the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Agrarian Affairs/National Land Agency, specializing in 3D cadastre land administration. His role involves ensuring effective land management practices and contributing to the development of spatial planning policies. He is responsible for leveraging technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of land administration systems.

Calvin Wijaya is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Geodetic Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. He specializes in high-definition geospatial technologies, including TLS and Lidar, and explores the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques in advancing digital twin development and applications.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN) of Indonesia for the collaboration.

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The hidden value of geospatial data

How connected workflows optimize mining operations

By Riley Smith and Louden Grieser, Trimble, USA

The huge volume of geospatial data generated by mining surveyors typically remains underutilized. Flexibility, connectivity and data accessibility hold the key to the future for today’s mines. As this article shows, the adoption of connected workflows expedites the efficient transfer of information between the field and office, while common data environments integrate diverse sources of data and allow real-time collaboration. Enhanced communication, transparency and utilization extend the value of geospatial data across the entire operation – from worker safety to timely decision-making by stakeholders.

A mine site functions like a mini city. It has diverse infrastructure and unique characteristics, requiring various surveying techniques to capture detailed geospatial data. Mixed facilities require mining surveyors to adapt to different situations using a variety of tools without interrupting production. Moreover, mines present inherently difficult environments, often in remote areas with extreme weather conditions. From initial design to daily operations, surveyors play a crucial role in maintaining safety and optimizing production. Capturing data efficiently, preferably from a distance, improves safety and limits the time workers are exposed to high-risk areas.

Mine surveyors generate a huge volume of geospatial data that typically remains siloed, fragmented and ultimately underutilized. Other stakeholders, from geologists and mine planners to drilling engineers and supervisors, could benefit from this information but often face accessibility barriers.

Standards are unlocking value

Emerging standards for data interconnectivity in purpose-built solutions are helping enable seamless integration between previously isolated systems. Common data environments assist by combining diverse data types in

one centralized database. Cloud-based platforms offer democratic access to data without requiring specialized software and enable real-time collaboration. These new standards support a unified data ecosystem where information flows freely between departments, breaking down traditional barriers between exploration, planning, operations and reclamation teams. Simultaneously, advances in data visualization technologies are transforming how this interconnected information is presented and interpreted. Interactive 3D environments, augmented reality solutions and customizable dashboards make complex spatial relationships more intuitive for stakeholders across technical and nontechnical roles. The resulting integration converts previously underused data into

A robotic total station is deployed for automated and precise monitoring of tailings dam stability, helping ensure safety and environmental protection.

actionable intelligence to optimize resource extraction, minimize environmental impacts, enhance safety protocols and improve overall operational efficiency. As these standards gain wider adoption across the industry, they promise to unlock significant value from existing geospatial datasets.

Maximizing productivity in high-priority workflows

Daily surveying activities at mines vary widely – from topographic and bathymetric surveys, to stockpile analysis and borehole stakeouts. Surveyors rely on technology to complete many time-sensitive tasks while maintaining a safe work environment and meeting accuracy and quality standards. Connected workflows help maximize productivity by expediting the transfer of data between the field and the office in a range of high-priority workflows, as outlined below.

During and after construction, 3D scanners capture precise, detailed point cloud data of existing mining structures and terrain, enabling the creation of accurate as-built building information models (BIMs) that can be compared against design plans to identify discrepancies and construction errors. These digital twins serve as continuously updatable reference models for maintenance planning, asset management and future expansion projects.

Advanced surveying equipment is used to capture geospatial data for haul roads at open-pit mines to ensure compliance with safety regulations and uninterrupted operations.

Regular monitoring of slope stability through advanced measurement techniques directly prevents catastrophic failures that could result in loss of life, equipment damage and production halts costing millions per day. Survey teams equipped with drones and terrestrial laser scanning systems collect high-density point clouds to measure displacement, ensuring the detection of subtle movement patterns long before they become visible to the naked eye. Automated monitoring systems installed on risky slope areas capture data at more frequent intervals. The resulting risk maps and movement trend analyses support proactive rather than reactive management approaches, and the correct BIM design can be transmitted to machine guidance systems to direct repairs.

Production insights rely on surveys to track extraction progress, weekly volumetric

reports for stockpiles, bathymetric surveys of tailings ponds and other water on site, and more. Without interrupting operations, scanners and mobile mapping systems safely collect information along linear corridors such as haul roads to ensure they meet design specifications and are well maintained to encourage smooth material transfer.

Pit mine tracking

Open-pit mines present unique challenges as large quantities of soil and rock are excavated and haul roads descend to the bottom of the pit. Regular slope surveying is crucial to ensure compliance with safety regulations and uninterrupted operations. This continuous monitoring process creates a temporal database of slope behaviour that enables engineers to compare actual performance against geotechnical design parameters and identify zones where safety factors fall below acceptable thresholds.

Due to the high-risk environment, minimizing the time surveyors are in the field is a priority. Infield analysis of conformance areas

and capturing data at safe distances from active mining areas enhances safety and productivity. Scanning total stations provide valuable functionality, offering quick setup and the ability to scan large areas in minutes with a high level of accuracy when recording daily mining progress and checking pit design compliance.

Integrated software systems allow surveyors to simultaneously connect to both optical and GNSS equipment, combining the strengths of different positioning technologies in challenging environments. The captured data can be quickly transferred to the office to create surfaces, contours, cut/fill maps and volume reports. This crucial information is useful for stakeholders to identify issues and make timely decisions.

Applications in solution mining

Solution mining can be the preferred method of extraction for water-soluble minerals found deep underground. At a greenfield site, surveyors are responsible for mapping, planning and building separate areas including the wellfield, tank farm and utilities, evaporation and cooling ponds, processing plant, and storage and loading areas, in

A scanning total station provides real-time measurements essential for optimizing mining production.

In the demanding landscape of modern mining, a scanning total station enables planning, execution and analysis across the mine life cycle.

addition to office buildings, warehouses, pipelines and transportation infrastructure.

Survey activities critical to operations of a solution mine vary from day to day, but can include topographic surveys, bathymetric surveys, road and building as-builts, volumetric analysis, well centre stakeouts and other tasks. The survey team relies on an array of data collection tools to optimize safety and productivity. Total stations, 3D laser scanners, GNSS receivers, drones and survey boats allow surveyors to select the most efficient and effective approach for each task, while integrated software seamlessly combines data from multiple sources to produce analysis and reports.

The future of mine surveying

The future of mine surveying lies in flexibility, connectivity and data accessibility. Survey teams must capture data at varying scales and frequencies using multiple tools, selecting the most appropriate technology for each situation. Geospatial data should be leveraged by producing information that is easily accessible, shareable and interpretable for expanded usage across the site.

Current software offers fit-for-purpose functionality to integrate data from multiple sources, generate reports and analysis, and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to maximize the value of the data. As mining operations become more complex and safety requirements more stringent, the role of connected workflows and common data environments will continue to grow in importance. The mine surveyor of tomorrow will not just be a data collector, but a data manager and facilitator. This will enable the entire operation to

About the authors

Riley Smith is a marketing director for Trimble Geospatial’s monitoring, mining and tunnelling business. His industry experience includes 11 years as a trained land surveyor and seven years at Trimble developing new technology in various industries. Riley holds a BSc in Geomatics Engineering from the University of New Brunswick, USA.

Louden Grieser is a product manager leading product development and support for Trimble Geospatial’s mining portfolio. His mining expertise includes three years as a geologist and mining engineer, followed by selling, implementing and supporting Datamine Software. He earned his BSc in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, USA.

make better decisions based on comprehensive, accurate and timely geospatial information.

Making advanced geospatial tools accessible, contextualized and impactful to solve real-world problems

Addressing the most pressing African challenges with GeoAI

By Gilles Quentin Hacheme, Aisha Alaagib and Jean Eudes Gbodjo

By transforming remote sensing data into actionable insights for sustainable development, geospatial AI (GeoAI) is rapidly emerging as a vital tool to address the mounting challenges and urgent needs in Africa. These include climate change, rapid urbanization and food insecurity, which affected 307 million people across the continent (over 20% of the population) in 2024, according to a UN report. The situation is compounded by limited resources and data gaps. The grassroots movement GeoAI-Africa aims to empower governments, communities and professionals with GeoAI tools that combine satellite and sensor data with machine learning. This will enable them to monitor environmental change, forecast food production, plan cities and respond to floods or droughts in near real time.

The challenges in Africa vary significantly from one region to another. But across the continent, the problems are immediate and severe. Between 2020 and 2022, over 30 million people faced drought-driven food insecurity across the Horn of Africa. In 2022, figures showed that roughly 230 million urban dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa lived in slums. By the end of 2023, internally displaced populations due to conflict and climate disasters had reached some 35 million, straining disaster response systems that lack timely, accurate maps. In 2024, more than one billion Africans (nearly twothirds of the population) could not afford a healthy diet. In the same year, record floods in over 27 countries displaced about four million people and killed approximately 2,500.

A people-first movement solving concrete problems

These challenges underscore the urgent need for innovative, locally grounded solutions that can scale across diverse African contexts. In response, GeoAI-Africa has emerged as a grassroots movement aiming to empower communities and professionals with geospatial AI tools tailored to real-world problems. While still

in its early stages, the network’s vision is to make advanced geospatial tools accessible, contextualized and impactful.

Climate impacts are already shortening planting windows, shifting pest ranges and increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall. Members of GeoAI-Africa support local adaptation by converting satellite and sensor data into high-frequency, localized climate indicators and hazard maps that show where water stress, soil degradation or flood risk are escalating. These products can help decision-makers, NGOs and communities target interventions such as emergency seed distribution, drought-tolerant crop support and community drainage upgrades.

Alignment with SDGs

Indeed, food insecurity in many regions is driven by subtle, distributed signals: failing crops, soil moisture decline, or an emerging pest front. These issues directly relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 13: Climate Action. GeoAI-Africa trains members to build pipelines that detect stressed vegetation, classify crop types and estimate yields using imagery time series and machine learning, enabling early action such

as adjusted planting calendars or targeted extension services. Such early action can prevent localized shocks from becoming regional famines.

Urban problems, tied to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, are different but equally urgent. When informal settlements grow overnight, traditional surveys and paper maps cannot keep up. GeoAIAfrica’s mapping workflows teach young professionals and GeoAI enthusiasts how to quickly and accurately extract valuable insights such as building footprints and road networks from aerial and satellite imagery. This allows city planners to identify where water, sanitation or health services are most needed and where evacuation routes are blocked before the next disaster. Translating imagery into operational maps shortens the time between insight and service delivery from months to days or even hours.

Disaster response, closely aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, is perhaps the place where speed matters most, particularly in the context of reducing preventable deaths. Members of the community work on rapid, automated workflows that within a matter of hours

Unusually high rainfall has led to extensive flooding across more than two dozen African countries, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread displacement and severe damage to infrastructure. (Image courtesy: Africacenter)

convert raw satellite feeds into flood inundation maps, damage assessments and population exposure layers. This accelerates logistical planning, enables quicker evacuations, and makes sure relief convoys reach the most affected communities first.

Bringing leading organizations and local talent together

What allows GeoAI-Africa to tackle these problems is the deliberate coupling of grassroots energy with technical expertise from leading research labs. Members affiliated with organizations including IBM Research, Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Google Research, Data Science Nigeria and more regularly mentor community teams, share operational practices and introduce scalable tools. These experts contribute practical guidance on building robust models, operationalizing Earth-observation pipelines and productionizing models so they run reliably under real-world data constraints.

Between 11 and 21 August 2024, torrential rains in Cameroon destroyed over 8,600 homes and impacted nearly 159,000 people, including approximately 50,000 refugees. (Image courtesy: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery)

About the authors

Gilles Quentin Hacheme is a senior scientist at Microsoft AI for Good Lab, applying GeoAI and LLMs to global challenges and advancing inclusive tech in Africa through research and nonprofit leadership.

Aisha Alaagib is an applied researcher based in Saudi Arabia, specializing in LLM evaluation, synthetic data generation, geospatial AI and multimodal learning, and actively contributes to the African AI community.

Jean Eudes Gbodjo is a research scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. His work focuses on developing machine learning methods using Earth observation data for environmental applications.

This collaboration is reciprocal. Researchers and mentors from the community bring institutional methods into workshops and hackathons, while students and local professionals contribute on-theground contextual knowledge that fundamentally increases impact. Community projects therefore reflect both global best practices and local specificity.

Training as an instrument of impact and sustainability

GeoAI-Africa is committed to advancing GeoAI education and capacity building across the continent through workshops, master classes, hands-on training initiatives and hackathons at events like AMLD Africa, the Deep Learning Indaba and university-led programmes. In GeoAI-Africa workshops, participants don’t just learn theory; they gain hands-on exposure to geospatial datasets, machine learning models and open-source tools. Using interactive tools, they preprocess satellite imagery, train AI models to identify features like rooftops or croplands, and then validate their predictions against ground-truth data.

Solving real problems

GeoAI is already showing its promise globally, and Africa stands to benefit greatly. For GeoAI-Africa, the focus today is on building capacity, fostering partnerships and experimenting with prototypes that address urgent issues. The long-term vision is to scale these efforts into systems that support governments, NGOs and communities in addressing food insecurity, urban growth and climate disasters. The model is simple but powerful: start with real problems, learn together and grow capacity through open collaboration. In doing so, GeoAI-Africa is helping ensure that geospatial AI becomes not just a research frontier, but a practical tool for protecting lives and livelihoods across the continent.

Digital tools drive efficient railway renovation in Amsterdam

At Amsterdam Central Station, advanced geospatial technologies played a crucial role in the recently completed renovation of the IJ Viaduct. Dutch infrastructure specialist BAM, working on behalf of ProRail – the organization responsible for railway infrastructure in the Netherlands – used 3D modelling, Lidar scanning and point cloud analysis to inspect, plan and execute the complex works beneath tracks 14 and 15 and platforms 5 and 6. The result: a fully restored steel viaduct that can now support the rail network for another 50 years.

Renovation work at Amsterdam Central powered by geospatial data. (Image courtesy: ProRail/ Shane van Hattem Duckdev Fotografie)

The renovation was carried out in one of the busiest and most logistically challenging locations in the country, with trains continuing to run and the station remaining open throughout. Digital technologies ensured minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. Lidar scans generated highly detailed point clouds of the structure, providing accurate input for a digital twin that guided the renovation process from planning to execution.

After 100 years in service, the IJ Viaduct had reached the end of its technical lifespan. BAM Infra, a division of Royal BAM Group,

removed the concrete from the track trough to assess and preserve the steel supporting structure. New concrete was poured and the platform walls were rebuilt to meet modern standards.

Part of a wider modernization effort

This project is one element in ProRail’s larger strategy to modernize Amsterdam Central Station, increase capacity and improve connectivity with the rest of the Netherlands and Europe. “Thanks to the dedication of our team, smart digital technologies, and close collaboration with ProRail and other partners, we have delivered a future-proof

solution within the planned timeframe,” said Alfred Siemes, director at BAM Infra Nederland. “This project shows how we can carry out complex renovations efficiently, with minimal disruption and maximum quality.”

The renovation of the IJ Viaduct was strategically combined with the replacement of the first Oostertoegang rail bridge – also known as the Eastern Passage, a key rail connection located on the eastern side of Amsterdam Central Station. By coordinating these efforts during the same track closure window, ProRail minimized disruption and accelerated overall progress. Meanwhile, BAM is also working on the renovation of the entrance to the western passenger tunnel, located on the city side of the station.

Lidar point cloud imagery of Amsterdam Central Station, the main railway station of the Dutch capital Amsterdam. It was built between 1881 and 1889. This image is not related to the project featured on this page. (Image courtesy: Cyclomedia)

How point cloud data helps bridge the knowledge gap

Combining multi-scale Lidar technologies to understand tropical rainforest dynamics

By Luna Soenens, Zane Cooper and Geike De Sloover, Ghent University, Belgium

Tropical rainforests are crucial yet vulnerable ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon and shelter remarkable biodiversity. Understanding how their structure responds to climate change and disturbances is key to predicting their future resilience. This article explores multi-scale Lidar technologies (terrestrial, airborne and drone-based techniques) combined with microclimate monitoring, unlocking new insights into forest dynamics. From fine-scale 3D tree models to large-scale mapping, point cloud data can play a role in bridging the knowledge gap about how structure and microclimate shape rainforest stability.

Tropical rainforest ecosystems are characterized by high annual rainfall (1,500-4,000mm) and consistently warm temperatures (17-30°C). Accounting for approximately 45% of the global forest area, they play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and in regulating the global climate. Moreover, tropical rainforests are

biodiversity hotspots that are home to the majority of the world’s living biomass. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, manifested through disturbance events (e.g. tropical cyclones, heatwaves, fire). While such disturbances can be essential for forest dynamics by shaping forest structure, their

increasing intensity and frequency due to global climate warming can have strong negative impacts on forest resilience.

Despite their importance, the impact of tropical rainforest dynamics on forest structure remains poorly understood, especially at broader spatial and temporal scales. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS or ‘terrestrial Lidar’) is a powerful tool for understanding tree and forest structure. TLS has significant capacity to model individual tree structure, allowing for fully realized 3D tree structural models. These models allow for the quantification of biomass – an important metric for tracking how much carbon is stored in forests. While TLS is well-suited for detailed, stand-level studies on forest structure, its potential is magnified when paired with broader spatial-scale Lidar such as uncrewed aerial vehicle laser scanning (UAV-LS) or airborne laser scanning (ALS).

Modelling microclimate buffering

One of the more recent applications of forest Lidar data is its use in conjunction with other data types to model complex processes such as microclimate buffering. The microclimate buffering capacity of a tropical rainforest is a key forest function. The dense rainforest

Figure 1: a) RIEGL VZ400i terrestrial laser scanner, and b) tree point cloud segmented from TLS data.

canopy can significantly buffer climate extremes (e.g. temperature, rainfall, wind) and thus offers stable and ideal habitat conditions for many species. However, the stability granted by microclimate buffering can be threatened by natural disturbances such as tropical cyclones, affecting forest structure and by consequence forest microclimate. A better understanding of the relationship between microclimate and forest structure is highly important to predict the effect of climate change on these ecosystems.

From June to September 2024, a field crew from the Q-ForestLab at Ghent University in Belgium embarked on a campaign collecting TLS, UAV-LS, ALS and microclimate data in the Wet Tropics of North-East Queensland, Australia – home to the world’s oldest tropical rainforests. The campaign surveyed 16 plots throughout the region, ranging from 0.5 to 1ha in size, covering both an altitudinal (15-1,200MASL) and a precipitation (1,2363,470mm) gradient. The plots are part of the Queensland Permanent Rainforest Plots (QPRP) network. This work was done in collaboration with Sylvera Ltd, a UK-based company that led the ALS data collection, as well as two Australian partners: TERN, who maintains and censuses the Robson Creek supersite, and CSIRO, who handled the UAVLS data collection.

Terrestrial laser scanning

High-density TLS point cloud data was collected using the RIEGL VZ-400i scanner (see Figure 1a) through a project funded by the Flemish Research Council (FWO). Intensive sampling using a 10m regular grid established in each forest plot required up to a week of work per hectare sampled, but it yielded an incredibly detailed 3D

model of the forest canopy. As the scanner was manually carried through the forest, it internally tracked its position, allowing for mostly seamless data processing that involved co-registration of individual scans to create one comprehensive plot-level point cloud. The scanner not only collected point cloud and local position data, but it also georeferenced its position in conjunction with an Emlid base station. This will allow for easier alignment to other data sources in the future, such as microclimate sensor positions or UAV-LS point clouds. Overall, the data collection effort in such remote (and sometimes dangerous) rainforest ecosystems was exciting and intense –something only made possible through close teamwork and careful planning.

While TLS data generally offers the most complete and detailed point cloud data (see Figure 1b), its perspective can be limited to below the canopy. In dense forests such as the rainforests of North-East Queensland, even the most powerful laser scanners can have gaps in data due to increased occlusion in the upper reaches of the canopy. For this reason, one of the best ways to improve the quality of TLS data is to create a fusion with UAV-LS or ALS data.

Airborne laser scanning

To upscale TLS structural data on a larger scale, another component of the campaign involved ALS. This work was carried out in August and September 2024 by Sylvera Ltd using a RIEGL VUX-120 mounted on a BELL 407 helicopter (Figure 2), covering all 16 QPRP plots and a total area of 65,000ha. Flying at 160m above ground level with flight lines spaced 127m apart, the VUX120 operated at a pulse repetition rate of 1,200kHz, recording 400 scan lines per

second across a 100° field of view. These settings produced a highly detailed point cloud of roughly 300 points/m², enabling large-area, high-resolution 3D mapping of forest structure.

UAV laser scanning

Where TLS lacks potential in terms of extent and ALS lacks individual tree detail, UAVLS offers a strong balance between both approaches. With flights closer to the canopy resulting in a highly detailed point cloud, UAV-LS enables the upscaling of fine-scale measurements while preserving the detailed forest structure. One disadvantage of UAV-LS can be the line-of-sight restrictions, particularly in remote tropical rainforest plots. Due to the challenges in the QPRP network, this resulted in UAV-LS being conducted at only two of the research sites: DRO (1ha) and Robson Creek (25ha).

The CSIRO crew, led by Dr Shaun Levick and Dr Steph Johnson, have flown the RIEGL VUX-120 attached to the Acecore NOA UAV platform (Figure 3) at DRO and Robson Creek yearly since 2024, with plans to keep recollecting data in the coming years. With a 100° field of view and a rapid data acquisition rate of up to 1.8MHz, the VUX-120 is ideally suited for high-pointdensity mapping, capturing intricate details

Figure 3: Acecore NOA drone equipped with the RIEGL VUX-120 scanner.

Figure 2: BELL 407 helicopter (left) fitted with the RIEGL VUX-120 scanner (right). (Image courtesy: Sylvera Ltd)

with remarkable precision. Laser hits on vertical surfaces, such as tree trunks, were improved by the nadir/forward/backward (NFB) scan pattern, sampling at nadir, 10° forward and 10° backward. This capability significantly enhances the mapping of forest structure, as UAV-LS data acts as a crucial bridge between TLS and ALS.

Microclimate monitoring

During the 2024 campaign, a network of 190 EL-USB-2 Lascar air temperature and relative humidity loggers was created across all the 16 QPRP research plots. They were installed at a height of 1.50m and protected from direct sun radiation with a PVC shield to collect data on the microclimate (Figure 4a). The loggers record every 60 minutes, providing insights into the buffering effect of tropical rainforests on climate change (Figure 4b). Two loggers were placed in open areas nearby the plots to measure the local temperature outside the forest. To capture the broader regional context, these two logger measurements will be combined with data from local weather stations and ERA5 analysis, representing the macroclimate.

Conclusions

By combining comprehensive multi-scale Lidar datasets with high-density microclimate measurements, this project provides an unprecedented perspective of tropical rainforest structure and dynamics. Integrating Lidar from multiple platforms like TLS, UAVLS and ALS enables both fine-scale and landscape-level structural analysis, leading to better knowledge of aboveground biomass (AGB), demographics and structural heterogeneity. Additionally, the project will develop new, region-specific allometric models for AGB using the high-quality structural data collected via TLS. These allometric models will then be upscaled through UAV-LS and ALS data, giving a unique, forest-scale perspective into carbon dynamics for the region.

Moreover, studying the relationship between microclimate and forest structure will further the understanding of how rainforest structure responds to disturbances, and how these changes impact the forest’s ability to buffer climate extremes. The project is part of a longterm monitoring network bringing crucial new insights into tropical rainforest resilience, which will be a good benchmark for further tropical ecosystems studies.

About the authors

Luna Soenens is a bioengineer and a PhD researcher at the Q-ForestLab (Ghent University), studying tropical forest structure using TLS data linked to forest microclimate. Her research takes place in the QPRP long-term monitoring network in the Australian Wet Tropics.

Zane Cooper is a PhD researcher at the Q-ForestLab (Ghent University) who focuses on quantifying forest structural changes from disturbances all over the world.

Geike De Sloover is pursuing a joint PhD at the Q-ForestLab (Ghent University) and PLECO (University of Antwerp). She studies forest structure and aboveground biomass using terrestrial, UAV and airborne laser scanning across tropical, temperate and boreal ecosystem monitoring networks.

Further reading

Terryn, Louise, Kim Calders, Harm Bartholomeus, et al. 2022. Quantifying Tropical Forest Structure through Terrestrial and UAV Laser Scanning Fusion in Australian Rainforests. Remote Sensing of Environment 271 (March): 112912. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.112912.

Sylvera Ltd: https://www.sylvera.com/

Figure 4: a) El-USB-2 Lascar sensor protected by a radiation shield, and b) a sensor being installed by Luna Soenens.

The future of GNSS: from precision technology to mainstream integration

By Ian Stilgoe, Topcon Positioning Systems

We’re in the middle of the latest ten-year evolution of GNSS technology. Besides the incredible accuracy and efficiency gains that have been made, greater access means that this previously specialized precision technology has now moved into the mainstream. This article looks at how the continued evolution of positioning technology will not only set the tone for industries already comfortable with it, but will also help a fledgling new cross-section to grow smartly and sustainably.

The precision technology industry is expanding in both scope and capability at a rate never seen before. The tech is entering new markets and incorporating cutting-edge advancements that are revolutionizing the landscape of positioning solutions. What’s most exciting is the incredible accuracy and efficiency that can be achieved by enhancing global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) with emerging technologies, especially in environments where traditional GNSS signals are weak or unavailable.

Simultaneously, access to precision technology has never been greater. The availability of new chipsets and open GNSS signals has led to greater adoption across a broad range of applications, from construction and agriculture to consumer electronics. What was once a highly specialized technology has now become an integral part of everyday systems, transforming industries and reshaping how businesses and consumers leverage positioning solutions.

From niche to mainstream

Ever since centimetre-level accuracy became available more than two decades ago, the GNSS landscape has seen remarkable advancements. Typically, there has been a ten-year evolution in line with mobile data –starting with GPRS and 2G, and progressing to 3G, 4G and 5G until 2020, when all the constellations were available and satellites were updated.

We’re currently in the middle of the latest ten-year evolution of GNSS technology. Over the past five years, real-time kinematic (RTK) technology has entered the mainstream, thanks to more affordable chipsets and the availability of open GNSS signals. While some view these innovations as novel, they are in fact the culmination of decades of development and refinement.

Expansion-related challenges

As precision technology becomes more accessible, its applications are diversifying. One of the most notable shifts is the rise of consumer-oriented GNSS applications – like autonomous vehicles, drone deliveries and

robotic lawn mowers – that show how GNSS is moving beyond specialized industries like construction and agriculture, into the mass market.

However, this wider adoption of the technology also presents challenges. Consumer expectations of high-precision data at low costs are putting pressure on traditional industries. Competition has intensified as more new players enter the GNSS space, and misconceptions are growing. For instance, many believe that RTK positioning can work seamlessly over mobile networks, overlooking the crucial need for direct satellite visibility.

With ongoing advances in GNSS technology, the role of surveyors is changing as well.

As startups enter the market, the pace of innovation is quickening to manage the volume of data being processed by the chipsets –through multi-sensor approaches and the number of chipsets that communicate this data elsewhere. Augmented and integrated systems are demonstrating their value.

Innovation and integration

A major trend in GNSS development is the integration of inertial measurement units (IMUs) with GNSS receivers. This combination enables more reliable positioning, especially in GNSS-denied environments where satellite visibility is blocked. IMU sensors help bridge gaps in GNSS coverage, ensuring continuous and accurate positioning – even in challenging settings such as tunnels, complex urban environments and dense forests.

The role of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also vital in managing and analysing geospatial data to establish a solid foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities. The advent of AI-assisted software stacks is transforming how GNSS data is processed. AI-driven solutions facilitate real-time data collection and interpretation, enabling users to obtain accurate positioning insights immediately. This has ramifications for various applications, from autonomous vehicles to robotics and smart infrastructure.

As the use of GNSS data becomes more embedded in everyday life, there’s also a need to make sure that smart cities and autonomous vehicles are maintained safely. To help GNSS reach its full potential, AI has a crucial role to play in enhancing protection of the GNSS data. With the increasing volume of geospatial data being collected, AI-driven security measures also help safeguard sensitive information from cyber threats and unauthorized access. Machine learning algorithms can detect anomalies in GNSS data, identifying potential spoofing or jamming attempts in real time. Additionally, AIpowered encryption and automated compliance monitoring ensure that location-based services adhere to stringent data protection regulations. In smart cities, AI can enhance data privacy by enabling secure data-sharing frameworks, ensuring that personal and operational data remains protected while optimizing urban planning, traffic management and public services.

The technological advances in the most complex systems can help forge best practices for the mass market, making precise positioning accessible and intuitive in a wider range of new applications. As we move towards smart cities in which the Internet of Things becomes the Internet of Everything, what we learn from innovating now will be crucial to growing sustainably and without compromising on safety.

Futureproofed accuracy

As the industry progresses, satellite communications will be vital in making GNSS technology more accessible. While ground-based networks have historically offered the highest levels of precision, satellite-based correction services are closing the gap. Looking ahead, GNSS technology will play a central role in developing smart cities and autonomous systems. From self-driving cars to connected infrastructure, high-accuracy location data is becoming a fundamental requirement. However, achieving consistent performance remains challenging, particularly in environments such

About the author

Ian Stilgoe is vice president of global emerging business at Topcon Positioning Systems, supporting the construction and geospatial sectors worldwide. Over the past 20 years, he has held various roles within the company. Stilgoe has a degree in Engineering Surveying from Nottingham Trent University in the UK.

as urban canyons, where tall buildings and dense infrastructure obstruct satellite signals, leading to signal degradation, multipath errors and positioning inaccuracies. This is particularly problematic for applications requiring high precision, such as autonomous vehicles, delivery drones and intelligent traffic systems.

The solution lies in integrating multiple sensors. Autonomous vehicles, for example, rely on a combination of GNSS, IMUs, cameras and AI-driven algorithms to achieve reliable positioning. Although widespread adoption remains years away, the foundation is being established for a future in which GNSS-powered systems foster innovation across various industries.

Changing role of the geospatial professional

As GNSS technology evolves, so too does the role of the geospatial professional. With increasing automation and AI-driven data processing, industry experts are shifting their focus from manual surveying to data analysis and expertise-led decision-making. For example, automated line-marking robots and other AI-powered tools are already transforming surveying workflows. This shift enhances efficiency and creates new career opportunities in data science, AI and geospatial analysis. However, greater awareness is required to attract new talent to the field and ensure a consistent pipeline of skilled professionals.

A positive outlook

The future of GNSS technology is characterized by two key trends: technical advancements pushing the boundaries of accuracy and accessibility, and market expansion introducing these innovations to new industries and consumers. The integration of IMU sensors, AIdriven software and satellite-based correction services is enhancing precision positioning to be more robust and intuitive than ever before.

As we advance towards an era in which the Internet of Things becomes the Internet of Everything, GNSS technology will be a vital enabler of smart, connected systems. The lessons learned from pushing the technical boundaries will inform the industry’s outward expansion, ensuring that precise positioning remains innovative, sustainable and safe. By bridging the gap between specialized and mass-market applications, GNSS technology is set to redefine industries and unlock new possibilities across the globe.

Marking 25 years of precision and accelerating into the Age of Intelligence

Hexagon LIVE Global 2025: hitting a new octave

By Wim van Wegen, GIM International

From 16 to 19 June, the precision of the geospatial world met the glitz of Las Vegas as Hexagon LIVE Global 2025 took over the Fontainebleau hotel, located at the north end of The Strip. The gathering drew thousands of professionals from surveying, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing and public safety –all eager to explore this year’s theme: the Age of Intelligence. On behalf of GIM International, Head of Content Wim van Wegen attended the event to capture first-hand the announcements, conversations and vision shaping the next chapter for Hexagon and its soon-to-be-independent sibling company, Octave.

Hexagon LIVE Global 2025 was more than a technology showcase; it was a four-day exploration of how measurement, data integration and artificial intelligence are transforming industries. In the corridors between keynote sessions and product demos, the buzz was about thinking in possibilities, from autonomous vessels to AI-assisted construction, and how quickly they can be turned from concept into reality.

25 years of measurement innovation

Ola Rollén, former CEO (2000-2022) and current chair of the measurement technology company Hexagon, delivered the opening keynote. Combining a historical sweep with a personal perspective, he traced the lineage of measurement from the cubits of ancient Egypt to the metric system of revolutionary France, before fast-forwarding to modern digital twins. One of the most vivid examples he gave was the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. Years before the 2019 fire, Dr Andrew Tallon had captured the building’s exact geometry using 3D laser scanning. Those precise datasets served as the blueprint for reconstructing the cathedral, which is a powerful reminder of how accurate measurements can preserve cultural heritage for generations. Rollén tied the evolution of measurement to Hexagon’s own journey: from acquiring Brown & Sharpe in 2000 to building a portfolio that powers everything from lunar landings to high-speed

rail networks. He described how bridging the physical and digital worlds has been central to the company’s success, and will remain so in the years ahead.

He then set the stage for one of the event’s biggest announcements: the launch of Octave. As he invited Mattias Stenberg, president of Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division, to take the stage, Rollén explained how this new, independent software-first company will bring together key Hexagon divisions to focus entirely on orchestrating intelligence across the asset lifecycle. The handover of the microphone symbolized both continuity and a bold new chapter.

The Age of Intelligence

CTO Burkhard Boeckem framed the Age of Intelligence as a new industrial era, defined not just by machines but by systems that can learn, adapt and act autonomously. He identified three essentials for success: 1. Measurable results, grounded in reality 2. Precision at the right scale for any task 3. Deep understanding of the physical world in three dimensions

Boeckem highlighted Hexagon’s innovations – from micron-level coordinate measurement machines to GNSS-integrated positioning, early adoption of laser scanning, and the creation of digital twins before the term had

even been coined. In illustration, he shared specific examples: mining safety systems that manage entire fleets of machinery, public safety platforms that fuse AI with real-time dispatch of responders or resources, and maritime solutions that merge live nautical data with 3D port models to plan for every contingency.

One of the standout innovations Boeckem highlighted was AEON, a humanoid robot serving as a testbed for merging sensing, AI and autonomous decision-making. Outfitted with Hexagon’s spatial awareness technologies, AEON can navigate complex environments, interact with objects and adjust its movements on the fly. While it is still in the research stage, it definitely offers a fascinating preview of how precision measurement, data integration and machine intelligence could come together in the next wave of robotics – perhaps even to undertake reality capture work in places few humans would willingly go. This broad portfolio, he noted, will now be shared between Hexagon and Octave. Octave’s remit is to orchestrate design, build, operate and protect workflows through a unified approach: software-led, but grounded in the measurement precision that defines Hexagon’s heritage.

Intelligence at scale

Octave’s incoming CEO, Mattias Stenberg, brought a personal touch to the launch

announcement by sharing his 17-year journey within Hexagon. Octave will merge several leading software businesses – including Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) focused on design, construction, operations and asset management software, and Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial (SIG), the leader in public safety, security and geospatial solutions – into a company with 7,200 employees and €1,448 million in annual revenue.

In a nutshell, Octave’s mission is to design, build, operate and protect the world’s most mission-critical assets, from energy complexes to data centres. By combining ALI’s deep asset lifecycle expertise with SIG’s capabilities in situational awareness and geospatial intelligence, the new company will cover the entire continuum from planning to protection. Stenberg positioned Octave as “born digital” and cloudnative, orchestrating live data across entire asset lifecycles, with intelligence built in from the start. As an independent entity, it will pursue its own operating strategies and M&A opportunities, aiming for steady growth from day one. Since Octave’s focus will be on asset management, direct competition between the two companies will be very limited. They may still use each other’s technologies where it makes sense, but Octave (to be headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama) is unlikely to challenge Hexagon in areas like Reality Cloud Studio or HxDR.

Innovation highlights

Besides the on-stage presentations, Wim van Wegen was one of two media representatives invited to attend an informal meeting

with John Welter, president of geospatial content solutions at Hexagon’s Geosystems division. Together, they discussed the current state of the geospatial industry and, in particular, what is centre stage at Hexagon and Leica Geosystems. The highlights included:

• Airborne imaging and sensors

o The integration of Sony’s newest high-resolution sensor (IMX 811 family) into platforms such as the TerrainMapper 3

o The development of the next-generation step beyond the SPL100

• Airborne bathymetry

o In the face of growing demand for 0-30m depth coastal mapping, airborne Lidar bathymetry offers safe, efficient coverage of the landwater interface – a zone difficult for vessel-based surveys

o In regions with erosion challenges or dense development along the shoreline, this capability is becoming essential for planning and climate resilience

• Content Program and data partnerships

o Hexagon’s Content Program, which has grown at an extraordinary pace – from delivering a million images per month in its early days to more than a billion per week today. Much of this imagery is combined with Lidar to produce rich, detailed 3D datasets

o The Content Program’s co-ownership model with government clients allows Hexagon to reuse derivatives of contracted data, lowering costs for all parties

o It also serves as a silent backbone for many third-party applications, often without end users knowing Hexagon is the source

Henning Sandfort during his keynote at Hexagon LIVE 2025. (Image courtesy: Wim van Wegen)

• HxDR and data fusion

o The HxDR platform continues to evolve as a cloud environment for integrating multisensor data, from terrestrial scanners to drone imagery

Roundtable insights

Both during his keynote and in a separate session that was arranged for the media, Henning Sandfort, president of Hexagon’s Geosystems division, emphasized the real-world pressures facing the industry: tight budgets, talent shortages and shorter project timelines. He urged that improving productivity isn’t optional, but essential. A roundtable discussion featuring Sandfort explored the human side of technology. The participants agreed that automation and AI are unlikely to eliminate jobs in surveying and construction; rather, they will help close the labour gap caused by ageing populations and skills shortages, a much-discussed theme in the industry.

Another major challenge is data utilization. Today, only about 5% of collected geospatial data is actually used. The key priority is to transform raw scans into actionable insights more quickly, with feature extraction and automated processing remaining the biggest bottlenecks. Organizations must manage ever-expanding geospatial data stores and apply the data in sophisticated analysis to better understand a rapidly changing world. Companies such as Hexagon have been working toward this for years, but the need has become even more urgent with the staggering growth of data streams.

Still on the topic of huge volumes of data, cloud collaboration was cited as essential for speeding up large construction projects, ensuring all stakeholders work from the same, up-to-date dataset. The roundtable participants also touched on the need to make the industry more visible and attractive to young talent, noting that many students have little awareness of the sector’s technologies and career paths.

A broader perspective

At Hexagon LIVE 2025, it was made crystal clear that Hexagon and Octave will both be operating in a world where workflows are no longer siloed. The design phase influences operations, operational data feeds back into design, and public safety and cybersecurity are woven into industrial

facility management. AI is not a bolt-on feature – it is becoming the connective tissue. For Hexagon, the path ahead centres on continuing to push sensor and platform integration, ensuring that measurement remains precise, reliable and scalable. For Octave, the challenge is to orchestrate that data into operational intelligence that delivers measurable value. The collaboration potential between the two is significant. Octave’s software platforms can enhance the reach of Hexagon’s hardware, while Hexagon’s measurement precision ensures Octave’s data-driven decisions are grounded in reality.

Evolving with changing realities

The atmosphere at the Fontainebleau hotel was one of both celebration and transition: celebrating 25 years of Hexagon’s growth into a global leader in measurement technologies, and transitioning into a future in which a new sibling company, Octave, will take on the software mantle. The event’s central message – that intelligence, integration and trust in data are the foundations of progress – resonated across industries. Whether in reconstructing historic landmarks, enabling

autonomous ships, managing ports or securing critical infrastructure, the focus remains the same: measure precisely, integrate seamlessly, decide intelligently.

However, the more thought-provoking takeaway lies in the interplay between hardware precision and software intelligence. In the years ahead, the competitive edge might not come from having the fastest sensor or the most sophisticated algorithm, but from orchestrating them into coherent, adaptable systems that can evolve with changing realities. If Hexagon and Octave succeed in that, the Age of Intelligence will not simply be a marketing slogan; it will be the framework through which entire industries plan, build and safeguard the world’s most critical assets.

And what about the next chapter? One can’t help but wonder what Hexagon LIVE Global will look like in 2026 or 2027. Will the event return to Las Vegas, or cross the Atlantic for a European edition – perhaps in Sweden or another Nordic country? Who knows… but if the spirit of this year’s gathering is any guide, it will be worth the wait.

On stage from left to right: Burkhard Boeckem, AEON the humanoid robot, and Ola Rollén – bridging the gap between human intuition and machine precision. (Image courtesy: Wim van Wegen)

Supporting sustainable development in Europe and beyond

A look-back at FIG’s recent participation in a UNECE conference on European urban development challenges, followed by a look ahead to the upcoming FIG Congress 2026 as a dynamic forum for discussing the surveying profession’s role in shaping future sustainable development.

Build back better by integrating surveying expertise

In June 2025, the high-level international conference titled ‘Build Back Better the Self-Made Cities in Europe’ was held in Athens, Greece. The event brought together experts, policymakers and practitioners to address the challenges posed by informal urban settlements across Europe. Central to the organization of the conference was Professor Chryssy Potsiou, honorary president of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). One main aim for her and the conference was to highlight the importance of an ongoing commitment to sustainable urban development. The conference was co-hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Land Administration, and the World Bank, with support from FIG Commission 9 and Commission 3, EGOS, the National Technical University of Athens, the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. Discussions focused on ‘self-made cities’ in the UNECE region – urban areas that have developed outside formal planning frameworks, often

lacking secure property rights, infrastructure and access to essential services.

FIG President Diane Dumashie and Vice President Michalis Kalogiannakis attended the conference together with Peter Ache, chair of Commission 9 on Valuation and the Real Estate Management. Chair of Commission 3 on Spatial Information Management, Sagi Dalyot, had to participate digitally. All contributed to sessions on land administration, geospatial data and fit-forpurpose solutions aimed at improving living conditions in vulnerable urban environments. The conference underscored the importance of integrating surveying expertise into broader development strategies. More than 250 delegates from 35 countries participated in the conference, while 150 presentations and debates highlighted how accurate geospatial data, inclusive land policies and innovative tools can support formalization processes and enhance resilience in informal settlements. The event also demonstrated the value of cross-sector collaboration in addressing complex urban challenges.

FIG Congress 2026: The Future We Want – the SDGs and Beyond

Attention is already turning to the upcoming FIG Congress 2026, scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24 to 29 May. Held every four years, the congress is one of the most significant global gatherings for professionals working in surveying, land governance and geospatial sciences. Under the theme ‘The Future We Want – the

SDGs and Beyond’, the 2026 Congress will explore how the profession can contribute to achieving and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Participants can expect a diverse programme featuring technical sessions, workshops and networking opportunities with a variety of topics covering areas including surveying, geospatial, hydrography, valuation, construction management and other related professions and areas. Key themes will include:

• Innovation in geospatial technologies

• Climate action and data-driven resilience

• Professional ethics and future skills

• Diversity and inclusion in the surveying field

• Fit-for-purpose land administration for sustainable communities

The congress aims to foster dialogue across disciplines and regions, encouraging professionals to share insights and codevelop solutions to global challenges. Abstract submissions are currently open, and contributions are invited from researchers, practitioners and policymakers. With its focus on collaboration, innovation and impact, the FIG Congress 2026 is expected to be a dynamic forum for shaping the future of the profession and its role in sustainable development.

The official logo for the 2026 FIG Congress in Cape Town.

XXVIII FIG CONGRESS

Discover the new IAG website: geodesy.science

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) has recently launched a completely redesigned website at the new domain https://geodesy.science. This major update makes the science of measuring the Earth more accessible and engaging – not only for geodesists, but also for professionals across the geospatial and geomatics sectors.

A modern, user-friendly design

The website welcomes both experts and newcomers. The homepage is intuitive, while the updated ‘About Geodesy’ section explains the science in clear, practical terms, highlighting its impact on realworld applications such as surveying, navigation and Earth observation. The ‘Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS)’ section complements this with accessible explanations of geodetic observation techniques and the key products derived from them, showing how geodesy underpins everyday tools like GNSS, digital twins and infrastructure planning. Navigation focuses on four main areas that matter for geomatics professionals: news, events, jobs and membership.

• News: Keep up with the latest IAG updates and subscribe to the newsletter

• Events: Discover upcoming geodesyrelated events worldwide

• Jobs: Explore career opportunities or post positions in the field

• Membership: Learn how to become involved with IAG and join as an individual member

Contributors from the geospatial community can now submit news, events and job postings directly through online forms, helping to foster a connected, informed and engaged network.

Integrating IAG and GGOS resources

The redesign brought previously separate IAG component websites together into a single, unified platform. Today, nearly all IAG components have dedicated subpages on geodesy.science, making it easier for researchers and geospatial professionals alike to access information. The new domain reflects IAG’s mission: to explain, promote and advance the science of measuring the Earth. Within the first two

months after launch, the website attracted around 18,000 visitors, with feedback from the geodesy community overwhelmingly positive.

A platform for engagement and collaboration

The website encourages active participation. Visitors can explore the many IAG components, each representing different areas of geodetic expertise. By showcasing these branches, the platform highlights how geodesy supports practical applications, from precise mapping and infrastructure development to climate monitoring and disaster management.

With geodesy.science, IAG offers a modern, welcoming and comprehensive gateway that connects the geospatial community with the science underpinning their work. By making geodesy more visible and accessible, the website helps professionals understand the value of geodetic data in their daily projects, discover relevant resources and stay informed about global developments in the field.

The home page of the new IAG website, https://geodesy.science. The website is designed to make geodesy more visible, accessible and engaging for geodesists and the wider geospatial community.

Actionable cartography: maps as decisive instruments in the era of AI

Cartography has always moved through different paradigms. In early times, the map was mainly a tool of representation: it showed the surface of the Earth, with mountains, rivers and borders. Later, in the communication paradigm, the focus was how to design the map so that it sends a message to the user in a clear and efficient way. With digital technology, cartography entered the interactive paradigm: maps became dynamic, where users could zoom, search and combine layers. Now, with artificial intelligence (AI), a new paradigm is visible. The map is not only to represent or to communicate, but to decide and to act.

In this new understanding, maps are no longer static images. They are processes that integrate data, models and user context. The AI-driven map is predictive and adaptive; it tells not only what is on the ground now, but also what is developing, where risks are growing, and what actions might be best. This is what we can call ‘actionable cartography’. It continues the tradition of earlier paradigms, but it shifts the map into a decisive instrument. The map becomes less a passive mirror of reality and more an active agent in shaping reality.

This actionable cartography is especially visible in topographic and thematic mapping.

Topographic maps enhanced by AI can update themselves automatically with new roads, land use changes or even the growth of settlements, which helps planners and governments to react much faster. Thematic maps, for example of population density, climate risks or soil moisture, become living instruments when combined with predictive models. An AI-based flood risk map can show not only which neighbourhoods are low-lying today, but also which are most endangered next week. A land cover map can reveal in real time how agriculture pushes into forest and predict where deforestation will happen next. These kinds of maps are no longer passive; they directly influence how resources are managed, how warnings are given and how policy is made.

Of course, with such power comes also risk. If the data includes mistakes or if the algorithms are biased, then the map can lead to wrong or unfair decisions. Also, it is sometimes not clear who controls the data or who decides what the map should show. Actionable cartography can be used for help and transparency, but also for surveillance or exclusion.

In this context, the International Cartographic Association (ICA) becomes very important. The ICA has for many decades worked

to create standards and cooperation in map-making. Now, in the time of AI, it has the task to ensure that maps are made with responsibility – that they are open, transparent and ethical. By bringing scientists, governments and technology experts together, the ICA can help ensure that these powerful new maps are used for the benefit of all people.

In the end, every map is a story about the world, and stories always have consequences. Actionable cartography gives us new abilities to anticipate and to act. The real question is whether we will use these abilities for more fairness and resilience in our societies.

Georg Gartner, president, International Cartographic Association

AI-enhanced topographic maps can automatically update with new roads, land use changes and settlement growth, helping planners and governments respond faster.

ISPRS Geospatial Week 2025: Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for a Better Tomorrow

The ISPRS Geospatial Week 2025 was held from 6-11 April 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The ISPRS Geospatial Week is a biennial event consisting of workshops organized by ISPRS Working Groups and other parties active in areas of interest of ISPRS.

The theme of the 2025 conference was ‘Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for a Better Tomorrow’. This reflects the aim to harness the precision of photogrammetry, the insights from remote sensing and the encompassing knowledge of spatial sciences to better understand our planet’s past, navigate its present and shape its future.

The opening ceremony featured traditional and cultural performances, along with a staged artistic journey into the world of photogrammetry and remote sensing, celebrating science, sustainability and global collaboration.

To answer the question of how geospatial technologies are contributing to making our lives easier, keynote speeches were given by some of the world’s leading geospatial experts. The keynotes were:

• ‘Monitoring Soil Moisture and Flooding in Arid Environments with Radar Satellite Constellations’ by Prof Wolfgang Wagner from Vienna University of Technology

• ‘From Mobile Mapping to Autonomous Systems: State of the Art and Future Trends’ by Prof Naser El-Sheimy from University of Calgary

• ‘Preparing the Next Generation for Geospatial Careers’ by Prof Khaula Alkaabi from United Arab Emirates University

• ‘Innovations in Remote Sensing: From Microwave Radiometry to GNSS-R and Beyond’ by Prof Adriano Camps from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

• ‘Spatiotemporal Intelligence for SDG’ by Prof Deren Li from Wuhan University

There were over 1,400 attendees. Four tutorials and 65 technical sessions were organized during the event, with 450 accepted full papers, 192 oral presentations and 206 poster presentations. The 2,318m2 exhibition floor hosted local, regional and international entities showcasing the latest in satellite technology, data analytics and autonomous mapping systems.

In the series of plenary sessions led by global experts, a key highlight was ‘From Earth to Mars and Beyond: Showcasing MBRSC’s Cutting-edge Space Projects and Use Cases’, in which experts discussed how space missions and Earth observation are deeply interconnected. Other highlights included ‘Mapping the Future: How Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Drive Climate Solutions

A glimpse of ISPRS Geospatial Week 2025.

and Disaster Management’, examining how photogrammetry and remote sensing support climate solutions and disaster response, and ‘Urban Evolution: Harnessing Digital Twins and Remote Sensing for Tomorrow’s Smart Cities’, which focused on how digital twins are revolutionizing smart city planning through real-time analytics and integration. Meanwhile, the plenary session on ‘AI Horizons: How Will Machine Learning Redefine the Boundaries of Earth Observation?’ delved into the transformative potential of machine learning technologies in enhancing our understanding and management of Earth’s complex systems.

The next ISPRS Geospatial Week will be hosted by the Polish Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the Association of Polish Surveyors (SGP). It will take place from 19-24 September 2027 in Warsaw, Poland. More

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