Global Scans · Geospatial · Weekly Summary

• [New] Federal leadership in data and mapping - Programs like FEMA's updated flood-risk maps and NOAA's homeowner resilience grants are reshaping how carriers price and underwrite risk. VIU by HUB
• [New] Douglas Paul, the principal investigator of the UK's Hub for Quantum Enabled Precision, Navigation & Timing, says that existing specialized inertial-navigation devices might be off by 20 kilometers after 100 hours of travel. MIT Technology Review
• [New] New GPS satellites with M-code are eight times as powerful as previous ones, while the GPS IIIF model will be 60 times as strong. MIT Technology Review
• [New] US and allied military users are intended to have access to far hardier GPS tools, including M-code, a new form of GPS signal that is rolling out now, and Regional Military Protection, a focused GPS beam that will be restricted to small geographic areas. MIT Technology Review
• [New] Disruptions to satellite navigation have become increasingly common in Russia as the military deploys anti-drone systems to counter Ukrainian attacks that rely on GPS guidance. The Moscow Times
• [New] National mapping agency Ordnance Survey has launched a new dataset on tidelines around Great Britain to support the management of coastal erosion and flood risk. UKAuthority
• [New] Autonomous shuttles and hyperloop technology prototypes will connect cities faster, while augmented reality apps guide seamless airport navigation, making travel more intuitive, efficient, and inclusive for diverse users worldwide. HotBot
• [New] Russia has made notable advances in electronic warfare (EW); communications and GPS disruption; mass drone-swarm attacks; and basic AI for data processing. Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies
• Google announced plans to release audio-only AI glasses in 2026, followed by versions with in-lens displays that show navigation, translations, and contextual information. MarketingProfs
• India's ambitious roadmap to deploy 119 Earth Observation (EO), Satellite Navigation (SATNAV) and Satellite Communication (SATCOM) satellites by 2040 is only achievable with substantial private sector involvement. India Today
• As NASA prepares upcoming Mars expeditions, having accurate knowledge of Martian time will be crucial for coordinating navigation and communication throughout the solar system. SciTechDaily
• What's emerging is infrastructure powered by Large World Models and geospatial AI - systems that understand context, predict outcomes, and optimise across multiple variables simultaneously. Context
• 2025 brought major shifts to the geospatial world, from new satellite constellations to sharper analytics that changed how organizations manage land, assets, and environmental risk. Swift Geospatial
• By 2025 and beyond, we can expect to see improved safety features, enhanced navigation systems, and an increased presence of fully autonomous vehicles in urban environments. Joindecker
• The potential to extend the life of expensive satellites would bring immense value to industries that rely on long-term satellite operations, from telecommunications to global navigation systems. The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel
• Internationally, Arianespace launched South Korea's KOMPSAT-7 Earth observation satellite on Vega C, Rocket Lab will fly JAXA's RAISE-4 technology demonstrator on Electron, and Japan's H3 will close out the week with the Michibiki No. 5 navigation satellite. NASASpaceFlight.com
• As AI and GIS expand, their fusion with community awareness and institutional synergy can transform India into a climate-resilient and disaster-ready nation by 2030. INSIGHTS IAS - Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation

Last updated: 21 December 2025