Exciting predictions for GIS users using GNSS technology in 2025

Jean-Yves Lauture CTO, Eos Positioning Systems

From enhanced accuracy to improved productivity, here are three key predictions for 2025 that could transform how GIS users collect and manage spatial data in the field.

1. Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) Phase 2: Precision in Minutes

In 2025, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is expected to roll out Phase 2 of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS), bringing a significant enhancement to mobile GIS users worldwide. This phase promises a convergence time of just five minutes globally and under two minutes within the European Union. The precision offered— accurate to within 10-20 centimeters— will be a game changer, making highaccuracy GNSS positioning more accessible than ever before. This service is set to revolutionize mobile mapping applications, accelerating workflows for professionals across various industries. Already in 2024 we’ve seen Galileo HAS transform what’s possible in the Galápagos Archipelago and in Senegal, Africa — a continent where we expect this corrections source to be a true equalizer. For more details on what to expect in Phase 2, refer to the EUSPA website for Galileo HAS here.

2. Tilt Compensation Becomes Standard for GIS Applications

The introduction of tilt compensation in GNSS receivers designed for GIS users, specifically with the release of the new Skadi Tilt Compensation™ from Eos Positioning Systems, marks another crucial development for 2025. Designed specifically for GIS users, this feature ensures that even when survey poles are not perfectly level, the GNSS data collected maintains centimeter-level accuracy. This innovation drastically reduces errors and increases efficiency by eliminating the need for manual pole leveling, making it a valuable tool for field crews who require precise and reliable results without added complexity. Skadi Tilt Compensation is not only accurate to within 0.3 mm per degree of tilt, but it’s also offering this powerful solution at an extremely competitive price point, intended to make it accessible to the GIS masses. Skadi Tilt Compensation is available as an optional upgrade for the Skadi 200™, Skadi 300™, and Skadi Gold™.

3. Four-Constellation, All-Frequency Rover and Base Stations: A Productivity Booster

By 2025, the proliferation of fourconstellation, all-frequency GNSS base stations will further optimize field productivity. Supporting all major GNSS constellations—GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo—these receivers will improve performance, particularly in challenging environments like dense forests or urban canyons. Field tests conducted by our partners have shown a 50% increase in productivity when using a rover/base combination wherein both the base station and rover support all four constellations, compared to older two-constellation systems. This leap in efficiency will enable users to complete more work in less time, revolutionizing GNSS-based fieldwork across various sectors. While four-constellation systems had been harder to come by in past years, more recently we are seeing an acknowledgement of the need to upgrade and benefit of doing so.

Conclusion

In 2025, GIS users can expect faster, more accurate results and improved field productivity, thanks to the advances in GNSS technology designed specifically for them. With Galileo HAS Phase 2, tilt compensation, and fourconstellation base/rovers, the future of mobile mapping looks more efficient and precise than ever before.