Category Archives: Aerial/UAS

MAPPS Is Leading Geospatial Advocacy Efforts in Washington, D.C.

This article summarizes several long-standing and highly effective MAPPS programs which demonstrate the associations’ dedication to Democracy in Action, public and private partnerships, and geospatial political advocacy. The programs below allow MAPPS members to engage in the political process by making their collected voices heard on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies

Micro-Drones Moving into Commercial Operations

Micro-drones, those that weigh less than 250 grams, are popular with recreational UAV flyers for several reasons. They are relatively inexpensive, with models starting at under $500. Additionally, the 249-gram-and-under category requires no FAA registration, nor do they fall under the remote ID (RID) regulation. Now, with the aid of sophisticated flight planning and automated...

Fresh Specs That Are Lifting the UAV Game

The latest UAV technologies released in the first quarter of this year seem to be bucking the trend of white-washed main frames and disappearing control buttons commonly seen in the last five years. Instead, the current crop of drones is gaining more advanced robotic payloads, as well as imbibing unconventional shapes that allow for better...

Ready, Set, Modernize

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) in the United States. The modernization involves significant updates to the official reference frames and vertical datum used across the country, affecting the entire geospatial industry. The ASPRS NSRS Modernization Working Group prepared this article to help prepare the geospatial industry for...