The Future of Mapping

The technology keeps accelerating:

• LiDAR maps terrain in 3D by bouncing laser pulses off surfaces — sharp enough to spot ruins hidden under forest canopy
• New satellite constellations are cutting update times from years to days
• AI mapping reads roads, buildings, and even crop types straight from satellite images
• Indoor mapping extends GPS-style navigation inside airports and malls
• Digital twins — virtual copies of whole cities — let planners test changes before building them