GPS, But 100 Times Stronger

GPS, But 100 Times Stronger

Author: MapScaping July 29, 2026 Duration: 43:14
My guest today is Tyler Reid, co-founder and CTO of Xona, a company building the first commercial satellite navigation system. We get into why Tyler and his team are moving satellites into low Earth orbit and what that unlocks. Stronger signals that can penetrate indoors, more resilient timing infrastructure, and better security against jamming and spoofing. GPS sits 20,000 kilometres out. Xona sits at 1,100, with signals around 100 times stronger and a planned constellation of 258 satellites. Tyler came at this from the autonomous vehicle world at Ford, where the problem was simple enough: ten meters gets you to the store, but it doesn't keep a car in its lane. We also talk about time, and how much of the world quietly depends on GPS to keep its clocks honest. Why countries are suddenly so interested in owning their own infrastructure. And the question Xona gets asked constantly: if you're broadcasting that close to GPS, aren't you the jamming problem? If you're interested in what the future of GNSS might look like, you're really going to enjoy this one. More at xonaspace.com, or reach out to Tyler on LinkedIn.

The MapScaping Podcast delves into the intricate world where geography meets data. This isn't about static paper maps, but the dynamic, digital systems that help us understand our planet. Each conversation focuses on the practical and the visionary within GIS, geospatial technology, remote sensing, and earth observation. You'll hear directly from the cartographers, data scientists, software developers, and analysts who are building the tools and interpreting the information that defines modern digital geography. The discussions explore how satellite imagery is used, how location intelligence solves complex problems, and where the technology is headed next. For professionals, students, or anyone fascinated by how we chart and comprehend our world, this podcast offers a grounded look at a field that is constantly redrawing its own boundaries. Tune in to The MapScaping Podcast for insights that are as much about the people and ideas shaping this space as they are about the technology itself. It's a consistent source for those who think spatially, providing depth and context that goes beyond the software interface. Listen to find out how the hidden structures of geospatial data influence everything from urban planning and environmental conservation to business logistics and everyday apps.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The MapScaping Podcast - GIS, Geospatial, Remote Sensing, earth observation and digital geography
Podcast Episodes
The way you talk about your geospatial skills is costing you money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:17
Refactoring the Way you Talk About your geospatial skills: It is Costing you Money Some of the key topics in this episode 1.Our Geospatial Skills and Marketability: There's a realization that while our traditional geospa…
Modern Geospatial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:25
Modern geospatial - not the bleeding edge of geospatial but modern geospatial - what is it? Well my guest Will Cadell, the CEO of SparkGeo describes modern geospatial as the intersection of the cloud, smart space, open s…
Introduction To LIDAR & Point Clouds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:52
The main topics discussed during this episode include: Basics of LIDAR data and its applications. Differences between LIDAR and photogrammetry. Processing chain of LIDAR data. Challenges in classifying point clouds. Appl…
Introduction to Cloud Native Geospatial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
Alex Leith is a Digital Earth Architect and in this episode, you will learn what Infrastructure as code is - hint it is the opposite of the "clicky-clicky" and so much more! Connect with Alex here https://auspatious.com/…
GeeMap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:55
GeeMap is an open-source Python library that provides tools for interactive mapping with Google Earth Engine (GEE), which is a platform for earth science data and analysis ... and today you are going to hear from the cre…
GPS Reimagined [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:36
GPS reimagined? Why do we need to reimagine GPS? ... Is it broken? Recommended Podcast Episodes How Google Calculates Your Location https://mapscaping.com/podcast/how-google-calculates-your-location/ From GNSS To VPS htt…
The Business of QGIS Development [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:26
Nyall Dawson is a QGIS developer, cartographer, and owner and founder of North Road, a company specializing in open-source geospatial software. His journey into geospatial began with personal interests in mapping and car…
Making Beautiful Maps In Felt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:36
This episode is all about making beautiful maps ... I am not a cartographer but my guest Mamata Akella is a professional cartographer at Felt! So today on the podcast we are talking about Essential Elements of Map Design…
Planet - Imaging Everything, Every Day ... Almost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
Planet manufactures and manages the world’s largest constellation of earth observation satellites! Imaging “Just about everywhere on earth just about every day – Making change visible, accessible, and actionable” … and t…