Because so much geospatial work relies on uncrewed systems, particularly aerial systems, it’s important to stay on top on the latest news, trends, and developments in technology, regulations, and workflows. Fortunately, our partner publication, Commercial UAV News, regularly publishes stories that address the intersection of geospatial work and uncrewed technology.
Here's a look at three drone industry trends and developments, reported by Commercial UAV News, that geospatial professionals should know about:
New Regulations Could Enable Longer Drone Flights
If you work in utilities, construction, research, or surveying, you probably use a drone and you probably wish you could fly it longer and farther than you can now. Legal restrictions on flight length have long been a sticking point for drone-based geospatial operations, but things may be about to change.
In June 2025, the Trump White House released the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order. Aimed at jumpstarting regulatory changes around beyond visual line of site or “BVLOS” drone operations, the executive order includes deadlines and timetables for establishing rules that would make it possible to fly longer and farther beyond where a pilot can see the aircraft.
Given the potential of this order to expand drone operations for inspections, mapping, and more, the drone and geospatial sectors have been buzzing with anticipation. Much work needs to be done, however, before these longer flights are possible. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently reviewing public comments on its BVLOS proposal, but many feel that big changes are coming in 2026. Stay tuned!
Sensor Fusion and Drones for Geospatial Operations
According to Kevin Andrews from Trimble Applanix, sensor fusion will drive “innovation across the geospatial industry for years to come.” Writing in Commercial UAV News, Andrews explained that “sensor fusion is all about taking conventional survey practices and condensing them into powerful workflows that help collect better data, in more places, with less effort. In this way, he said, “represents a fundamental shift from single-sensor solutions to integrated systems that leverage the strengths of multiple data sources while compensating for individual sensor limitations.”
Using this technology in concert with uncrewed systems for data collection, Andrews asserted, will lead to “improved accuracy, reduced costs, and simplified workflows is democratizing advanced surveying capabilities across industries and applications.”
A Ban on Foreign-Made Drones
Today, the Chinese company DJI is the world leader in uncrewed technology, and, according to some reports, DJI controls more than 70% of the U.S. market for drones. However, this landscape has changed dramatically. Provisions in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act required a security review of Chinese drones to determine if they posed a security threat to the U.S., with a deadline of December 23, 2025.As of this writing, that ban seems to be on track, and the tens of thousands of American geospatial professionals who use drones will have to contend with a new regulatory environment in the weeks and months ahead.
The ban extends far beyond DJI and Autel Robotics. It covers drones manufactured anywhere outside the U.S., including allied nations, and also prohibits critical components such as batteries, motors, flight controllers, and sensors, even if assembled domestically. Existing drone models that received FCC authorization before the ban can still be sold and used, but the future pipeline has been shut off.
Commercial UAV News has covered this issue thoroughly, with articles and podcasts addressing the ban’s potential impact on surveying work, security, and U.S. drone manufacturing. Watch for updates on the ban and its impact on drone-based operations in Commercial UAV News in the weeks ahead.
