“Seen & Heard” is a monthly feature of GPS World magazine, traveling the world to capture interesting and unusual news stories involving the GNSS/PNT industry.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Free navigation history course</h3> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="600" height="340" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Harvard_predictionxlongitude_600x340_04242025.webp" alt="Photo: Harvard University" class="wp-image-109863" style="width:392px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Harvard_predictionxlongitude_600x340_04242025.webp 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Harvard_predictionxlongitude_600x340_04242025-300x170.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Harvard_predictionxlongitude_600x340_04242025-245x139.webp 245w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Harvard University</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Harvard University offers PredictionX: Lost Without Longitude, a free online course that examines the evolution of navigation from ancient methods to modern technologies. The program explores the science and history of navigation, focusing on the challenges of determining longitude before GPS existed. It highlights key advancements, such as John Harrison’s marine chronometer and the Longitude Prize. Through multimedia content — including videos, infographics and Worldwide Telescope tours — the course is designed to demonstrate how centuries of advancement in navigation enabled humanity to achieve milestones such as landing on the moon.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Self-driving cars collect geospatial data</h3> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="340" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_ARVO_Selfdriving_600x340_04242025.webp" alt="Photo: Finnish Geospatial Research Institute" class="wp-image-109864" style="width:424px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_ARVO_Selfdriving_600x340_04242025.webp 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_ARVO_Selfdriving_600x340_04242025-300x170.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_ARVO_Selfdriving_600x340_04242025-245x139.webp 245w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Finnish Geospatial Research Institute</figcaption></figure></div> <p>In Finland, self-driving cars are being used to collect geospatial data to address urban challenges. The ARVO autonomous vehicle from the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute is equipped with high-precision sensors that map its environment in real-time, collecting information on road conditions, urban vegetation as carbon sinks and factors influencing flood risks. In partnership with Aalto University and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, this initiative seeks to explore various uses of this data, such as city planning, environmental monitoring and infrastructure management.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stopping scammers</h3> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="340" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_GettyImages_GooglePhone_600x340_04242025.webp" alt="Photo: Carlos Alvarez / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus / Getty Image" class="wp-image-109865" style="width:388px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_GettyImages_GooglePhone_600x340_04242025.webp 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_GettyImages_GooglePhone_600x340_04242025-300x170.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_GettyImages_GooglePhone_600x340_04242025-245x139.webp 245w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Carlos Alvarez / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus / Getty Image</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Google has taken legal action against a network of scammers responsible for creating more than 10,000 fake business listings on Google Maps. The scammers fabricated profiles targeting urgent service industries and bolstered them with fake reviews to appear credible. Victims were misled into contacting these fake businesses, which then sold their personal information as “leads” to legitimate service providers without consent. Google has removed the fake listings and is suing individuals involved in the scheme, CBS News reported.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mapping Uganda’s disappearing tropical glaciers</h3> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="340" src="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Uganda_map_600x340_04242025.webp" alt="Photo: guenterguni / E+ / Getty Image" class="wp-image-109866" style="width:438px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Uganda_map_600x340_04242025.webp 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Uganda_map_600x340_04242025-300x170.webp 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GPS_web_Uganda_map_600x340_04242025-245x139.webp 245w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: guenterguni / E+ / Getty Image</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Project Pressure, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, conducted an expedition to the Rwenzori Mountains to map the region’s disappearing tropical glaciers. The team created the first 3D model of Mt. Stanley’s glaciers and installed monitoring equipment, revealing that Mt. Speke and Mt. Baker have lost their glaciers entirely, while the Stanley Plateau Glacier has shrunk by 29.5 percent since 2020 and is heavily fragmented. The project aims to continue monitoring the glacial retreat, develop mitigation strategies and engage the local community in ongoing research.</p> <p><p>The post <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/seen-heard-googles-scammer-takedown-harvards-free-navigation-history-course-and-more/">Seen & Heard: Google’s scammer takedown, Harvard’s free navigation history course and more</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.</p></p>
