Satellite navigation software or GNSS navigation software a category of software that provide positioning services by utilizing data from

satellite navigation systems A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geopositioning. A satellite navigation system with global coverage is termed global navigation satellite system (GNSS). , four global systems are op ...

. Key functions of satellite navigation software usually includes: # Positioning: determines the device's precise location using signals from multiple satellites # Route planning: calculates optimized route based on user needs, such as starting point, destination, and travelling mean, et cetera. This functionality could be extended to driving assistant. # Tracking: shows where the tracked object have been. (This functionality relies past positioning data to be stored, so not just the "software" technically). Additional functions that extends the capabilities of satellite navigation software includes: # Searching: finds locations with addresses or GNSS coordinates (

latitude In geography, latitude is a geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from −90° at t ...

and

longitude Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east- west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek lett ...

). # Traffic updates: shows real-time traffic information, enabling the software to suggest a better route during driving. # Offline map: allows regions of map to be pre-downloaded, enabling usage with minimal connectivity. # Bookmarking: saves locations for later use.

Requirement

Hardware-wise, a GNSS receiver is needed to interpret satellite signals and compute the user’s location. Nowadays, it is usually a single

integrated circuit An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

(IC). Satellite navigation software is most commonly used on mobile devices, particularly

mobile phones A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This radio ...

, to provide the positioning functionality. However, relying exclusively on

GNSS A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geopositioning. A satellite navigation system with global coverage is termed global navigation satellite system (GNSS). , four global systems are op ...

data is not accurate enough due to the limitations of GNSS services, To address this, Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) is used instead. By leveraging data from nearby cellular towers,

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for Wireless LAN, local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by ...

, and

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...

connections, A-GNSS enhances accuracy, reduces power consumption, lowers the risk of signal blockage, and effectively mitigates the limitations of GNSS.

Software products

There are many navigation software products available. The primary distinction is whether it is designed for use on land, water or air. Below is a short-listed software products:

Land-based

Free and open source *

OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, Open Database License, open geographic database, map database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveying, surveys, trace from Ae ...

(Cross-platform)

open source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

and free * OsmAnd (Android)

, and free * MoNav (Cross-platform)

and free * Navit (Cross-platform)

and free Proprietary (available for free) *

Apple Maps Apple Maps is a web mapping service developed by Apple Inc. As the default map system of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, it provides directions and estimated times of arrival for driving, walking, cycling, and public trans ...

(iOS, macOS, watchOS) *

Google Earth Google Earth is a web mapping, web and computer program created by Google that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satelli ...

(Windows, Mac, Linux, wit
website
*

Google Maps Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panorama, interactive panoramic views of streets (Google Street View, Street View ...

(platform independent, wit
website
* Mapy.cz (Android, iOS, wit
website
-

freemium Freemium, a portmanteau of the words "free" and "premium", is a pricing strategy by which a basic product or service is provided free of charge, but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical ( ...

Windows Maps Windows Maps is a web mapping client software from Microsoft. It is included with Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems and is also available for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One platforms. Features Its features include viewing classic sty ...

(Windows) Commercial *

DeLorme DeLorme Publishing Company is a producer of personal satellite tracking, messaging, and navigation technology. The company's main product, ''inReach'', integrates GPS and satellite technologies. ''inReach'' provides the ability to send and rec ...

Street Atlas USA and Topo USA * HERE *

Rand McNally Rand McNally is an American technology and publishing company that provides mapping software and hardware for consumer electronics, commercial transportation, and education markets. The company is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois with a di ...

Navigon Navigon GmbH was a Würzburg, Germany-based manufacturer of GPS devices and GPS navigation software. The company was privately owned, until in June 2011, it was announced that Navigon was to be acquired by Garmin and become a subsidiary of the c ...

Navman Established by Sir Peter Maire in 1986 as New Zealand-based Talon Technology, Navman (as the company became known in the 1990s) is a GPS systems company providing stand-alone GPS units, OEM GPS modules, GPS software for Palm handhelds and Poc ...

* Magellan *

Mireo Mireo d.d. is a company and brand that produces global automotive navigation systems for smartphones, personal navigation devices and in-car infotainment systems. They also provide fleet management and vehicle tracking services and produce ...

* iGO * ROUTE 66 * TomTom Navigator * TomTom Mobile * TeleType WorldNavigator * TPL Maps *

Waze Waze Mobile Ltd, (; ) doing business as Waze (), formerly FreeMap Israel, is a subsidiary company of Google that provides satellite navigation software on smartphones and other computers that support the Global Positioning System (GPS). In ad ...

* OziExplorer * GPSS

Marine navigation software

Navigation software for use on the water has many features in common with land-based GNSS navigation software. It can use electronic navigation chart or raster charts, usually provides user ability to plan routes and set waypoints, and may have live GPS tracking capabilities. In addition, marine navigation software often has option to control external

autopilot An autopilot is a system used to control the path of a vehicle without requiring constant manual control by a human operator. Autopilots do not replace human operators. Instead, the autopilot assists the operator's control of the vehicle, allow ...

for automated boat navigation. It may incorporate

GRIB GRIB (GRIdded Binary or General Regularly-distributed Information in Binary form) is a concise data format commonly used in meteorology to store historical and forecast weather data. It is standardized by the World Meteorological Organization's ...

weather overlay on the chart,

Tide Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tables ...

predictions and other related information services of additional use to mariners. Free and open source * OpenCPN (Cross-platform)

and free

Aeronautical navigation software

This kind of software usually creates a modern

glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features an array of electronic (digital) flight instrument display device, displays, typically large liquid-crystal display, LCD screens, rather than traditional Analog device, analog dials and gauges ...

and uses more than just a single GNSS sensor to assist the navigation. Such sensors are Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) and

Inertial Measurement Unit An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is an electronic device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the Orientation (geometry), orientation of the body, using a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, an ...

(IMU) sensors.

References