Printed maps are useful and dependable in many situations. Nowadays, however, navigation is more often accomplished with the help of electronic satellite systems.

GNSS or the Global Navigation Satellite System is based on the GPS and GLONASS satellites belonging to the United States and Russia. These satellites will be joined by the EU's Galileo satellite system in the future. The exact location on the planet can be measured by comparing singals from at least three different satellites.

Satellite navigation systems are extremely precise and easy to use. The amount of applications using these kinds of navigation systems has grown drastically during the last decade, making the everyday lives of people easier and navigation in various territories more frictionless.

Satellite navigation systems have been enhanced by the ability to translate navigation data into computerized forms. When location data from a satellite is combined with various kinds of other data, the result is a geographical information system or GIS.

The basis of a geographical information system is a digital base map. Various kinds of data overlays or layers can be placed on top of the base map, making vast amounts of accessible for the user. In addition, geographical information systems can be used to search the map, study the qualities of different locations and phenomena, as well as to measure distances and routes. 


The Finnish smart watch contains a satellite navigation system and a heart rate monitor. These systems provide the user with various kinds of data about their exercise routine, accessible via the watch's own geographic information system.