UPDATE: Project details updated during the EPSA 2025-26 edition.
Geoportal – www.geoportal.gov.pl – is a central node of the Polish Spatial Data Infrastructure with access to spatial data and related services. The project started development in 2005, but during the last three years it has been significantly enriched with new services and data sources. It is composed of the main website www.geoportal.gov.pl and a list of related applications, the most important being the central map website – National Geoportal and other components including Geoportal Mobile, Geoportal 3D, Geoportal INSPIRE, the system of the State Geodetic and Cartographic Resource or BDOT10k portal.
The main purpose of Geoportal is to integrate dispersed data from multiple services and agencies on every level of governance and provide citizens, entrepreneurs and public administration with spatial information from official registers guaranteeing its quality, timeliness and reliability. Due to this, Geoportal is regarded as the most important project conducted by the Office of Geodesy and Cartography.
Most of the network services are featured as layers on National Geoportal and all their web addresses are present on the main project website www.geoportal.gov.pl so that they can be used in any software compatible with the standard. The still-growing list of services contains:
- National Integration of Land Records (KIEG) with additional interconnected Service of Location of Cadastral parcels (ULDK);
- National Integration of Terrain Utilities (KIUT);
- National Integration of Local Spatial Development Plans (KIMP);
- Topographic Objects Database (BDOT10k);
- Orthophoto map;
- Digital Terrain Model (NMT);
- Digital Surface Model (NMPT).
In most cases, knowledge acquired through Geoportal meets or exceeds the users’ requirements, especially in terms of obtaining various information about a given parcel. For example, it is possible to check whether property is located in a comfortable place considering noise or restrictions of local development plans, or to evaluate the probable view of surroundings from your future home’s windows. Moreover, users can see if a parcel lies where there is high risk of flooding. All of that also means that the public offices are partly relieved of providing data to users; it serves the bigger purpose of creating easily accessible and user-friendly digital administration.
Developments
In 2024, the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii – GUGiK) in cooperation with the Institute of Telecommunications, submitted an application to the European Space Agency (ESA) under the NAVISP Element 3 programme for funding to build a pilot system designed to monitor global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal interference in real time. Following ESA approval of the project in November 2024, implementation began and was scheduled for completion in May 2026. In March 2025, ESA approved the system’s conceptual phase, and work on building its individual components is underway. The project will cost EUR 305 000.
The planned system, the Real-time GNSS Monitoring System for Poland (RTGMS), will be based on selected ASG-EUPOS (Aktywna Sieć Geodezyjna EUPOS) reference stations with computing infrastructure located in a data processing centre. Analysis of results will be made available through a dedicated web portal accessible to all users. The service will be publicly open, enabling any interested party to review monitoring results and use the provided data for their own operational and analytical purposes. The key beneficiaries of the system will include government institutions responsible for public safety as well as entities whose operations depend on high-quality GNSS data.
During project implementation, new functionalities of the existing GNSS receivers will be utilised to enable interference identification and warning generation. It should be emphasised that all works carried out within the ASG-EUPOS infrastructure are conducted in such a way that the current ASG-EUPOS functionalities (RTK (real-time kinematic) / GNSS correction data) remain unchanged and continue to be available to users. The main user-visible outcome of the RTGMS project will be a web portal presenting real-time analysis results from monitoring stations.
At the pilot stage, the RTGMS will include a dozen fully operational monitoring stations located in the most critical regions of Poland. The system has been designed with future expansion to nationwide coverage in mind.
The primary objective of the project is to develop the concept, implement a pilot deployment, and conduct functional testing of a nationwide Polish GNSS signal monitoring system.
An important and very convenient element is the ability to address the challenges faced in a geopolitical context. Above all, high-quality data is prioritised and the fundamental and unquestionable priority is security. The project did not change the organisational structure, but allowed those involved to further develop their skills, resulting in even better access to public administration data. Furthermore, it has strengthened institutional capacity through the development of specialised team competencies in navigation system resilience and data analysis.
Long-term impact
Reliable and uninterrupted access to satellite positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data has become critical dependency for modern economies, transport, telecommunications, energy infrastructure, and public safety. At the same time, GNSS systems are not 100% reliable and the issue of interference (both unintentional and intentional) affecting their operation is becoming more problematic. Continuous monitoring and rapid detection of disruptions are therefore essential to ensure operational resilience and security.
Major functions of this system will include:
- detection of interference and/or unavailability of GNSS signals on the territory of Poland,
- generating alerts indicating any instances where satellite navigation systems may work incorrectly, providing real-time visualisations via a publicly accessible web service.
The architecture consists of two complementary components:
- fixed – a continuously operating network of monitoring stations distributed nationwide, based on the upgraded ASG-EUPOS infrastructure (hardware and software extensions);
- mobile – a van-based measurement platform deployed ad hoc to perform detailed field investigations of detected interference incidents.
Interference detection will rely on advanced algorithms analysing various type of GNSS signals (PNT data, observables, and radio spectrum).
In the long term, RTGMS will enhance national resilience to disruptions of satellite navigation services, support decision-making for public authorities, and provide reliable situational awareness for critical infrastructure operators and commercial users. The project fully maintains and substantiates its initial objectives: improving the security, reliability, and integrity of GNSS-based services. By enabling early detection and transparent dissemination of information about signal disturbances, the system will contribute directly to operational safety and continuity of services that depend on precise positioning and timing.
GNSS-based systems are a key pillar of the European Union’s economy, contributing significantly to the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is estimated that over 7% of the EU’s GDP depends on satellite navigation services, underlining their strategic importance.
Adjustment in the objectives
Reliable and uninterrupted access to satellite navigation data is currently crucial for many sectors of the economy, public safety, and national security. At the same time, GNSS services are inherently vulnerable, and the scale of both unintentional disturbances and deliberate interference has increased significantly, particularly in the current geopolitical context. Consequently, continuous monitoring of GNSS signals and timely detection of disruptions have become strategic capabilities rather than purely technical functions.
The main goal of the project is to develop a concept, pilot implementation, and functional testing of a nationwide Polish GNSS signal monitoring system.
Most importantly, the RTGM project is a rapid response to current geopolitical issues related to GNSS technology. An ideal side effect of the project is the development of cross-sectoral collaboration. Such projects will undoubtedly continue, as topics such as data security, reliability, and protection will never cease to interest both decision makers and users.
In the long term, the project is expected to stimulate further initiatives related to data integrity, cybersecurity, and infrastructure protection. Issues concerning reliability and trustworthiness of positioning and timing information will remain a permanent priority for both decision makers and users.