GSM 5000 – SOMAG AG Jena

Let’s encounter at Geo Week February 16-18, 2025, at Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, USA

Geo Week, taking place February 16–18, 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, USA, brings together geospatial and mapping professionals, which is why SOMAG AG Jena cannot miss out this exhibition. Our Sales Manager, Sören Lieske and our Support Manager, Johannes Dreyer will be on site to present our product portfolio. SOMAG’s Gyro Stabilization Mount ensure crystal-clear images and the utmost data quality with compensation in three axes roll, pitch and yaw.

If you’ve ever wondered how a Gyro Stabilization System can improve your next mission, or if you’re unsure which mount best suits your needs, this is the perfect opportunity! Have a look at our state-of-the-art stabilization platforms. Our versatile team will be more than happy to answer your questions!

Step by at our booth 915 near the main entrance. The exact location can be found on the floor plan.

MEET OUR EXPERT

Sören Lieske
Sales Manager

Phone: +49 3641 633 68 18
E-Mail: s.lieske@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Johannes Dreyer
Support Manager

Phone: +49 3641 633 68 17
E-Mail: j.dreyer@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

About Geo Week

Geo Week is the event that brings together professionals in geospatial and mapping to explore how data, maps and advanced technologies can deepen the understanding of the world. An additional goal is to inform about solutions for complex challenges. On site, you can meet decision-makers as well as problem-solvers. The conference program offers insights from industry leaders, peer-driven case studies, discussions and more.

Get your free ticket for Geo Week

Not registered yet? Use our promo link and sign up today: https://www.xpressreg.net/register/GEOW0226/index.php?sc=GEO2630178

This link includes a code to receive a free expo hall pass OR a 100$ discount off a Geo Week conference registration. The promotional code is automatically deposited in the registration process.

Mapping Urban Heat with Precision with SOMAG’s GSM 5000

Leveraging next-gen sensor stabilization to support IGI in mapping urban heat.

In May 2025, SOMAG AG Jena helped conducting a challenging thermal imaging mission over Phoenix, Arizona, as part of the IGI Lighthouse Project — a collaborative initiative to promote advanced 3D and thermal mapping in the US. The mission relied on our latest gyro stabilization platform, the GSM 5000 stabilizing IGI’s EcoMapper-1280 C thermal sensor. Other companies involved in the project were: ESRI, Fugro, Revolution Flight and InfraTec. Despite difficult flight conditions, the Gyro Mount delivered precise and stable results, showcasing its unique capabilities in real-world, high-stress environments.

Stable Thermal Data – Even in Harsh Flight Conditions

Phoenix is one of the hottest major cities in North America. The Phoenix operation took place under challenging thermal conditions — midday flights in strong updrafts, combined with high external temperatures and unstable air masses. Capturing consistent thermal imagery from the air is demanding – but critical for identifying urban heat hotspots that support climate resilience and urban planning. During the mission, two independent systems were deployed:

EcoMapper-1280 C on a GSM 5000 Mount (rear hatch)
UrbanMapper-2P on a GSM 4000 Mount (front hatch)

While both systems performed well, the GSM 5000’s superior stability under turbulence made it the standout solution of the entire mission.

GSM 5000: The Game Changer in Airborne Stabilization

Despite turbulence forcing aircraft speeds to increase beyond 180 knots in some sections, the GSM 5000 delivered rock-stable sensor alignment, ensure consistent data quality. Over 50% more flight time was required due to environmental factors, making stabilization even more critical.

SOMAG’s GSM 4000 mounted with IGI’s UrbanMapper-2P

Why Customers

Trust Somag

“The conditions during the demo flight have been so bumpy that two experienced operators got airsick, nevertheless both mounts performed extremely well. Without the Mounts it would not have been possible to collect meaningful data.“

Michael Müller, Product Manager at IGI – Integrated Geospatial Innovations

From Zero to Mission-Ready in Hours

The GSM 5000 is built for speed and simplicity. Thanks to its intuitive design and full compatibility with the GSM 4000, operators can install it in less than one hour — with no steep learning curve and no extra training required.

This fast deployment is a real advantage when every hour counts. Whether under tight mission schedules or facing customs and certification hurdles, the GSM 5000 keeps things simple: same base plate, same connection points, and even less weight than its predecessor. That means fewer delays, smoother approvals, and quicker results.

And with a lighter overall weight, larger motion range, and increased internal diameter, the GSM 5000 easily integrates larger and more complex sensors — even in aircraft with limited space.

Design Features that proved their value

Several key design elements of the new GSM 5000 were critical to the mission’s success:

Minimized risk of mechanical vignetting: The rotation center (pivot point) of the Mount is positioned near the aircraft base level to prevent mechanical vignetting (image shading caused by structural parts) in the sensor’s field of view at larger platform angles
Quick Deployment: All components worked in “plug & play” fashion, saving valuable field time.

These design choices reflect SOMAG’s ongoing commitment to user feedback — an element acknowledged by the IGI team on-site. “Great that you were listening to customer feedback” commented Kamil Wójcik, Business Development Manager / Technical Sales.

Data Analysis

Comparison in all attitude angles

The GSM 5000’s enhanced stabilization capabilities ensured that IGI’s EcoMapper-1280 C could operate at full potential, even under poor conditions. To highlight the stabilization improvements, we have included an interactive diagram comparing the GSM 4000 and GSM 5000 during identical flight conditions.

The data of the stabilization platforms GSM 4000 (previous model) and GSM 5000 (new product generation) were recorded during the test flight and evaluated after the flight. The upper left diagram shows a schematic of the test setup: a light aircraft equipped with a camera payload recording the ground. Any tilt or rotation of the aircraft would immediately lead to blurred or distorted imagery. Therefore, precise stabilization is essential – only with a stable platform can sensors such as cameras, LiDAR scanners, or other measurement systems deliver reliable results.

Combat Plane Movements for sharp data

The three diagrams on the right present the attitude angles Roll, Pitch, and Yaw over a period of 60 seconds. The blue curve (Base) illustrates the unstabilized aircraft motion, which is heavily affected by turbulence. Without stabilization, camera images would constantly be subject to motions and vibrations, making accurate surveying impossible. The white curve, representing GSM 4000, reduces the aircraft motion significantly but repeatedly reaches its limits. This is highlighted by the red markers in the diagrams, which indicate situations where the end-stop boundaries are exceeded. In these moments, the system loses its ability to hold the reference position of 0 deg. In practice, this means that captured images would become blurred or distorted, resulting in data quality degradation or unusable results.

In contrast, the yellow curve, representing GSM 5000 demonstrates much more stable performance. Even under strong turbulence, the new platform remains within its working range and keeps the sensors close to the reference position. Movements are reliably compensated, ensuring that the recorded sensor data remains sharp and consistent.

The significance of these differences becomes clear when looking at the RMS (root mean square) values, which we likte to keep as close as possible to 0.00 degree. In Roll, GSM 4000 achieves an RMS of 0.31 deg, while GSM 5000 reduces this to 0.14 deg. In Pitch, the RMS improves from 0.34 deg to 0.06 deg. In practice, this means that even the smallest motion, which would directly appear in sensor imagery, are considerably minimized.

Pin sharp images without exceeding the endstop

The lower left diagram shows the horizontal plane (Roll vs. Pitch) with the endstop boundaries indicated by dashed lines. These boundaries represent the mechanical working limits of the stabilization platform. It is evident that the GSM 4000 data (white points) exceed these limits multiple times – once the system reaches this state, it can no longer stabilize the aircraft effectively. GSM 5000 (yellow points), however, consistently remains within the boundaries, guaranteeing continuous stabilization throughout the flight. This is of critical importance, since any loss of stabilization directly influences image quality and measurement accuracy.

Results at a Glance: Why GSM 5000 Sets the Standard

In summary, the results clearly demonstrate that the GSM 5000 raises gyro stabilization to a new level. While GSM 4000 reaches its limits under turbulent conditions, GSM 5000 retains full control of the aircraft’s motion.

For airborne survey missions, this means that cameras and other sensors deliver significantly sharper, more consistent, and more precise data, even when flight conditions are challenging. In practice, this translates into higher operational reliability, improved image quality, and more dependable data evaluation within tougher environment.

The right image is a great example. Thermal hot spots stand out clearly against cooler zones. Areas marked in blue represent colder regions, such as shaded areas beneath trees. In sharp contrast, the hotter zones — marked in red — include features like car parks.

The image on the left shows a square with solar panels. Working panels appear in paler shades, such as white or light red. Non working ones stand out, as they appear in dark red, which also indicate a thermal hotspots. The trees as well as green areas, by contrast, appear blue and are considerably cooler.

Stability Evolved

Choose the GSM 5000

The GSM 5000 has proven itself as a versatile, future-ready solution for demanding airborne projects. Whether integrating cutting-edge thermal sensors, expanding corridor mapping capacity, or simply upgrading from earlier mounts, the GSM 5000 offers unmatched performance and ease of use.

Download here the product datasheet – including a full comparison between the GSM 5000 and its predecessor, the GSM 4000.

Data sheet GSM 5000

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Trade In, Power Up – Experience Superior Stabilization

Save up to €15,000 with our exclusive upgrade program

With the GSM 5000 we have made a bold step forward in aerial stabilization technology. We have entered a new era of high-precision data acquisition, delivering superior performance compared to the GSM 4000. Production of the GSM 5000 series has ramped up successfully, and we are proud to share that the first units were already delivered to customers as early as April.

Final Chance: GSM 4000 Production Ending Soon

As part of our commitment to continuous innovation, we have made the strategic decision to discontinue production of the GSM 4000. With limited stock remaining, we encourage you to act quickly if you wish to secure one of the last available units.

Upgrade and Benefit from the Latest Technology – Your Path to the GSM 5000

To help you make the smooth transition to the GSM 5000, we are offering an exclusive Trade-In Program. If you’re currently using the GSM 3000 or GSM 4000, this is the perfect opportunity to upgrade to the GSM 5000, ensuring that you stay at the forefront of precision and stability.

Our team is here to support you throughout this transition. For more details on the trade-in program, pricing, or any other inquiries, don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated SOMAG Sales Team. We will be happy to guide you in embracing the next generation of aerial stabilization technology.

Why GSM 5000? The Benefits at a Glance

The GSM 5000 isn’t just the next iteration – it’s a complete overhaul, optimized for next-generation sensors and LiDAR systems. This cutting-edge stabilization mount offers enhanced usability, improved performance, and a wider sensor view, ensuring that you can push the boundaries of your aerial projects with confidence and ease. Please visit our GSM 5000 product page for further information on the exceptional benefits and features.

We are here to help

Sales and Support

Sören Lieske
Sales Manager
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 18
E-Mail: s.lieske@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Jana Franck
Sales Coordinator
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 15
E-Mail: j.franck@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Newsletter

Subscribe today!

Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
We will send you regular information about:

exhibitions and event invitations
new products, services and videos
latest application examples, projects and partnerships

Subscribe here

Stabilization That Moves Geodata Forward.

Meet SOMAG at Intergeo 2025.

SOMAG AG Jena will be exhibiting at Intergeo 2025, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from October 7–9, 2025. Intergeo is the world’s leading event for geodesy, geoinformation, and land management, bringing together experts and industry leaders from across the globe.

Visit us at our joint booth 0B.050 in Hall 12, where we will be co-exhibiting with TopoFlight Systems. At the SOMAG stand, you can explore our latest advancements in Gyro Stabilization Mounts for airborne, marine, and land-based applications.

We will be presenting our brand-new GSM 5000 – a high-performance Gyro Stabilization Mount designed specifically for airborne data acquisition, offering cutting-edge technology for enhanced stability and sensor precision.

Visit our booth to explore how SOMAG’s advanced technology improves data quality and sensor performance in dynamic environments. Our team will be happy to advise you on the right solution for your mission.

Top 6 reasons to check out the GSM 5000

Expanded motion range – enhanced performance
No manual adjustments needed
Enhanced field of view
100 % backward compatible to current GSM 4000 installations
Future-proof communication interfaces (Ethernet & RS232-COMBI)
Larger diameter for bigger sensor systems (Ø 425 mm)

Free tickets for our customers

We offer our customers free vouchers for visiting Intergeo on all three opening days. To get your ticket please contact us at and we’ll then send you your personal voucher code via e-mail.

Meet our experts

Andreas Steps
CEO
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 12
E-Mail: a.steps@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Sebastian Schreiber
CTO
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 0
E-Mail: s.schreiber@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Sören Lieske
Sales Manager
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 18
E-Mail: s.lieske@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Lukas-Maximilian Graf
Operations Manager
Phone: +49 3641 633 68 25
E-Mail: l-m.graf@somag-ag.de
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

We are thrilled to announce SOMAG’s participation in Geo Week 2025, taking place from February 10–12, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Join us at booth #1127, where we will be showcasing our latest innovations as part of a joint exhibit with our partner, Topoflight AG.

GSM 5000 Live Presentation and Q&A

At our booth, we will exclusively introduce the GSM 5000 to American audiences. Alongside this, we will showcase the RSM 50, highlighting SOMAG’s comprehensive stabilization technology across the airborne, marine, and land sectors.

We also invite you to attend our GSM 5000 presentation and Q&A session on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 4:15 PM, held directly at our booth. This session will dive deeper into the GSM 5000’s features and its applications for geospatial data acquisition.

Our team, including Support Manager Johannes Dreyer and Operations Manager Lukas-Maximilian Graf, will be available throughout the event to answer your questions and provide detailed insights. They are ready to discuss how SOMAG’s solutions can support your projects and demonstrate the capabilities of both the GSM 5000 and the RSM 50.

Johannes Dreyer
Support Manager
Let’s connect on LinkedIn

Lukas-Maximilian Graf
Operations Manager
Let’s connect on LinkedIn