China’s geospatial information industry is experiencing remarkable expansion, with official data indicating the sector is approaching the significant threshold of 1 trillion yuan (approximately $143 billion). According to recent announcements from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the industry’s output value was projected to exceed 900 billion yuan for 2025, representing an impressive growth surge of over 30% compared to 2020 levels.
The burgeoning sector currently provides employment for more than 4 million professionals across China, underscoring its substantial economic impact. At the heart of this technological ecosystem lies tianditu.gov.cn, the national platform for geospatial information services operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The platform has demonstrated substantial adoption with approximately 1.48 million registered users and has authorized roughly 1.13 million applications to date.
Ministerial officials revealed that the platform processes an average of 1 billion service interface access requests daily, serving as critical infrastructure supporting digital transformation initiatives. The system currently provides essential services to more than 7,000 government users and approximately 33,000 enterprises nationwide, playing a pivotal role in advancing China’s comprehensive digitalization strategy.
Chen Ping, an official with the ministry, elaborated on the platform’s evolution: ‘Initially conceived as a basic map service, the platform has transformed into a comprehensive natural resources service base.’ The integrated system now consolidates information regarding land use planning, geological surveys, forestry, grasslands, and marine resources within a unified digital framework.
The technological advancements are catalyzing innovation across multiple industries. Geospatial information is particularly instrumental in fostering emerging sectors, including the development of specialized security application spaces for autonomous driving technologies. Under a State Council-led pilot program, six major cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing among them—are currently exploring secure implementation protocols for high-definition mapping systems in intelligent connected vehicles.
Furthermore, geospatial initiatives are accelerating development within China’s low-altitude economy. Zhu Guoming, deputy director of Guangdong province’s natural resources department, highlighted practical applications: ‘The Beidou high-precision positioning service has enabled drones to conduct smart grid inspections at low altitudes for China Southern Power Grid.’
To address data security concerns associated with low-altitude economic activities, Guangdong has implemented stringent review requirements for electronic navigation maps utilized by flying vehicles and has successfully completed multiple assessments of low-altitude navigation mapping systems.