For years, utility locating professionals have had to accept tradeoffs when it came to the locating systems they use. Simplicity often came at the expense of capability. Powerful systems could be difficult to learn. Modern workflows frequently required costly subscriptions. And too many products remained largely unchanged after they left the factory.

Compass NX was developed to change that.

Built around a simple idea, stop compromising, Compass NX combines industry-leading GPR performance, an intuitive mobile experience, modern workflows, and continuous innovation in a single platform.

In a recent interview, the GSSI product team took us through the making of Compass NX.

Putting the User First

Every successful product starts with understanding the people who use it.

For the Compass NX team, that meant spending time thinking about the realities utility professionals face every day: changing jobsites, demanding schedules, incomplete information, and the need to make critical decisions quickly and confidently.

As Matt Harris, Director of Products at GSSI, explained, “we like to put the user first… thinking about the person in the field and the environment they’re in.”

That user-first approach became a guiding principle throughout development. Rather than designing around technical specifications alone, the team focused on reducing complexity and creating a system that could help users become productive quickly without sacrificing capability.

The result is a platform that feels approachable from the very first scan while still providing the advanced functionality experienced professionals expect.

Building on a Legacy of Innovation

Compass NX represents the next chapter in GSSI’s long history of subsurface utility locating innovation. According to product manager Peter Leach, “it’s the spiritual successor of UtilityScan, but it’s also the technological successor.”

While Compass NX builds on decades of GSSI experience, it was never intended to be a simple refresh of an existing product. Instead, it was an opportunity to leverage modern hardware, software, and signal processing technologies to deliver a significantly improved user experience.

The team set out to create a system that delivers exceptional visibility across a wide range of utility locating applications while supporting modern field workflows and future innovation.

A New Standard in Utility Visibility

At the heart of Compass NX is the new NX04/10 dual-channel antenna, which combines multiple frequencies and advanced signal processing technologies to provide exceptional visibility of both shallow and deep targets.

This capability is especially important in today’s utility locating environment, where professionals are expected to identify everything from fiber-optic cables and non-metallic water lines to deeper buried infrastructure.

Product manager Myles Danforth highlighted one of the most important benefits of the system: “The scan itself… is really good at helping you find the things you expect to find, but it’s also remarkably good at finding the things you did not expect to find.”

That philosophy influenced every aspect of the antenna design. Enhanced target visibility, improved depth performance, and technologies such as Dynamic HyperStacking® help users gain greater confidence in the field and make more informed decisions.

GPR Designed for Everyone

One of the most ambitious goals of the Compass NX project was creating a system that could serve both newer GPR users and seasoned professionals.

Historically, utility locating solutions have tended to favor one audience or the other. Systems were either simplified for beginners or packed with advanced functionality that required significant training and experience.

Compass NX was designed to bridge that gap.

With intuitive controls and Quick Scan mode, users can deploy the system in under a minute and begin collecting data almost immediately. At the same time, advanced controls, filtering capabilities, mapping tools, and workflow options remain available for more experienced users.

This flexibility allows Compass NX to adapt to the user rather than forcing users to adapt to the technology.

Whether someone is conducting their first utility locate or managing complex infrastructure projects, the system provides a path for growth and increased capability over time.

Modern Workflows Without the Tradeoffs

The Compass NX team didn’t stop at improving the hardware. The software experience received just as much attention.

The NX Control app provides a modern, touch-based interface and operates on compatible iOS and Android devices, eliminating the need for dedicated controllers. Users can leverage devices they already own while benefiting from integrated mapping, target marking, line drawing tools, geotagged photos, offline mapping capabilities, and direct CAD and GIS exports.

Perhaps most importantly, the application is permanently licensed and included with the system.

No subscription fees. No recurring software costs. Just the tools users need to locate, map, document, and deliver.

As Peter noted: “You can set the system up in 35 seconds and just push one button to scan.”

That simplicity was intentional. The goal was to remove friction while maintaining professional-grade performance.

Powered by NEXUS

While Compass NX delivers significant value on day one, the team believes one of its greatest advantages will emerge over time.

Compass NX is powered by NEXUS, GSSI’s continuous innovation platform.

As Matt explained: “We’re making a promise that we’re going to continue to make our products better for them.”

That promise is embodied in NEXUS. Through ongoing feature updates and enhancements, Compass NX is designed to evolve alongside its users. As utility professionals gain experience, adopt new workflows, and take on more complex projects, the platform will continue to grow with them.

Rather than remaining static after purchase, Compass NX is built to deliver long-term value through continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead

The development of Compass NX brought together decades of subsurface utility locating experience, cutting-edge technology, and a deep commitment to customer success.

The result is more than a new GPR system. It’s a platform designed around the needs of today’s utility professionals and built to support the challenges of tomorrow.

By combining exceptional utility visibility, intuitive operation, modern workflows, and continuous innovation, Compass NX represents a new direction for utility locating and a new standard for what users should expect from their technology.

Because utility professionals shouldn’t have to compromise. And now, they don’t have to.