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Volume XIV, Issue 7, July 2018 THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE ON POSITIONING, NAVIGATION AND BEYOND
Cities Defence and Local Environment and Government Government Security Project Resilience World Bank Health and Project Education National Mapping Geospatial Agencies Contributing to the society and the SDGs
Innovation
Revenue SDGs Generation Infra struct Utilities and ure Transport Telco’s Logistics
Safety and security needs of marine navigation YOUR SURVEY SOLUTION MicroSurvey CAD 2018 gives you the features you need to get the job done on budget and on time!
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Quality: Green -> centimetric position; Blue -> decimetric < 30cms; Red -> Raw GNSS data
SURVEYING UNDER BRIDGES Å GNSS Altitude (m) - Merged Å Altitude (m) - Merged MADE EASY This survey has been done with an APOGEE INS under very challenging conditions for the GNSS receiver (red dots). The boat is crossing multiple times three large bridges including one made of steel. With Qinertia and its unique 100% in-house GNSS/INS tightly coupled forward / backward processing, data collected under the bridges Altitude – Left GNSS only, Right: Post-processed are fully exploitable (blue / green trajectory).
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Many thanks to Hydro Systems Development (HSD Japan) for their kind collaboration.
Full data available upon request at [email protected] www.sbg-systems.com COLOPHON AND CONTENTS
Pisang Island
In this issue Coordinates Volume 14, Issue 07, July 2018
Articles
Safety and Security Needs of Marine Navigation Ahmad Faizal AHMAD FUAD, Mohd Sharifuddin AHMAD, Mohd
Naim FADZIL and Noor Apandi OSNIN 10 An Automated Method for Street Floor Detection Arshad Husain, Dhaval Mehta and R C Vaishya 17 Future national geospatial agencies: contributing to the society and the sustainable development goals John, Kedar, Kimberley Worthy, James Darvill and Victoria Giddings 31
Columns
My Coordinates Editorial 5 His Coordinates David Last 6 Conference UN Argentina workshop 39 News Imaging 41
GNSS 42 LBS 43 UAV 44 GIS 46 Industry 47 Galileo update 48 Mark your calendar July 2018 to December 2018 50
This issue has been made possible by the support and good wishes of the following individuals and companies Ahmad Faizal Ahmad Fuad, Arshad Husain, David Last, Dhaval Mehta, John, James Darvill, Kedar, Kimberley Worthy, Mohd Naim Fadzil, Mohd Sharifuddin Ahmad, Noor Apandi Osnin, R C Vaishya and Victoria Giddings and; Effigis, Javad, Labsat, MicroSurvey, Pentax, SBG System, and many others. Mailing Address Coordinates is an initiative of CMPL that aims to broaden the Printed and published by Sanjay Malaviya on behalf of A 002, Mansara Apartments scope of positioning, navigation and related technologies. Coordinates Media Pvt Ltd C 9, Vasundhara Enclave CMPL does not neccesarily subscribe to the views expressed Published at A 002 Mansara Apartments, Vasundhara Delhi 110 096, India. by the authors in this magazine and may not be held liable for Enclave, Delhi 110096, India. Phones +91 11 42153861, 98102 33422, 98107 24567 any losses caused directly or indirectly due to the information Printed at Thomson Press (India) Ltd, Mathura Road, provided herein. © CMPL, 2018. Reprinting with permission is Faridabad, India Email encouraged; contact the editor for details. [information] [email protected] Editor Bal Krishna [editorial] [email protected] Annual subscription (12 issues) Owner Coordinates Media Pvt Ltd (CMPL) [advertising] [email protected] [India] Rs.1,800 [Overseas] US$100 [subscriptions] [email protected] Web www.mycoordinates.org This issue of Coordinates is of 52 pages, including cover.
4 | Coordinates July 2018 MYCOORDINATES
When humanity triumphs
In Thailand, when thirteen members of Wild Boars football team
Were trapped in the cave,
They refused to cave in.
Demonstrated exemplary level of guts and grit
Their battle for survival
United the world.
The mission that looked impossible
Was made possible
By the human resolve, endurance, perseverance, courage, togetherness, …
And when they all were finally rescued successfully,
The world erupted with joy
To celebrate the triumph of humanity
No one forgets valiant Saman Gunan, a former Thai Navy Seal
Who lost his life in the endeavor.
Bal Krishna, Editor [email protected]
ADVISORS Naser El-Sheimy PEng, CRC Professor, Department of Geomatics Engineering, The University of Calgary Canada, George Cho Professor in GIS and the Law, University of Canberra, Australia, Professor Abbas Rajabifard Director, Centre for SDI and Land Administration, University of Melbourne, Australia, Luiz Paulo Souto Fortes PhD Associate Professor, University of State of Rio Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil, John Hannah Professor, School of Surveying, University of Otago, New Zealand
Coordinates July 2018 | 5 HIS COORDINATES “The threats of interference, jamming and spoofing are real and serious” says Professor David Last, Consultant Engineer and Expert Witness in an interview with Coordinates while sharing his views on a range of issues pertaining to GNSS technology
This is a world of multi-GNSS a race: GPS was followed by the global systems. What advantages do systems: GLONASS, BEIDOU and Galileo you see about this scenario? and the regional systems: QZSS and IRNSS. Also, by a host of augmentation The advantages to countries or regions systems: WAAS, EGNOS, SDCM, MSAS, of providing their own GNSS are GAGAN. Now the UK is exploring the political, not technical. Indeed, so possibility of launching its own GNSS and many satellites are now transmitting in Australia has recently announced a national the same narrow radio bands that the augmentation system. The limitation is additional ones are raising the noise likely to be financial: satellite navigation level with which they all have to cope! systems are immensely expensive and beyond the wallets of many countries. But many countries are unwilling to have their critical national infrastructure or military capabilities dependent on a satellite Recently, the Government of system controlled by a foreign state, that UK has released a report on will always put its own interests first. “Satellite-derived Time and Position: A study of critical dependencies”. What are Many countries plan GNSS the key recommendations systems primarily because of and what is your take? defence and security needs. Do you think that this may This revue was initiated by the UK trigger a race with more government and directed by its Chief Professor David Last is a Consultant countries joining in? What Scientific Adviser. It explored the breadth, Engineer and Expert Witness specialising would be the implications? scale and implications of the reliance of the in Radio Navigation and Communications UK’s critical national infrastructure (CNI) Systems. He is a Professor Emeritus That is correct. It already has triggered such on the “invisible utility” that is satellite at the University of Bangor, Wales and Past-President of the Royal Institute of Navigation. He acts as a consultant on The advantages to countries or regions of providing radio-navigation and communications to companies and to governmental their own GNSS are political, not technical. Indeed, and international organisations and is active as an Expert Witness, especially so many satellites are now transmitting in the same in forensic matters concerning GPS. narrow radio bands that the additional ones are raising the noise level with which they all have to cope!
6 | Coordinates July 2018 position, navigation and timing (PNT). Government departments and agencies, Any back-up must employ a different technology academia and industry were all consulted. I was a member of the Expert Panel. from the GNSS it is to complement. For precise
The resulting report recommended timing that might be a very stable clock. In the that Cabinet Office (the top level of government) should require all CNI air it will be one of the many non-GNSS systems operators to assess and record their dependence on GNSS. This vulnerability – DME, ILS, VOR, NDB, inertial – that have been should feature in the National Risk Register and be taken into account in allocating retained for both commercial and general aviation. radio spectrum. The government should consider legal sanctions for selling, The best back-up will depend on the application owning and using jammers and whether to monitor interference at key sites, including ports. Those specifying equipment has come to accept that; indeed, many technology from the GNSS it is to for CNI should stipulate performance technical meetings are now dominated by complement. For precise timing that might standards. National expertise in PNT papers on these problems and proposed be a very stable clock. In the air it will should be mapped and coordinated. solutions. But in contrast, recognition of be one of the many non-GNSS systems this vulnerability among policy-makers – DME, ILS, VOR, NDB, inertial – that The report called for GNSS-independent and governments remains rare. Indeed, in have been retained for both commercial back-up systems, recommending a many countries and regions, notably in and general aviation. The best back- range of mitigations, different for each Europe, the need to defend one’s own high- up will depend on the application. user sector: for example, better hold- cost GNSS program has resulted in denial over clocks for precise time distribution. of the issue of vulnerability. Until there is But for every sector “a terrestrial acceptance of the problem by governments, What’s is your take on eLoran? radio system” has a part to play. the critical national infrastructure of their nations will remain at risk. I am strongly in favour of eLoran, having The report showed widespread acceptance watched closely the UK and Ireland by those consulted of the vulnerabilities The recent government-commissioned prototype system that demonstrated of GNSS and their agreement on the need report by London Economics estimated the its technical viability and excellent to tackle them. But in my view, the key cost to the UK economy of a one-off loss of performance over more than 2 years. This outcome of the report was that the UK GNSS lasting 5 days at £5.2B (USD7.1B). system employed the transmissions of the government at its highest level, the Cabinet In my book, that’s a serious threat! legacy Loran-C stations across North-West Office, recognised the seriousness of PNT Europe, until they reached their closedown vulnerability and took ownership of the dates, adding a data channel broadcast problem. Already, they have started to Given this, what’s your from a new UK station. It operated in implement its recommendations. I believe opinion on GNSS back-ups? both stand-alone and differential modes. that this is the only way that governments will succeed in overcoming the It would be hard now to find a satellite ELoran, originally proposed by the US vulnerabilities of GNSS; we have seen in navigation professional who has studied the Federal Aviation Administration, has many countries that leaving it to individual question of vulnerability and still believes the great benefit of sharing almost no departments simply does not work. that a single GNSS alone can provide vulnerabilities with GNSS: it operates at resilient PNT. Equally, most now agree low-frequencies (not the microwaves of that one GNSS cannot back-up another GNSS), with high power transmissions How serious are the GNSS, given that they use the same radio (not the very low powers of GNSS) and threats like interference, frequency bands and are, in effect, slightly terrestrial transmitters (not space-based). jamming and spoofing? different versions of the same technology. Yet, in many applications, eLoran can How prepared is the GNSS The need for our various GNSS to be take over automatically and seamlessly community to deal with it? mutually compatible and interoperable when GNSS is interrupted, so allowing means that when one is lost to interference operation to continue, meeting the same Many recent incidents, and many surveys, and jamming, they all may be. And there standards. That has been demonstrated have shown that the threats of interference, are now low-cost multi-GNSS spoofers! at sea, on land and in the distribution of jamming and spoofing are real and serious. precise time, including to receivers indoors The professional GNSS community So, any back-up must employ a different and under-ground. But eLoran comes
Coordinates July 2018 | 7 up against a profound prejudice: given been captured at frequent intervals. whether the GNSS system involved, that GNSS replaced an earlier generation When presented with such data as from satellites to receiver, was working of terrestrial radio navigation systems, evidence of criminal activity by the correctly and demonstrate this to the court. recommending a terrestrial system to occupants of the vehicle, a court will overcome the vulnerability of GNSS rightly question the accuracy and Then, there is the question of accuracy. It is to swim against a powerful tide! integrity of the data; and that is familiar is remarkable how many folk who know a territory to us PNT specialists. little bit about GPS are still living in the era The London Economics report identified of Selective Availability! Many companies eLoran as one of two technologies that Then, some criminals themselves make in the telematics industry quote open-site offered “the most applicable mitigation use of our technologies to monitor their performance figures, whereas in reality strategies for the largest number of competitors: in addition to bugging the accuracy of GPS positions recorded applications”. The UK government then them, they will deploy GPS trackers in urban areas is dominated by multipath signalled its support for the system. that gather large volumes of data. propagation. I find myself examining crime They will use jammers both to defend scenes with a knowledge of microwave themselves and to disable the tracking radio propagation and estimating the US had to deal with systems intended to protect high- expected spread of the scatter of fixes there. LightSquared a few years value targets they seek to hi-jack. In Unfortunately, many of the commercial before and now again grappling addition, the rapid growth in telematics systems that document the tracks of with Ligado. Would you like systems (including those deployed by vehicles fail to record the measures of to suggest some approach vehicle insurance companies) provides quality provided by their GNSS receiver in handling such issues? detailed evidence of events leading chips. As a result, implausible position up to and during collisions that may fixes due – for example - to the vehicle’s This has been, and remains, a very hot support a charge of dangerous driving. being in an underground car park topic in the US! In my view it is essential It may also form evidence in civil cases cannot be identified and explained, so to recognise: that nations must take PNT concerning liability for death and injury. undermining the whole set of evidence. resilience into account in allocating radio spectrum; that GNSS is of profound Much of the data that finds its way into economic value to contemporary societies; How GPS Forensics works? court, even in cases of serious crime, that our use of GNSS will depend heavily is generated by companies whose on legacy equipment continuing to operate An expert witness in GPS Forensics professional standards fall well short uninterrupted; and that any decisions advises the court on the accuracy of of those of readers of Coordinates! should be based on firm evidence. the evidence and the degree to which it can be relied upon. Interestingly, all the recent and current activity in our What influences do you You have been working on PNT community plays into the forensics envisage in satellite navigation legal issues pertaining to GNSS. world. For example, a switched-on in the near future given Your presentation at INC 2017 defence lawyer will know that: GNSS the advancements in the was titled “Beyond reasonable is vulnerable to jamming and spoofing field of AI, Autonomous doubt – Satellite navigation and that GNSS satellites have failed or Vehicles, UAV, etc.? comes to court”. Would you data uploads have gone wrong, causing like to share some of key issues erroneous positions. This knowledge AI will play an increasing role in the that you often come across? will lead to attacks on telematics data downstream applications of satellite presented in evidence. So an expert must navigation. There is a lively debate Yes, since I retired from my university be able to analyse the data to establish concerning the mix of sensors needed to position, crime has become an important part of my life! As GNSS has become deeply embedded in all aspects of our But eLoran comes up against a profound prejudice: society, so it has increasingly featured in evidence in criminal and civil given that GNSS replaced an earlier generation of legal cases. For example, a car may now run many million lines of code, terrestrial radio navigation systems, recommending across 70 processors. It will record on board vast amounts of data including a terrestrial system to overcome the vulnerability PNT information: its location, speed, direction of travel, rates of acceleration, of GNSS is to swim against a powerful tide! braking and cornering, may all have
8 | Coordinates July 2018 navigate autonomous vehicles, including UAVs. The integrity required in these Interestingly, all the recent and current activity in guidance systems, and the complexity of the environments in which they operate, our PNT community plays into the forensics world. can be extreme; a navigation system that can guide a ship on the open sea or For example, a switched-on defence lawyer will know even in a harbour falls well short of what is required to navigate a car through a that: GNSS is vulnerable to jamming and spoofing crowded and chaotic city. Indeed, it is not clear to many of those struggling to and that GNSS satellites have failed or data uploads find solutions that satellite navigation has much, or even any, part to play there! have gone wrong, causing erroneous positions
How do you perceive change is unlikely. Thus its direction its own independent GNSS. Studies of the direction of satellite will be more about an increase in the this option are currently under way. navigation? numbers of systems, satellites and receivers, all based on essentially the The row is complicated by the substantial Satellite navigation was one of the same old technology. But I do expect role that UK companies, or the UK outstanding innovative technologies of to see the cost of satellite systems parts of multi-national companies, the late twentieth century, arguably the and launchers continuing to fall. have played and are continuing to play most successful, being widely adopted in the development of Galileo. Brexit with remarkably few downsides, either could end that cooperation, leaving social or environmental. Through What impacts do you think unanswered questions concerning the first decade of the twenty-first Brexit may have on Galileo? the intellectual property involved. century the technology was refined: It could also throw into uncertainty devices became much smaller, Brexit has already led to a conflict the position of the European Space much cheaper, more powerful, and between the UK and the rest of the EU Agency (ESA) which is not part of the gained superior accuracy, integrity, concerning future UK access to the EU but acts for it in certain ways. availability and continuity. But Public Regulated Service (PRS), the by now we are 45 years on from military-grade part of Galileo. According It remains to be seen whether this the meeting at which the principal to the EU, only member states have conflict is genuine or part of the parameters of GPS were settled. the right to access the PRS. The UK, manoeuvring between the UK and the requiring either PRS or an equivalent EU over the terms of Brexit and the Satellite navigation has become a very for military purposes has countered by future relationship between the two. mature technology in which major stating that it will consider developing Divorces can be messy affairs!
Location: The University of Melbourne Parkville. Workshop and Training: 24 September 2018 Symposium: The symposium will bring together the academic and research community 25 – 26 September 2018 with frontline stakeholders in government, industry and professional bodies to explore the state of play (in knowledge and practice), identify Key Dates: local, national, and global challenges, and discuss recent research and • Preliminary abstracts innovative solutions that address all facets of achieving our common aspirations for a smart and sustainable future for all. due: 30 May 2018 Hosted by: Supported by: • Final (extended) abstracts due: 10 July 2018 • Early bird registration closes: 30 July 2018 ssf2018.com MARINE NAVIGATION Safety and security needs of marine navigation The objective of this study is to review the function of Pisang Island lighthouse and to propose the most relevant use of Pisang Island for current navigational needs. The function of the lighthouse was reviewed according to the IALA Navigational Guide and the AIS data image
Ahmad Faizal slands have been used as a base to cylindrical iron tower lighthouse was AHMAD FUAD Iestablish facilities to support maritime established on the highest point on the Nautical Science and operations. Japan had established a military island in 1914. The current lighthouse’s Maritime Transportation radar facility on Yonaguni Island in March solar powered lighting system produces a Program, Universiti 2016 as a monitoring station in East China luminous range of 21 nm (Yong, 2008). Malaysia Terengganu, Sea to increase its military presence over Malaysia there (Lewis, 2016). The island is part of a chain of islands disputed between Japan Problem statement and China. In 2014, India plan to establish and objective a radar station at Narcondam Island, which Mohd Sharifuddin is part of Andaman and Nicobar groups Currently, long range visual marine AtoNs AHMAD of Islands for security and surveillance such as lighthouses are less important School of Business and measures. The island is significantly for marine navigation, as shown in the Maritime Management, important due its location near the Malacca UK. The UK 2010 marine atons review Universiti Malaysia Straits, which provides the ability to monitor resulted in the decommissioning of 20 Terengganu, Malaysia the movement of all vessels to and from lighthouses and another 14 lighthouses the Indian Ocean through the Malacca were transferred to local authorities Straits (Vasan, 2014). The island would (ATKINS Ltd, 2010). The Review by the also enable India to monitor the Chinese General Lighthouse Authority UK between Mohd Naim FADZIL naval activity in the North Andaman Sea 2010 to 2015 resulted in the following: Nautical Science and and around Coco Islands. China had built 41 lighthouses reduced luminous range, Maritime Transportation a military base in December 2016 on an 6 lighthouses discontinued operation, Program, Universiti artificial island reclaimed on Fiery Cross 14 lighthouses were transferred to local Malaysia Terengganu, reef, which is part of the disputed Spratly authorities, 1 lighthouse was replaced with Malaysia Island archipelago (Buckley, 2016; Hunt, a Port Entry Light, 1 lighthouse reduced 2015). The facilities at the base are harbours, fog signal range, 1 lighthouse was fitted runways, and hangars. The purpose of the with an Automatic Identification System base is to support the China’s operations (AIS), and the remaining 76 lighthouses Noor Apandi OSNIN and claims over the Spratly Islands. were unchanged (Commissioners of Nautical Science and Northern Lighthouses, Trinity House, & Maritime Transportation This study is about Pisang Island, which is Commissioners of Irish Lights, 2010). Program, Universiti one of a Malaysian island at the southern Most of the 76 unchanged lighthouses Malaysia Terengganu, part of the Straits of Malacca (SoM). The have a range of light below 18 nm, which Malaysia importance of Pisang Island to marine was previously reviewed between 2005 navigation was identified by the British and 2009. The results of these reviews colonial government in the mid-19th showed the trend of mariners to depend century upon charting the straits and using less on lighthouses due to a higher the island to mark a hazard (Yong, 2008). reliance on GNSS. This long-range marine The SoM became more important upon signal form is not required anymore the completion of the Suez Canal, where and has thus resulted in the reduction it formed part of the shortest shipping the light range of lighthouses and even route from west to east. A 16-metre-high the discontinuation of their operation.
10 | Coordinates July 2018 With respect to the current trend in marine the daytime and by using the lighthouse’s former is using the lighthouse, while the navigation, Pisang Island lighthouse light as a reference during the night time. latter is using the island’s physical features. remains operational by providing a long- range marine signal, which is not required However, as an alternative to taking a The application of GNSS, which is most by current navigation practice. Hitherto, LOP using visual means, the LOP can commonly used Global Positioning System no review of the operation of Pisang be performed electronically by using (GPS) in the current trend of marine Island lighthouse has been performed the ARPA radar of the ship. This LOP is navigation, makes the lighthouse redundant with respect to current navigational performed by using a distinct horizontal and less important for a positional fix. needs such as supporting the operation feature on the island identified on the With the incorporation of GPS, Electronic of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and radar screen, such as, the edge of the Navigation Charts (ENC), radar, Echo the marine electronic highway to ensure island instead of the lighthouse’s structure. Sounder, and Gyro Compass into a single the safety and security of navigation in This is because the ship’s radar is unable display of information in an Electronic the SoM. Therefore, the current study to distinguish the lighthouse from the Chart Display and Information System addresses this issue by examining the rest of the island’s features horizontally. (ECDIS), mariners are less likely to be function of Pisang Island lighthouse Therefore, the LOP can be performed either looking out from the bridge to perform the and identifying more relevant atons visually or by electronic means, where the laborious manual positional fix by visual with current marine navigation practice to support the safety and security of marine navigation in the SoM.
The function of Pisang island lighthouse
This section examines the function of Pisang Island lighthouse. A lighthouse is generally considered to be a large conspicuous structure (visual mark) on land, close to the shoreline or in the water that acts as a daymark; it provides a platform generally for higher range marine AtoN signal lights (IALA, 2014). The Pisang Island purpose of a lighthouse is to perform one or more the following functions; mark a landfall position; mark an obstruction or a danger; indicate the lateral limits of a Figure 1: Pisang Island in the bull’s eye and Lighthouse Pisang Island 20 nm light’s radius channel or navigable waterway; indicate a turning point or a junction in a waterway; mark the entrance of a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS); form part of a leading (range) line; mark an area; and to provide a reference for mariner to take a bearing or line of position (LOP) (Hooff & Sirks, 1979; IALA, 2014; The Nautical Institute, 2002). With respect to Pisang Island Lighthouse, it’s only relevant function is to provide a reference for mariners to take a bearing for a line of position (LOP).
Figure 1 shows the radius of the lighthouse light, which indicates that several coastal beacons are within the radius of the lighthouse light. For a vessel going either Figure 2: Picture A of Figure 2 (left) shown a close-up view near Pisang Island, north or southbound in the straits, the while picture B of Figure 2 (right) give an overall view of southern part of the LOP is performed by taking a visual straits. The red coloured are tankers, while green coloured are cargo vessels. bearing of the lighthouse’s tower during Source: www.marinetraffic.com (2016)
Coordinates July 2018 | 11 England
France
The Casquets
Figure 3: Middle picture shows shipping in Dover Straits. Picture A (left) shows the traditional in and outward bound of shipping pattern in Dover Straits. Picture B (right) shows in and outward bound of shipping pattern using radio navigation. Source: Hooff, (1982); www.marinevesseltraffic.com (2016)
means due to an easily available accurate automatic positional fix. This is the current situation in the Pisang Island Lighthouse area, where the LOP is assumed to not be practised by mariners on board passing ships, as shown in Picture A of Figure 2.
This situation is due understandably to the high reliance on GPS for navigation and for complying with the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Picture B of Figure 2 shows the overall view of ship’s traffic in the southern part of the Malacca straits, which shows the Indonesian coast (the west of the straits) and Singapore (the south of the straits.
Nevertheless, Figure 2 is unable to clearly show that the passing ships were not practising LOP while navigating because that part of the straits is quite narrow. To determine the current trend of marine navigation, the movement of ships in the Dover Straits in Figure 3 was used as a reference for the study. The top picture shows the movement of ships in the straits based on AIS data on November 2016; picture A (bottom left) shows the traditional inbound and outbound shipping pattern in the Dover Straits Figure 4: Track of Tanker Hakkaisan from using the lighthouses as the landfall light at Ushant and Casquets Malaysia to Japan on 01 April 2017 points; and picture B (bottom right) shows the shipping pattern Source: www.marinetraffic.com (2017) in the straits using radio navigation (Hooff, 1982). To determine whether pattern of middle picture is similar to A or B, Figure 3 was shown separately to three lecturers of the Nautical Science and Maritime Transportation Program, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu who hold the Master Foreign Going qualification, during January 2017. Each of them agreed that the ship’s route pattern in the middle figure is like the pattern in picture B as proposed by Hoof in 1982. The reason was that most of the ships entering the Dover straits were in the middle of the straits mouth; instead of near to the lighthouse at Ushant point to practice LOP. This shows that the mariners are currently not relying heavily on Approximate Pisang the lighthouse for navigation. This example supports the similar Island position practice of mariner in the waters surrounding Pisang Island.
Another example to support the view that mariners currently do not practice LOP on lighthouses is shown in Figure 4. The previous and forecast track of a Japanese registered tanker Hakkaisan on its way from Malaysia to Japan on 1st April 2017 was used. The track Figure 5: STRAITREP Sector 1 to 9 shows that the vessel was navigating too far from any coast to take Source: MPA Singapore (2009, 2012a, 2012b)
12 | Coordinates July 2018 a bearing from a lighthouse for a LOP fix. band radar signal from remote radar way to address this issue is by establishing This route clearly shows that the vessel was stations (MPA Singapore, 2012a). There a radar station on Pisang Island that would relying mostly on GNSS for navigation. are seven remote stations that support serve as a remote station for the SoM VTS. the VTS, namely Pulau Angsa, Bukit The example of the shipping pattern in Jugra, Cape Rachado, Pulau Undan, Therefore, a radar station is more important the Dover Straits, UK, the route of tanker Bukit Segenting, Tanjung Piai and Bukit than the existing lighthouse to support the Hakkaisan, the significant reduction Pengerang. Each of these stations is operation of the SoM VTS and to ensure of range of light of lighthouses and equipped with 1 unit “X” band radar the safety and security of marine navigation the discontinuation the operation of facility, 1 unit “S” band radar facility, and in this busy strait. Corresponding to the lighthouses in the UK has proved that VHF radio transmitters and receivers. current needs, there is no other site that lighthouses are less relevant for current is suitable to place the radar station other marine navigational practice. The current Figure 6 shows the 48 nm (89 km) radius than the existing site of the Pisang Island role of lighthouses is to complement of the VTS radar coverage from two lighthouse. This is the most suitable site in the current marine navigational aids shore-based remote stations, namely Bukit the area because it is located at the highest during the very rare event of the Segenting (north) and Tanjung Piai (south). point on the island, which will give the failure of all means of radio/electronic There is a small gap area between the fullest performance on range and detail of navigation such as GNSS, radar, VTS coverage of those two radars. The VTS radar detection. Figure 7 shows the radius and land-based radio navigation. operator can increase the range of the radar coverage of the proposed radar on Pisang to complete the coverage by reducing Island by using a similar specification the radar pulse frequency rate, which of the existing VTS radar. The radar on The relevance use of increases the radar pulse length. However, the proposed site would eliminate the Pisang island for current this would degrade the detail of detection existence of the shadow zone around the navigation practice or the ability to discriminate two or more islands, which currently exists by using targets on the same bearing but at different the shore-based radar. The Pisang Island Since Pisang Island lighthouse is less ranges. The long radar pulse length would radar can serve as a backup in the event relevant for current marine navigational merge two targets on the same bearing that of radar failure at either Bukit Segenting practice, the question arises, what is are half the pulse length as a single target or Tanjung Piai. To accommodate the the most relevant use for Pisang Island on the radar screen (Bartlett, 2002; Bole, establishment of an “X” and “S” band to support current marine navigational Dineley, & Nicholls, 1992). The ability to radar facility on Pisang Island, the existing needs? To answer that question, the current discriminate targets on the same bearing lighthouse should be discontinued from requirements for marine navigation in is critical for a VTS operator to detect operation and replaced with a beacon to the Straits of Malacca are investigated. the movement of a suspicious boat such mark the island. The metal lantern house The Mandatory Ship Reporting System as a small fast pirate boat approaching of the lighthouse should be removed in the Straits of Malacca, known as a larger commercial vessel. Therefore, to prevent any obstruction to the radar the STRAITREP, has been enforced the maximum current range is the best wave. Relevant equipment to support the since 1st December 1998 to support the setting based on the trade-off between operation of the marine electronic highway Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) (IMO, range and the detail of detection. However, such as the AIS and Automatic Weather 1998). STRAITREP consists of 9 sectors the movement of small boats in the area Station should be established on the (Figure 5), sectors 1 to 6 fall under the near the maximum radius of both radars site. The proposed beacon to replace the responsibility of the government of around Pisang Island are difficult to detect lighthouse should be established without a Malaysia, while sectors 7 to 9 fall under the especially when these boats are made of day mark and should produce a luminous government of Singapore’s responsibility fibreglass or wood. This is due to the radar range that is as minimal as possible (IMO, 1998). The Malaysian sectors pulse being less reflected or absorbed by and corresponding to the speed limit of of STRAITREP are maintained by the these materials compared to metal. Another commercial vessels in the SoM TSS. Malaysian Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). issue related with the VTS radar in the Pisang Island is in Sector 6 (Piai) and Pisang Island area is the existence of a near to the border of Sector 5 (Segenting). shadow zone behind the island that faces Conclusion and The sectors of the Malaysian VTS are the radar. The shadow zone exists due to recommendation supported by a series of surface radar, the side of the island that faces the radar VHF radio and AIS transponders. blocks the radar beam from reaching any Current marine navigational practice target on the other side of the island. These is relying less on long-range visual There are two shore-based facilities, radar issues may provide opportunity for marine signal such as lighthouses for namely Klang and Johor VTS. Each of unlawful activities to happen in this area reference. This is due to the availability these facilities is equipped with telephone, such as sea robbery and human trafficking, of GNSS, which are integrated with facsimile, telex, VHF radio and real- which compromises the safety and security other navigational aids on ships. time display consoles for “X” and “S” of marine navigation in the SoM. The best The current trend shows that Pisang
Coordinates July 2018 | 13 Island lighthouse, is less relevant The establishment of a new radar station establish a radar station on Pisang Island for current navigational practice and as an addition to the existing radar for as an additional remote station to the is not incorporated directly into the VTS would eliminate the weaknesses of existing VTS system that would improve coastal state VTS operation and the the existing VTS radar and improve the the safety of navigation in the Straits establishment of the marine electronic safety and security of marine navigation of Malacca and security of Malaysia. highway. Furthermore, the existing in the SoM. This study has justified shore-based VTS radar has a limitation technically the reason to replace the The practical feasibility to conduct on range and detail of detection in the Pisang Island lighthouse with a radar further research in the aspect of safety area near Pisang Island. Therefore, a new station to support the current needs of of navigation is to bridge the gap of radar station should be established on safety and security of marine navigation. coverage between the two coastal VTS Pisang Island and the most suitable place Therefore, this study recommends radar stations that ensure a continuous is at the existing site of the lighthouse. that further research be carried out to detection of vessels in the straits, especially the hard to detect small glass-fibre or wooden construction vessels for better maritime traffic control and accident prevention.
In terms of the maritime security aspect to conduct further research, the continuous radar detection and elimination of shadow zone would be used to prevent Bukit Segenting the smuggle of illicit materials from Indonesia to Malaysia such as drugs and small arms; the smuggle of tax evasion materials to Malaysia such as liquor and cigarettes; and the smuggle of consumer Pisang Island products from Malaysia to Indonesia such as subsidised fuel and rice. Tg. Piai The cost to establish a new radar station on Pisang Island would be compensate easily by the saving from losses of the smuggle of materials mentioned above. Figure 6: The existing VTS radar Coverage
References
ATKINS Ltd. (2010). Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom & Ireland. London.
Bartlett, T. (2002). The RYA Book of
Bukit Navigation (2nd Editio). London: Segenting Adlard Coles Nautical.
Bole, A. G., Dineley, W. O., & Nicholls, C. E. (1992). The Navigation Pisang Island Control Manual (2nd Editio). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Tg. Piai Buckley, C. (2016, December 15). China Suggests It Has Placed Weapons on Disputed Spratly Islands in South China Sea. New Figure 7: The proposed Pisang Island radar coverage with existing VTS radar coverage
14 | Coordinates July 2018 York Times. New York. Retrieved IMO. (1998). Mandatory Ship Reporting Vasan, R. S. (2014). India : Importance from https://www.nytimes.com Systems. London: IMO. of Setting up of Radar Station at Narcondam. Retrieved from http:// Commissioners of Northern Lewis, S. (2016). Japan Has Set Up a www.southasiaanalysis.org Lighthouses, Trinity House, & Radar Station in the East China Commissioners of Irish Lights. Sea. Retrieved May 1, 2017, from www.marinetraffic.com. (2016). Live Map. (2010). Aids to Navigation http://time.com/4273372/japan- Retrieved November 15, 2016, from Review 2010 - 2015. London. listening-post-east-china-sea https://www.marinetraffic.com
Hooff, J. F. D. van. (1982). Aids to MPA Singapore. (2009). STRAITREP. www.marinetraffic.com. (2017). Live Marine Navigation. Wageningen. Retrieved March 19, 2012, Map. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://www.mpa.gov.sg from www.marinetraffic.com Hooff, J. F. D. van, & Sirks, J. C. (1979). Lights for Landfall. Journal of MPA Singapore. (2012a). Description of www.marinevesseltraffic.com. Navigation, 28, 168–192. STRAITREP. Retrieved March 19, (2016). Dover Straits. Retrieved 2012, from http://www.mpa.gov.sg November 15, 2016, from http:// Hunt, K. (2015). Satellite images suggest www.marinevesseltraffic.com China “building third airstrip” in MPA Singapore. (2012b). Maps of South China Sea. Retrieved March the STRAITREP Operational Yong, J. A. (2008, October). A taste of 5, 2017, from http://edition.cnn.com Areas. Retrieved March 19, 2012, life at Pulau Pisang Lighthouse. from http://www.mpa.gov.sg The Straits Times. Singapore. IALA. (2014). Aid to Navigation Manual 2014 (Vol. 7th). St The Nautical Institute. (2002). The Use of The paper was published in Germain En Laye. Retrieved Visual Aids to Navigation (Vol. 44). International Journal of e-Navigation from http://www.iala-aism.org and Maritime Economy 6 (2017).
GNSS POST-PROCESSING
PRECISION ACROSS THE BOARD
FREE TRIAL > ef gis.com/ezsurv Coordinates July 2018 | 15 LIDAR An automated method for street floor detection In present study an automated method for detection of street floor using the Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) point cloud dataset has been proposed
Arshad Husain oads are the crucial geospatial Various benefits of using TLS are lower Research Scholar, GIS Cell, Rfeature and play vital role in safety risks associated, day or night data Motilal Nehru National national development and growth. They collection, very high point density, fast Institute of Technology, are the major component of nation collection rates, reduced time usage, Allahabad, India infrastructure and economy of nation provision for linking additional sensors, is also dependent at them. Therefore, high resolution capabilities, reduced modeling, management planning and number of field visits (collect once, condition assessment of road network are use many times), multiple end users the major field of concern. Geographical and opportunities to share data. An Dhaval Mehta Information System (GIS) with various inherent feature of LiDAR data is that Research Scholar, GIS Cell, surveying techniques is generally used it is acquired, processed and delivered Motilal Nehru National in order to carry out these tasks. in a digital format, making it very easy Institute of Technology, to work with and to create data products Allahabad, India Several traditional methods like ground that meet a wide range of needs. Some surveying, Global Positioning System of the drawbacks associated with TLS (GPS), photogrammetry and Distance are that the initial setup cost is high, Measurement Instruments (DMI) can points require processing to be classified be used but they are time consuming, which is generally a semi-automatic R C Vaishya labour intensive and costly. To overcome process, skilled workers are required, Professor, Civil these complexities, Light Detection and and data acquired can be cumbersome. Engineering, Motilal Ranging (LiDAR) can be used. There Nehru National are different platforms associated with The difficulties in automating the detection Institute of Technology, it namely terrestrial, airborne and space of road features comes from the complexity Allahabad, India borne (satellites). LiDAR is a remote of the scene, unorganized nature of the sensing device which measures range and point data, no prior information of the scan angle of the target by analyzing the position and orientation of the road amplitude and orientation of reflected light. features and combination of multiple data sources. These data sources are the A very viable and efficient survey method position and orientation data from the to evaluate road surface along with its navigation sensors and the point cloud parameters is a Terrestrial Laser Scanner data from the laser scanning sensor. (TLS). There is a rapid growth in the utilization of TLS systems in many road Extraction of the road surface using the corridor applications. This increase is TLS data was the area of interest of many due to the continuous development in researchers, various techniques, algorithms terms of data capture speed, accuracy and methods were proposed by them. Tsai, and density of point data obtained from et al. 2013 [1] was proposed a method these systems. These systems capture to measure cross slope using terrestrial huge point clouds that describe very LiDAR. After LiDAR calibration and data highly detailed road scenes. It also acquisition, Region of Interest Interval supports survey on demand by extracting (ROI) extraction was performed on the desired features and attributes from collected LiDAR point cloud to extract the point cloud, removing the need to the rectangular region within a single lane return to the field for measurements. between the pavement markings. Individual
16 | Coordinates July 2018 Aiming at the future together!
D-600 Precise Aerial Imaging System 6 Rotor Multicopter with Autopilot
R-1500N & R-2800N W-1500N & W-2800 G6 Ti|Ni & G5 S-3180V Windows CE GNSS Receivers Scanning System Total Stations Total Stations Precision Satellite 3D laser measurement Total surveying Truly integrated Surveying with wireless system solutions systems communications
TI Asahi Co., Ltd. Authorized Distributor in India International Sales Department Tel.: +81-48-793-0118 Lawrence & Mayo Pvt. Ltd. Tel.: +91 22 22 07 7440 4-3-4 Ueno Iwatsuki-Ku, Saitama-Shi Fax: +81-48-793-0128 274, Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Rd. Fax: +91 22 22 07 0048 Saitama, 339-0073 Japan E-mail: [email protected] Mumbai 400 001 India E-mail: [email protected] www.pentaxsurveying.com/en/ www.lawrenceandmayo.co.in cross slope measurement was conducted regular grid defined. An algorithm was LRS a 3D point can be located in a three- within each ROI. All of the cross slope used for segmenting the roadsides points. dimensional space via the planimetric measurements were computed in the tested Using the D8 algorithm, the primary flow distance and the associated elevation. The road section, each measurement from direction was determined by selecting the comparison of interpolation and snapping the corresponding ROI was represented direction to the neighbor having maximal method was carried out to get better by a single geo-referenced point. Since 2D gradient for each of the query point results. But the prime importance was the the cross slope was computed based present in the grid. In the succeeding selection of buffer size. Barbarella, et al. on the regression result of the LiDAR steps, the flow was followed. All flow 2014 [8] was applied LiDAR to the study point’s elevation, there was a trade-off terminates at the pixels in the bottom row. of taxiway surface evenness and slope. In in selecting the ROI interval. Photobus An effective path detection and tracking this study a TLS was used for evaluation for the fast acquisition of road geometry method was designed by Lee and Cho of the geometry of taxiway. The TLS with a real-time data quality control for 2009 [5]. The designed procedure consists measures points belonging to the pavement Advanced Driver Assistance Systems of four main processes: initialization, lane with a predefined sampling rate in zenith (ADAS) was used by Gontran, et al. 2005 segmentation, post-processing and adaptive and azimuthal angles. The extremes of [2]. It provides early warning and lateral parameter updating process. The initial line segment of predefined width were control of the vehicle which coupled with Probability Density Functions (PDFs) calculated, which was orthogonal to the Radio Direction and Ranging (RADAR) were estimated based on conventional axis at intervals along the axis line. The and a Variable Message Signal (VMS) color or edge-based lane segmentation DEM was then interpolated along those to prompt a driver with reducing speed method. After initialization, lane pixels sections obtaining the profile. The least was also used. Thuy and Puente 2010 [3] were segmented by the statistical Bayes square method was used for the estimation was devised a method for lane detection decision rule in the lane segmentation of the slope. A line was calculated that and tracking based on LiDAR data. The process and the misclassified lane pixels better interpolate all points of every registration of the measured LiDAR points were excluded using the Least Mean segment. The angular coefficient of the with regard to time and space was done Square (LMS) algorithm for the post- line was the slope of the section. Cheng, by calibrating the onboard sensors with processing. The LMS algorithm estimates et al. 2007 [9] was developed automatic respect to the ego-car. The obtained ego- each optimal lane at right and left side of road vector extraction engine for mobile position was transformed into Universal the region assuming that lane consists of a mapping systems. The road information Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates. A set of straight lines. Finally, each PDF of extracted by ARVEE (Automated Road binarisation was performed to distinguish color and edge-orientation were updated Geometry Vectors Extraction Engine) and improve the contrast between road using the current detected lane pixels. The includes 3D continuous lane lines, surface and lane markings for pre-detection use of the Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) road edges and lane lines attributes. of lane. For better lane detection, Canny snake model for the automated extraction filter was applied. For individual lane of road from terrestrial based terrestrial detection two vertical detection windows laser scanning system was proposed by Study area and test data within the map was defined, having m Kumar, et al. 2010 [6]. The GVF snake rows and n columns. If the number of model was implemented by deriving its For the data collection purpose, FARO white pixels exceeds a velocity-dependent energy terms from the LiDAR point data Focus3D X 330 TLS has been used. It is a threshold, lane detection was assumed. and then initializing the snake contour dynamic 3D TLS mapping system that uses A clothoid road model was applied to based on the navigation information. To the very latest laser scanning technology track the lane, least square method or calculate the GVF energy from the surface combined with a precise navigation extended Kalman filtering can be used. slope, the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) system, advanced data processing software Wang, et al. 2014 [4] was presented an of the LiDAR point data is needed. It and an innovative system design to scan automatic approach for the delineation was an iterative process. Point thinning highways, infrastructure, buildings and of both the direct environment of a road over LiDAR points was achieved using vegetation. In FARO Focus3D X 330 and the road itself into local catchments the z-mean window filter method. The the onboard navigation system includes starting from a Laser Mobile Mapping slope was calculated as the rate of change a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) System (LMMS) point cloud to estimate of the surface in the horizontal (dz/dx) receiver. It offers a 360-degree field of the road runoff. A uniform voxel size was and vertical (dz/dy) directions from its view, a range from 0.6m up to 330m with selected for downsampling procedure as center point to its neighbors by the natural distance accuracy up to ±2mm, delivering the point cloud density was very high. neighborhood interpolation method. high precision performance and coverage. Surface normal was estimated during the LiDAR point cloud data and planimetric It is easy to use as it has a dedicated touch iterative filtering of the road points. Then road centerline data were used by Hubo screen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) the largest one dimensional (1D) slope in and Rasdorf 2008 [7], for modeling road display that shows status information and one of the eight adjacent directions was centerlines and predicting their lengths allows the data capture parameters to be selected to obtain the first approximation in 3D. For the 3D modeling Linear adjusted. It can be used with ease for the of the two dimensional (2D) slope in the Referencing Systems (LRS) were used. In road related data extraction purpose.
18 | Coordinates July 2018 The test data is captured from the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Proposed method Lines, Allahabad city, Uttar Pradesh, India (25° 26’ 47.4108’’ N, 81° 51’ 9.6984’’ E), including 7837278 points. The maximum In present study, a novel method for street floor detection elevation difference within the dataset is 23.48 meter. There are using TLS point cloud data is proposed. Method includes very low slopes along the horizontal streets, and in some areas five steps namely ground filtering, rough street floor points streets are heavily blocked by trees. Overall, the data set have classification, depth image generation, street floor edge an urban as well as nonurban behavior. The length of the street detection and point in polygon testing (Figure 2). All is 62.172 meter. Some street floor points of captured dataset these steps are described in subsection of this section. are missing due to the traffic at the time of data capturing. Figure 1, shows the Google Earth image of the corresponding Ground filtering location along with side and top view of captured dataset. Initially, the point cloud data is projected at X-Y plane. Further, first point of the projected dataset is selected as a seed (query) point. Then, K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) search algorithm is applied to find theK neighbor points of the selected seed point. All the K nearest neighbor points are taken collectively and their standard deviation of Z coordinate is calculated. If the calculated deviation value is less or equal to a predefined threshold, then the seed point is labeled as ground points (1). Similar procedure is applied for all the points of point cloud dataset.
(1)
Where, and represent the calculated standard Figure 1. Google Earth image of test site along with deviation and predefined threshold for the standard side and top view of captured dataset. deviation. Kj shows the number neighbors for the jth seed point. Figure 3, shows the ground filtered points. Table 1. Statistical specification about dataset Rough street floor point classification Street File No. of Point Density Length Area (meter2) Size Points 2 Filtered ground points are further used for rough classification (meter) (per meter ) of street floor. Captured TLS point cloud contains both 358 MB 7837278 62.172 92375.5985 84.841 positional (XYZ) and radiometric (Red, Green, Blue (RGB)) information. Radiometric information of filtered ground point cloud is used for rough street point classification.
The process of classification of street floor is similar as ground point filtering. Likewise of ground filtering first point of filtered ground point cloud dataset is selected as a seed point. Then, K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) search algorithm is applied to find the K nearest neighbor points of the selected seed point. All the K neighbor points are taken collectively and average of their RGB value is calculated. If the calculated average value is less or equal to a predefined threshold, then these points are labeled as street floor points (2). Similarly, one by one the points from the filtered point cloud dataset are taken as seed point.
(2)
Figure 2. Flow chart of proposed method Where, and represent the calculated average
Coordinates July 2018 | 19 and predefined threshold for average.K j shows the number of neighbors for the jth seed point. The roughly classified street floor points are shown in Figure 4.
Depth image generation
In this step, roughly street floor classified points of previous step are mapped into regular standard grids (Figure 5). The size of grid is taken m meter in both X and Y directions. For each grid, points belonging to the same grid are taken collectively Figure 3. Filtered ground points. and their average of Z coordinate value is calculated (7). These values are treated as Digital Number (DN) value of depth image for corresponding grid. Each pixel of depth image is represented by a particular grid. The number of pixels in depth image will depend on the grid size (m) (3,4,5,6,8).
(3)
(4) Figure 4. Roughly street floor classified point.
(5)
(6)
Where, Px, Qx, Rx, Sx are the X coordinate value of
bounding box corner points and Py, Qy, Ry, Sy are the Y coordinate value of bounding box corner points.
(7)
(8) Figure 5. Roughly street floor classified point. th Where, DNp is Digital Number value for the p grid, n represents the total number of points are present in pth grid, f shows the number of rows and g shows the number of columns of generated depth image. Figure 6, shows the generated depth image.
Street floor edge detection
Canny edge detection method has been chosen to detect the edges in depth image (Canny, 1986 [10]). The Canny edge detection includes noise reduction using Gaussian filtering, computing the depth gradient and finding the maximum Figure 6. Generated depth image. localized edges, and finally tracing the detected edges to
20 | Coordinates July 2018 include the weaker gradients if they exhibit natural extension to the strong edges. It finds a lot of edges in depth image besides the boundary edges of street floor (Figure 7). These boundary edges exist on the sides of the street floor which exhibits the highest point density across the whole scene. This high density is used to filter out the remaining edges (Figure 8).
Point in polygon testing
After detecting the boundary edges of street floor, point Figure 7. Edges of generated depth image in polygon test is applied in order to detect the street floor points. Representing the edges as a closed shape around the street floor helps the point in polygon test to identify the street floor points in the roughly classified street floor.
After applying the point in polygon test, roughly classified street floor points are segment into two classes; the street floor (inlier points to the curb polygon) and non-street floor (outlier points to the curb polygon). The point in polygon test simply classifies every point in either street floor or non-street floor. The test determines whether a given point lies inside, outside or on the boundary of a polygon. In this study, point in polygon test counts how many times the query point cuts the boundary Figure 8. Remained edges of depth image after point density analysis of polygon (cutting number), if a line is drawn from the query point in downward Y direction (Figures 9, Figure 10). If the cutting number is even, point is outside the polygon (Figure 10). Furthermore, if cutting number is odd, it means that the point lies inside the polygon or on the polygon boundary (Figure 9). Query Point
1 Result and discussions 2 Proposed method is tested on captured TLS point cloud dataset 3 (Figure 1). Statistical specification of the same is shown in Table I. The method uses two parameters average of RGB value ( ) and standard deviation of Z coordinate ( ) in two different steps. The threshold (used) values of these parameters are shown in Table II. Apart from positional information (X, Y, and Z coordinate) of each terrestrial laser scanner point, radiometric information (RGB) is also used by the proposed method. So, Figure 9. Point in polygon test (point inside the polygon). the proposed method depends on this additional information. Proposed method is independent of point density. Method has been coded at Matlab2013a installed on Sony Vaio E Series Query Point notebook (OS: Windows7 64bit, CPU: Intel Core [email protected], 1 RAM: 3GB). The execution time of the proposed method at standard parameters values (Table II) is 451.36 seconds.
The street is precisely removed manually from the captured 2 TLS point cloud for the generation of reference dataset. Cloud
3 Compare open source software is used to carry out this task.
(9) 4
(10)
Figure 10. Point in polygon test (point outside the polygon).
Coordinates July 2018 | 21 References
[1] A. Tsai, W. Cheng, and Pitts, “A mobile cross slope measurement method using lidar,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. Vol. 2, 2013.
[2] H. Gontran, Y. Gilliéron, and J. Skaloud, “Precise Road Geometry for Integrated Transport Safety Systems,” STRC 05 Conference Paper, Version 03 / 20.01.05, 2005.
[3] M. Thuy, and F. Puente León, “Lane detection and tracking based on LiDAR data,” Metrol. Meas. Syst., Figure 11. Detected street points by the proposed method. Vol. XVII , ISSN 0860-8229, No. 3, pp. 311-322, 2010.
[4] J. Wang, H. González, R. Lindenbergha, and M. Table 2. Parameters and their used values Menenti, “Geometric road runoff estimation from laser mobile mapping data,” ISPRS Annals of the Average of RGB value ( ) 11 Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume II-5, 2014.
Standard deviation of Z coordinate ( ) 0.3 [5] J. Lee, and J. Cho, “Effective lane detection and tracking methodusing statistical modeling of color and lane edge-orientation”, doi: Table 3. Completeness and correctness statistics 10.4156/aiss.vol2.issue3.6, 2009.
Number of street points in reference dataset 3011262 [6] Kumar, McCarthy, and McElhinney, “Automated Number of points detected by proposed method 2940704 road extraction from terrestrial based mobile laser Number of street points in detected dataset 2864915 scanning system using the GVF snake model”, 2010. Non street in detected dataset 75789 Completeness 95.14 % [7] C. Hubo, and W. Rasdorf, “Modeling Road Centerlines and Predicting Lengths in 3-D Correctness 97.42 % Using LiDAR Point Cloud Data and Planimetric Road Centerline Data,” Comp.-Aided Civil and Infrastruct. Engineering 23(3): 157-173, 2008. Conclusions and future recommendations [8] M. Barbarella, R. Blasiis, M. Fiani, and M. Santoni, Present study describes an effective method for the classification “A LiDAR application to the study of taxiway of street points from TLS point cloud data using both the surface evenness and slope,” ISPRS Annals of geometric and radiometric information. K-NN search the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial algorithm is used in ground filtering and rough street floor Information Sciences, Volume II-5, 2014. point classification. Roughly classified street floor points are converted in depth image in order to identify the street floor [9] W. Cheng, T. Hassan, N. El-Sheimy, and M. edges by Canny edge detection technique. Point in polygon test Lavigne, “Automated Road Vectors Extraction is performed for exact classification of street floor points. for mobile mapping systems,” Commission III: WG III/5. Vol. XXXVII, Part B3, pp. 98, 2007. The results achieved appear encouraging; although, a direct comparison could not be made to other published methods [10] J. Canny, “A computational approach to that use other data sources such as aerial photography. The edge detection, Surveying Engineering,” classification is performed on urban area. The algorithm presented IEEE Trans. Pattern Analysis Machine appears to work well in all areas. The shape of polygon generated Intelligence PAMI. 8, 679–698, 1986. by the edge detection step is not in rectangular form due the occlusion in street floor of captured data. Future work is to The paper was published in International be focused on the automated obtaining of optimal parameters Journal of Advanced Research in Computer values for good classification results of the LiDAR data. Science, Volume 8, No. 8 (2017).
22 | Coordinates July 2018
MAPPING Future national geospatial agencies: contributing to the society and the SDGs The paper illustrates how geospatial information supports the delivery of SDGs, and demonstrates some of the key national changes that will enable this to occur
John Kedar ‘Geospatial is like a general-purpose datasets that can add real value. Take the Director International technology; it’s the oil for the next measurement of SDG Tier II Indicator Engagement, generation of the digital economy.’ 11.2.1 ‘Proportion of population that has Ordnance Survey Nigel Clifford, CEO Ordnance Survey, convenient access to public transport, by opening the quadrennial Cambridge sex, age and persons with disabilities’. Conference, Oxford University, July 2017 In some cases, such as Tier 1 Indicator Globally the geospatial community 15.1.1, Forest area as a proportion continues to transform as the world of total land area, GIS analysis on a Kimberley Worthy increasingly uses location to unlock range of spatial datasets can provide Principal Geospatial value. Disruption sees new ideas, new measurement without recourse to further Consultant, providers, often bypassing the traditional statistical collections. Clearly, to be of use Ordnance Survey surveying and mapping authority. The internationally, there must be common mantra ‘evolve or die’ has never held so global standards defining forest, data must true to national mapping and geospatial have the right attributes, be accessible authorities (NMGA) everywhere. But and be of sufficient quality, currency and it is also a time of great opportunity for in the case of SDGs, national coverage. national mapping agencies to become Some Indicators will take more complex James Darvill national geospatial agencies, actively geospatial analysis, for example Indicator Principal Geospatial helping to drive the social-economic 6.1.1, Proportion of population using safely Consultant, benefits that good data can help bring. managed drinking water services. Here, Ordnance Survey factors such as natural and artificial barriers to access such as fences, land ownership Why is data important to and control, consistency in supply all are development and SDGs? relevant factors. It becomes evident that not only is better data required by analysts, The 2017 World Bank Land and Poverty but greater skill and understanding of the Victoria Giddings conference, (Kedar, J, 2017), provided decisions being taken from the analysis. Graduate, Ordnance insight into the many and varied socio- Survey economic benefits GI can bring a nation. Measurement is one benefit of integrating It reflected that economic and societal good GI. In the same three indicators benefits of geospatial enablement are well described above, decision makers can use documented in high-income nations but the same data to understand the current not in low and middle-income nations. situation, plan efficient mitigation, and make investment decisions and commission Quality statistics are accepted as the tool to projects. Contractors then deliver the measurement of progress in implementing mitigation, working with the same data, and the Sustainable Development Goals measurement of progress maintained. In (SDG). Geospatial data contributes other words, the utility of GI supports the too, and it is the integration of such delivery of SDGs, not just measurement.
Coordinates July 2018 | 31 In some nations, the most complete national Goals 2, 12, 14 and 14 Burkina Faso (Ouiba, Y, 2011) coverage data about a national infrastructure is still the 1970/80’s UK Directorate of Rural development. Support through In Ouagadougou, a pilot project Overseas Survey’s 1:50,000 scale paper map, agricultural cadastre, calculation of has been implemented to reduce which may have subsequently been digitized. farming subsidies or compensation water losses within the distribution Projects have collected data additionally, payments, irrigation and drainage system of the municipal utility. particularly around addresses, administrative planning and maintenance, land use boundaries, water sources and roads, and planning, getting produce to market, The programme has generated positive thus the concept of a national spatial data environmental protection and large- benefits for the local economy. Local jobs infrastructure holds good. But the trusted scale agricultural investments. have been created, public health improved, fundamental geospatial data is lacking and water efficiency had been increased. and GI benefits are not being realized. Goals 10 and 12 For the case of Ouagadougou, the Taxation and government direct savings of the water loss Illustrating the benefits revenue generation. This includes programme has been estimated to be of GI to SDG delivery property tax, agricultural land around 0.8 EUR/m³. With the surplus tax, business and income tax costs on top, the total economic profit This paper draws upon examples to might well exceed 2.0 EUR/m³. demonstrate how geospatial capabilities Arusha Local Government have a real part to play in SDGs. They Revenues (McCluskey, W, 2017) Goal 11 are not comprehensive examples but do demonstrate the reach across SDGs. As part of World Bank and DANIDA Urban planning and resilient cities. supported Tanzania Strategic Cities In Tanzania more than 70% of urban Goals 1 and 10: Project (TSCP) Arusha has introduced a settlements are unplanned. Planning Local Government Revenue Collection for tomorrow requires a comprehensive United Republic of Tanzania Information System. Over four years from understanding of today. Dar es Salaam 2013 revenues have more than doubled. is expected to grow by 85% by 2025. Urban Development: More than 70% of These revenues are from sources such As cities become larger, urban planning urban settlements are unplanned. About as: service levy, property tax, billboards, and managing the urban environment 1.5 million land parcels are surveyed, parking fees, income from sale or rent, becomes more complex. The use of 900,000 are allocated and 650,000 are market fees and charges, secondary geospatial data not only leads to integrated registered. Rural Land Use: Only about school fee, licenses and permits on city development but enables planning 10% of villages have land use plans. business activities and hotel levies. across power, water, and waste, and improves resilience planning & disaster Action is happening: ILMIS, Land A key element of this success has been response, environmental management, Investment Unit, large farm inventory, the ability to geographically locate transport planning and operations. review of national land policy, increased all taxpayers and properties. This surveying of land parcels in rural areas. has required a comprehensive spatial India (Scott, G and Chopra, R, 2016) database: satellite imagery, roads Security of land tenure is a key enabler. and individual buildings digitised, GI provides spatial insights on basic Land is 75% of the value of world’s gross unique property reference number, infrastructure, other services and domestic product. Land administration attributes (e.g. use, condition, age). facilities, and the environmental requires effective geospatial data condition of slums. This empowers local management and provides access to credit This database could provide a wide Government authorities in planning and and tenure security, enables effective range of benefits to other departments, executing slum improvement plans. infrastructure planning and delivery, agencies and businesses when shared. Mapping and analysing changes in urban fair compensation and land taxation. neighbourhoods to help planners and Goals 2, 4, 4, 6 and 9. decision makers. Sustainable planning Goals 3 and 10 and management of population growth National infrastructure development and urban expansion are achieved through Responding to fire, serious illness and benefits from integrated planning, continuous monitoring of an area. accident. Time saves lives and money. and integrating data. Benefits include In Ireland, for example, a navigation the ability to better manage and Goal 5 device and geospatial data enhances optimise existing infrastructure the response time by 17% and reduce assets, increase efficiency and It is often stated that countries with cardiac arrest deaths by 10%. maintain integrated planning. gender equality have better economies.
32 | Coordinates July 2018 Gender equality is derived from a geospatial data can grow an economy Integrating government services saves range of measures, such as better health by 0.25 to 0.6%, (Kedar J, 2017) in money and improves lives. Online services and education, but also land tenure, part due to better government and in rely on geospatial data such as national access to transport to employment, part due to better businesses outcomes. address and administrative boundary data. improved policing and fair taxing Studies also demonstrate that benefits are The ability to build services combining data and benefits distribution (where these evident across a wider-range of sectors, from different government departments, or exist). The geospatial analysis of wider directly or indirectly. These studies are to update many different databases from a statistics data enables understanding not directly transferable to developing single entry, is increasingly commonplace. and more focussed interventions. nations. Examples include: marketing, telecoms, logistics, transport, extractives, Most sustainable development goals Rwanda (DfID) financial services, tourism and utilities. (SDGs), to which all UN member states have committed, aim to alleviate Esperance, 39, a mother of four used to be Most goals: poverty and provide benefit to citizens. in constant dispute with her neighbours Geospatial data supports the achievement over ownership of the land she lived on. Disaster risk reduction and management. of many of the associated targets, Through a DFID-funded land registration From famine to flood, disaster risk through understanding, planning, programme, the dispute is now settled and reduction and management demonstrates decision-making, delivery, operations she is a proud landowner. Esperance says: the importance not just of fundamental and measurement. Further examples “I will now work and invest confidently geospatial data, but of the need to are noted in the UN GGIM Paper “The in my land to provide a better future to integrate data from many sources Role of Geospatial Information in the my four children as I now know that rapidly to enable decision making. Sustainable Development Goals”, which nobody can take my land from me.” Weather forecasting to predict new demonstrates the value of geospatial rainfall, terrain data to model where and information to 5 particular SDG Goals. Goals 13, 14, 15 when flooding will occur, population data to estimate the impact, road data Natural resources and the environment. to understand how to conduct relief Measuring the benefits of GI Sustainable management, particularly effort. Integrated location data such as water sources and lakes, forestry, coastal this saves lives and reduces damage. The benefits between nations, or even zones, national parks and crop yield prediction. The planning and management of extractives industries is often aided by taking a geospatial approach. Sustainable management of the environment often also uses remote sensing data to give a current view on the state of natural environment, and climate change monitoring is enabled.
Zanzibar Sustainable Tourism
Balancing coastal development, growth through tourism, citizen and environmental demands is challenging. Land use, fisheries, property rights and the environment all need to be considered and decisions taken based on ‘where’ development best balances conflicting demands. Unregulated or illegal development can be identified and equally tourists, using innovative locally produced smartphone apps, can be encouraged to visit heritage sites. Geospatial data enables this. Figure 1: Estimated percentage change in Canadian industry output Goals 8, 9 as a result of geospatial information, 2013 (%). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Internationally it has been demonstrated Source: Hickling Arthurs Low, Canadian Geomatics Environmental that the availability and use of maintained Scan and Value Study, published 2015.
Coordinates July 2018 | 33 across a nation, vary considerably. Developing national geospatial What is the future? Hickling Arthurs Low, Canadian agencies and capabilities Geomatics Environmental Scan and National mapping and geospatial Value Study, published 2015, includes Traditional mapping agency role agency director generals from across an examination of the estimated increase the Globe debated the future of their in industry output because of GI. The NMGAs exist globally. Low-income organisations at the 2017 Cambridge detailed figures themselves are not nations may in part still use mapping Conference. They concluded that important in the context of this paper, from the last century, perhaps 1:50,000 NMGAs do have a future if they adapt. but the table is extracted at Figure 1. scale, but neither maintained nor digital. ▪▪ The increasing reliance on location, Updates have been project-specific rather from delivery of SDGs to the The first conclusion is that GI underpins than through a maintenance regime, internet of things, is an opportunity. across a wide range of sectors, a finding and many development projects do not Managing the fundamental replicated in many studies of high income consider the wider national benefits geospatial data layer, fit for purpose, nations. The second conclusion is that, even of data collected for a project. On the maintained and trusted, underpins in Canada, there are significant differences contrary, high-income nations maintain the integration of all spatial data across provinces and territories due to large scale, attributed and accurate data and allows better decisions and differing needs and uptake. The use of from addressing to topography, imagery efficient delivery and operations. GI, indeed different types of GI, therefore to networks, and cadastre to geology. ▪▪ Future NMGAs may become will vary across sectors and geographies. data brokers as well as collectors/ In some cases, NMGAs have not managers, SDI authorities, service This has worldwide applicability and the recognised the changing world, and providers and service consumers. detailed benefits to every nation will differ. most have found it difficult to deploy Whatever, NMGAs have to be National economic benefit and Return the winning arguments for investment. the ‘go to’ authority for trusted on Investment Studies are justified and These NMGAs are now left facing the fundamental geospatial data. will also help determine GI priorities. stark reality that the World is moving on, ▪▪ NMGAs need to focus more on that there are many geospatial players the user and their requirements UN GGIM Europe’s Working Group in government, it is no longer a simple over the next 10 years to on Data Integration is examining the customer/supplier relationship, and deliver real value and their integration of data, particularly INSPIRE that they could become irrelevant. data must remain authoritative, data, to support SDG delivery and trustworthy and accessible. measurement. UN GGIM Europe has For geo-political reasons, NMGAs are ▪▪ In wider government, NMGAs concluded that some INSPIRE data often ‘the authority’. This has benefits, can assist in integrating cross- themes contribute to all Goals but is now for example in the philosophy ‘create government digital public services, looking more specifically at detail. once, use many’, but it also places a helping realise their value in responsibility on them to lead the move delivering SDGs. It is not enough to GI brings significant benefits to a nation into national spatial infrastructures produce data; NMGAs need to be across all sectors and to the economy. and deliver the fundamental close to their customers and work to The level of economic benefit in low and geospatial data that underpins the understand and solve their problems. middle-income nations is little understood Nation’s data infrastructure. and resource should be expended gaining This is far more easily said than done. this understanding in order to help Transforming NMGAs from According to the UN Statistics Division, investment decision makers consider surveying and mapping to delivering only 3% of Africa is covered at 1:25k whether and how to invest in national underpinning geospatial data to a scale, against 87% of Europe. For national GI and associated institutional capacity nation is a challenge, a challenge coverage a number of nations use mapping and capability. The UNGGIM and World that in UK took 30 years. The recent from the last century, perhaps 1:50,000 Bank MOU, ‘Roadmap for collaboration Ethiopian Government announcement scale at best, but neither maintained nor between World Bank’s Global Practice on that the Ethiopian Mapping Agency is digital. Compare that with nations such Social, Urban and Rural Development, being re-established as the Ethiopian as the United Kingdom and Singapore, and Resilience and United Nations Geospatial Information Agency shows maintaining large scale, attributed Statistics Division to assist countries to that nations are rising to the challenge. and accurate data from addressing to bridge geospatial digital divide’, signed at topography, imagery to networks. There the 7th session of the UN Committee of But nations need data now if SDG is a widening geospatial divide, in itself Experts on Global Geospatial Information achievement is to benefit from this contributing to the widening digital divide. Management (UN-GGIM), provides data, and so 30 year, or even 10 year, a welcome step forward in trying to sustainable transformation programmes Nations are often investing heavily realise this gap in understanding. can only be part of the answer. into land administration supported by
34 | Coordinates July 2018 the global community. A sustainable OECD likened it to roads and bridges purposes, to funding the facilitation of land administration system can bring that support a wide range of national and an ecosystem around an infrastructure. economic and social benefits in line with local uses from healthcare to profitable SDG objectives. The need to collect and business, some unanticipated. The cost of The future NMGA will contribute to the maintain geospatial data brings benefits such infrastructure is significant and the step changes necessary and, as a key more widely than SDGs though. It is part of benefits are so widespread that no one use enabler, adapt or transform internally a nation’s digital infrastructure. Improved case can justify the investment on its own. and externally. The remaining sections availability of this geospatial foundation Funding an underpinning, cross-cutting, consider this change and how national data leads to opportunities for better data infrastructure therefore needs to be mapping and geospatial agencies can government, more transparency, effective considered centrally. This is demonstrated remain core to the delivery of sustainable urban planning, improved resilience, for geospatial data in Figure 2. development going forward. increased resource/asset and environmental management, and new business The OECD continued: opportunities. But little investment is being Leadership, policy made into national geospatial capabilities, ‘Physical infrastructure such as roads and governance the arguments still need to be won. and bridges enables benefits to ‘spill over’, for instance, by fostering trade It is a truism that, without the drive What are the challenges? (1) Cost, but and social exchanges. In the same way, of leadership, achieving the benefits innovative approached can reduce this, greater access to data also has beneficial of geospatial information at national far more important in the first instance spill-overs, whereby data can be used scale is not possible. Experience is demonstrating ‘value’. (2) People, and re-used to open up significant growth shows that identifying and incubating who at all levels need to understand why opportunities, or to generate benefits those political and business leaders geospatial makes a difference and how to across society in ways that could not be is important. With leadership then use it. (3) Policy, primarily a willingness to foreseen when the data were created. But governance can follow in a ‘coalition of share data in a manner that allows others to some of the spill-overs of data cannot be the willing’. This then leads to policies consume it. (4) A market ready and willing easily observed or quantified…. As a result, that have ‘buy in’. Others will follow. to use it and lastly, (5) winning the political countries – and governments in particular and financial investment arguments. With – risk under-investing in data and data Nations do have geospatial information and these, investment can pay dividends. analytics and may end up giving access many different government departments, to data for a narrower range of uses than agencies and businesses are collecting socially optimal. This risks undermining or procuring similar data for similar Data as national infrastructure countries’ capacity to innovate…’ purposes. Bringing focus to ‘make once, use many’ as a policy driver is efficient and The Organisation for Economic So, whilst the direct benefits of an effective. It covers a sharing (including Cooperation and Development infrastructure might be observable and open data) but also clarity on who produces (OECD) considered in 2015: measurable, and contribute to a business what data and services. Engendering case, the spill-over benefits are not. The the sharing of existing data is essential, ‘Data are an infrastructural resource – a relative invisibility of these can lead not only will it improve efficiency but form of capital that cannot be depleted Government to under-prioritise funding suppliers will seek to improve the data. and that can be used for a theoretically for the infrastructure. A paradigm unlimited range of purposes.’ shift is required: from government- A singular NMGA collecting, managing funded data collection for its own and serving all fundamental geospatial data will be swamped in requirements. NMGAs have a developing role as a broker of trusted data for use by both government and the citizen. Policy should reflect this.
Policy needs to consider data priorities. Whilst the UN is developing the concept of ‘fundamental national geospatial data’, nations need to adapt this to their stakeholder needs – for example a nation may decide it’s data should support national priorities in sustainability of Figure 2: Infrastructure, whether physical or data, enables most government department natural resources, green energy, health, and local authorities, businesses, projects and ultimately growth through innovation. agriculture, pollution abatement and
Coordinates July 2018 | 35 resilience and prioritise creation and factors contributing to susceptibility spatial data infrastructures yet do have maintenance accordingly. Focusing on to hazards include a lack of adherence the components. The bedrock of a spatial how geospatial solves problems, rather to building codes and development in data infrastructure is sharing data. A than the data itself, will serve NMGAs high risk areas. Reliable and timely physical infrastructure on which to do well. The paper demonstrates this need geospatial information linked to data from this is a real advantage, but overcoming to focus more on the user and their other government agencies is helping behavioural reluctance to share is often requirements to deliver real value. reduce disaster risk and save lives. the real challenge, and any form of sharing can bring benefit. Geospatial Volunteered Geographical Information and But the other side of ‘cost’ is the need, on data exists in all nations, NMGAs can Citizen Science are creating ecosystems an international scale, to deliver Geospatial help national agendas by leading the such as Open Street Map. Crowdsourcing Information and Services quicker, cheaper way on sharing existing data widely. requires different thinking about quality but and to a wider range of technological has a valuable place in a nation. Likewise platforms and people. Solutions should be Development programmes funded by EO and other new collection techniques sustainable, and that requires partnership development banks and national aid can bring more data into the mix. Policy can and collaboration over many years; we are also set an example by insisting that all address these; trust levels are dependent developing a NMGA and national approach collected geospatial data, from imagery upon use; land tenure and GPS navigation to geospatial. New solutions, such as cloud to cadastre, is shared. Provision of a require two different levels in data trust. based managed services and greater use small uplift in capability at a NMGA, of cheap, accurate remote sensing coupled as well as the data itself, can assist. with automated feature extraction, will Cost enable nations to remove risk and increase National institutions should manage resilience whilst remaining in control fundamental geospatial data layers, Communication is essential to winning and building internal capacity. And such many of which are the responsibility of funding. Ask a layman ‘should we invest solutions require a different financial NMGAs. Step changes are necessary. in a ‘national spatial data infrastructure’ model, perhaps more attractive to nations. ▪▪ NMGAs should focus more on or three new hospitals and it is obvious the user and their requirements what they will answer. We instil an over the next 10 years and develop element of separation through the term People priorities, data and services that ‘Spatial’ where we should be shielding meet customer needs. Data must the complexity from the user. People drive change, and not just at the be fit for purpose, and that purpose leadership level. The stairs of benefits is evolving. The trend is towards To acknowledge the value geospatial realisation demand changes in culture, increasing accuracy, frequent data presents, it needs to be regarded competence and attitudes, and they update, metadata and attribution, as infrastructure; an infrastructure that should be taken one step at a time. This greater access and open standards. is reliable, economic, accurate and particularly applies to NMGAs, where ▪▪ Stakeholder engagement is vital, trusted, which comes with an investment. individuals that do change are often quick and clear means of maximising Justifying that investment ultimately to depart, resulting a skills drain that benefits from limited resources, requires an understanding of the direct governments find difficult to resolve. i.e. making choices, is required. In and indirect benefits, government revenue the 2017 Autumn Budget, the UK generation and economic value. A major challenge facing future announced a Geospatial Commission governments is the lack of skilled that aims to derive greater benefit The UK Government’s Chief scientific manpower to develop and implement of geospatial data to the nation. advisor expressed the problem bluntly: emerging technologies of all types. ▪▪ To deliver real value data and Maps matter – It’s not enough to know The involvement with capacity- services must remain trustworthy they are important but WHY they are building projects is crucial for a and in many use cases that data important. The local appropriation of successful future, the long-term will have to be both trusted and simple, practical and tangible use cases is partnership approach. Partnering with authoritative data – cadastral or therefore essential - a universal approach academia is frequent, but how often addressing data for example. is neither desired nor appropriate, with do NMGAs have similar partnerships ▪▪ At national level, and thus cultural and infrastructural variations as with business, the engine of growth? particularly in pursuit of SDGs, crucial considerations. Understanding the national coverage is important political drivers of a government offers although data specifications the opportunity to approach geospatial Fundamental geospatial data might vary between urban and matters in an accessible way, presenting the rural as do the use cases. SDGs relevance of NMGAs in advancing towards Spatial data infrastructure is a means to also point to maintained data; sustainable development. In Jamaica, an end; many nations do not have formal not least because measurement
36 | Coordinates July 2018 of change is not possible if the NMGAs need to be close to and businesses together. very data has not changed. these stakeholders, seek to help ▪▪ Organisation. NMGAs that stay solve their problems and then close to their stakeholders are likely The role of NMGAs can and will adapt. use these leaders as champions. to best understand their needs. ▪▪ Nations will want to capitalise on ▫▫ Increasingly populations are using As ‘underpinning’ and ‘cross- all geospatial data and services, but geospatial data without realising it cutting’ data, stakeholder and which do they trust, which are fit – Uber and Google being obvious customer groups provide the two- for purpose? NMGAs may therefore examples. Some education way communication that NMGAs become data brokers as well as systems are recognising that need, and also the exchange of collectors/managers. In so doing there is an education component, wider geospatial data between they can provide a level of assurance using geospatial tools to help with ministries. This is particularly to users and add value through school and University projects for relevant for ministries charged feature extraction, generalisation example, and in some countries, with delivering SDGs and statistics and integration services national curricula mandate this. bureaus. NMGAs can help promote ▪▪ In becoming data brokers NMGAs ▫▫ Training NMGA staff, data wider use of geospatial data in will also become service consumers. scientists, database managers, solving problems in this context, Is it necessary to own assets to cyber security professionals, in turn increasing demand. collect, manage and serve data? GIS operators etc. takes time and ▪▪ Innovation. Businesses grow The answers may well be ‘yes’, is expensive. Such individuals economies and create jobs. Helping but consuming a service for some can be in short supply, and grow new geospatial businesses components might be cost effective, governments often lose such is therefore in the interests of meet capability gaps and reduce experienced professionals to governments and their NMGAs. Two capital risk. The role of open the private sector. This is a real UK examples have wider relevance, data in a national infrastructure problem in low and middle ‘geovation challenges’ and a should also be considered. income nations and can hold geospatial innovation incubator, the ▪▪ The NMGA may also become the back NMGA development. It is Geovation Hub. The latter is led spatial data infrastructure authority. another reason where alternatives, by Ordnance Survey, supported by There are strengths in this but such as partnership with private HM Land Registry and a number also weaknesses. SDI is a pan- sector for aspects of delivery of other ‘big’ businesses and the Government activity and a NMGA is may be beneficial. NMGAs Open Geospatial Consortium. It really a data and service provider. If can work with professional provides a real opportunity for a NMGA has not been seen to share associations and Ministries of entrepreneurs to develop ideas its data and services willingly, it may Education to promote the need and then, if they have real value, not have the credibility to lead SDI. for a suitable education pipeline. and provides assistance in finding ▪▪ Service provision is likely to ▫▫ Integration through address, funding, including venture capital. feature increasingly, from smart or place, is a key means of phone apps to asset management. analysis and understanding – turning data into a picture. But Winning the arguments Creating data is one side of a coin. a geospatial data is only one The other side is use, often through element of the data environment To be relevant, NMGAs and their partners integration to make effective decisions. and geospatial representation have to be the ‘go to’ authorities for This integration is the key to improved is only one outcome - graphics, trusted fundamental geospatial data. But decisions and socio-economic benefits. tables, answers to questions are many NMGAs are significantly under- In wider government, NMGAs can assist equally relevant. Our education invested for today’s data challenge, in integrating cross-government digital and training of geospatial ‘users’ and so arguments need to be built that public services, helping realise their value must take this into account. open doors to investment, whether in delivering SDGs. It is no longer enough ▫▫ NMGAs can help users gain capital, operational or human. to produce data and services; NMGAs need more value through running to be close to their customers and work cross-cutting workshops There is, however, a shortfall in data to understand and solve their problems. and masterclasses, both for available to convince decision makers. There are several components to this: government and business users, The benefits demonstrated in this paper, ▪▪ Education and Training. aimed at helping customers and many others, only serve to ‘whet ▫▫ Educating decision makers, gain more value from geospatial the appetite’. Hard financial arguments at all levels, in the benefits data. Some of these could are necessary, the ‘business case’ needs they can gain from geospatial focus on particular SDGs to include a ‘return on investment’ that capabilities, is a challenge. and bring relevant ministries shows demonstrable economic benefit,
Coordinates July 2018 | 37 revenue benefit to government and services partner to help build initial GI Kedar, J, (2017, March) ‘Geospatial the wider social benefits that are often data, so the nation benefits quickly whilst Information drives benefits beyond difficult to place a dollar value upon. sustainable transformation is implemented. land administration – why aren’t we taking them?’ at 2017 World Bank Benefit studies of geospatial enablement Conference On Land And Poverty are largely of high-income nations, and Conclusion tend to indicate 0.2% to 0.6% GDP uplift. McCluskey, W et al, (2017, March) There are very few studies of low and The paper argues that NMGAs do have The role of ICT in delivering middle income nations. One exception is a future if they adapt. The increasing efficient revenue collection in Albania, where work to understand the reliance on location, from delivery of developing countries: The Tanzanian financial benefits of an SDI was reported SDGs to the internet of things, is an experience, World Bank Land at the World Bank Conference on Land opportunity. Managing the fundamental and Property Conference 2017. and Poverty in 2017 (Anand, A et al). geospatial data layer, fit for purpose, maintained and trusted, underpins the OECD (2015), ‘Data-Driven Innovation Recognising this, the UN and World Bank integration of all spatial data and allows for Growth and Well-Being. What initiative to generate a global ‘best practice’ better decisions and efficient delivery and Implications for Governments framework and a series of country ‘action operations. Future NMGAs may become and Businesses?’, Directorate plans’ is to be welcomed. These action data brokers as well as collectors/managers, for Science, Technology and plans set out the road map for change and SDI authorities, service providers and Innovation Policy Note, October seek to convince Finance Ministers that service consumers. Whatever, NMGAs 2015. http://www.oecd.org/sti/ proposals are based on good practice and have to be the ‘go to’ authority for ieconomy/PolicyNote-DDI.pdf contain the necessary social and economic trusted fundamental geospatial data. benefits necessary for decision making. Ouiba, Y (2011) ‘Improvement of water NMGAs need to focus more on the user supply through a GIS-based Transforming a mapping agency into an and their requirements over the next 10 monitoring and control system effective geospatial agency is a long-term years to deliver real value and their data for water loss reduction’, UN- programme, yet results will be expected must remain authoritative, trustworthy and Water International Conference immediately if SDG implementation accessible. In wider government, NMGAs 2011 - Conference Paper. is to be enabled by NMGAs. There can assist in integrating cross-government are different approaches that can be digital public services, helping realise Scott, G, (2016, March), ‘Positioning combined in different forms to achieve their value in delivering SDGs. It is not Geospatial Information to Address this, different approaches that can enough to produce data; NMGAs need Global Challenges’, Annual World strengthen or weaken a business case: to be close to their customers and work Bank Conference on Land and ▪▪ a long-term ‘in-house’ capacity to understand and solve their problems. Poverty 2016 – Conference Paper building approach, which may take a decade or longer to achieve, UN GGIM, ‘The Role of particularly developing the human References Geospatial Information in capacity to meet technical capability. the Sustainable Development ▪▪ a technology solution through Anand, A, et al, (2017, March), Economic Goals’ www.ggim.un.org a project approach, with and Financial Analysis of National inherent project delivery Spatial Data Infrastructure: An UNSD and World Bank, (2017, August), and sustainability risks. Albania Case Study, Annual World ‘Roadmap for collaboration between ▪▪ a data collection and services Bank Conference on Land and world bank’s global practice on project to provide useable data Poverty 2017 – Conference Paper social, urban and rural development, and services ‘once off’. and resilience and united nations ▪▪ A managed service that provides Chopra, R, (2016, June), ‘Urbanisation, statistics division to assist countries different components of capability, Smart Cities, Slums and Geospatial to bridge geospatial digital divide’, long term in partnership. This Technology’, LinkedIn. http://ggim.un.org/meetings/GGIM- can bring ‘data today’, provide committee/7th-Session/documents/ proven technology as a service and Department for International Development, UNSD-GSURR%20Roadmap%20 capacity building for tomorrow. (2013, September), Summary of for%20Collaboration-July17.pdf DFID’s work in Rwanda 2011-2015. Transformation takes time and partnership The paper was presented at the “2018 with ‘transformed’ NMGAs can help Hickling Arthurs Low, (2015) Canadian World bank conference on land and with achieving sustainable solutions. Geomatics Environmental poverty” The World Bank - Washington The NMGAs may choose a managed Scan and Value Study. DC, March 19-23, 2018
38 | Coordinates July 2018 CONFERENCE United Nations Argentina workshop on the applications of GNSS
s part of the United Nations capacity-building, education and training Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Latvia, AProgramme on Space Applications, in the field of GNSS; (7) international Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Paraguay, a United Nations/Argentina workshop and regional experiences of the use and Peru, Russian Federation, Spain, Thailand, on the applications of global navigation implementation of GNSS technologies; Turkey, the United States of America satellite systems was organized by and (8) national GNSS programmes. and Venezuela. The European Union and the Office for Outer Space Affairs in the European Space Agency were also cooperation with the National Commission During the workshop, a one day and represented. Representatives of the Office for Space Activities (Comision Nacional half seminar on “GNSS spectrum for Outer Space Affairs also participated. de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE) of protection and interference detection and Argentina. The Workshop was held at mitigation” was organized. The purpose the Centro Espacial Teofilo Tabanera, a of the seminar was to highlight the Observations facility of CONAE, in Falda del Carmen, importance of GNSS spectrum protection Argentina, from 19 to 23 March 2018. It at the national level and explain how The workshop addressed the use of GNSS was co-sponsored by the European Union to reap the benefits of GNSS. Specific for various applications that provide and the United States of America through presentations that demonstrated GNSS sustainable social and economic benefits, in ICG. The European Space Agency (ESA) jamming and spoofing were carried out. particular for developing countries. Current is also co-sponsored the workshop. and planned projects that use GNSS Additionally two discussions sessions technology for both practical applications At the opening of the workshop, were held, where participants were split in and scientific explorations were presented. introductory and welcoming statements were three working groups to exchange views made by the Secretary General of CONAE on: (1) capacity-building and institutional Two discussion sessions were held as and by the representatives of ICG and ESA strengthening; (2) geodetic reference part of the workshop. During the first, as co-sponsors, and by the representative network; (3) specific GNSS applications. three working groups met in parallel to of the Office for Outer Space Affairs. The discussion sessions were preceded by discuss the following themes: (1) capacity a presentation on the publication entitled building and institutional strengthening; The Deputy Technical and Administrative “European Global Navigation Satellite (2) geodetic reference network; and Director of CONAE delivered the keynote System and Copernicus: Supporting the (3) GNSS applications. During the presentation focusing on CONAE’s Sustainable Development Goals” (ST/ second, the groups presented the results actions and projects that were developed SPACE/71) that was jointly prepared by of their deliberations and formulated a in accordance with the national space the Office for Outer Space Affairs and common plan of action for the region. programme, materialized through Earth the European GNSS Agency (GSA). The participants put forward a number observation, exploration and peaceful of observations and recommendations, uses of outer space, and technological The programme was developed by the which are summarized below: developments for space use, which was Office for Outer Space Affairs and CONAE periodically updated and extended to in cooperation with ICG and ESA. ensure that it suits the socioeconomic and Capacity-building and productive requirements of the country. The presentations made at the workshop, institutional strengthening abstracts of the papers given and the The workshop technical sessions workshop programme and background The working group on capacity building promoted productive discussions among materials are available on the website of and institutional strengthening held participants, and covered a wide range the Office for Outer Space Affairs at: http:// discussions in GNSS education and of topics related to GNSS technology: www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/psa/ training, as well as on the appropriate (1) overview of GNSS in operation and schedule/ 2018/2018-workshop-on-global- format for a regional network that would development; (2) GNSS reference frames navigation-satellite-systems_-presentations. enable the creation of partnerships and reference station networks; (3) html. The following 22 Member States were in the use of GNSS and related implementation of GNSS technology; (4) represented at the workshop: Argentina, applications, including space weather GNSS applications; (5) space weather; (6) Brazil, China, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, and its effects on GNSS operations.
Coordinates July 2018 | 39 The working group recognized the need Fortaleza, Brazil (in partnership between monitoring, augmented navigation to continue building national and regional Brazil and the United States of America); assessment (space-based augmentation expertise through the long and short- systems (SBAS) or ground-based term training courses and education ii. the Argentina - German augmentation systems), image processing; offered by the regional centre for space Geodetic Observatory that co- science and technology education for located SLR, VLBI and GNSS; (e) To encourage all geodesic data Latin America and the Caribbean, producing agencies to implement affiliated to the United Nations, and also (e) The need of deepen the geodetic open access policies for their data. through other academic and thematic knowledge installed in the region to centres of excellence worldwide. reach the highest international standards The working group also recommended to related to GGRF realization. prepare a proposal for a pilot project aiming to augment the existing GNSS networks Geodetic reference network The working group recommended to in order to transmit real time differential develop a capacity building activity (with corrections for multi-purpose applications The working group on geodetic reference the assistance of international experts in the network held discussions on geodetic subject matter) to process and analyse SLR reference frames, noting the United Nations and VLBI data in combination with GNSS GNSS applications resolution on a global geodetic reference data and that this activity would be carried frame (GGRF) for sustainable development out at regional level in order to maximize The working group on GNSS adopted by the General Assembly on the participation of representatives from the applications structured the discussion 26 February 2015 (A/RES/69/266). Latin America and the Caribbean countries. at three different levels: scientific and The working group recognized: technical, organizational, and specific Based on the above mentioned applications. Synergies between the (a) The importance of GGRF for considerations and recognizing that in different levels were also considered. developing and improving the global spite of the progress achieved in the spatial infrastructure (GSDI) in support of region, either in the availability of GNSS At scientific and technical level, sustainable development goals of the 2030 observing stations as well as in the data it was recommended: Agenda for sustainable development; analysis capabilities, the need for geodetic training at a more basic level than stated (a) To consider the incorporation of (b) The effort committed by the Latin in the previous recommendation still multiple constellations into SBAS, America and the Caribbean countries for persists in several countries of the region. which might have an impact across deploying, maintaining and continuously different services, in particular, civil improving their GNSS networks for the Considering the above stated, the aviation, and benefits to other sectors; GGRF realization at national level; working groups recommended: (b) To consider increasing the number (c) The success achieved by SIRGAS (a) To implement capacity-building through of an international satellite-based search in coordinating the operation of the training courses designated to space and rescue (COSPAS-SARSAT) stations GNSS networks at regional level, and agencies especially geared towards the best for search and rescue applications; in processing the GNSS data to provide use of georeferencing in the production the community with a GNSS-based of spatial information (for example, (c) To organize a workshop on disaster regional realization of the GGRF; images, statistics, etc.), highlighting the management using the enhanced infrastructure available in the region; capabilities of GNSS, COSPAS- (d) The existence in Latin America SARSAT, and earth observation. and the Caribbean of other observing (b) To provide assistance for the infrastructures that could enhance acquisition, deployment and operation At organizational level, it was the current GNSS-based GGRF of GNSS networks in countries that still recommended to create an inventory of regional realization, namely: lack them or need to improve them; equipment, applications and services, and capacity-building opportunities that were i. Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) stations (c) To provide assistance for the installation available in the region. This inventory could in Arequipa, Peru (in partnership between of the vertical component of the GGRF; be used to enhance the communication Peru and the United States of America), between institutions in the region. in San Juan, Argentina (in partnership (d) To implement an outreach programme between Argentina and China) and Brasilia, to promote the use of the SIRGAS The complete report can be seen at Brazil (in partnership between Brazil and observational infrastructure for applications www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/ the Russian Federation); and a very-long- complementary to the GGRF realization, psa/schedule/2018/GNSS-un- baseline interferometry (VLBI) station in for example, space weather, water vapour argentina-workshop.html
40 | Coordinates July 2018 NEWS - IMAGING
Airborne LiDAR to be used to survey MoU are to promote and strengthen the (MoU) with Antrix Corporation, the electricity network in Queensland collaboration between the signatories commercial arm of the Indian Space in the areas of Spatial Planning, Water Research Organisation (Isro), for Powerlink will use aerial surveying Management and Mobility Management furthering geospatial big data analytics. technology to undertake an engineering on the basis of equivalence, affordable assessment of their Northern and housing, smart city development, GIS for The MoU would increase the penetration Central transmission network. Working water supply & sewerage system, waste of geospatial technology-based services with NM Group, the project will use water reuse and recycle, conservation and develop large area analytics products in helicopter laser (LiDAR) scanning to of fresh water by artificial recharge different sectors like agriculture, banking identify maintenance issues and update of aquifer, integrated solid waste and financial services, social infrastructure, records on over 3000 km of powerline. management and heritage conservation energy and telecommunications. and mutual benefit, taking into account www.business-standard.com Provided by NM Group, the updated the practical needs of both the countries. drawings will enable Powerlink to plan Pix4D launches Pix4D fields improvement work, manage vegetation Under this MoU, a Joint Working Group risk and help plan future powerlines. In (JWG) will be set up to strategize and Pix4D’s first fully dedicated product addition, it will also assist with engineering implement programmes on cooperation for agriculture – Pix4Dfields: created designs.www.powerlink.com.au under the framework of the MoU. The with the input of farmers, agronomists Joint Working Group will meet once in and breeders is now live. Technical cooperation MoU between a year, alternately in the Netherlands India and Netherlands extended and in India. http://pib.nic.in This product is developed with input from farmers, agronomists and breeders, The Union Cabinet of India chaired by Isro’s Antrix signs MoU with SatSure meaning it focuses on what matters when it Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for promoting geospatial technology comes to agriculture fields of application. was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SatSure Analytics, a satellite data The built-in analysis tools allow you India and Netherlands on technical analytics company, has signed a strategic to produce accurate and repeatable cooperation. The objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding measurements of crop health. NEWS - GNSS
Russia launches Glonass-M the diversity offered by the ESNC and rapid assistance via emergency cellular navigation satellite its entire network are best described as service and reduces casualties in the “service all along the value chain”. event of an accident. ERA-GLONASS Russia has launched a Soyuz-2.1b has been compulsory since 1 January, carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space China’s plans to upgrade its Beidou 2017 and is now an integral part of center to orbit a Glonass-M satellite, navigation satellite system OTTC which requires In Vehicle Systems the Russian Defense Ministry said. (IVS) within the EEC member states to By 2020, the Beidou satellites will be equipped with ERA-GLONASS. “The middle-class Soyuz-2.1b carrier form a complete global satellite rocket launched on June 17 from the navigation system, with 35 satellites. As an intelligent telematics-based Plesetsk space center (Arkhangelsk system, deployment of ERA-GLONASS Region) successfully put the Russian Recently, it was announced that China is also an impetus to the Connected navigation Glonass-M spacecraft to the would launch another eleven satellites in Vehicle. The EEC has brought ERA- designated orbit.” Earlier, a satellite 2018 to add to its third-generation Beidou GLONASS certification into the producer Reshetnev Information Satellite Navigation Satellite System (BDS). legislation of OTTC to pave way for Systems reported that the signal interface the continued realization of this project. control document for GLONASS Launched in 1994, the Beidou project http://en.portnews.ru/news/259526/ would be updated in 2018, making began to serve China in 2000. Since 2000, radio signals to the satellite navigation 33 satellites have been launched for the DARPA pursuing global system less susceptible to corruption. network. Beidou began serving users positioning system alternatives in the Asia-Pacific region in December Next european satellite 2012. It is the world’s fourth navigation The Defense Advanced Research navigation competition is satellite system, following GPS in the Projects Agency is looking to sure to deliver innovation United States, GLONASS in Russia develop alternative positioning, and Galileo in the European Union. navigation and timing capabilities. Who knows what’s in store for this year’s 15th edition of the European Satellite Compared to earlier generation satellites, Dave Tremper, a program manager at Navigation Competition (ESNC), which is the Beidou-3 is able to send signals that the agency’s strategic technology office, currently scouting for new business ideas are more compatible with other satellite said relying solely on GPS provides through July 31, 2018. The innovation navigation systems and provide satellite- users with a single point of failure. competition annually awards the best based augmentation, as well as search services, products, and business ideas and rescue services in accordance with “GPS is so good that it’s kind of knocked using satellite navigation in everyday life. international standards. Its positioning all of the other players off the field,” he accuracy has reached 2.5 to 5 meters. said. “What happens when it’s not there Since 2004 the competition has been and what happens when your system still proving that satellite navigation In 2019 and 2020, China will send needs that degree of timing and you still technologies open the door to countless six third-generation Beidou satellites need that degree of position? … We’re applications. The international innovation into medium Earth orbits, as well going back and scrubbing systems and competition is designed to serve as an as three to inclined geosynchronous saying, ‘We need to really think about accelerating instrument for space related satellite orbits and two to geostationary having that redundancy to GPS.’’’ entrepreneurs and startups, providing orbits.www.opengovasia.com Europe with path breaking novelties. One of the agency’s projects is the Spatial, The spectrum of submitted business Chinese first OTTC for ERA-GLONASS Temporal and Orientation Information in ideas reflects the manifold opportunities equipped vehicle is certified Contested Environments program, he said. made possible by this future oriented The effort, known as STOIC, is focused on technology: from healthcare and Bureau Veritas has announced that Bureau developing a GPS backup, Tremper noted. leisure to traffic management and other Veritas VEO, a Bureau Veritas Group rail, sea, and air transport logistics, company, has successfully facilitated the Part of the STOIC project leverages individuals and entire industries alike first OTTC Certificate issuance in China for information gathered from a former can benefit from satellite navigation. an ERA-GLONASS enabled vehicle with program called Adaptable Navigation its localized solution in China. Systems, he said, which examined No matter what stage a pioneering idea different types of signals for positioning, is at, the ESNC provides support for OTTC is the certificate to vehicles exported navigation and timing. One of these innovative ideas at each development to Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) signal types included very low stage, with the ultimate aim to turn member states. ERA-GLONASS, an frequency transmissions, he said. These them into real business cases. Thus, automatic emergency call system, provides signals allowed for gathering location
42 | Coordinates July 2018 NEWS - LBS information that was about one to two The EGNOS space segment is provided Japan looks to launch driverless kilometers off because it did not account by commercial satellite operators on the car system in Tokyo by 2020 for changes in the ionosphere, which is basis of service contracts. The GEO- a layer of the atmosphere that can reflect 1, GEO-2 and GEO-3 service contracts A self-driving car service could be on and modify radio waves, he noted. currently cover the EGNOS space Tokyo’s public roads in time for the 2020 segment needs and the GEO-1 and GEO- Olympics as Japan looks to drive investment DARPA is examining low-frequency 2 services will be the first of these to in new technology to drive economic commercial receivers that can be used end. These will be replaced by GEO-4 growth, according to a government strategic for military platforms. The antennas and GEO-5 – the subject of this RFI. review announced. The government plans for the project are small enough to be to begin testing a driverless car system used on ships and vehicles, he added. The GSA is already planning how it will on public roads sometime this fiscal www.nationaldefensemagazine.org replace the services currently delivered year with the goal of launching a self- by the GEO-1 and GEO-2 satellites. driving car service for the 2020 Tokyo FAA now has better, more precise Ahead of this procurement, the Agency is Olympics. The government will then try to GPS coverage across US conducting a preliminary market analysis commercialize this system as early as 2022. and issuing an RFI to collect information The Federal Aviation Administration’s about opportunities to embark navigation Economists see enormous potential in Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting 5 Wide payloads on-board GEO satellites the development of autonomous vehicle Area Augmentation System navigation launched in a suitable timeframe. and artificial intelligence technologies, payload, developed by Raytheon’s which could help businesses cope with an Intelligence, Information and Services Galileo to receive Orolia atomic clocks aging and declining workforce. However, business, is now operational and fully Japanese companies have struggled to integrated into the WAAS network. The Orolia has been awarded contracts keep up with their Chinese, European and GEO 5 payload joins two others already totalling USD30.6 million to provide U.S. counterparts in implementing such on orbit in correcting GPS satellite signal atomic clocks for the Galileo Global innovations into their work practices. ionospheric disturbances, timing issues, Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The government also plans to change and minor orbit adjustments, giving regulations for universities to make users increased coverage, improved Under these contracts, Orolia will it easier for students to earn multi- accuracy, and better reliability. supply its Spectratime Rubidium Atomic disciplinary degrees needed to work in Frequency Standard and its passive artificial intelligence.www.reuters.com In operation since 2003, WAAS increases hydrogen maser physics package for an GPS satellite signal accuracy from 10 additional 12 Galileo satellites. Each World’s first dual-frequency GNSS meters to 1 meter, ensuring GPS signals satellite will carry two rubidium atomic smartphone hits the market meet rigorous air navigation performance clocks and two passive hydrogen masers. and safety requirements for all classes Xiaomi - one of the fastest growing mobile of aircraft in all phases of flight. SES gets Galileo services contract brands - has launched the world's first dual-frequency GNSS smartphone. Fitted WAAS provides precision navigation Luxembourg satellite operator SES has with a Broadcom BCM47755 chip, the service to users across the United landed a contract to help run Galileo. Xiaomi Mi 8, launched on May 31, is the States from Maine to Alaska, as well world's first smartphone providing up to as portions of Canada and Mexico. The contract is with Spaceopal, the decimetre-level accuracy for location- For aviation users, WAAS offers German firm that operates the Galileo based services and vehicle navigation. pilots more direct flight paths, satellite fleet under contract with the EU, precision airport approaches and SES said in a press release on 30 May: This smartphone is the first commercial access to remote landing sites without deployment of Broadcom's revolutionary depending on local ground-based “SES will provide Spaceopal with BCM47755 chip. Until now, mobile landing systems. www.raytheon.com services to support the maintenance location-based applications have been and seamless operations of the Galileo powered by single frequency GNSS EGNOS geostationary Global Navigation Satellite System receivers whose location accuracy is navigation payload services (GNSS). SES will be responsible limited to a few meters. However, in for in-orbit measurements for the recent years GNSS systems have been The European GNSS Agency (GSA) Galileo satellite constellation”. launching satellites broadcasting signals has issued a Request for Information on new frequencies to open up new (RFI) in preparation for the procurement In addition, the Luxembourg firm will possibilities. Specifically, Galileo has of EGNOS geostationary navigation provide services for connecting Galileo the majority of satellites with E1/L1 payload services: GEO-4 and GEO-5. ground stations. http://delano.lu and E5/L5 frequency capabilities.
Coordinates July 2018 | 43 NEWS - UAV
EU-wide rules for safety could create some 150,000 jobs in the During the mapping of drones approved EU by 2050. www.europarl.europa.eu process a team of forest, wildlife and MEPs approved an agreement reached Cansel becomes the first technical officials, detected illegal sand between Council and Parliament Canadian reseller of Delair mining in Sakatpur and Tikli villages. negotiators in November 2017 on EU-wide principles for drones and drone operators Delair, a leading global supplier of Trucks, laden with sand, were spotted to ensure a common level of safety and commercial drone solutions, has announced leaving these villages, a forest official give operators and manufacturers the an agreement with Cansel, a full-service said. Before the mapping teams could predictability to develop products and provider of surveying and mapping get hold of the sand miners, they services. Currently most drones fall solutions to the Canadian market. Cansel drove away, the official added. under differing national rules, which becomes the first Canadian reseller can hamper market development. of Delair UX 11 long-range drone. “The mining surveillance system enables us to get a satellite view of quarrying sites Under new rules, drones would need to Leica’s Aibot UAV is built and any illegal activity taking place in be designed so that they can be operated on the DJI platform the Aravallis.” Vinod Kumar, additional without putting people at risk. Based on principal chief conservator of forest, risk related to, for example, the weight Leica Geosystems has announced its Gurugram, said. www.hindustantimes.com of the drone or area of operation, the latest UAV, the Leica Aibot. The UAV is a drone would need additional features, multi-rotor airframe based on DJI’s aerial Insitu Receives Interior contract such as automated landing in case the platform, the M600 Pro, and is designed award for small UAS services operator loses contact with the drone or for fast acquisition of 3D mapping data. collision avoidance systems. Some drone Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of operators would be required to go through The solution is fully integrated with The Boeing Company has received training before they can operate a drone. Leica Geosystems’ current suite of a first-of-its kind contract from the software solutions, including Cyclone and U.S. Department of the Interior To help identify the drone operators Cloudworx. Users can now leverage Leica (DOI) to provide fire suppression if there is an incident, operators of Infinity for point cloud, surface model, services within the contiguous 48 drones would need to be on national and orthophoto generation for current states and Alaska using its ScanEagle registers and their drones marked for workflows in construction and surveying. Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). identification. This would not apply to operators of the smallest drones. Brazilian farmers use drone mapping UAS will assist in combatting wildfires using geospatial mapping Based on the key principles, the EU SimActive and Brazil’s Portal Produtos and full motion video. Commission is tasked with developing Agropecuários (Portal) are working more detailed EU-wide rules, such as together with local farmers to provide them Per the contract, Insitu will support maximum altitude and distance limits with as much functional data regarding manned aerial operations including for drone flight, and which drone their farmland as possible, so that these fire suppression, search and rescue, operations and drones would need to businesses can maximize profits and emergency management, and other be certified based on the risk they pose. increase seasonal yields. For Portal, that operations as needed on a “call The rules would also determine which means creating aerial mapping of farmland. when needed” basis. insitu.com operators need additional training and to This is then turned over to SimActive be registered and which drones would who can, through its Correlator3D Firestorm UAV sole supplier need to have additional safety features. software, process those maps into detailed, of TigerStrike lite informative data. This process allows a Currently, drones lighter than 150kg farm’s crop management to be strategized Firestorm UAV Inc. has announced fall under the jurisdiction of national more efficiently. www.thedrive.com its position as the sole supplier of authorities and therefore manufacturers an innovative handheld search and and operators are subject to different Detection of unauthorised rescue sensor intended for all types of design and safety requirements. sand mining using drones field-rescue operations. The mobile TigerStrike Lite hardware pairs with Civil drone technology could account The Gurugram forest department, Firestorm’s unique iRDF™ technology for an estimated 10% of the EU aviation India has completed the drone to position the company as the foremost market within the next 10 years (i.e. mapping of two villages in the first expert and manufacturer of mobile ISR about €15 billion per year). According phase to check encroachment or search and rescue signal readers. to the Commission, the drone industry illegal activities in the Aravallis.
44 | Coordinates July 2018 The TigerStrike Lite mobile device reads risks, pain points and insurance needs In many cases vHive customers require three different types of distress signals: of commercial drone operators. high accuracy data products, including personal locator beacons (PLBs), emergency high relative-accuracy (intrinsic to a locator transmitters (ELTs) and the DJI announces drone law enforcement map or model) and absolute-accuracy emergency position indicating radio beacons partnership with Axon (geographic location). www.vHive.ai (EPIRBs) used in maritime applications. To find a signal’s location, the TigerStrike DJI has announced a new collaboration Next-generation mapping drone Lite device simply takes a single vector with Axon, a provider of connected raises capital for further expansion reading from two fixed locations. Generally law enforcement technologies.Under this is all that is required to pinpoint a the partnership, DJI drones will be Drone startup Atmos UAV has closed it's signal to within an accuracy of five degrees. sold directly to public safety and law next investment round with investment The signal’s location can then be sent enforcement agencies worldwide firm Disruptive Technology Ventures via an Android-based smartphone to the through the new Axon Air program. (DTV). Atmos has developed an industrial operational base of choice. www.fsuav.com drone that is a clever crossover between vHive releases AI-based an airplane and a helicopter. The drone REIN’s DroneInsurance.com automatic workflow can already be found flying all over the launches insurance portal world to help professionals in mapping vHive, the developer of cloud-based large areas of land. The series A of REIN, an insurtech company focused AI that enables enterprises to deploy undisclosed amount enables the startup to on creating new insurance solutions autonomous drone hives for the acquisition, further scale up their distribution, product around the emerging risks posed by management and processing of field data, development and support organisation. robotics, mobility and online ecosystems, has announced the availability of a fully DTV, the fund of amongst others Ad is announcing the launch of its first automated workflow for high-accuracy Scheepbouwer (former CEO of TNT) digital portal, DroneInsurance.com. It data products. vHive currently provides and the founders of cybersecurity leader provides a smart and paperless drone solutions to companies in a variety of Fox-IT (Ronald Prins & Menno van der insurance experience, offering dynamic industries ranging from telecom towers, Marel) will support Atmos by fuelling policy solutions to address the unique to rail, bridges and civil engineering. growth and international roll-out.
SD65_CMPL_Pentax Half-Page_April17_Ad.indd 1 11/04/17 3:35 pm NEWS - GIS
Airbus to provide an end-to-end Zone, ACCRA used real time air pollution to concatenate Sound Velocity Profiles Geo-Information system to Thailand measurements, captured by EarthSense, into a single file. Another new capability to trigger zero-emission running mode is the concept of having Dynamic or Static The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology in a 7.5 tonne Range Extended Electric layers for tracklines. This allows the user Development Agency of Thailand Vehicle (REEV) when entering a to create a rule-based layer using any of the (GISTDA) has selected Airbus as partner for designated control zone. During the trials, trackline attributes. www.teledynecaris.com its next-generation national geo-information EarthSense sensors were mounted in key system. The end-to-end system will make locations in the city centre as well as on PolyU to apply smart sensing Thailand one of the few nations able to vehicles travelling through the area. Data technology in urban tree management fully exploit geo-information for societal from the sensors was used to update an benefits. Fully in line with Thailand’s air quality model, in real time, which The Hong Kong Polytechnic University 4.0 policy, the THEOS-2 programme was then used to regulate the vehicle’s (PolyU) on14th June kicked off the Jockey will constitute a major milestone in the emissions in the most polluted/traffic- Club Smart City Tree Management Project, a development of Space in the Eastern dominated areas. www.earthsense.co.uk large-scale pilot project in Hong Kong, with Economic Corridor and its Digital Park. the support from academia, non-government Ordnance Survey MasterMap organisations (NGOs) and the Government, As part of the contract, a comprehensive freely available to apply smart sensing technology (SST) capacity building programme will involve and GIS for monitoring tree stability to Thai engineers in the development of Making key parts of the Ordnance enhance timely appropriate mitigation an integrated geo-information system, Survey (OS) MasterMap freely available measures for sustaining longer tree lives. ground segment and two Earth observation will help businesses use geospatial data satellites: a very high-resolution and a more easily and drive innovation across Tree anchorage is critical to its structural small satellite system. The small satellite the UK economy. As part of the Prime stability. Weak anchorage will be reflected system from Airbus’ subsidiary SSTL Minister’s London Tech Week roundtable in a tree tilting, which in serious case poses will be assembled and tested in-country today, the Government has announced the hazard of falling. In the Project, sensors by Thai engineers to deliver technology that key parts of the OS MasterMap will will be tailor-made and installed on the lower transfer and involve local suppliers. be made openly available for the public trunk of selected urban trees to monitor their This will be complemented by an and businesses to use. It is estimated tilting angle in a 3-dimensional manner, as extensive training scheme capitalizing on that this will boost the UK economy by a way of assessing the stability of the root Airbus’ comprehensive geo-intelligence at least £130m each year, as innovative and thus the tree. Data will be collected for expertise, and will further develop companies and startups use the data. This a quantifiable analysis of the trees’ root plate Thailand’s geo-spatial industry. is a step on a journey towards more open movement through the use of SST, i.e. the geospatial data infrastructure for the UK. technology of monitoring environmental EarthSense air quality sensors changes with the use of remote sensors and activate zero emission running HIPS and SIPS 11.0 simplifies techniques, via the GIS-based platform. to reduce city air pollution bathymetric processing workflow Taking into consideration of various Air quality monitoring technology from Teledyne CARIS™ has announced environmental factors, a threshold will EarthSense has provided real time data the release of HIPS and SIPS™ be determined to design the monitoring for trials into the use of low emission 11.0. This release introduces several system as a scientific measurement of vehicles to improve air quality in improvements making it easier for users the root plate movement and stability. polluted city centres. The data, collected to start new projects and process data, When the tilting angle of a tree exceeds by both mobile and static EarthSense as well as an enhanced user experience the threshold, the project team will be Zephyr air quality monitoring sensors, while interacting with survey data. alerted to conduct a visit to verify the data was used to automatically activate zero- for the purpose of calibrating the system. emission running of hybrid vehicles Version 11.0 offers one-step processing. When considered necessary, it will inform as they passed through some of the The new Georeference Bathymetry the relevant tree management team to most heavily polluted city streets. function is a single step which initiates undertake actions in a timely manner. Sound Velocity Correction (SVC), Load ACCRA (Autonomous and Connected Tide, Apply Tide, Merge, and Compute Members of the PolyU-led Project team vehicles for CleanerR Air) was a twelve Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU). The include The University of Hong Kong month project, led by Cenex, the UKs same trusted algorithms are still applied but (HKU), The Hong Kong University first Centre of Excellence for low carbon with the added benefit of being combined of Science and Technology (HKUST), technology, in partnership with Leeds into a single process. This creates a more and Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong). City Council and Transport Systems streamlined user experience requiring The project also receives support from Catapult. Using parts of Leeds Clean Air fewer interactions, and eliminates the need relevant government departments.
46 | Coordinates July 2018 HEXAGON - NEWS NEWS - INDUSTRY
HxGN MineDiscover display 9 Oscilloquartz launches enhanced other and to stationary objects, supporting PRTC solution for 5G network timing mariners as they take navigation decisions HxGN MineDiscover Display 9 is an and creating the fundamental conditions advanced machine display that will Oscilloquartz, an ADVA company, for autonomous maritime navigation. maximize the user experience for equipment has launched its enhanced primary operators. The new display features reference time clock (ePRTC) system to Funded by the European GNSS Agency an optically bonded, anti-glare 9-inch enable unprecedented timing accuracy (GSA) under Horizon 2020, the H2H touchscreen that guarantees visibility and stability even when the GNSS system will combine sensor information in tough environments. Its multi-touch signal is lost. The technology provides with 3D models to create digital models capable, allowing future applications to the ideal timing source for mission- of vessels and other objects of interest. utilize features such as pinch-to-zoom critical transport systems, such as utility This digital model can be visualized and gestures. It is designed for harsh networks; government infrastructure by the mariner in 3D, or in 2D format environments and can withstand the and radio access networks, and provides using slices of the 3D model, and used extreme environmental conditions typically the strict synchronization needed for to derive crucial navigation information encountered in mines. hexagon.com LTE-A and 5G applications. Featuring in real time. The quality of the sensors the OSA 3230B ePRC atomic cesium and the 3D model will drive the quality HxGN MineOperate UG pro for miners clock connected to an Oscilloquartz of the digital model, and consequently clock combiner and grandmaster, the the quality of the navigation information HxGN MineOperate UG Pro is a platform new solution offers the extremely stable that is derived from the model. for managing underground fleet equipment frequency of a cesium clock with the and broadcasting time-utilisation UTC-traceable signal provided by GNSS. Mapbox’s new SDK helps developers information the instant it’s needed in What’s more, when combined with the build smart AR navigation apps remote areas deep below the surface. OSA 5430, the OSA ePRTC system is the only solution available that provides Mapbox, the open source mapping service It monitors task-level activities, updating full hardware redundancy and multiple that competes directly with Google’s miner and machine workflows in real- fan-out options including PTP over Maps Platform, has announced a new time as the mine develops and produces 10Gbit/s. www.oscilloquartz.com. software development kit (SDK) that ore. Developed specifically for mines will make it easier for developers to build lacking data networks underground, Broadgnss releases high applications that provide AR navigation. UG Pro optimises efficiency using precision GPS receiver That by itself would be cool, but by using tablets that store and forward critical ARM’s Project Trillium AI platform, the information between supervisors and Broadgnss Technologies recently Mapbox Vision SDK can also recognize workers via network access points. announced a new high precision satellite other vehicles, pedestrians, speed limit position receiver with patented RAC signs, construction signs, crosswalks and First 3D laser scanner with (Real-time Array Calibration) technology. more, all without having to train their automatic in-field pre-registration It features positioning accuracy better own machine learning models to do so. than one meter (up to 10 centimeters). Hexagon AB, launched Leica RTC360, a By receiving only single frequency (GPS Using ARM’s Project Trillium platform, laser scanner equipped with edge computing L1) satellite signals, the RAC technology the SDK is able to make use of the technology to enable fast and highly accurate in high precision satellite positioning mobile device’s onboard CPUs, GPUs creation of 3D models in the field. The frees the dependence on traditional and AI chips (if available) to perform RTC360 combines high-performance laser augmentation network and significantly the necessary object recognition. Once scanning, edge computing, and mobile app reduces the cost to enable high precision new phones launch with ARM’s new technologies to pre-register captured scans satellite positioning to enter large-scale ML and object detection processors, the quickly and accurately. With the push of applications. RAC receivers are designed SDK will be able to perform all of these a button, two million points per second of to balance the performance and cost, functions even faster, but for now, it can High Dynamic Range (HDR) imagery can be overcoming some common barriers of extract features from the video feed at captured to create a full-dome scan in under traditional high accuracy GNSS receivers. a speed of about ten times a second. two minutes. Laser scanner movements between setup positions are automatically H2H leveraging EGNSS for Telit launches GNSS integrated tracked by a Visual Inertial System (VIS) safer maritime navigation antenna receiver modules while scans are combined and pre-registered on a mobile device, where they can be Using EGNSS (EGNOS and Galileo), the Telit, a global enabler of the internet of viewed and augmented with information Hull to Hull (H2H) project is developing a things (IoT), has debuted its SE878Kx-A tags saving precious time and speeding system that will allow maritime vessels to series of GPS and GNSS integrated up decision-making right from the field. navigate safely in close proximity to each antenna receiver modules for consumer
Coordinates July 2018 | 47 Galileo update and business applications. As per the company, these modules require high Four more Galileo satellites Britain’s Brexit Secretary David Davis said performance, maximum reliability launch scheduled for July 25 earlier, that Britain had been instrumental and low power consumption. in developing Galileo’s technology, and Four more Galileo satellites will blocking it at this stage would delay the Moreover, the SE878K3-A and SE878K7-A be launched on a customized project by up to three years and increase are compatible with GPS, GLONASS, Ariane 5 on July 25. the bill by £1billion ($1.2 billion). Beidou and Galileo and also enable device vendors to develop quickly and cost- The next Arianespace rocket to orbit Mr Barnier told reporters, referring effectively location-based IoT solutions for Galileo satellites has begun taking to the Galileo Public Regulated use in virtually any country worldwide. The shape at the spaceport in French Guiana. Service: “The rules as they are today, SE878Kx-A series supports dual internal- Build-up of the heavy-lift vehicle is a third country cannot take part in the external antennas to ensure connectivity now underway inside the spaceport’s development of the PRS signal.” when one is broken or compromised, along Launcher Integration Building. with a SAW filter to maximize jamming He added the issue should be addressed immunity. According to Telit, these features Once the Ariane 5’s basic build-up “in the framework of our future make the modules ideal for mission- is completed under the direction of strategic partnership with the UK”. critical applications and other use cases production prime contractor ArianeGroup, where reliability is key, such as alarms, it will be moved to the spaceport’s Final When asked if that meant Britain could stolen cars or high-end asset tracking. Assembly Building for installation of not take part in the project’s development, its four Galileo FOC (Full Operational however, he said: “Not development. Harris Corporation delivers fifth Capability) satellite passengers, It is a unanimous decision of the 28. GPS III satellite navigation payload which are undergoing their own pre- “The facts have consequences.” flight preparations at the spaceport. Harris Corporation has provided Lockheed Mr Barnier has previously been Martin (with its fifth of ten advanced The Ariane 5 will deploy its satellite clear the UK would lose access to navigation payloads contracted for the passengers at a targeted orbital altitude Galileo’s PRS service – an encrypted U.S. Air Force GPS III satellite program. of 23,222 kilometers in circular medium service used by EU member states’ Earth orbit. The launch is designated militaries and emergency services. The GPS III navigation payload features a Flight VA244 by Arianespace. Mission Data Unit (MDU) with a unique Theresa May blasted the EU 70-percent digital design that links atomic In early June, Galileo satellites 25 has been taking Britain “for a clocks, radiation-hardened computers and and 26 landed at Europe’s Spaceport fool” over the situation. powerful transmitters – enabling signals in Kourou, French Guiana, joining three times more accurate than those on their two predecessors, satellites Speaking to Andrew Marr at the current GPS satellites. The payload also 23 and 24, according to the weekend, the Prime Mnister said: boosts satellite signal power, increases European Space Agency (ESA). “Let’s just look at Galileo. The UK jamming resistance by eight times and has been contributing significantly helps extend the satellite’s lifespan. to the Galileo programme so far Lockheed Martin successfully integrated Britain can have access to the navigation payload into the fifth GPS Galileo after May’s threats “Yes, the EU are saying that in the future, III space vehicle (GPS III SV05). Harris they don’t think that not as a member is committed to delivering three more Britain could access the European of the EU, we will be able to continue payloads by the first quarter of calendar Union’s Galileo satellite navigation to contribute and have the access as a year 2019 for GPS III SVs 06-08. system after Brexit but will no longer member of the EU. www.express.co.uk be able to work on developing the Concept3D interactive map project, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator and virtual tour platform Michel Barnier said recently. Concept3D, a leader in creating immersive online experiences with 3D modeling, interactive maps and virtual tour software recently announced that The University of Maine in the USA is the latest major university to launch on the Concept3D platform. With the platform, richly detailed
48 | Coordinates July 2018 TRIMBLE - NEWS
3D models are built atop Concept3Ds UAVs operating beyond visual line of Trimble’s new tunnel solutions interactive map system, making it easy and sight (BVLOS) were effective for the fun to explore the campus and surroundings inspection and automatic detection Tunneling for miles underground is a from a mobile device on campus or of maintenance issues on offshore costly business, requiring the utmost anywhere in the world. The platform also islands managed by SLA. The offshore dependence on surveyors to ensure enables the ability to offer 360-degree islands were identified as an ideal test- tunnel breakthroughs occur at the panorama images, giving map visitors bed for the POC as they provided a exact location (within millimeters). the ability to feel as if they have jumped conducive environment to test the remote To ensure accuracy, surveyors rely right into a specific campus location. deployment of UAVs, as a pre-cursor to on precise measurements from high- full-scale deployment on these islands. accuracy total stations, such as the Mapping for the city of the future Trimble® S9 HP. With the new Trimble Safran reveals Geonyx inertial TSC7 data collector and Trimble The Land Survey Division within navigation system for assured PNT Access™ field software, surveyors the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) can easily control the total station develops mapping and positioning Safran has developed a new family of and manage tunnel information. data and administers the cadastre and inertial navigation and pointing systems for mapping framework for Singapore. land vehicles, called Geonyx. It provides The combined solution improves alternative assured position, navigation, the ease of use and data visibility in The purpose of mapping is to capture and timing (APNT) if GNSS such as GPS challenging tunnel environments. landscapes and streetscapes, digitize or Galileo are unavailable due to physical The 7-inch data collector display, these data and make them available constraints, jamming, or spoofing. It can backlit keypad and optimized software for other uses. In its first phase of be used autonomously or in a hybrid makes it easier than ever to capture mapping, an airborne laser scanning configuration in conjunction with GNSS. control data efficiently and accurately. and imaging equipment was flown over The system is based on Safran’s Crystal In the office, traverse and network Singapore to collect 3D point cloud and hemispherical resonator gyro (HRG) that adjustments can be processed with imagery data of the whole nation. has been used in a range of applications Trimble Business Center software in multiple domains for several years, to ensure high-level accuracy. Phase two of the national 3D mapping such as in missile guidance and space https://geospatial.trimble.com project involved a comprehensive mobile navigation. The HRG measures the rotation mapping project that was carried out to of a platform to calculate its exact position Trimble catalyst now collect a ground-based laser scanning and attitude. A stationary resonance supports glonass and 360 panoramic imagery dataset on wave is maintained electronically inside approximately 6,000 km of roads. The a silica hemisphere (a resonator). Trimble has announced that its data collected was used to create 3D Trimble® Catalyst™ software- models of road and street furniture. These This wave remains fixed in relation defined GNSS receiver for Android data sets would be used to create the to an inertial reference, such as stars. phones and tablets has been updated first nation-wide 3D maps of Singapore, By measuring the relative angle to support GLONASS. The update which will contribute to the development between the vibration plane and the demonstrates the advantages of of a Smart Nation. The 3D digital resonator, the rotation of the platform software. GNSS for delivering new models are taken into Virtual Singapore can be calculated and its position functionality faster and easier to be used by the public, private and and orientation deduced. ihs.com people (3P) and research sectors. Trimble Catalyst provides users SamyoungPNT to provide applanix with Positioning-as-a-Service to UAVs for island management products and solutions in S. Korea collect highly accurate location data with Trimble or third-party apps on In support of the Whole-of-Government SamyoungPNT has been selected to Android smartphones and tablets. push for a Future Ready Public Service, provide products, support, and service the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for Applanix air and land customers in When combined with a small, has been actively driving innovation South Korea. Working with Applanix, lightweight, plug-and-play DA1 digital in land management regime. SLA SamyoungPNT increases its range of antenna and Catalyst subscription, the recently conducted an Unmanned products with the addition of Applanix receiver provides on-demand GNSS Aerial Vehicle (UAV) proof of Position and Orientation Solutions for positioning capabilities, and transforms concept (POC) at Pulau Seringat. airborne and land vehicles, including: consumer devices into centimeter- industry-leading POS AV and POSTrack, accurate mobile data collection systems. The objective of the POC was to POS LV, DG for UAV OEM board https://geospatial.trimble.com. establish whether fully-autonomous sets, and POSPac MMS software.
Coordinates July 2018 | 49 MARK YOUR CALENDAR
August 2018 November 2018 YES! I want my 5th International Conference on Trimble Dimensions 2018 Geological and Environmental Sustainability 5 - 7 November I would like to subscribe for (tick one) 13-14 August Las Vegas, USA Bali, Indonesia www.trimbledimensions.com https://geology.conferenceseries.com CHINTERGEO2018 September 2018 7 - 9 November Rs.1800/US$100 Rs.3000/US$170 Rs.4300/US$240 Inter Drone 2018 Chengdu, Sichuan Province PR China 5 - 7 September www.chintergeo.com Las Vegas, USA www.interdrone.com First name ...... International Navigation Conference 2018 EuroGEOSS Workshop 12 - 15 November Last name ...... 12 - 14 September Bristol, UK Geneva, Switzerland www.rin.org.uk https://ec.europa.eu Designation ...... ITSNT 2018 Africa GEO 13 - 16 November Organization ...... 17 - 19 September Toulouse, France Johannesburg, South Africa www.itsnt.fr https://africageo.org.za Address ...... Commercial UAV Show INSPIRE Conference 2018 14 - 15 November 2018 ...... 18 - 21 September London, UK Antwerp, Belgium www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ www.inspire.ec.europa.eu/conference2018 the-commercial-uav-show/ City ...... Pincode ...... 5th EARSeL Joint Workshop “Urban Remote United Nations World Geospatial State ...... Country ...... Sensing – Challenges & Solutions” Information Congress 24 - 26 September 19 - 21 November Deqing, China Phone ...... Dortmund, Germany http://urs.earsel.org International Symposium on Fax ...... International Symposium and Workshop GNSS (ISGNSS 2018) on A smart sustainable future for all 21 - 23 November Bali, Indonesia Email ...... 24 - 26 September Melbourne, Australia www.isgnss2018.com ssf2018.com I enclose cheque no...... CHINTERGEO 2018 ION GNSS+ 2018 November drawn on ...... 24 - 28 September ChengDu, PR China Miami, USA www.chintergeo.com/en/index.html www.ion.org date ...... towards subscription The Pacific GIS and Remote The 8th China Surveying and Mapping Sensing User Conference charges for Coordinates magazine GI Tech Equipment Expo 26 - 30 November 2018 26 - 28 September SUVA, Fiji Deqing, Zhejiang, PR China www.picgisrs.org in favour of ‘Coordinates Media Pvt. Ltd.’ www.tleerw.com/en/ The 16th IAIN World Congress 2018 October 2018 28 November – 1 December Sign ...... Date ...... Joint Geo Delft Conference Chiba, Japan https://iain2018.org The 6th International FIG 3D Cadastre Workshop Mail this form with payment to: The 3D GeoInfo Conference BeiDou Satellite Navigation Application 1- 5 October Expo & Smart City Expo Coordinates Delft, the Netherlands 30 November - 02 December www.tudelft.nl/geodelft2018 Nanjing, PR China A 002, Mansara Apartments www.tleer.cn/enbdsexpo C 9, Vasundhara Enclave 39th Asian Conference on Remote Delhi 110 096, India. Sensing (ACRS 2018) China 2018 BDS Expo 15 - 19 October 30 Nov - 02 Dec Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia If you’d like an invoice before sending your Nanjing, PR China http://acrs2018.mrsa.gov www.tleer.cn/enbdsexpo/ payment, you may either send us this completed About/Introduction/ subscription form or send us a request for Intergeo 2018 an invoice at [email protected] 17 - 18 October Frankfurt, Germany www.intergeo.de 50 | Coordinates July 2018 IOn GnSS+ 2O18 The 31ST INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING of the SATELLITE DIVISION of the INSTITUTE of NAVIGATION
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GNSS18-Full-GPSW.indd 1 3/2/2018 1:53:06 PM record replay simulate
The most powerful LabSat yet, the new LabSat 3 WIDEBAND captures and replays more GNSS signals at a much higher resolution than before.
Small, battery powered and with a removable solid state disk, LabSat 3 WIDEBAND allows you to quickly gather detailed, real world satellite data and replay these signals on your bench.
With three channels, a bandwidth of up to 56MHz and 6 bit sampling, LabSat 3 WIDEBAND can handle almost any combination of constellation and signal that exists today, with plenty of spare capacity for future planned signals.
LabSat 3 WIDEBAND can record and replay the following signals:
• GPS: L1 / L2 / L5 • GLONASS: L1 / L2 / L3 • BeiDou: B1 / B2 / B3 • QZSS: L1 / L2 / L5 • Galileo: E1 / E1a / E5a / E5b / E6 • SBAS: WAAS, EGNOS , GAGAN, MSAS, SDCM • IRNSS www.labsat.co.uk