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Volume XVI, Issue 9, September 2020 THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE ON POSITIONING, NAVIGATION AND BEYOND
An ideal GNSS system is one that is impossible to spoof and difficult to jam Y Jade Morton
BIM, can be a solution for property disputes? 0.05° 0.02° 1 cm ATTITUDE HEADING POSITION
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Visit our website: www.sbg-systems.com Tel: +1 (450) 824-3325 E S e-mail: [email protected] Made in Canada COLOPHON AND CONTENTS
In this issue Coordinates Volume 16, Issue 9, September 2020
Articles
BIM, can be a solution for property disputes? Jihye Shin, Abbas Rajabifard, Mohsen Kalantari and Behnam Atazadeh 7 On the analysis of the cultural landscape - Preservation and development strategies as results
of knowledge A Garzulino 12 Satellite Outage Reporting: An improved approach John W Lavrakas 16
Columns
My Coordinates Editorial 5 Old Coordinates 19 Her Coordinates Y Jade Morton 20 His Coordinates John
Pottle 28 News GIS 18 Imaging 31 Tracking Crovid 32 GNSS 33 UAV 35 LBS 36 Industry 36 Mark your calendar 38
This issue has been made possible by the support and good wishes of the following individuals and companies A Garzulino, Abbas Rajabifard, Behnam Atazadeh, Jihye Shin, John W Lavrakas, John Pottle Mohsen Kalantari and Y Jade Morton; CHC, Eos Positioning, Labsat, SBG System, and many others
Mailing Address Web www.mycoordinates.org [India] Rs.1,800 [Overseas] US$100 A 002, Mansara Apartments Coordinates is an initiative of CMPL that aims to broaden the C 9, Vasundhara Enclave scope of positioning, navigation and related technologies. Printed and published by Sanjay Malaviya on behalf of Delhi 110 096, India. CMPL does not neccesarily subscribe to the views expressed Coordinates Media Pvt Ltd Phones +91 11 42153861, 98102 33422, 98107 24567 by the authors in this magazine and may not be held liable for Published at A 002 Mansara Apartments, Vasundhara any losses caused directly or indirectly due to the information Enclave, Delhi 110096, India. Email provided herein. © CMPL, 2020. Reprinting with permission is [information] [email protected] encouraged; contact the editor for details. Editor Bal Krishna [editorial] [email protected] Owner Coordinates Media Pvt Ltd (CMPL) [advertising] [email protected] Annual subscription (12 issues) [subscriptions] [email protected]
4 | Coordinates September 2020 Coordinates September 2020 | 5 MYCOORDINATES
The world revolves around data,
And data has become a new currency in data bank
However, there are instances when vested interests influence the data processes.
Hence, when the World Bank pauses the publication of the Doing Business report,
Primarily because of a number of irregularities
Regarding changes to the data
In the Doing Business 2018 and 2020 reports,
It is worrisome!
The World Bank is not an ordinary bank,
The world also banks on them for the knowledge resource they create.
Not sure if this is one of the isolated case or it hints at a deeper malaise.
But what is comforting is the apparent course correction.
The World Bank has initiated independent Internal Audit function to perform an audit of the processes for data collection and review for Doing Business.
And why not, when at stake is the credibility itself.
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
6 | Coordinates September 2020 BIM BIM, can be a solution for property disputes? With accelerated urbanization, the growing cities have been created more complex forms of multi-owned buildings. The complicated ownership rights and boundary arrangement within these properties are resulting in a significant number of disputes. As part of ongoing research, this article explores BIM as a new opportunity to prevent and resolve property disputes.
Jihye Shin The rise of the title system (i.e., Australia, Malaysia, PhD Candidate, Centre property disputes Singapore, Russia, and some states in for SDIs and Land Canada and United States). Surveyors Administration (CSDILA), Minimizing property disputes in multi- in those countries solely define The University of owned buildings (MOBs) become a the intertwined ownership rights, Melbourne, Australia global challenge to our society (Blandy, responsibilities, and restrictions (RRRs) Dupuis, & Dixon, 2010). Most people of flats and common areas in cadastral Abbas Rajabifard in urban areas live in MOBs, referred plans, using the specification of boundaries Professor and Discipline to as condominium, strata properties, or (Kaufmann & Steudler, 1998). This plan Leader, Geomatics, apartment. With the rise of urbanization, delimits 3D spatial extent of ownership Department of this building is a dominant type of RRRs associated with using and managing Infrastructure Engineering, private property in cities. Although legal MOBs. It provides a mechanism for The University of basis varies from country, MOBs, in upkeeping assets and controlling resident Melbourne, Australia general, form a complex arrangement of behaviors in MOBs by defining (1) who composite ownerships across the whole owns what, (2) who pays for what, and Director, Centre for SDIs building (Johnston & Reid, 2013). The (3) who entitles to use what. We can and Land Administration ownership of each flat owner involves easily observe that building subdivision (CSDILA), The University (1) individual ownership of the flat and failing to meet the needs of owners and of Melbourne, Australia (2) communal ownership of shared areas. residents leads to property disputes, of The possessor also holds memberships which the occurrence gradually increases Chair, UN-GGIM of owners’ corporations (OC), entities (Easthope et al., 2014). Together with Academic Network in charge of owning and managing the it, lack of understanding of owners common areas. Consequently, living and residents of ownership RRRs have Mohsen Kalantari in MOBs shapes the exclusive use caused the disputes resulting in emotional Associate Professor, of a dwelling with the joint use and concern and huge litigation costs (Shin, Department of management of common properties (CP) Rajabifard, Kalantari, & Atazadeh, Infrastructure Engineering, as a member of OCs. A high degree 2020). How to create and communicate The University of of shared rights, collective decision- the ownership RRRs in MOBs needs Melbourne, Australia making, and financial responsibilities to be discussed for ensuring a peaceful among owners inevitably cause many and vibrant neighborhood in MOBs. Deputy Director, conflicts in MOBs that escalate to property Centre for SDIs and disputes (Easthope & Randolph, 2018; Land Administration Hastings, Wong, & Walters, 2006). Ownership RRRs and disputes (CSDILA), The University In the success of urban management, in multi-owned buildings of Melbourne, Australia the response to disputes in using and managing MOBs plays a crucial role. If you look at the real cases of property Behnam Atazadeh disputes, the linkage between ownership Research Fellow, In this circumstance, the social RRRs and the dispute occurrence Centre for SDIs and responsibility of surveyors to harmonious becomes clear. This article focused on Land Administration urban living has stressed, especially the context of Victoria state, Australia, (CSDILA), The University in jurisdictions adopted the Torrence to gain meaningful observation. Nearly of Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates September 2020 | 7 20% of 220 tribunal cases from 2015 to Table 1. Critical issues and causes of 41 property disputes in Victoria 2019 show relation to issues stemming Aspects of Cadastral Plan from ownership RRRs in the Plan of Subdivision, the cadastral plan in Victoria. Issues in Tribunal Case Generally, the issues are classified Boundary Definition Spatial Arrangement of RRRs Co-Ownership Share Separation of CPs Structure of OC into 11 types, describing two streams: No. of Case Request for the implied easement on CPs to ensure CP Easement 7 1 1 4 2 1 (1) interpretation of subdivision plan the flat use
associated with using and managing flats CP use Exclusive use of CPs by residents 3 1 - 3 - and CPs and (2) problems in the plan regarding fair distribution of ownership CP Improvement Validity of CP modification by residents 6 4 - 4 - 1 power among owners. Table 1 summarizes CP Encroachment Encroachment to CPs caused by flat improvement 3 - 2 2 - - the details of the types of issues in 41 Damage in Flat Damage in flats caused by other flats or CPs 2 1 - 1 - - property disputes. 32 dispute cases show Dysfunctional Inappropriate maintenance and repair of CPs by OCs 4 3 1 - 1 1 relations with more than two issues. Maintenance
Levy for CP Repair Controversial levy charged to flats for CP repair 6 2 3 1 5 4 All types of issues in disputes were Management Controversy in responsibility for managing CPs 6 3 - 3 1 - triggered by the combined effects of Authority Problematic extent of ownership different from the five aspects of the subdivision plan: (1) Ownership RRRs 8 3 1 5 - - intended extent ambiguous definition of boundaries, (2) inappropriate arrangement of ownership Co-ownership Share Disproportionate share of co-ownership to CPs 5 1 4 5 3 3 Disagreement about plan alteration regarding extent, (3) unfair allocation of co- Amendment of Plan 7 3 6 3 2 3 ownership RRR and co-ownership share ownership share of CP to each flat, (4) inappropriate separate blocks of CPs, and (5) improper tiered structure of OCs. In Victoria, multiple sets of CPs and their managing groups are formed within MOBs by the subdivision plan; it is to fairly cater to different interests of owners in managing MOBs, based on the real extent of usage by different owner groups. The first two aspects bring misunderstanding or confusion in their RRRs for using and managing MOBs to communities in the buildings (residents, owners, OCs). The last three aspects contribute to the failed delivery of fair approaches to accommodate the varied needs of communities over CPs and to achieve the benefit principle (the owners that benefit more from each CP block pay more); the failure frequently leads to disputes. It infers that a significant number of disputes can be avoided with Figure 1. Sample of the plan of subdivision - spatial and better decisions of ownership RRRs by semantic information of ownership RRRs in MOBs surveyors and better communication about it among the communities. plans, and all the other information is surveyors for exploring and analyzing stated as the textual description (Libbis, the various forms of ownership RRRs In current practice, cadastre systems 2018). This method is likely that differing to deliver better MOB management are mainly based on 2D-based analog views can be reached over the same outcomes. Frequent failure to create cadastral plans for building subdivision. diagram; the numerous pages of diagrams overarching and holistic governance In Victoria, all five aspects of ownership representing all the RRRs are also not mechanisms in MOBs has offered MOB RRRs are also represented in the plan of straightforward and challenging for communities to years of costly disputes. subdivision, using 2D-based representation understanding (Rajabifard, Kalantari, These challenges emphasized the need (figure 1). The 3D volumetric extent of & Williamson, 2012). In addition, the for the move toward a 3D digital data RRRs is abstracted into floor and section analog approach limits opportunities of environment in the building subdivision.
8 | Coordinates September 2020 its vertical and horizontal dimension is The BIM representation of complex ownership expressed as a space object overlaid on the surrounding building elements (wall, RRRs in MOBs can be a foundation of an integrated window, door, floor, and ceiling). The exact locations of boundaries of the flat are information platform for supporting the improvement visually defined in the 3D data environment, without the help of notation (see Figure 2). of MOB communities’ perception of ownership In addition, the other textual information regarding the membership of multiple OCs BIM with new opportunities OC, boundary location notation, and and co-ownership share are incorporated co-ownership share of each flat, are into the space objects, as their attributes. Building information model (BIM) is defined as attributes and properties of the highly regarded as an ideal 3D data relevant building and spatial elements. Same as the representation of flats, the environment for representing 3D spatial components of each CP throughout properties in the land administration In the IFC data structure, the ownership a MOB are clearly defined by objects business. From the object-oriented information of a MOB in Figure 1 is for space and building elements. In IFC, approach, BIM serves as a 3D information represented by IFC objects for space and functional spaces (i.e., corridors, lobby, model of the building, which involves building elements. In the case of a flat, lift, entry) of CPs are defined using spatial and semantic information of all building elements (Eastman, Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2011). It has the high potential to be a digitalized information repository of stratified ownership RRRs in buildings, especially for high-rise and high-density MOBs. The leveraging of BIM to building subdivision practice can facilitate better communication of ownership RRRs and better quality of the cadastral plan of MOBs.
Better communication of ownership RRRs
The BIM representation of complex ownership RRRs in MOBs can be a Figure 2. IFC representation of 3D extent of ownership RRRs foundation of an integrated information of one flat in a MOB with textual information platform for supporting the improvement of MOB communities’ perception of ownership. The open data standard of BIM, IFC, has been designed to address information in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. However, high interoperability and flexible expandability of IFC allow to its application as an information source for 3D ownership of MOBs (Atazadeh, Rajabifard, Kalantari, & Shin, 2018). In IFC, the spatial aspect of ownership – vertical and horizontal arrangement of RRR extent delimited by boundaries – are represented by geometries of building and spatial elements. On the other hand, textual descriptions associated with RRRs, such as membership of Figure 3 IFC representation of the 3D extent of ownership RRRs of common properties in a MOB
Coordinates September 2020 | 9 Figure 4. SMC tool for performance evaluation of cadastral plan using IFC data for MOB ownership RRRs
surveyors with early warnings of potential The use of BIM can be a solution for improving better disputes in their proposed plans and an opportunity for improving the plans consistency in building subdivision for avoiding conflicts to minimize the potential disputes.
than the current practice that relies heavily on individual BIM can support this performance evaluation of the MOB cadastral plan. experience and knowledge without a systemic process. The BIM-based digital data environment is regarded as an ideal platform for space objects overlapping on building could remove the ambiguities in identifying evaluating building performance (Asl, elements. In addition, the complicated RRRs associated with using and managing Zarrinmehr, Bergin, & Yan, 2015). distribution of multiple CPs spanning MOBs; it facilitates the understanding of It uses a BIM model incorporating several floors can be clarified by grouping ownership that potentially prevents the multidisciplinary information and their space compositions into individual conflict in using and managing MOBs. allows users to analyze the performance zone indicating each CP (see Figure 3). of building from various views. For the performance of the cadastral plan, The above mentioned five aspects of the Better subdivision of the evaluation requires as follows: subdivision plan are well demonstrated in multi-owned buildings • a BIM model of the cadastral plan the IFC data structure. Particularly, two • a set of the performance for aspects (spatial arrangement of RRRs and The dispute caused by five aspects of identifying dispute triggers boundary definition) that frequently caused the subdivision plan can be interpreted • BIM-based performance a misunderstanding of ownership and led as a result of the inappropriate features evaluation rules to the inappropriate behaviors of MOB in the plan. It means that examining the • BIM-based tool for communities were well described in the 3D extent to which each feature is suitable evaluating performance. model. In IFC, the 3D visualization provides to meet OC communities’ requirements the explicit image of ownership boundaries can support preventing potential disputes. The performance can be extracted from and RRRs on top of the building structure. In this context, the extent can be defined the needs of OC communities in tribunal Furthermore, its digitalized representation as the performance of the feature; the cases or practical issues in MOBs. enables the communities to interact with the performance evaluation can indicate According to them, the evaluation various views of ownership by navigating the existence of dispute triggers in rules and tools based on the BIM data and querying the 3D model. BIM model the plan. This evaluation can provide structure need to be developed.
10 | Coordinates September 2020 and managing their properties that Easthope, H., & Randolph, B. The current 2D document- frequently end with inappropriate (2018). Experiencing density: the behaviors and disputes. implications of strata titling for based practice shows urban renewal in Australian cities. The article addressed two new roles In Urban Regeneration in Australia limitations to resolve of BIM in response to dispute triggers (pp. 112–126). Routledge. in cadastral plans. As a means of the issues by improving better communication, BIM has the Easthope, H., Warnken, J., Sherry, C., potential to deliver a full image of 3D Coiacetto, E., Dredge, D., Guilding, the plans efficiently ownership RRRs to residents in the most C., … Reid, S. (2014). How Property straightforward way. In addition, BIM Title Impacts Urban Consolidation: Using a commercial tool, the also can provide the platform to examine A Life Cycle Examination of Multi- feasibility of performance evaluation and analyze the building subdivision title Developments. Urban Policy for dispute prevention was examined. in the 3D digital environment in order and Research, 23(3), 289–304. The Solibri Model Checker (SMC), to facilitate the improvement of the a tool to create and check the rules performance of cadastral plans. Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, on IFC data, was employed. In SMC, R., & Liston, K. (2011). BIM 28 performances were automatically handbook: A guide to building checked using IFC representation of Acknowledgments information modeling for owners, the cadastral plan in Figure 1. Figure managers, designers, engineers and 4 represents the SMC checking This research is a part of an Australian contractors. John Wiley & Sons. results for direct accessibility for CPs, Research Council Project titled “3D one of the performances associated Property Ownership Map Base for Hastings, E. M., Wong, S. K., & with the ownership arrangement. Smart Urban Land Administration” Walters, M. (2006). Governance in at the Centre for SDI and Land a co-ownership environment: The According to the defined rules, SMC Administration, the University of management of multiple-ownership checked five aspects of the cadastral Melbourne. A variety of industry property in Hong Kong. Property plan and identified the dispute triggers partners are participating in this project: Management, 24(3), 293–308. within them, while minimizing human Land Use Victoria, Intergovernmental involvement and interpretation. It also Committee on Surveying and Mapping Johnston, N., & Reid, S. (2013). Multi- reduces the time and effort to recognize (ICSM), and the City of Melbourne. owned developments: a life cycle critical issues, compared to the manual However, the views expressed in review of a developing research area. review that overlays and analyzes this article are the authors’ alone. Property Management, 31(5), 366–388. numerous pages of 2D-based plans. The use of BIM can be a solution for Kaufmann, J., & Steudler, D. (1998). improving better consistency in building Reference Cadastre 2014. A Vision for a Future subdivision for avoiding conflicts Cadastral System, FIG Publication. than the current practice that relies Asl, M. R., Zarrinmehr, S., Bergin, heavily on individual experience and M., & Yan, W. (2015). BPOpt: Libbis, S. (2018). Subdivisions Victoria: knowledge without a systemic process. A framework for BIM-based The Ultimate Guide. Hybrid Publishers. performance optimization. Energy and Buildings, 108, 401–412. Rajabifard, A., Kalantari, M., & Conclusion Williamson, I. (2012). Land and Atazadeh, B., Rajabifard, A., property information in 3D. In The property disputes in MOBs become Kalantari, M., & Shin, J. (2018). A FIG Working Week - Knowing a global challenge for the seamless BIM-Driven Approach to Managing to manage the territory, protect management of urban areas. A significant Common Properties within the environment, evaluate the number of disputes have resulted from MultiOwned Developments. In 6th cultural heritage. Rome, Italy. the issues in ownership boundaries and International FIG 3D Cadastre RRRs in the cadastral plan. However, Workshop. Delft, The Netherlands. Shin, J., Rajabifard, A., Kalantari, the current 2D document-based practice M., & Atazadeh, B. (2020). shows limitations to resolve the issues Blandy, S., Dupuis, A., & Dixon, Applying BIM to support dispute by improving the plans efficiently. J. E. (2010). Multi-owned avoidance in managing multi-owned Accordingly, the 2D plan aroused housing: Law, power and practice. buildings. Journal of Computational the residents’ misperception in using Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Design and Engineering.
Coordinates September 2020 | 11 ARCHAEOLOGY Analyzing the cultural landscape - Preservation and development strategies The article deals with the issue starting from a specific case, the identification and study of archaeological evidence around the Castle of Petriolo (Siena, Italy) for the protection, intervention and enhancement of this site
A Garzulino he contribution that is presented aims stream and near the confluence with the Dipartimento di Tto highlight the methodologies and Merse stream, in today’s Municipality of Architettura e Studi tools that can lead to a full knowledge of Monticiano (Siena). The Farma valley Urbani (DAStU), multi-layered cultural areas or landscapes delimits the current border between the Politecnico di by the actions and human interventions provinces of Siena and Grosseto and is Milano, Italy that have changed their perception over formed by the stream itself, which flows the centuries. The use of appropriate into the Merse stream, after collecting the cartographies, the archival materials waters of the Petriolo thermal springs. The and documents and the selection of the Merse and Farma streams are part of the most appropriate data management and hydrographic system of the Ombrone river, processing methodologies are crucial one of the main connection routes between for the structuring of investigations in the backcountry and the Tyrrhenian complex territories, for their protection coast since prehistoric times (Torelli M. and enhancement. This is most evident for 1992; Ascheri M., Borracelli M. 1997). areas characterized by the archaeological features, elements and structures. For The examination of the archaeological this reason, the article deals with this evidences that characterize the site issue starting from a specific case, the started with the collection of all the identification and study of archaeological published information, materials and evidences around the Castle of Petriolo documents relating to the Petriolo (Siena, Italy) for the protection, area, including the two neighbouring intervention and enhancement of this site. valleys. The documentation was thus analysed and organized according to The investigation area is located in Bagni a chronological order to allow a first di Petriolo, along the course of the Farma hypothesis regarding the evolution of the site and the related phases of anthropic activity. Such information was The use of appropriate cartographies, the archival subsequently linked to all the data that emerged from historical, literary and materials and documents and the selection of iconographic sources (Massa S. 2017).
the most appropriate data management and In parallel with the archival analysis, the cartographic materials available from processing methodologies are crucial for the 1800 to today have been collected and examined. These were obtained mainly structuring of investigations in complex territories, from the Geoportale Nazionale and from Geoportale della Regione Toscana and for their protection and enhancement include aerial photos, regional technical
12 | Coordinates September 2020 currently in orbit and therefore visible from On a methodological level, it was therefore preferred the instruments (American GPS system with 31 satellites, Russian GLONASS to obtain a database from historic, literary, archival, system with 23 satellites, European GALILEO system with 26 satellites and cartographic and iconographic sources, as complete the Chinese BEIDOU system with 16 satellites). The principle of operation as possible and included totally in a Geographic of satellite systems is based on distance measurements between satellites in orbit Information System, for easier consultation and analysis around the earth with a constant distance and points on the ground of unknown maps (CTR), maps of the Istituto geomorphological characteristics and coordinates and therefore to be determined. Geografico Militare (IGM), cadastral maps the documentation available in such a All the systems that use Global Network and topographical/morphological maps, way as to highlight the areas of greatest Satellite System procedures, regardless of historic and current and at different levels interest from the historic-archaeological their degree of accuracy and complexity, of detail. The materials that emerged from point of view (Bortolotto S. 2017). calculate the position of the receiver based the archival and cartographic research, on the position and time values sent by however, required a data management On a methodological level, it was therefore the available satellites. These are called and a query system to provide a solid and preferred to obtain a database from ephemerides, that is the set of parameters complete reference framework for the historic, literary, archival, cartographic necessary and sufficient to calculate the subsequent evolutionary study phase and and iconographic sources, as complete position of the satellite over time and for the identification of the most critical as possible and included totally in a then obtaining the position on the ground. portions from the historic, archaeological Geographic Information System, for This setting occurs only and exclusively and landscape point of view. easier consultation and analysis. From if the instrument on the ground is able to the study of these materials, the need was capture the signal of some satellites, thus This led to the creation of a Geographic felt for a comparison with the current processing the data, through triangulations Information System thanks to which situation of the places to verify above all and semi-automatic corrections, to spatial information could be geo- the first obtained results and, at the same provide a planimetric and altimetric referenced and thus identifying the time, to identify any signs or remains of location of the points of interest (Bertocci different chronological phases in sequence. archaeological or architectural nature, not S., Bini M. 2012; Guzzetti 2017). The materials have been structured on reported in the archive documentation. three distinct information levels, the first In addition, the available cartographies, Coming back to the case study, the area, contains regional data concerning the mostly on a scale of 1: 10,000 if not located in the lower part of the valley morphology and orography of the area, higher, represent the area and its anthropic of the Farma stream, is characterized urban centres, road infrastructures and components with a detail that did not by dense vegetation, both weed and regional regulations, the second reports allow immediate feedbacks and a certain tall, and by the remains of the elevated information on the inter-provincial scale positioning of the elements. Even looking external walls of the Castle. This regarding mainly current and historic road at the aerial photos, past and recent, it specific morphological conformation infrastructure and provincial landscape was not possible to accurately distinguish of the territory and the presence of high plans. Finally, the third information level the signs inside and outside the walls that covering elements considerably reduced collects all the historic materials and delimited the Castle due to the definition the portion of the sky visible from the current maps on a more detailed scale, of the aerial images and, especially, for the ground and therefore also the possibility so as to allow an in-depth analysis and presence of a dense and high vegetation, of acquiring the signals of the satellites to anchor all the data to specific points the main reason that prompted us to in orbit. Theoretically, to obtain the of the territory (Favino P. 2017). plan a detailed on-site investigation. coordinates of a point on the ground, it is necessary to record the signal of at least 4 The overlapping and comparison of The survey used a method based on satellites, however it would be preferable the cartographic materials have made Navigation Satellite Time and Ranging to increase this threshold to make the it possible to read some evolutionary Global Positioning System technology, determination of the data redundant thus transformations of the Castle of Petriolo the NAVSTAR GPS, more commonly and allowing greater precision in the spatial and its main constructions and to identify synthetically known with the acronym location of the elements to be analysed. the infrastructures formerly connected GPS (Global Positioning System). to the buildings. This operation also However, it would be more correct to say Considering these premises and in the made use of the reconstruction of the GNSS (Global Network Satellite System) impossibility of conducting a more morphological trend of the soil, the as it includes all the satellite constellations advanced survey (Garzulino A. 2019),
Coordinates September 2020 | 13 as too expensive in terms of time and GNSS RTK has assessed the conditions for The reconstruction of the ground trend, costs, we have chosen to use a differential selecting the satellites fully automatically, the geomorphological characteristics of satellite system (DGPS), which allows to consequently reducing positioning the area and the study of the available significantly increase the accuracy of the inaccuracies to a minimum level. documentation have therefore made it investigations compared to the traditional possible to develop a surface investigation global consumer category tracking The collected data was stored thanks to strategy aimed at identifying the areas of systems, such as road satellite navigators, the use of a mobile device connected via greatest interest for the future definition of smartphones, position detectors integrated Bluetooth to the Rover Station and capable an archaeological risk map. The quantity with cameras, etc. This instrumentation of showing the planimetric and altimetric and the layout of the buildings documented (GNSS RTK Topcon Hiper PRO) consists coordinates directly on the screen as by archival sources, especially in the XV of a base (Base Station) and a receiver well as the qualitative and quantitative century, led to a detailed survey of the (Rover Station) that operate in kinematic information of the satellite signals. area delimited by the fortified walls of the mode, fully integrated and connected Castle and in the area outside the North- to each other via Bluetooth technology. The information acquired was entered Eastern/South-Western wall. On the other Specifically, considered the particular in the GIS environment and divided into hand, specific surveys were carried out morphology and to deal with signal categories based on the type of object in areas of interest identified following alteration problems due to the location detected: verification points, paths, walls, the analysis of published cartographic and dimensional characteristics of the aligned structures, terracing (Figure 1). All and bibliographic data, external to the elements, it was decided to place the main the positions identified were checked once site. The systematic survey of the spaces unit (Base Station) in the only area free entered in the Geographic Information has led to the detection of artificially from vegetation and shielding elements, System and processed graphically regulated areas and of numerous remains near the small church located close to the with different colours to facilitate the of stone structures surfacing on the road that runs along the Farma stream. identification of any connections with terrain and in exposed sections of the Here it was in fact possible to fix, with the archaeological and cartographic slopes, while the total absence of mobile good quality, the constant signal of about analysis previously carried out. finds on the surface was noticed. The 8 satellites and then proceeding with the collection and analysis of cartographic and synchronization and setting of the Rover Station to start the survey operations. Considering the environmental conditions, the period value, i.e. the time interval between two successive measurements, has been set equal to 5 seconds. Once the quantity and quality of the satellite signals picked up by the mobile receiver had been verified, it was possible to continue with the inspection of the area under investigation and with the recording of the planimetric and altimetric coordinates of each single point. By operating in continuous kinematic mode and being the receiver equipped with the OTF (On The Fly) option, it was possible to perform the entire detection campaign quickly and keeping the positioning error limited, ± 2 cm for the planimetric coordinates and ± 4 cm for the altimetries, despite the environmental difficulties encountered. Considered these critical issues, if consumer category units or less complex GPS instruments had been used a dilution of precision would have occurred mainly due to the acquisition of signals from satellites arranged in a non- profitable way for the calculation of the coordinates. Unlike these devices, the Figure 1 - Detected points and areas of investigation (in red).
14 | Coordinates September 2020 D) and between the two wall partitions Favino P. (2017), “Sistema The collected data was linked to the Northern wall (Figure 1 – informativo geografico del sito C). A further area to be explored from an di Petriolo” in A. Paolella (edited stored thanks to the use of archaeological point of view is the central by), Bagni di Petriolo: Restauro sector of the fortified area, which has e Valorizzazione, Edifir Edizioni a mobile device connected numerous walls, some also contiguous and Firenze, Pisa, Italy, pp. 149-158. coeval, to be analysed in order to better via Bluetooth to the Rover understand the planimetric configuration Francovich R. (2006), “Un parco senza of the village (Figure 1 – E). Regarding confini. I segni della storia nel bacino Station and capable of the area of the Church, a stratigraphic del Farma-Merse”, in Detti T. (edited survey was planned to verify the grounds by), La terra dei musei. Paesaggio, showing the planimetric and the progress of the fortification wall to arte storia del territorio senese, Giunti the East (Figure 1 – H) and West (Figure 1 editore, Firenze, Italy, pp. 254-261. and altimetric coordinates – F) of the religious building together with an elevated stratigraphic analysis. Outside Garzulino A. (2019) “LiDAR, territory directly on the screen as the building itself, it is advisable to check and archaeological areas: new results the possible presence of the ‘women’s and perspectives for the knowledge, well as the qualitative and bathroom’, of any pre-existing structures analysis and preservation of complex and perhaps a landing place (Figure 1 – context” in ISPRS International quantitative information G) under the current terracotta floor. It Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote will also be interesting to investigate the Sensing and Spatial Information of the satellite signals stratigraphy of the tanks to verify their Sciences, Vol. XLII-2/W11, Copernicus chronology. On the outside, a stratigraphic Publ., Göttingen, pp. 549-555. archaeological data have thus highlighted survey could be set on the remains of the the presence of part of the built context structures of the oldest bridge, of which Garzulino A., Perego A., Zerboni of the village and of the remains of the the ancient pillars of the ruined structure A. (2014), “Mura Tarquiniesi: lettura walls pertinent to the building physically are still visible today (Figure 1 – I). delle evidenze (LiDAR) e degli aspetti linked to the central internal section of geoarcheologici”, in Bartoloni G., the Northern wall of the fortification. These analyses will give back a greater Michetti L. M. (edited by), Atti del In addition, the evidences in archival understanding of the place as a complex Convegno Internazionale PRIN: Mura sources have provided tangible evidence cultural resource and will allow a di legno, mura di terra, mura di pietra: regarding the organization of the conscious enhancement of the site as fortificazioni nel Mediterraneo antico settlement, the functions and often also an archaeological and environmental (Sapienza Università di Roma, 7– 9 the properties of the buildings. The park and museum of itself. may 2012), Roma, Italy, pp. 131-140. acknowledgment of this information made it possible to obtain a relatively Guzzetti F. (2017), “I metodi satellitari”, clear picture of the structure of the Bibliography in Campanella C. (edited by), Il complex and therefore to plan subsequent rilievo degli edifici. Metodologie e investigations (Massa S. 2017). Ascheri M., Borracelli M. (1997), tecniche per il progetto di intervento, Monticiano e il suo territorio, Palermo, Italy, pp. 110-113. Starting from this base, further Cantagalli, Siena, Italy. investigation phases have been planned Massa S. (2017), “Analisi dei dati to allow the progress of the research Bertocci S., Bini M., (edited by - 2012), archeologici noti e metodologia delle and to proceed with the identification of Manuale di rilievo architettonico e nuove ricerche” in A. Paolella (edited the archaeological analysis. The phases urbano, Novara, Italy, pp. 162-167. by), Bagni di Petriolo: Restauro indicated and preparatory to future e Valorizzazione, Edifir Edizioni interventions will concern first of all the Bortolotto S. (2017), “Lettura delle Firenze, Pisa, Italy, pp. 131-148. cleaning of the weed vegetation in order cartografie storiche: permanenze” in A. to investigate archaeologically the internal Paolella (edited by), Bagni di Petriolo: Scazzosi L. (edited by - 2002), sector of the walls in front of the Northern Restauro e Valorizzazione, Edifir Edizioni Leggere il paesaggio. Confronti and Eastern wall (Figure 1 – A). After Firenze, Pisa, Italy, pp. 159-174. internazionali, Gangemi, Roma, Italy. cleaning with archaeological assistance, stratigraphic surveys can be carried out Cambi F., Terrenato N. (1994), Torelli M. (1992), Atlante dei siti in the area in front of the Western corner Introduzione all’archeologia dei archeologici della Toscana, L’Erma tower above the terraces (Figure 1 – B and paesaggi, Carocci, Roma, Italy. di Bretschneider, Roma, Italy.
Coordinates September 2020 | 15 GNSS Satellite outage reporting: An improved approach. The SOF offers a number of benefits for its users. The SOF XML format is well understood and defined by schema, allowing programmers to write code that can interpret the SOF without misunderstanding
John W. Lavrakas Background Because of these faults and their President Advanced corresponding effect on user mission Research Corporation, In 1999, United States Space Command operations, GPSOC personnel explored Newport, Oregon, USA stood up the GPS Operations Center ways to identify satellite outages (GPSOC), a GPS center of expertise dependably and with accuracy. The result providing direct support to warfighters was the SOF, a machine-readable file that and civil agencies that served civilian GPS containing pertinent information (Date, users. It was incorporated into operations start/stop times, NANU type & number) at the GPS Master Control Station at for NANUs reporting satellite outages. Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. GPSOC duties included performing mission planning and post-mission assessment, Description of the SOF which required knowledge of GPS satellite health in order to correctly model what the The SOF is formatted using extensible user was seeing. The models took signal markup language (xml), which is availability into account by implementing both machine readable and readable the information in the NANU messages. by humans. For a detailed description of the SOF, refer to latest edition of In order to smooth the operation of their ICD-GPS-240, Section 30 [2]. analysis, the GPSOC created a machine- readable file called the satellite outage file The body of the SOF contains a list of all or SOF. The Coast Guard started posting outage NANUs issued since January 1998. the SOF on its public website in 2017. By “outage NANUs” is meant, reports of satellites not broadcasting or planned to broadcast healthy signals. These include The problem with NANUs scheduled outages, unscheduled outages, new satellites in the constellation, and Since the early 1990’s, NANUs have decommissioned satellites. It does not been a reliable means of notifying users include GENERAL or LEAPSEC NANUs. of satellite outages. While every effort is made by the satellite operators to There are three types of entries ensure NANUs are issued correctly, some in the SOF: PREDICTED, NANUs have managed to slip through CURRENT, and HISTORICAL. with errors. A survey of the various types of NANU errors is provided in PREDICTED. The PREDICTED entry the paper “NANU Analysis from 2007 is used to identify future outages which through 2015” [1]. The paper identified a are not yet underway. Figure 1 below number of NANU fault types, including: presents a FORECAST OUTAGE NANU • Incorrect type for SVN52 (PRN31) from Day of Year/ • Invalid time value - Time 004/0905 to 004/2105 in the • Incorrect reference NANU year 2019. Figure 2 shows the NANU • Duplicate NANU translated into a PREDICTED entry
16 | Coordinates September 2020 in the SOF identifying the outage as Navigation Center (NAVCEN) posts it to 3 hours and SOFs being issued FCSTDV with the corresponding start their site within a few minutes, which is prior to their associated NANUs. and stop days/times. The types of NANUs available here: www.navcen.uscg.gov. identified in the SOF as PREDICTED are FCSTDV, FCSTMX, FCSTEXTD, In addition to the NAVCEN, several Benefits of the SOF FCSTRESCD, and FCSTUUFN. companies post copies of the SOF as a convenience to their users. Analytical The SOF offers a number of benefits Figure 1. FCSTDV NANU 2018074 Graphics, Inc. (AGI), posts to this site: for its users. The SOF XML format is well understood and defined by NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) http://navigationservices.agi. schema, allowing programmers to 2018074 SUBJ: SVN52 (PRN31) FORECAST OUTAGE JDAY com/SatelliteOutageCalendar/ write code that can interpret the SOF 004/0905 - JDAY 004/2105 SOFCalendar.aspx. without misunderstanding. Utilizing NANU TYPE: FCSTDV the GPS outage data from a SOF file NANU NUMBER: 2018074 CelesTrak posts one on https://celestrak. removes ambiguities in processing NANU DTG: 281645Z DEC 2018 com/GPS/sof/current_sof.txt NANUs. While NANUs provide REFERENCE NANU: N/A REF NANU DTG: N/A the same information as the SOF, SVN: 52 SOFs are actively used on a regular their implementation is complex and PRN: 31 basis by many users. T.S. Kelso of occasionally inconsistent, making it not START JDAY: 004 CelesTrak reports that on his site alone well-suited for machine interpretation. START TIME ZULU: 0905 the SOF file is being downloaded Users can suffer from misinterpreting START CALENDAR DATE: 04 JAN 2019 STOP JDAY: 004 between 10 and 18 times a day. [3] the NANU-based data resulting in STOP TIME ZULU: 2105 invalid results, such as inaccurate flight STOP CALENDAR DATE: 04 JAN 2019 plans and post mission assessments. [5] SOF behaviors Figure 2. SOF Entry for NANU 2018074 Following are examples of commercial The author shares several observations and government uses in mission
Coordinates September 2020 | 17 NEWS - GIS
Doing Business – Data Implementation of the SOF has advanced the use of satellite Irregularities Statement
outage information for satellite prediction and assessment The World Bank Group has issued the following statement on August 27, tools. Its usefulness has been hampered by issues with 2020 on the Doing Business Report:
accuracy and timeliness. As one user said “It is the perfect Over the 17 years of its existence, the Doing Business report has been solution to many issues. But it has to be trusted.” a valued tool for countries seeking to measure costs of doing business. Doing Summary and Disclaimer and Business indicators and methodology recommendations acknowledgements are designed with no single country in mind, but rather to help to improve Implementation of the SOF has This article solely reflects the views the overall business climate. advanced the use of satellite outage of the author. The author gratefully information for satellite prediction thanks the following for their valuable A number of irregularities have been and assessment tools. Its usefulness inputs: Ted Driver (OneSky), T.S. reported regarding changes to the data has been hampered by issues with Kelso (CelesTrak), John Wilde in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing accuracy and timeliness. As one user (SPACEKEYS), and Rick Hamilton of Business 2020 reports, published in said “It is the perfect solution to many the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center October 2017 and 2019. The changes issues. But it has to be trusted.” [6] for his dedication and perseverance in the data were inconsistent with in coordinating the public release of the Doing Business methodology. In order to get to this point of the SOF via the NAVCEN website. trustworthiness and usability, The integrity and impartiality of our data several actions are proposed. and analysis is paramount and so we are • Timeliness. Satellite operators Bibliography immediately taking the following actions: should consider changes in processing SOFs to advance their [1] NANU Analysis from 2007 • We are conducting a systematic timely release. As an objective, through 2015, John W. Lavrakas, review and assessment of data changes endeavor to achieve the timeliness ION GNSS+ 2016, Portland, OR that occurred subsequent to the values provided in ICD-GPS-240 institutional data review process for for the NANUs, namely, within [2] Navstar GPS Control Segment the last five Doing Business reports. one hour after outage start (ICD- to User Support Community GPS-240, Table 10-IV) [2]. Interfaces (ICD-GPS-240C), • We have asked the World Bank • Correctness. Satellite operators Group’s independent Internal Audit update procedures to correctly https://www.gps.gov/ function to perform an audit of the process satellite decommission technical/icwg/#current processes for data collection and NANUs (DECOM). review for Doing Business and the • Monitoring. Organizations [3] Emails from T.S. Kelso controls to safeguard data integrity. responsible for validating the (CelesTrak) to John Lavrakas, performance of GPS data should September 13-19, 2020 We will act based on the findings include a check of the SOF and and will retrospectively correct the make their intermediate results [4] Emails from Ted Driver data of countries that were most available to the satellite operators (Analytical Graphics, Inc.) to affected by the irregularities. as a closed loop to ensure John Lavrakas, September 6, timely and quality products. 2012 and September 13, 2020 The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has been briefed on As more attention is paid to the [5] SOF Information Paper, Email from the situation as have the authorities quality and timeliness of the SOF, Rick Hamilton (USCG NAVCEN) to of the countries that were most its use by mission planners and John Lavrakas, October 22, 2015 affected by the data irregularities. mission assessment organizations, both civil and military, will increase, [6] Emails from John Wilde The publication of the Doing Business allowing them to take advantage of (SPACEKEYS) to John Lavrakas, report will be paused as we conduct the benefits the SOF is able to offer. September 13-25, 2020 our assessment. www.worldbank.org
18 | Coordinates September 2020 OLD COORDINATES In Coordinates 10 years before… More GPS or Smarter GPS? James L Farrell Vigil, Inc., Severna Park, Maryland, USA
John W Lavrakas Advanced Research Corporation, Newport, Oregon, USA
High satellite availability over the past several years has led the navigation community to depend on full fixes and overdetermined solutions, deemphasizing the use of dynamics. Familiarity and preoccupation with instantaneous position have allowed robustness to become a casualty of convenience. The authors believe that marked improvements are entirely within reach, without a need for straining budgets or scientific breakthroughs, by exploiting a combination of well-known methods with other techniques which, due to relatively recent appearance, are largely unknown. mycoordinates.org/vol-6-issue-9-September-2010 User authentication schemes for Assessing the Security GNSS selective of Navigation System broadcasting Sherman Lo Stanford University, USA
Niki Regina and Matteo Zanzi Benjamin Peterson University of Bologna, Italy Peterson Integrated Geopositioning, USA Per Enge In this paper three different solutions are proposed Stanford University, USA for the problem of location- based selective broadcasting of traffic messages. The first proposed The article examines navigation security by using functional architecture is quite secure against eLoran as a case study. It discusses the possible attacks an eventual attack for the presence of an anti- that could affect the signal and user. It determines tamper receiver. Besides, it is not very heavy the vulnerability level and looks at available from the computational burden point of view. In mitigations. In analyzing on-air attacks, the article fact the Local Element ciphers information with quantifies the amount of power needed to jam or a number of keys equal to the number of Hot spoof Loran signals and determines the feasibility Spots.The second proposed architecture does not of an attacker to achieve these levels. While the contemplate the use of an anti- tamper receiver required power is orders of magnitude larger than and the eventual attacks are prevented by the use that need to jam GNSS, it is still not very large. of the ground velocity and the ship type inside the second key. This solution is less secure then the first while the computational effort remains similar. Moreover, a communication link between the Local Element and Mobile Elements is contemplated in order to make the vehicle type known. HER COORDINATES "An ideal GNSS system is one that is impossible to spoof and difficult to jam" says Professor Y Jade Morton, President, Institute of Navigation (ION) and Director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research at the University of Colorado Boulder in an interview with Coordinates magazine
In 2020, the Institute of Navigation (ION) celebrates the 75th year since its founding. On this occasion, it would be good to review the ideas and objectives that lay behind the creation of ION.
For the past 75 years, ION has been the world’s premier professional organization in advancing the art and science of position, navigation, and timing (PNT) and in providing a viable networking and educational platform for members coming from industry, academia, and government agencies. Today, the field of PNT is experiencing exponential growth, and PNT professionals are in high demand from the ever-expanding sectors requiring PNT expertise. Along with this exciting progress are challenges and new opportunities as our demographics are changing and the modern means of communicating, networking, and learning are constantly evolving. More than ever, ION must dynamically adapt and anticipate the changing trends in the field. With the support of a strong international member community, and the Professor Y Jade Morton is currently the Director of the Colorado Center dedication of an excellent staff, ION is well-poised for Astrodynamics Research at the University of Colorado Boulder where to play a crucial role of bringing together application she mentors students, faculty, staff and an international network of engineers and product vendors, educators and collaborators throughout the world. Dr. Morton has made pioneering contributions to the advancement of GNSS receiver technology and its applications. She was awarded her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. She is a recipient of the IEEE Kershner Award, the Institute of Navigation’s (ION) Burka and Thurlow Awards, and is a Fellow of the ION, RIN and the IEEE. She is the current ION president.
20 | Coordinates September 2020 students, scientists, researchers, and policy makers satellite navigation and applications. Some of the to maximize the positive impact of PNT technologies students are now recognized experts in the field. on society in the 21st century. ION has sponsored (and committed to sponsor) 10 government fellows during the past two decades. Would you like to elaborate on some The government fellowship program, sponsored in of the achievements of the ION and cooperation with the American Association for the also the challenges before? Advancement of Science, offers ION members a unique educational experience while providing the ION has a wide range of achievements which US government a resource of technical experience include its unmatched conference and workshop and private sector perspectives, which ultimately organizations, numerous educational and outreach helps to foster public policy on the issues that programs and initiatives, the government fellowship affect our society and our profession. Finally, the program, technical sponsorship and collaborations ION community has been the driving force and the with other international professional organizations, liable resource that has led to the establishment journal and conference publications, and facilitation of a number of much needed technical standards, of standard development. I would like to highlight a including the recently adopted GNSS Software few outstanding achievements which I personally Defined Receiver Metadata Standard. witnessed since my affiliation with ION nearly two decades ago. The first and fundamental As a professional organization in a rapidly achievement is the success of ION’s conferences. evolving field, ION has faced (and continues to Each ION conference offers a unique “flavor” and face) many challenges. For example, PNT is a technical contents to an appropriate mix of audience traditional engineering field dominated by men. in the PNT community. ION constantly adapts its Such dominance was reflected in the composition conferences to the need of the community. For of the ION community. In recent years, however, example, in 2013, ION launched the Pacific PNT under the leadership of past president Dr. Dorota meeting to address the growing interest in the Grejner-Brzezinska, ION and its sponsors have taken development of PNT systems and applications in the a number of initiatives to promote, encourage, and Pacific Rim countries. This bi-annual meeting has support women in PNT and successfully improved attracted a large proportion of first-time attendees the diversity in ION events and leadership teams. from Asian Pacific countries. I am looking forward to the 5th Pacific PNT meeting, now planning to be Another challenge is the evolving demographics held in Hawaii in April 2021. Since 2004, ION has of the field of PNT. New generations of PNT been the lead sponsor for international student professionals adopt new means of communicating competitions, such as the autonomous lawn mower and networking. ION must dynamically develop and autonomous snowplow competitions. These strategies to keep engaged with the changing competitions have inspired many undergraduate field. Finally, ION’s journal NAVIGATION has long students to pursue a career in the field of PNT and faced challenges from competitors and ranking automation. Another major achievement is the and impact factor issues. In recent years, however, African GNSS Outreach program sponsored by thanks to the relentless effort of our editors, Drs. the ION Satellite Division. For the past decade, led Boris Pervan and Richard Langley, the team of by past ION president Pat Doherty, this outreach associate editors, the ION staff, and countless program has educated over 500 graduate reviewers, NAVIGATION is gaining greater students and faculty from African countries and recognition, attracting quality submissions, and other developing nations on the fundamentals of ramping up its ratings.
Coordinates September 2020 | 21 Can you briefly touch upon your research to be very challenging as they are often associated interest in ‘intersection of satellite with highly disturbed, weak signals. By working in the navigation technologies and remote “intersection of the satellite navigation technologies sensing’ and other research priorities? and remote sensing”, our goal is to integrate our expertise accumulated in the navigation community Satellite navigation, as implied by its name, is and knowledge of scientific interactions of the designed for navigation applications. However, it is signals with the environment to advance our well-known that some of the largest and toughest understanding of the space and Earth surface errors associated with satellite navigation solutions environment. are the so-called propagation effects, including multipath, ionosphere, and troposphere errors. What is your idea about a The satellite navigation community treats these Perfect GNSS System? errors as nuisances and has devoted much effort An ideal GNSS system is one that is impossible to mitigate them. However, these errors contain to spoof and difficult to jam. Its signals should be signatures of the signal propagation environments relatively simple and elegant so that receiver signal and can be used to extract information on the processing can be done in a power-efficient manner environment. The remote sensing community has and allow fast acquisition and accurate tracking. been working on retrieving atmospheric profiles, It should be inter-operable with other GNSS and ionospheric states, urban propagation channel backward compatible with its predecessors. It conditions, ocean surface wind and roughness, should have limited multipath errors even when and land cover soil and vegetation moisture, etc. operating in urban environments. It should be built by using ground, airborne, and LEO satellite-based on a reference frame and time standard that can be GNSS receiver measurements. Because of the easily adopted by a wide variety of applications and large number of navigation satellites, their well- systems across geographical and political borders. defined signal structures, and their distributed Finally, it should support multiple carriers and both global coverage, navigation satellite signals are data and pilot channels on all carriers to enable ideal signals-of-opportunity for remote sensing receivers operating in challenging environments. The applications. However, the measurements tend carriers should have sufficient spectral separations to ensure accurate estimations of ionosphere By working in the “intersection of errors, or be at frequencies where ionospheric and atmospheric effects are insignificant. the satellite navigation technologies Would you like to comment on GPS and remote sensing”, our goal is to III and also on other existing and integrate our expertise accumulated upcoming systems including NavIC? in the navigation community and Since December 2018, three GPS III satellites have been launched. An additional seven GPS III satellites knowledge of scientific interactions are under construction by Lockheed Martin and are of the signals with the environment expected to be launched by 2023. In addition to the legacy L1 C/A, L1 and L2 P(Y), and modernized to advance our understanding of the L2C, L5, and M code signals, GPS III satellites also space and Earth surface environment broadcast a new civil signal, the L1C. The L1C signal
22 | Coordinates September 2020 consists of a pilot and a data component with an asymmetrical power split (75% for pilot and 25% for The biggest winner in this multi-GNSS data) and is transmitted in phase with orthogonality age is the remote sensing and scientific achieved by the code division multiplexing. The data component uses BOC (1,1) modulation to achieve applications. With each satellite ray- backward spectral compatibility with the legacy path serving as an observable of the L1 C/A signal. The pilot component features a Multiplexed BOC (MBOC) modulation, which enables signal propagation environment, a larger GNSS interoperability with BDS, Galileo, and QZSS. GPS III satellites transmit an updated civil navigation ensemble of transmitters will provide message, CNAV-2, which employees sophisticated improved spatial resolution and coverage error detection and correction scheme. CNAV-2 also includes additional parameters such as the of the physical world of interest GPS/GNSS time offset (GGTO) parameters for multi-GNSS applications and Earth orientation parameters for space borne applications. In addition will be followed by GLONASS-K2 satellites, which to the advances in signal modulation and navigation are redesigned systems hosting a passive hydrogen data message transmission, GPS III satellites carry maser AFS with expected one-day stability of 15 laser retro-reflectors to allow tracking of satellite 5x10- (0.3 m SISRE) and transmitting a full suite orbits independent of radio signals, thereby of modernized CDMA signals in the existing L1 and allowing satellite clock errors to be disentangled L2 bands as well as the L3OC signal. This year also from ephemeris errors. At the time of this interview, marks a special milestone for Galileo and BDS. Lockheed Martin is selected to build up to 22 GPS Galileo is expected to be fully operational by the III Follow On (GPS IIIF) satellites by 2034. The GPS end of 2020 when two new Galileo satellites are IIIF satellites are planned to incorporate additional scheduled to be launched to bring the total number capabilities such as Distress Alerting Satellite of the operational satellites in the constellation to System for search and rescue, Regional Military 24. Already, Galileo has achieved an impressive Protection (RMP) capability, satellite crosslinks for SISRE of 25cm (95%), despite the 6-day service rapid command and reduced age of data, spot outage that occurred in July 2019. This year also beam antennas, and a fully digital navigation sees Galileo’s transition to its second generation payload, while maintaining compatibility with next satellites with the first order of four satellites generation Operational Control System (OCX) and expected to be under contract by the end of 2020. the existing GPS constellation. Compared to its BDS achieved fully operational status in June predecessors, GPS III is inching closer to the ideal 2020 with the launch of the final satellite that GNSS system discussed earlier. completes the BDS-3 network. The 30 operational BDS satellites offer the most orbital diversity The other GNSS also had an exciting year. GLONASS among all GNSS, including 24 MEO, three IGSO, is undergoing a transition stage with the launch of and three GEO satellites, to provide both global the last GLONASS-M satellite (second generation services and enhanced regional services, as well as GLONASS satellites) in March 2020. Already, other featured services such as BDSPPP, BDSBAS, two of the third generation GLONASS satellites, regional message communication, and global SAR GLONASS-K1, are launched and the remaining functions. BDS reached this impressive status batch of nice are planned for launch by 2023. This with an unprecedent 21 successful launches from
Coordinates September 2020 | 23 This is a world of multi-GNSS systems. What For both GNSS-RO and GNSS-R advantages do you see about this scenario? applications, the receiver antenna Multi-GNSS offers several advantages. The larger is pointed towards Earth’s surface. number of combined satellites in space improves the geometric diversity and hence the PVT Terrestrial transmissions of broadband solution accuracy. This is especially true in urban radio signals will directly enter the environments where a large number of satellites may be blocked by buildings. The redundancy antenna’s main lobe to interfere with introduced by these extra satellites also improves the processing of the already weak and the signal availability and reduces the probability of blackout (or complete loss of navigation solutions). disturbed signals. The FCC’s decision Multi-GNSS also provides more rich spectral is indeed a very “disturbing” news for diversity and improves the jamming resistance. Finally, I believe the biggest winner in this multi- the GNSS remote sensing community GNSS age is the remote sensing and scientific applications. With each satellite ray-path serving as an observable of the signal propagation November 2017 to June 2020. All BDS-3 satellites environment, a larger ensemble of transmitters will are equipped with inter-satellite links (ISL) to provide improved spatial resolution and coverage of drastically improve satellite orbit accuracy by nearly the physical world of interest. 100% to 30 cm. What is your take on FCC’s There are now three potential regional navigation Ligado spectrum decision? satellite systems (RNSS), serving the Asian Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. Two of the RNSS, QZSS and Like many others in the PNT community, I think NavIC, have been fully operational in recent years. the decision will have a profound negative impact QZSS currently has four satellites in IGSO orbit. A on satellite navigation and many important QZSS-1R satellite is expected to be launched later applications. There have been many discussions on in 2020. QZSS is also expected to take over the the impact of the broadband system on navigation transmission of MTSAT, Japan’s SBAS in 2020. Three applications. I would like to highlight its potential additional satellites are planned to be launched after impact on remote sensing applications. Two notable 2023. QZSS satellites transmit signals compatible remote sensing applications are the GNSS radio with GPS L1 C/A, L1C, L2C, and L5. NavIC currently occultation (GNSS-RO) and GNSS reflectometry has seven active satellites, three GEO and four IGSO (GNSS-R). GNSS-RO has been recognized as a satellites, and has plans to extend to 11 satellites in major data source of atmospheric profiles needed the future. NavIC satellites transmit signals at L5 for weather models, climate studies, and ionosphere and S band. A messaging interface is embedded in monitoring. It retrieves these measurements by the NavIC system to allow command center to send receiving and processing the Earth limb scan of warnings to specific geographic areas. The Regional GNSS satellite signals. GNSS-R utilizes reflected South Korea Positioning System (KPS) is a new RNSS GNSS signals from the Earth’s surface to infer currently under planning. KPS is expected to launch the surface properties such as hurricane wind three GEOS and four IGSOs to cover South Korea and development, evolution of wetland, snow-water about 1000km of Pacific Ocean and Australia. storage, ice and vegetation coverage, and sea
24 | Coordinates September 2020 level changes. For both GNSS-RO and GNSS-R Given this, what’s your opinion applications, the receiver antenna is pointed on GNSS backups? towards Earth’s surface. Terrestrial transmissions of broadband radio signals will directly enter GNSS backups serve society’s interest. While the antenna’s main lobe to interfere with the there are many alternative navigation resources processing of the already weak and disturbed signals. The FCC’s decision is indeed a piece Today’s GNSS receivers are of very “disturbing” news for the GNSS remote sensing community. customized for a vast number of
With increasing dependence on GNSS, specialized applications with wide how do you perceive the threats like ranging complexities, capabilities, interference, jamming and spoofing? and resource requirements. On Interference, jamming, and spoofing will always be there and may get smarter over time. As we the high-end of the spectrum are move into a world that becomes more reliant on reference monitoring stations which autonomous systems, the threats will have an increasingly higher impact. We must be creative in are capable of direct sampling the developing techniques to detect and mitigate both entire L-band spectrum and perform intentional and un-intentional adversary factors. These techniques are, and should, continue to be signal monitoring, oscillator anomaly addressed at multiple levels, including antennas, detection, interference analysis, and signal design, receiver signal processing, and the integration with other complementary sensors. ionosphere characterization in real time
Coordinates September 2020 | 25 being explored to offer solutions when GNSS is receivers to retrieve information on our space compromised, none of these sources offer the type environments and Earth surface conditions. On the of coverage provided by GNSS that we (and our low-cost, high-volume mass market end, current applications) are accustomed to. This is particularly generation cellphones have integrated the entire true for safety-of-life applications. Dedicated GNSS PNT functionality utilizing all GNSS constellation backups will be very helpful for these applications. signals and carriers into a single CMOS chip that consumes a few mW, costs a few dollars or less, and What technology trends do you envision with performances that outshine aviation-grade in GNSS receivers in the near future? GPS sets from merely a decade ago. On the further extreme low-cost end are asset tracking devices Today’s GNSS receivers are customized for a that periodically take a “snapshot” of GPS signals vast number of specialized applications with wide for post-processing to achieve localization at a few ranging complexities, capabilities, and resource meters of accuracy. requirements. On the high-end of the spectrum are
reference monitoring stations which are capable The future trend of GNSS will be driven by continued of direct sampling the entire L-band spectrum diverging needs of specialized applications and to and perform signal monitoring, oscillator anomaly ensure efficient sensor integration. Such needs will detection, interference analysis, and ionosphere favor more open architectures and standardization. characterization in real time. In the middle sector are While ASICs have demonstrated to be the best in high accuracy consumer and scientific applications. terms of performance and low power requirement, For the consumer sector, RTK receivers are now software-programmable ASICs will most likely capable of providing mm-level carrier phase-based be the dominant platform for future GNSS relative positioning; and PPP technologies can receivers due to their flexibility and the maturing yield sub-cm level standalone absolute positioning. technologies. For scientific applications, airborne, spaceborne, and ground-based systems are designed to track How do you think the GNSS positioning nuisance features such as reflected signals, signal technology can take the advantages of bending angles, and carrier phase disturbances that alternative positioning technologies such are routinely removed and filtered by navigation as cell phones, Bluetooth and WiFi, etc?
Using alternative positioning technologies including Interference, jamming, and spoofing other radio signals-of-opportunity to augment will always be there and may get GNSS has been an active research area for a while. These alternative technologies are especially smarter over time. As we move into helpful in densely populated urban areas where a world that becomes more reliant on GNSS signals may be blocked. For defense- related applications in GNSS-denied areas, they automation, the threats will have an are also important. There is definitely synergy between the alternative navigation technologies increasingly higher impact. We must and GNSS-based systems. The synergy should be be creative in developing techniques thoroughly exploited to ensure seamless transitions between GNSS-based navigation solutions in to detect and mitigate both intentional benign environments and multi-sensor augmented and un-intentional adversary factors alternative products under challenging conditions.
26 | Coordinates September 2020 in the US and in other countries that have dedicated There are only a limited number curriculum for PNT/GNSS. Such limited educational resources cannot meet the high demand for of universities in the US and in PNT/GNSS experts in industry and government other countries that have dedicated laboratories. This is a major challenge in the near future before the academic community. A side curriculum for PNT/GNSS. Such limited effect of the imbalanced educational resources and educational resources cannot meet the industry demand is the challenge for universities to retain high caliber students in PhD programs. high demand for PNT/GNSS experts in Students get irresistible offers from industry as soon industry and government laboratories as they have had experience with PNT projects. How do you see the employment Would you like to comment on prospects of the students pursuing autonomous navigation? a career in PNT and GNSS?
As I stated above, there is a high demand for There is no doubt that autonomous navigation students with masters and PhD degrees in GNSS will improve productivity, safety, and resource and PNT from private industry and government utilization efficiency. Autonomous navigation laboratories. We cannot graduate them fast enough! is an unstoppable trend and leading industries And they get incredible offers. As a result, our GNSS are hopping on the wagon. But there will be classes are getting very large. For example, there are challenges along the way. A critical piece in enabling 85 students enrolled in Professor Penina Axelrad’s autonomous navigation is the integrity of navigation graduate level class “Introduction to GNSS” this fall solutions. Sensor integration holds the key to at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Out of ~200 improving integrity measures. Some of the factors seniors that are working on senior capstone projects we mentioned earlier (such as alternative navigation this year at our Aerospace Engineering Department, technologies, backup systems, and multi-GNSS) are nearly 50 of them are on projects with a focus on or all important pieces that will make it happen. having elements related to PNT. You have a long association with What likely impacts do you anticipate academia. Given the pace of technology due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis on evolution, what challenges do you the PNT and GNSS community? see before the academic community and PNT/GNSS education? COVID-19 is impacting everyone. For the PNT/ GNSS community, there are both short-term and PNT/GNSS are interdisciplinary fields. We often see long-term impacts. In the short-term, COVID-19 is PNT/GNSS educators spreading across multiple preventing in-person meetings, limiting laboratory departments, such as aerospace engineering, work, and delaying project completion. In the long- civil engineering, computer science, electrical term, like many other disasters and crises that engineering, geomatics engineering, mechanical occurred in the past, COVID-19 may stimulate, engineering, physics, survey, etc. Unlike other accelerate, or change the course of some technology traditional, well-defined disciplines, PNT/GNSS development such as contact tracing, autonomous curriculum requires a wide mix of subjects. As a systems, and transportation, all of which are reliant result, there are only a limited number of universities on PNT.
Coordinates September 2020 | 27 HIS COORDINATES "GNSS industry and the associated applications will be relatively less impacted by Covid-19" says John Pottle, Director, Royal Institute of Navigation in an interview with Coordinates magazine
With the world turning upside can still happen virtually – one really down, do you think this is unexpected thing for us has been that far time for the organisations more people have joined presentations to redefine their vision and training we have offered online than and missions in line with we would ever have seen at a physical the changing paradigm? meeting. The challenge is that during a talk or presentation gets everyone only Covid-19 has impacted practically every starts to think through the topic; the organisation and citizen across the really great discussions, insights and globe. First I would like to say that my ideas normally flow when you meet thoughts are with those who have been afterwards. As soon as it is safe to do so most heavily impacted, whether it be we will plan to start meeting together from a health or economic perspective. in person again. However, it seems certain that most meetings in future In an organisation, when a risk is will also include a hybrid element, with realised, as has been the case with the an opportunity to join online too. pandemic, it’s always an opportunity John Pottle to reflect and learn from what has Director, Royal Institute of Navigation happened and how the organisation What likely impacts you responded. For some it will be a review, anticipate due the ongoing for others a major change, whether as Covid-19 crisis on GNSS an individual or an organisation. industry, especially in the context of economic impact in UK and in EU? How has Covid-19 impacted RIN activities? How you The only certainty at present is uncertainty, plan to deal with it? probably for some time to come. The tragedy of the present pandemic seems The Royal Institute of Navigation’s aim to be that the highest impact is on the is to promote knowledge understanding weakest. While this is painful to witness, to advance positioning, navigation and I believe it’s true to say that the GNSS timing in all its forms. To an extent this industry and the associated applications are, generally, relatively strong and hence will be relatively less impacted. I believe that job creation and employment related to Those skilled in positioning, navigation and timing will still be in demand in positioning, navigation and timing will continue to grow, a high-tech world that will continue to value science and data literacy. as the fundamentals needs and opportunities are strong
28 | Coordinates September 2020 What challenges you see before the academic community and GNSS education? How do see the fallout of this crisis in job creation and employment?
The short-term challenge is that mobility is restricted. The UK attracts many international students and these will be lower next year, resulting in a projected 25% average reduction in income for universities. This, in turn, is leading to structural and operational reviews.
However, I am a great believer in what I call the “fundamentals”. It is a fact that science, technology, engineering and maths are needed to enable global sustainable development. Also that resilient position and time are essential everywhere in the modern world. As such, I believe that job creation and employment related to positioning, navigation and timing will continue to grow, as the fundamentals needs and opportunities are strong.
Do you see some new opportunities emerging out of this?
We have seen in many places that technology presents opportunities but is not always intelligently or optimally applied to solving problems. Contact tracing apps sensors and not rely on GNSS alone. resilient and robust positioning based on smartphone proximity sensors This is necessary to achieve resilience systems, even with increased is a great example. So, generically, I see in the face of growing cyber threats as interference, jamming and spoofing. a real need and opportunity for more the world becomes more connected. “systems thinking” to solve big problems. Applying the rigour and discipline of How do you think the GNSS systems integration is a real opportunity With increasing dependence on positioning technology to increase both impact and productivity. GNSS, how do you the perceive can take the advantages the threats like interference, of alternative positioning In August 2010 in an interview with jamming and spoofing? technologies cell phones, Coordinates you predicted that “Eventually Bluetooth and WiFi, etc.? all receivers will be multi-GNSS.” How Each is increasing and becoming do you see now that observation? more sophisticated, but generally in Sensor fusion in mobile devices already a predictable way. To combat this, combines these technologies to offer Well, it’s usually a really bad idea to we will see more layered systems almost continuous positioning – there predict the future, but that one has approaches to deliver trusted position is always a “blue dot”. However, the been proven right! My next prediction? or time. There will be no one solution, issues at present are that accuracy for Eventually all positioning, navigation or but by assessing requirements and risks Wi-Fi and cellular positioning are timing systems will integrate multiple methodically it is possible to build relatively lower than GNSS. Current
Coordinates September 2020 | 29 NEWS - GIS
AerialSphere launches next- gen mapping technology
AerialSphere have launched XP360 web application and API, which creates an online home search experience that is transforming the residential real estate market - enabling agents to better attract and engage clients with the latest in mapping technology. XP360 features a simple, user-friendly interface that empowers brokers and agents to add a new level of interactivity in home searches that goes way beyond traditional aerial views of homes. It gives prospective home buyers the ability to see homes, neighborhoods, schools and other points of interest. https://aerialsphere.com.
R&D agreement with the UK Rail I see great potential for fully autonomous systems Research and Innovation Network
to be much safer and more efficient than current so- HS2 Ltd has has signed an agreement with leading railway research centres called driver assistance or semi-autonomous modes in UK universities that will enable it to access world-leading research capabilities, developments to measure round-trip-time knowledge and facilities. The agreement rather than received signal power will After Brexit, would you with the UK Rail Research and Innovation bring us a real improvement in accuracy like to comment on its Network (UKRRIN) will enable HS2 Ltd for Wi-Fi and cellular positioning. implication on Galileo? to be at the forefront of innovation in the Another really interesting development for What about an UK GNSS? rail sector. The first project under the new positioning is the increased use of cameras agreement will be led by the University in phones, and possibly also other sensors For most applications the open services of Birmingham and will use simulation such as ultrasound as a type or radar. are all that is needed and there are already models to improve understanding of the plenty of ranging sources available from performance of expansion joints used the existing GNSS’s. My understanding on high-speed rails. www.hs2.org.uk/ Would you like to comment is that the UK’s current use of encrypted on autonomous navigation? GPS for military purposes is not impacted 3D maps now with Velodyne Lidar by Brexit. So in many ways there is This is a big topic. My top level not a “problem to solve” in relation to Velodyne Lidar, Inc. has announced Kaarta observation is that I see great potential provision of services. The question of Cloud® which exclusively supports for fully autonomous systems to be whether the UK needs control over its Velodyne’s lidar sensors. The new much safer and more efficient than own space-based positioning, navigation cloud-based application is a platform current so-called driver assistance or timing assets is very much a strategic to process, store, and share 3D spaces. or semi-autonomous modes. and political question that I am happy Paired with high quality lidar to capture to leave to the politicians to decide! the environment in 3D, the data is uploaded into cloud to quickly and easily process it into a point cloud for use.
Mobile scanning systems are continually advancing and the possibilities for use are An ideal GNSS Download your copy at: system is one expansive. There is growing interest in lidar that is imaging for post-earthquake assessment, impossible to www.mycoordinates.org spoof and surveys of damaged buildings, aiding difficult to jam Y Jade Morton first responders in emergency situations and more. https://velodynelidar.com. NEWS - IMAGING
Bushfire Inquiry Report Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Council and National Security Council for by NSW Government and plans to scale up the initiative to over the United States. Principal participants 63,000 villages shortly across the country. included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The NSW Government, Australia National Space Policy Secretariat; National has released the independent NSW This initiative gains significance at a time Security Secretariat; Ministry of Internal Bushfire Inquiry, which examined the when people are advised to stay indoors and Affairs and Communications; Ministry causes, preparation and response to avoid travel in the wake of the Coronavirus of Education, Culture, Sports, Science the devastating 2019-20 bushfires. pandemic. This use of satellite data provides and Technology (MEXT); Ministry of quick and technically sound analysis of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of All 76 recommendations will be the land, crop and irrigation patterns from Environment; Ministry of Defense; Japan accepted in principle, with further work remote locations, without the need of the Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); to be done on specific timelines to give customer or a bank official having to visit and National Institute of Information and communities assurance that changes the land. It offers farmers the significant Communications Technology (NICT) from will be made to keep them safe. advantage of reliable data being provided the Japanese side, and the Departments to the Bank without any hassles of travel, of State, Defense, and Commerce; Resilience NSW, led by Commissioner operational or logistical expenditure to them. and National Aeronautics and Space Shane Fitzsimmons, has been tasked Administration (NASA) from the U.S. side. with coordinating and overseeing The Bank has partnered with agri–fintech the implementation of the Inquiry’s companies specialising in harnessing space Through this Dialogue, Japan and the recommendations as the government technology and weather information for United States continue the work to finalises its approach.www.nsw.gov.au commercial usage. It has worked closely enhance and strengthen cooperation with them to build reports with over 40 between the two countries from a broad, China launches new optical parameters for assessing credit-worthiness inclusive, and strategic perspective. With remote-sensing satellite of a farmer with deep study of the land, the participation of experts from across irrigation and crop patterns. The analysis the two governments, the Dialogue series China successfully launched a new optical is put together using algorithms to analyse emphasizes a whole-of-government remote-sensing satellite from the Jiuquan images available from satellites around approach to civil, commercial, and national Satellite Launch Center in northwest the planet. Additionally, the Bank has security space interests and cooperation. China. The satellite, Gaofen-9 05, was worked on further scoring models to create sent into orbit by a Long March-2D carrier indices at district level, village level as At this meeting, both sides provided rocket. Gaofen-9 05 has a resolution up to well as for individual land to provide an updates on their respective space policies, the sub-meter level. It will be mainly used estimate of the past and future agriculture including the recent revision of the Basic for land surveys, city planning, land right income, the timing of harvest and sources Plan on Space Policy on the Japanese confirmation, road network design, crop of income, and thus, provide key inputs to side and the release of the Defense Space yield estimation and disaster prevention credit assessments. www.icicibank.com Strategy on the U.S. side. Both sides and mitigation. www.xinhuanet.com renewed their strong determination to Japan-US comprehensive dialogue on expand bilateral cooperation in a variety of Satellite data to power credit space – Excerpts of Joint statement areas including space security, international assessment of farmers rule-making, space situational awareness Pursuant to the shared goal of continuing (SSA), space exploration, commercial ICICI Bank, India announced the usage to advance bilateral space cooperation space activities, and global navigation of satellite data—imagery from Earth and to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. satellite systems and to seek opportunities observation satellites—to assess credit alliance as declared by the leaders of both for cooperation with third countries and worthiness of its customers belonging nations, the Government of Japan and in international fora. Both sides engage to the farm sector. The Bank is the the Government of the United States of in robust bilateral cooperation in Earth first in India and among few globally America held the Seventh Meeting of the observation, including weather forecasting, to use satellite data to measure an Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Earth science, land and ocean observation, array of parameters related to the land, Space in Tokyo, on August 26, 2020. and environmental and space weather irrigation and crop patterns and use it monitoring. Together both sides also take in combination with demographic and This meeting was co-chaired by lead roles in multilateral coordination of financial parameters to make expeditious representatives from the Ministry of the global observing system. Japanese lending decisions for farmers. Foreign Affairs and National Space Policy and U.S. weather and Earth observation Secretariat, Cabinet Office for Japan, and satellite systems are essential components The Bank has been using satellite data for by representatives from the Executive of the global observing system on the past few months in over 500 villages in Office of the President’s National Space which other nations rely. Both sides
Coordinates September 2020 | 31 also discussed other important issues regarding space utilization, such as space resources and the use of space Tracking C VID for Maritime Domain Awareness. The United States welcomed Japan’s effort to establish a new framework for satellite development and demonstration. Atkins predict digitally Telespazio and e-GEOS’s driven COVID recovery platform for coronavirus Both sides shared the view that it was important for leading spacefaring nations Atkins – a member of the SNC-Lavalin Using AI to integrate satellite data to promote bilateral and multilateral Group – has shared the findings and knowledge from the online space cooperation with transparency of its independent research, which so as to isolate new outbreaks of and discussed possible ways for the two assesses the impact of COVID-19 Covid-19, while monitoring areas countries, with partners, to cooperate in on the UK infrastructure sector, where people congregate. This is expanding space activities and utilization measures confidence, and explores often ECO4CO – Earth Cognitive to address the needs of other nations, the roles of government and the System for CoViD-19 – a platform especially in the Indo-Pacific region. private sector during recovery. created by Telespazio and e-GEOS Both sides recognized the role of space (a company owned by ASI, 20%, applications such as satellite-based The work – which was carried out and Telespazio, 80%), and winner Earth observation and navigation in the by the independent market research within the Health Emergency context of solving global issues including organisation Savanta ComRes on category of the worldwide achieving the Sustainable Development behalf of the Atkins – represents the involve “Innovative Ideas and Goals (SDGs). www.state.gov first comprehensive survey of senior Technologies vs. COVID-19 and public and private sector decision beyond”, launched by the United SkySat Constellation makers across different subsectors Nations Industrial Development Complete by Planet within infrastructure, particularly Organisation (UNIDO) in response transport, property and utilities. to the coronavirus emergency. The world’s largest fleet of high-resolution Telespazio and e-GEOS tied for the imaging satellites just welcomed three In total, 398 responses were award with the Chinese company new satellites to the family. On August completed via an online survey Shanghai Zhizhong Environmental 18, 2020, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during June and July 2020 and 8 in- Protection Technology. launched SkySats 19, 20 and 21. depth interviews were conducted. ECO4CO systematically organises Over the next several weeks the SkySat The report, entitled “Infrastructure the skills and know-how of the satellites will use their onboard propulsion Insights: COVID Impact and entire Telespazio Group, and to boost themselves up to their operational Recovery”, found that while the can correlate data from global altitude of 400 km, and also begin phasing industry has been impacted by the observation and positioning satellites their orbital plane with respect to SkySats pandemic – with organisations reporting with non-satellite information 16-18 in order to maximize coverage that 16% of the work they had on from web searches and social and revisit. These three new SkySats immediately before Covid-19 had been network messages using artificial join the 18 others already in orbit and postponed or cancelled completely – intelligence systems. In this way, significantly expand the capacity to provide 52% of senior decision makers were using predictive analysis systems world class, high-resolution images to confident that they would see outlooks and autonomous acquisition of a variety of commercial, governmental, for the sector return to pre-crisis levels satellite data, as well as tracking and academic and non-profit organizations. by Q4 of 2021. In the private sector, data learning ability, the platform almost 7 in 10 respondents predicted a supports systematic surveillance of SkySats 19-21 are also the final SkySats return to their organisation’s pre-crisis areas of aggregation such as parks, to be built and launched, completing outlook before the end of next year. public markets and sports stadiums, the campaign of 21 satellites originally supplying data on human activity planned by the SkyBox team in 2009. There is general agreement that and on any possible gatherings. Eleven years later, the innovation of the sector will not emerge from the The information obtained can the SkySat design and mission remains crisis in the same form, with the vast help isolate new outbreaks of the world-class and continues to move majority of respondents agreeing that epidemic while monitoring places the high-resolution satellite industry digital innovation will be increasingly where people tend to concentrate. forward. www.planet.com important. www.atkinsglobal.com www.telespazio.com
32 | Coordinates September 2020 NEWS - GNSS
GPS III successfully introduced the first two GPS III satellites were (GAGAN) and the Japanese Multi- into EGNOS services successfully introduced into the EGNOS functional Satellite Augmentation System Signal in Space on 27 July 2020. (MSAS). All use a network of ground- Introduction of the first GPS III satellites based reference stations to determine into EGNOS services was successfully The improvements brought to the real-time GPS errors, which are sent to achieved on 27 July 2020, following the EGNOS SoL service performance master stations which relay correction initiation by GPS of a transition from were already noticeable by the messages via the SBAS satellites. The its “GPS Block II” satellites to its new EGNOS users since that day. corrections are transmitted to receivers generation “GPS Block III” satellites. via GPS frequency and format. The FAA The GSA is currently planning to extend WAAS accuracy requirements (95%) for The GPS operational constellation started its fast-track process in order to introduce an aircraft instrument runway approach in 2020 to migrate from GPS II satellites these additional GPS III satellites into down to 200 ft - Localizer Performance to the new generation GPS III satellites. operations, until the delivery and entry into with Vertical guidance (LPV-200) - is Through cooperation exchanges with service of the next major System release 16m horizontal and 4 m vertical; actual the US, the European Commission and (ESR 242A) in 2021 which will be also performance has been 0.7m horizontal the European GNSS Agency (GSA) updated to GPS III. www.gsa.europa.eu and 1.2m vertical. www.faa.gov obtained assurance on the “backward compatibility” of the GPS III satellites GPS M-Code Installs Complete GPS III SV03 receives with regard to GPS II, and in particular at Operational Sites operational acceptance concerning their failure characteristics. The United States Space Force’s The United States Space Force (USSF) Based on this, the GSA developed Space and Missile Systems Center and the Space and the Missile Systems a step-wise approach to accelerate took a major step towards Operational Center achieved another major GPS the introduction of GPS-III into Acceptance of the long awaited GPS milestone on July 27 when the GPS III the EGNOS system, overwriting Military-Code (M-Code) with the Space Vehicle (SV) 03 received USSF’s the initial plan for GPS III system completion of the major M-Code Early Operational Acceptance approval. qualification within EGNOS 242B Use (MCEU) hardware and software System release development. upgrade to the GPS Operational The GPS III satellites are the newest Control System (OCS) on July 27. generation built by Lockheed Martin that As a first step, the GSA implemented provide precise positioning, navigation and a fast-track process to be as quick as The encrypted M-Code signal enhances timing information with three times better possible while staying safe and respectful anti-jamming and anti-spoofing accuracy, and up to eight times improved of the roles and obligations of the Service capabilities for the warfighter. M-Code anti-jamming capability than previous Provider and of the Product manufacturer. signals are currently available on generations of GPS satellites. This marks all 22 GPS Block IIR-M, IIF and III the third GPS III satellite to receive For this purpose, the GSA has organized space vehicles currently on orbit. The operational acceptance in less than a year. and performed, with the support of the installs were completed at the Master European Satellite Services Provider Control Station at Schriever Air Force SV03 was launched on June 30 and (ESSP), Thales Alenia Space France Base, Colorado and Alternate Master was the second National Security Space (TAS-F) and the European Space Agency Control Stations at Vandenberg Air Launch (NSSL) mission launched on (ESA), a careful safety assessment, based Force Base, California. us.af.mil a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This was on design analyses and a dedicated ad- the first NSSL mission where a Launch hoc measurement campaign. This has New WAAS satellite launched Service Provider recovered a booster, allowed the GSA to substantiate and with SpaceX successfully recovering approve the introduction of the first 5 Flight VA253 was launched from the the first stage and fairings as part of two GPS-III (PRN-4 and PRN-18) into Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, at 2204 the launch. The GPS III SV03 mission the EGNOS Design Safety Case. UTC on 15 August. The heaviest ever was dedicated to Colonel Thomas G. Ariane launcher carried 3 satellites, which Falzarano, 21st Space Wing commander, Based on this, ESSP submitted the included WAAS, to cover North America. who passed away in May. us.af.mil proposed change, along with its safety assessment, to the EASA change oversight The WAAS satellite-based augmentation Worldwide navigation process, resulting in an authorisation system (SBAS) is compatible with the declared for BeiDou from EASA delivered on 23 July European Geostationary Navigation 2020. Following this, ESSP upgraded Overlay Service (EGNOS), Indian GPS Chinese President, Xi Jinping, the EGNOS operational baseline and Aided Geo Augmented Navigation officially commissioned the system
Coordinates September 2020 | 33 on 31 July at a ceremony at the Great The first satellites of the new constellation GPS signals are a type of Hall of the People in Beijing. are foreseen for launch before the end radionavigation-satellite service of 2024, together with updated ground (RNSS). Re-transmission of RNSS The 55th and final satellite in the systems to support the new satellites. signals are banned in Australia under BeiDou constellation, launched the Radiocommunications Act 1992, on 23 June into geosynchronous These second generation satellites due to the risk of interfering with other equatorial orbit (GEO) at ~22,000 will gradually take over from the GPS signals. www.transport.nsw.gov.au miles (~36,000 km), had completed all current first generation satellites in tests and been declared operational. the provision of Galileo services, Navigation satellite next and will therefore at a future date year by the UAE Hence the 3rd-generation BeiDou constitute a complete constellation system (BDS-3), which began providing plus the necessary in-orbit spares. The UAE has announced plans to navigation services in 2018, has become develop and launch a navigation satellite operational worldwide. The final ESA serves as the design, development in 2021, followed by the launch of a constellation comprises 27 medium earth and procurement agent for Galileo more advanced version the year after. orbit (MEO), 5 GEO and 3 inclined satellites on behalf of the European geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites. Commission, which funds the Funded by the UAE Space Agency, system overall. www.esa.int the project will be the first one to This should provide global navigation be carried out at the new Satellite services similar to GPS, GLONASS New plan to enable GPS Assembly, Integration and Testing and Galileo. It will use, amongst access in Sydney tunnels Centre in Al Ain (AIT Satellite Centre). other transmissions, a frequency of 1575.42 MHz - the same as GPS L1 Plans to boost GPS signals in Sydney’s The facility, which was launched in and Galileo E1 civil signals - and road tunnels are taking shape, which partnership with Airbus and Tawazun multiplexed binary offset carrier (MBOC) could help motorists, freight and Economic Council, is located at the modulation, similar to the future GPS emergency services navigate tunnels UAE University’s National Space L1C and Galileo’s E1. Satellite-based more accurately, quickly and safely. and Science Technology Centre augmentation (SBAS) and SAR facilities (NSSTC) and aims to increase are included. https://apnews.com Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary the nation’s satellite development for Greater Sydney, Elizabeth capabilities. The satellites are not Galileo next-gen satellites Mildwater, said ‘repeaters’ are meant to replace the existing Global on the horizon banned in tunnels but the Australian Navigation Satellite Systems, which Communications and Media Authority offers global coverage through four Following the European Commission’s (ACMA) is considering changing the different versions operated by Europe, decision to accelerate development law to let the technology be used. the United States, Russia and China, of Galileo Next Generation, ESA has as well two regional ones owned by asked European satellite manufacturers “The freight industry – one of the Japan and India. www.thenational.ae to submit bids for the first batch of the primary users of tunnels – also uses Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites. GPS to actively provide information on FCC grants E9-1-1 Galileo The new spacecraft are expected to tracking and on-board communication. request to AT&T be launched in about four years. The With the delivery of major tunnel next-generation satellites will provide projects across Sydney like WestConnex, The U.S. Federal Communications all the services and capabilities of the NorthConnex, M6 Stage 1, Western Commission (FCC) granted a request current first generation, together with a Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link, it’s on August 19, 2020 for authorization substantial number of improvements as important we act as soon as possible.” from AT&T Services to use Galileo well as new services and capabilities. for emergency location purposes. It Transport for NSW has made a submission plans to use Galileo in conjunction ESA is implementing a dual-sourcing to the Federal regulator to install and with GPS to improve the accuracy approach, and two parallel contracts trial re-transmission points inside of its E9-1-1 location services on are expected to be signed around the tunnels to simulate satellite signals. mobile devices, and facilitate faster end of 2020 amongst the current three response from emergency services bidders. Under the plan, each of the “Standard modern vehicles are equipped when wireless callers dial 9-1-1. The two selectees will build two satellites with more than 50 sensors, generating request was approved by the FCC’s for development purposes, with options data referenced in time and space to a Public Safety and Homeland Security for up to 12 satellites in total. specific location,” Ms Mildwater said. Bureau. https://docs.fcc.gov
34 | Coordinates September 2020 NEWS - UAV
SUAVE clinches Smart City award range of cameras in the UAV market for high-accuracy mapping and inspection. infrastructure, The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) Acecore will be using the iXM camera has launched its is proud to announce that the Smart in three drone models: ZOE, NEO largest solution to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Enhanced and NOA, offering fast and efficient, date with the Drone (SUAVE) project has been chosen by simple, and reliable UAV solutions. Delivery Station. This new technology IDC (International Data Corporation) www.acecoretechnologies.com offers a safe and convenient landing Government Insights as the best Asia station with six separate storage units Pacific Smart City project under the Department 13 successfully deploys to accommodate multiple drone and “Urban Planning and Land Use” MESMER C-sUAS platform traditional deliveries or pickups. The category of IDC’s 2020 Smart City drone delivery station also maintains Asia Pacific Awards (SCAPA). In July of 2020, Department 13 a digital chain of custody throughout successfully completed onsite field the entire delivery process to give users SUAVE is a machine learning algorithm testing and training to officially deliver peace of mind knowing their packages are that analyses images captured by drones the latest deployment of its counter secure until retrieved. www.valqari.com to automatically identify building defects drone technology MESMER to the requiring maintenance. Together with the Indian government. Its Indian based Europe’s largest drone “SmartLAMD” app that was developed distributor, Shastra Corporation, hub in Rotterdam by SLA, SUAVE helps to maintain and successfully tendered to supply the improve building conditions through Indian government with Department 13’s Terra Drone invests in Dutch Drone the early identification of potential C-sUAS platform MESMER and provided Solution provider Skytools to offer maintenance issues, from cracks and rigorous infield testing and compliance corporate and government clients debris to water ponding and even to exceed approval requirements from with advanced drone solutions. The plant growth, thus enabling the speedy industry and government regulators. companies will together establish handling of these minor issues. https://department13.com a strong drone hub in Rotterdam consisting of Training facilities and At the same time, SUAVE provides L3Harris Technologies awarded Research & Development centers. tremendous time and cost savings. contract from US Navy Officers now use only 12.5% of the Terra Drone Corporation is announcing the original conventional inspection L3Harris Technologies has received completion of its investment in Skytools, time to review and address potential a contract from the U.S. Navy for the a leading Dutch company that provides maintenance issues. Aside from saving Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle advanced drone solutions to corporate and time, SUAVE has also significantly (MUSV) program. This is the Navy’s governmental clients. www.terra-drone.net reduced inspection and repair costs. first program for an unmanned surface Deploying drones for building inspection vehicle to support the Navy’s Distributed FLIR Systems introduces Vue TZ20 only uses 60% of the cost required Maritime Operations strategy. dual thermal camera drone payload for a conventional physical inspection that uses boom lifts. www.sla.gov.sg L3Harris will integrate the company’s The FLIR® Vue® TZ20 is the first high ASView™ autonomy technology into resolution, dual thermal sensor gimbal Phase One Industrial and a purpose-built 195-foot commercially built for the DJI® Matrice V2 200 Series Acecore partnership derived vehicle from a facility along the and Matrice 300 airframes. It gives Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The MUSV drone pilots the situational awareness Phase One Industrial has signed an will provide intelligence, surveillance they need to complete their missions. agreement with Acecore Technologies. and reconnaissance to the fleet while maneuvering autonomously and Featuring both a wide-angle Boson sensor Phase One Industrial developed the iXM complying with international Collision with a 95-degree field of view and a series cameras for UAV-based aerial Regulations, even in operational narrow-angle Boson with a 19-degree field imagery. The iXM 100MP and iXM 50MP environments. www.l3harris.com of view, the Vue TZ20 enables pilots to are high-productivity metric cameras with a put more pixels on target with ease. With range of specially designed RSM lenses. The Valqari introduces the 640x512 resolution and a 20-times digital iXM cameras are ready for easy integration Drone Delivery Station thermal zoom capability, pilots can safely with a wide range of UAV platforms. capture thermal data from a distance. The Valqari, the Chicago start-up that solved payload is IP44 rated to provide operability Under the new agreement, Acecore will the last inch logistics problem with in poor weather conditions and weighs support Phase One Industrial’s iXM its patented universal drone delivery just 640 grams (1.4 lbs.). flir.com
Coordinates September 2020 | 35 NEWS - LBS NEWS - INDUSTRY
Gaode introduces AR driving legally remaining to drive, the fuel status GNSS RTK rover with navigation feature of the vehicle, weather conditions for Visual Positioning the entire trip, and customer geospatial AutoNavi has developed a navigation coordinates. https://geospacelabs.com Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, app called Gaode, which is one of the unveils the Leica GS18 I a versatile, first apps to provide drivers with AR DPL Telematics launches AssetView GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning. navigation. Using the camera phone, Max Tracking System It allows users to capture points of interest Gaode looks at the road ahead and displays from a distance and measure points from the relevant information, including DPL Telematics has announced the release the images in the field or the office. navigation instructions, highlights signs of the AssetView Max Tracking System. and issues warnings all in real time. It is an advanced solution for wireless Visual Positioning technology (sensor monitoring and remote tracking of any fusion combining GNSS, IMU and a The new AR feature recognizes objects in powered or unpowered asset to improve camera) allows users to reach previously the surrounding environment, including logistics, manage inventory and curb inaccessible or obstructed points passing vehicles, pedestrians, lane theft. The long lasting, portable GPS safely and efficiently. It is based on lines, traffic signs and traffic lights, unit is completely self-contained and photogrammetric technology with near according to the company. The feature may be hidden on any asset, installing real-time data processing, allowing also has driving safety assistance, which in seconds. Its proprietary TruTrace surveyors to check the quality of their offers vehicle distance monitoring and Adaptive Tracking technology increases data while on site. The GS18 I continues warnings for things ahead like potential its reporting frequency when movement the success from the tilt-compensated collisions, traffic lights and pedestrians. is detected and automatically reduces it Leica GS18 T rover. In addition to visual when stationary. http://www.dpltel.com point positioning, it inherits all the GeoSpace Labs releases new functionalities of a GS18 T, including the fleet command cloud platform Semtech collaborates with ability to map and stake out points with AWS and TensorIoT either tilted or levelled pole. hexagon.com GeoSpace Labs has announced the general availability of its new Fleet Commander Semtech Corporation has collaborated Spectra Geospatial and cloud back office platform. It provides with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Aplitop Collaboration j1939 and j1708 data updates every TensorIoT to simplify Internet of Things 15 seconds to back-end office users, (IoT) solution development by offering Spectra Geospatial has announced a completely visualized and geospatially Asset Tracking and Smart Building Kits collaboration with Aplitop to provide a encoded. This will mean a fleet manager that integrate Semtech’s LoRa® devices comprehensive tunnel survey solution can make decisions in PERFECT REAL and the LoRaWAN® protocol with AWS to increase productivity for survey TIME using knowledge of every aspect IoT services. Systems Integrators and service providers. This collaboration of a nationally distributed fleet of Enterprises are now able to use AWS provides surveyors and geospatial vehicles and driver hours of service legal IoT services to accelerate the pilot-to- professionals with a complete hardware requirements including over 100 onboard production lifecycle for their digital and software solution for performing computer parameters (this is more real- transformation applications, while efficient tunnel construction surveys. time decision making data provided faster leveraging key AWS native services, than most air traffic controllers have such as AWS IoT Core, Amazon API Combining the accuracy and speed of the available). Further, the historical data Gateway, AWS Lambda, Amazon Spectra® Focus® 35 robotic total station streams are stored in cloud data array for CloudFront, Amazon Simple Storage with the simple workflows of Aplitop deep analytics going back 6 months. Service (Amazon S3), and Amazon TcpTUNNEL, running on the ST10 or DynamoDB. The new Asset Tracking and Ranger 7 data collector, enables tunnel The new Fleet Commander platform also Smart Building Kits are the first vertical surveyors to perform excavation control, provides real-time weather data fully product offerings based on the LoRaWAN automated survey and stakeout of tunnel integrated into the fleet geospatial views, protocol built using AWS IoT Core and a cross-sections. www.spectrageospatial.com so multiple data points are available serverless architecture. In combination, when dispatching. This includes the these offerings pave the way for other Sony to release high- exact operating status of power units industry verticals such as utilities, smart precision GNSS receiver and associated trailers and chassis, any home, smart community, and smart reported suspect codes from the power healthcare to provide similar solutions Sony Corporation has announced the unit engines onboard computer, the that benefit from long range, low power upcoming release of high-precision drivers exact working status like how IoT capabilities that LoRaWAN provides. GNSS receiver LSIs for use in IoT and many hours driven and how many hours www.tensoriot.com, www.semtech.com wearable devices. The new receiver
36 | Coordinates September 2020 LSIs boast the industry’s lowest VectorNav introduces New Miniature devices. The antenna meets the highest power consumption*1 for dual-band IMU and GNSS/INS product line requirements for mechanical robustness positioning operation—only 9 mW. and fire safety according to the EN 50155 VectorNav Technologies have introduced and NFPA-130 standards. Increasing use of IoT and wearable a groundbreaking new line of inertial hubersuhner.com devices that utilize location information products: the VectorNav Tactical has resulted in growing demand for Embedded. Featuring a tactical-grade New evolution of its flagship GNSS receiver LSIs. Precise positioning IMU and a multi-band GNSS receivers, it GNSS solution by Trimble and reliable communications must be delivers milliradian attitude accuracy and ensured to maintain proper operation centimeter-level positioning capability Trimble has introduced the Trimble® of IoT and wearable devices, which in a miniature 15 gram package. R12i GNSS receiver, the latest addition are being used even in difficult to its GNSS portfolio. It incorporates communication environments and VectorNav’s Tactical Embedded Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)-based unstable conditions, such as multipath line delivers unprecedented size to tilt compensation using Trimble TIP™ propagation situations caused by reflection performance and enables cost reductions technology, which enables points to be off the ground or nearby buildings or for a wide range of autonomous pointing measured or staked out while the survey the effects of the swinging of the arms and geo-referencing applications, such rod is tilted, empowering land surveyors when attached to a person’s wrist. as gimballed ISR, SATCOM systems, to focus on the job at hand and complete LiDAR mapping and photogrammetry, work faster and more accurately. The new LSIs support not only the among many others. www.vectornav.com conventional L1 band reception, but Designed with flexible signal management also L5 band reception, which is Cyient to Acquire IG Partners that enables the use of all available currently being expanded across GNSS GNSS constellations and signals, constellations, thereby making them Cyient, a global engineering and digital the Trimble ProPoint GNSS engine capable of dual-band positioning. technology solutions company, has provides new levels of reliability and https://presscentre.sony.eu/ agreed to acquire specialist Australian productivity. In addition, the ProPoint consulting firm, IG Partners, to expand engine is a key enabler of the new TIP Spirent introduces SimIQ to its end-to-end offerings for the local technology. Surveyors can continue Accelerate GNSS Product Evolution and regional resources sector. to use the R12i’s tilt compensation functionality even in challenging Spirent Communications plc has The partnership will enable the environments when other solutions announced the release of SimIQ, a development of a unique customer struggle to maintain GNSS and inertial new software that will allow for earlier proposition that allows its customers positioning. https://R12i.trimble.com and more efficient GNSS testing to take full advantage of the growing during product development. From convergence between operational and Elevate your performance software-in-the-loop through to final information technologies. www.cyient.com with UltraMap 5.0 form testing, it enables developers to collaborate across the full design HUBER+SUHNER launches new Vexcel Imaging has released UltraMap lifecycle through the creation, sharing SENCITY® PTC antenna version 5.0, the latest update of its and replay of I/Q data files. all-in-one aerial photogrammetry HUBER+SUHNER has launched its software featuring comprehensive SimIQ has been developed to meet the new SENCITY® PTC Antenna which DTM generation and full integration of growing need to test GNSS capabilities boasts the highest number of heavy-rail Ortho Production in UltraMap Studio. earlier to accelerate product development, certifications in the industry. Deployed while simultaneously reducing costs by throughout the USA, PTC (Positive With the introduction of a completely identifying issues prior to the purchase Train Control) systems are designed to new Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of hardware components. It extends monitor and, if necessary, take control algorithm based on automatic semantic multi-frequency, multi-constellation of railway vehicles to provide railway image segmentation and intelligent simulation capabilities to cover software- operators with increased safety. filtering, UltraMap 5.0 now generates only testing needs through the capture comprehensive DSMs and DTMs and replay of high fidelity I/Q data files. The new Antenna offers advanced for export at unprecedented quality. features such as high voltage and high Additionally, several new features have SimIQ will be available to new current protection, added protection for been implemented to facilitate and speed and existing customers beginning the antenna and RF path from catenary up the data production process. From in Q4 2020. www.spirent.com line strikes which can destroy electronic simultaneous DSM and DTM editing in
Coordinates September 2020 | 37 one interface and simple re-processing for Atmospheric monitoring and earth MyGalileoSolution competition ortho products, to the full integration of observation microsatellites Ortho Production in UltraMap Studio and The European GNSS Agency (GSA) new quality control tools like visualization Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), a launches the #MyGalileoSolution of non-ground objects: Customers gain developer of 52 distinct microspace competition. The contest is targeting the best possible insight and control over missions, has announced the successful European innovators and entrepreneurs their data throughout the entire value launch and deployment of the GHGSat-C1 ready to develop location-based solutions, chain to create 3D spatial data products greenhouse gas monitoring microsatellite such as mobile applications, wearable-based that meet the highest photogrammetric and the Slovenian NEMO-HD Earth solutions, asset management and tracking standards. www.vexcel-imaging.com observation microsatellite. SFL developed solutions, or robotics, leveraging Galileo the small satellites at its facility in Toronto. as a source of positioning, navigation Applanix introduces next and/or timing. A wide participation generation OEM solution Established at the University of Toronto from all Member States is expected. Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) Applanix has introduced the Trimble® in 1998, SFL has developed CubeSats, GSA has a successful track record in AP+ Air OEM solution for Direct nanosatellites, and microsatellites supporting and boosting GNSS-based Georeferencing of airborne sensor that have achieved more than 126 innovative applications. For years the data. The solution enables users to cumulative years of operation in orbit. Agency has been leading several research accurately and efficiently produce These microspace missions have and innovation initiatives such as the maps and 3D models without the use of included SFL’s trusted attitude control Galileo Masters, Horizon 2020 projects, ground control points. It is a powerful and, in some cases, formation-flying and more recently European competitions solution for manned platforms yet capabilities. Other core SFL-developed like the 2019 MyGalileoApp and small enough for use on Unmanned components include modular (scalable) Hackathons across Europe and beyond. Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It is also power systems, onboard radios, flight compatible with virtually any type computers, and control software. With a prize pool of almost € 1.5 of airborne remote sensor, including million, MyGalileoSolution is the largest photogrammetric cameras, LiDAR, hyper GHGSat Inc. awarded SFL competition ever organized by the GSA. and multi-spectral cameras, and synthetic the development contract for It consists of two independent and parallel aperture radar. www.applanix.com GHGSat-C1 (“Iris”) after building tracks, each one with a list of goals and the pathfindingGHGSat-D (“Claire”) deliverables. Track 1 - From Idea to New version of Quadri by Trimble microsatellite launched in 2016. Prototype – aims to develop a beta version Using high-precision target tracking of an application or a prototype of a Trimble is introducing a new version capabilities developed by SFL, Claire solution implementing an idea, reaching of its Quadri cloud-based BIM server successfully demonstrated that sources minimum 50 % of its functionality. Track and collaboration platform. This of methane and other gas emissions 2 -From Prototype to Product – aims solution will offer an innovative could be detected and measured from to develop a fully functional solution common data environment platform space. SFL is currently developing ready to be commercialised starting for infrastructure projects specifically another microsatellite, GHGSat-C2, from a beta version of an application or to the European market. for the company. www.utias-sfl.net a prototype. www.gsa.europa.eu
Quadri now promotes both open formats and third-party software in a bi- MARK YOUR CALENDAR directional workflow. Planners, designers and contractors can use their preferred October 2020 November 2020 engineering software and add a shared, Intergeo Digital 2020 Autodesk University (Digital) live project model. The open formats 13-15 October North and South America software also allows project owners https://www.intergeo.de November 17-20 Europe, Middle East, Africa, 10th IGRSM International Conference to see abreast of their project through and Asia Pacific and Exhibition on Geospatial & Remote an equivalent model. All changes in a November 18-20 project are tracked including change Sensing (IGRSM 2020) - Virtual https://www.autodesk.com/ 20-21 October 2020 autodesk-university/ history. Quadri will be now offered as a http://igrsm.org/igrsm2020/index.html software-as-a-service solution for model December 2020 and issue management, bundled with International Symposium on Satellite Amsterdam Drone Week & Trimble’s file data management system, Navigation (ISSN 2020) UAM Hybrid Summits Trimble Connect. www.trimble.com 21-24 October 1 - 3 December 2020. Nanjing University of Information www.amsterdamdroneweek.com Science and Technology, Nanjing, China http://issn2020.csp.escience. 38 | Coordinates September 2020 cn/dct/page/1 BE PART OF THE BIGGEST DIGITAL SHOW OF THE GEOSPATIAL COMMUNITY
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