NEWSBRIEFS –INDUSTRY

Trimble to acquire RolleiMetric. Introduces Multi-GNSS CORS Receiver

Trimble Navigation has agreed to acquire RolleiMetric from Rollei GmbH, Germany. RolleiMetric is a provider of metric camera systems for aerial imaging and terrestrial close range photogrammetry.
Trimble has introduced the Trimble® NetR8™ GNSS reference receiver. It can operate as a campaign receiver for post processing, as a Continuously Operating Reference Station receiver, portable base station for RTK applications or as a scientific reference station collecting information for specialized studies.
Specific applications include high-accuracy positioning as part of a Trimble VRS™ network, support for DGPS MSK beacons, and integrity monitoring of networks and physical infrastructure such as bridges, dams and mines. It has 76 channels and supports GPS L1, L2, L2C and L5 signals as well as GLONASS L1/L2 signals. There are also four channels dedicated to tracking SBAS.http://www.trimble.com

GNSS market to grow to $6b to $8b by 2012

According Eric Gakstatter, contributing GPS World editor, and Position One Consulting Pty. Ltd. the global market for precision GNSS products and services will grow to between $6 billion and $8 billion by 2012.
Markets covered by the report include surveying, engineering, agriculture, mining, deformation monitoring, GIS, and marine for both machine control and nonmachine control applications for the time period 2008 through 2012. The report also discusses the background and status of the entire spectrum of GNSS including GPS and, GLONASS and its modernization, SBAS, Galileo and Compass/Beidou, QZSS, and IRNSS systems, as well as technology/market trends and potential disruptions. http://sc.gpsworld.com

Tele Atlas global database expands to deliver digital map of India

Tele Atlas has announced the availability of Tele Atlas digital maps for India, which includes 5,463 sub-districts, 593 districts and 35 states and union territories and includes detailed street level coverage for approximately 109,000 kms in 8 major cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR region, Hyderabad-Secunderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
Tele Atlas’ new map offering of India covers the complete national highway network which includes expressways, national highways, and state highways and encompasses approximately 162,000 kms. The initial product offering also includes more than 108,000 points of interest. www.teleatlas.com

Geospatial Systems, Leica Geo team up for Airborne Mapping

Geospatial Systems Inc. and Leica Geosystems AG have embarked on a partnership to create image capture and dissemination systems for airborne mapping and surveillance applications. It will be based initially on the integration of Leica’s ALS LIDAR products with GSI’s direct georeferenced aerial mapping, GSI’s direct georeferenced aerial imaging systems is based on the TerraPix technology platform, including electro-optical, infrared, multi-spectral mapping sensor systems and camera controllers for multi-camera arrays.
http://eirs.geospatial-solutions.com

Version 3.500 firmware released

Version 3.500 firmware for their OEMV family of GNSS precision receivers will include the new RT-2 L1TE positioning, ALIGN heading and the latest OmniSTAR HP 4.28 library. RT-2 L1TE is NovAtel’s new single frequency RTK solution which optimally combines GPS and GLONASS measurements to produce centimeter accurate positions for baseline lengths of up to 3 kms.

SPAN-SE – New GNSS + Inertial Receiver

GNSS + INS receiver, the SPAN-SE is designed for precision applications, it enhances the powerful OEMV® receiver with features that are critical to precision GNSS/INS system integrators such as on-board data logging, Ethernet connectivity, wheel sensor input and scalability for future GNSS advances.
The pinpoint accuracy of GNSS positioning and the stability of IMU gyro and accelerometer measurements combine to provide a 3D position, velocity and attitude solution. Unlike GNSS-only navigation systems, the output is stable and continuously available, even through periods where GNSS signals are blocked.

Quadruple Constellation GNSS Choke Ring Antenna

GNSS-750 choke ring antenna is an innovative, 3D design of the GNSS-
750 enables superior low level elevation tracking, with the ability to track satellites as soon as they are visible, down to the horizon and even below. It incorporates an ultra-wideband Dorne- Margolin element and has optimized antenna gain so it can be used with most manufacturers’ geodetic receivers.

Azteca Systems ties-up with Rolta International

Azteca Systems, Inc., provider of GIScentric management solutions, has tied up with Rolta International, a company in GeoSpatial Fusion™ solutions. Now, Rolta becomes the official Cityworks distributor for the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

SOCET SET® software to play vital role in NGA workstations

The front-end processing Environment (FPE), which has been in use by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency since 1997, is due to be replaced by SOCET SET® v5.4.1 soon. FPE provides the vital NGA requirement for geopositioning, and creates Digital Point Positioning Data Base format production module and Controlled Image Base(CIB)® format production module products for U.S. troops in the field. These digital map products are used for terrain analysis, and to determine precise image coordinates such as latitude, longitude, elevation, and other image data for simulation, targeting, and mission planning operations

R220™ GPS receiver by Hemisphere GPS

Hemisphere GPS, has introduced the R220 GPS Receiver, its first finished product to be powered by Eclipse™, Hemisphere GPS’ patented dual frequency technology. It provides extremely accurate, versatile, and robust positioning, in virtually any environment, anywhere in the world. It features RTK for fast, reliable, long range centimeter level performance. It also tracks GPS, SBAS, and L-Band (OmniSTAR® HP/XP) differential corrections.

MB 500: GPS+GLONASS+SBAS OEM board by Magellan

Magellan has launched a new OEM board, the MB 500. It brings to the embedded GNSS board market a unique blend of technologies that increases RTK reliability and assures inter-compatibility with other brands of GNSS receivers. Utilizing Magellan’s BLADE™ Technology, it provides solutions from 3 constellations: GPS, GLONASS and SBAS. It also utilizes all available GLONASS corrections without suffering from the interchannel GLONASS biases that can affect other manufacturer’s receivers.

GSS8000 Series GNSS Constellation Simulator-“A powerful flexible choice for R&D applications”

Spirent’s new GSS8000 GNSS simulator series has been designed to meet all the demanding requirements of research and development teams involved in satellite navigation and positioning systems.

RF simulation is an essential part of satellite navigation receiver, system and application development. Only by providing controlled, repeatable signals to the system under test can development resources be properly focused and system performance properly optimised and assured. Due to its modular design, the GSS8000 can be readily adapted to the requirements of different applications. The GSS8000 includes GPS, Galileo and GLONASS signals, plus SBAS combined at one RF output. The same system is also capable of generating signals representing the planned Japanese Quazi Zenith satellite system.
In a conversation with Coordinates, Mr. John Pottle, marketing director for positioning at Spirent Communications highlighted some of the key points about GSS8000 series as follows

What is unique about GSS8000 series Simulators?

We are moving into a world beyond just GPS testing, to a world of not only multisignal but multi-constellation simulators. Spirent’s GSS8000 supports GPS, Galileo and GLONASS today. It is also becoming the norm to combine GNSS with augmentation and other navigation systems or aids, for example inertial sensors or dead-reckoning sensors.
The GSS8000 is designed to work with all of Spirent’s extensions and options in these areas including inertial, automotive and interference simulation.

Does GSS8000 support SBAS and all the other future signals including GAGAN?

Yes. As well as existing SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS), the GSS8000 is
designed to support GAGAN and future GNSS such as the planned Compass system.

How cost competitive is GSS8000?

Laboratory-based simulation is a very costeffective solution to GNSS testing. Compared to the costs and uncertainties of field-testing, where it is never possible to repeat the same conditions, laboratory testing provides flexibility under controlled, repeatable conditions. In addition to the GSS8000, which is our fully flexible system, Spirent has a wide range of systems for different applications, test needs and budgets.

How does Spirent simulator has an edge over others?

We are very proud of our more than 20 years’ heritage and deserved reputation for reliable systems with the highest fidelity signals in the industry. Each Spirent system comes with comprehensive software modelling capabilities as standard, and is backed up by regional support centres around the globe. We believe you can invest in Spirent with confidence that you will get the best test system to help you build the best products and systems for your customers.

Magellan Maestro 3210 Portable GPS with Maps

The Magellan Maestro 3210 with a size of 3.25 inches high, 3.65 inches wide and just 0.7 inches in depth fits the part of an ultra-thin portable GPS. It features the SiRFstarIII GPS chipset with an accuracy of 3 to 5 meters. Also included is a bird’s-eye 3D view, 6 million POI, preloaded North American maps and other features.
http://www.product-reviews.net

ERDAS Launches ERDAS Apollo 2009

ERDAS Inc. has unveiled ERDAS Apollo 2009, its system for integrating geospatial data formats with existing GIS environments and other business applications.
It simplifies the utilization of vector, raster, and terrain data by integrating that data with existing business systems, such as the Oracle database, for persisting intelligent metadata and application specific information. It can be integrated with IT standards such as JavaEE, SOAP/ WSDL, and REST, and can also deliver geospatial information to domain-specific desktop and web client applications. It is OGC and ISO compliant and implements WMS, WCS, WFS, WFST and CS-W standards and the ECW-P and JPIP wavelet streaming protocols.
http://gismap.geospatial-solutions.com

Topcon Announces New Organizational Structure

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., has announced a change in its management operations. The new structure’s four market-focused business units are: Survey and Construction, Emerging Business (GIS, network, mobile, Precision Agriculture, and Telematics.
http://www.gisuser.com/

Canon launches 44”, high-speed printer for the CAD and GIS market

The imagePROGRAF iPF810 and iPF820 are five-ink dye and pigment printers that combine fast output production speeds with efficient ink usage. Both are capable of reproducing A1 prints in 24 seconds and A0 prints in 47 seconds, in addition, they can reproduce fine line widths down to 0.02mm, with a range accuracy of 0.1%. The iPF820 is equipped with a dual roll capability with auto switching, enabling it to handle large print runs with different types and sizes of media. The iPF810, on the other hand, has an optional take-up unit for fast consecutive printing and enabling unmanned printing.
Both printers are capable of borderless printing saving time in finishing by removing the need for edge trimming.
http://www.wideformatonline.com/

Rockwell Collins to provide E-2D to US Navy

Rockwell Collins has been selected by the U.S. Navy to provide the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Integrated Training System for Aircrew (HITS-A). It will feature a state-of-the art radar, as well as upgraded aircraft systems and avionics that will improve supportability and increase readiness.www.rockwellcollins.com.

Bentley Launches Building Performance Group,

Bentley has launched a new Building Performance Group which will focus on software solutions and products that address the immediate global need to create and maintain energyefficient, environmentally friendly, safer buildings. Bentley’s recently acquired Hevacomp line of leading building services design software includes products for energy analysis, heating and cooling load calculations, pipe and duct sizing, and electrical system design, and Tas software for fast, in-depth energy analysis and simulation of demanding and challenging large-scale building environments.
http://www.bentley.com/hevacomp.

DIMAC Systems unveils its latest IT rack

DIMAC Systems, a provider of digital aerial imagery solutions has unveiled IT Rack, the centralized image acquisition system of its DiMAC™ (Digital Modular Aerial Camera). It has been designed to be fitted on any type of aircraft, from small single engine planes to large biturbo ones. Its design, size and weight make this tailor-made anti-vibration rack extremely easy to install on and remove from any aircraft.The IT Rack is made of three components: the Master Computer Unit – Powerful management brainpower, the Slave Computer Unit – Intelligent image acquisition arm, and the Removable Storage Unit – Plug-andplay memory. www.dimacsystems.com