NEWSBRIEFS – INDUSTRY

Spirent delivers 3 carrier solution, launches GSS8000

The architecture of Spirent’s systems is designed to support coherent simulation of multiple GNSS signals together. The SimGEN for Windows® software enables control and flexibility over multiple satellite constellations as well as interference sources and augmentation systems such as EGNOS and WAAS. It operates in real time to generate simulated RF signals across all GNSS and interference signals. Spirent Communications has also recently launched new Spirent GSS8000 simulation system, a signal generator unit for GPS, Galileo and GLONASS testing. It tests advanced satellite navigation technologies and offers enhanced capability, increased flexibility and improved signal fidelity.This new solution supports processing rates as low as 4 ms with pseudorange accuracy at 1 mm for many scenarios. Its new design allows for a wide variety of configurations from GPS L1 right up to comprehensive multi-RF output and/or multi-constellation test systems. http://www.spirent.com

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging becomes Erdas

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging has changed its name to Erdas Inc. Erdas will sell a range of software designed to provide an end-to-end solution for extracting maximum value from Earth imagery. The name change does not affect Leica Geosystems, which will continue to sell surveying hardware, total stations, other devices, and the software associated with such devices.

NPR-302 series

Nikon-Trimble Co., Ltd. has introduced the NPR-302 Series of Nikon® Total Stations—high precision, long-range reflectorless mechanical total stations with laser pointers suitable for a variety of surveying applications.

Trimble GCS900 Grade control system, VRS NowTM service

Trimble has introduced its Trimble® GCS900 Grade Control System version 10.8, which provides automatic blade control, configurable earthworks progress monitoring and blade guidance software on the machine. It allows earthworks operators to visualize, construct and balance road surfaces more accurately and faster, in higher gears. Trimble has also launched Trimble® VRS Now™ Service in Madrid, Spain. It will provide surveyors, civil engineers and geospatial professionals in the area with instant access to real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS corrections without the need for a base station. http://www.trimble.com.

Eclipse Developer Kit by Hemisphere GPS

Hemisphere GPS has released an OEM development kit for its Eclipse dualfrequency GPS receiver technology. It allow product designers and system integrators to more easily access and test all of the available features on an Eclipse board, simplifying the effort needed to reach a proof of concept and shortening the time required bringing a product to market. http://www.insidegnss.com

EADS Astrium to buy Surrey Satellite Technology

EADS Astrium has agreed to acquire U.K-based University of Surrey spinoff company Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL), maker of Galileo’s first satellite, GIOVE-A. The deal provides the financial and industrial resources required for SSTL’s expansion and future development. The university will maintain a close tie with SSTL, retaining a small stake in the company as well.

PCI Geomatics announces the release of ProLines

PCI Geomatics has announced the release of ProLines. These highly automated image processing chains are used to correct, mosaic, and enhance imagery, as well as extract elevation data derived from satellite and airborne sensors. ProLines are designed for production environments and can process large amounts of image data in an unassisted fashion. http://www.pcigeomatics.com

GRAS GIS releases version 6.3.0

GRASS 6.3.0 is a “technology preview” release, the first beta on the path to GRASS 6.4-stable, and also marks the start of work on GRASS 7. As such GRASS 6.3.0 is not intended to be a stable release with ongoing support, but after five months of quality-assurance review users can be confident to use this version for their day to day work, indeed due to the open development model many already do.http://grass.osgeo.org

DigitalGlobe joins Autodesk to provide world imagery

DigitalGlobe has joined Autodesk’s data initiative. Its participation in the initiative will give Autodesk customers access to world imagery solutions. Autodesk’s new data initiative portal offers customers access to DigitalGlobe’s online library of world imagery directly with AutoCAD Map 3D® software. http://media.digitalglobe.com/

Bentley to help sustain bridge infrastructure

Bentley Systems has taken an initiative to deliver Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) technology for the entire bridge lifecycle. BrIM, will drive the initiative under the leadership of Bentley Senior VP, Gabe Norona. It will provide broad access to newly acquired advanced bridge products in Bentley’s comprehensive software portfolio. It will also integrate these and other related Bentley products to provide an interoperable, data-managed bridge solution for planning, design, engineering, analysis, fabrication, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. http://www.bentley.com

Leica IPAS20 – New compact airborne direct georeferencing system

The new Leica IPAS20 modular standalone system delivers direct georeferencing for a wide range of airborne sensors such as imaging, LIDAR, synthetic aperture radar, thermal and multispectral systems. It is equipped with the latest GPS/GLONASS technology and a plug and play IMU interface. Leica Geosystems provides a complete airborne workflow that includes software.

MobileMapper® CX with DigiTerra® Explore by Magellan

DigiTerra Explorer mobile GIS and field mapping software is available preinstalled on an SD card with the Magellan MobileMapper CX handheld GPS/ GIS receiver. It promises exceptional productivity at low-cost for field mapping and data collection applications and gaining attention as a fast and easy-to-use GIS application package for visualizing, analyzing, editing and collecting digital topographical and descriptive data in the field.

Carlson Software to Give Users CAD Platform Choice

Carlson Software Inc., recently released Carlson series; Civil 2009, Survey 2009, Hydrology 2009, Mining 2009, Takeoff 2009 and GIS 2009. In addition to this new choice of CAD engines, the 2009 Carlson software line-up features 100s of improvements in functionality. Additional new feature highlights include the ability to view an aerial image draped onto a surface in both the Carlson 3D Viewer and Surface 3D Flyover.

New Managing Director of Vexcel Imaging GmbH

Mr. Alexander Wiechert has taken over as Managing Director of Vexcel Imaging GmbH, Graz, effective. He replaces the Vexcel founder and Vexcel Imaging CEO, Franz Leberl, who recently retired.

ERDAS Announces Sun Solaris Support for Image Web Server 8.5

ERDAS Image Web Server 8.5 shall support the Sun Solaris (x86) operating system. IWS is a high-speed, specialized server application that efficiently distributes large volumes of geospatial image data. Sun Solaris delivers a high level of performance, stability and security. It spans the entire enterprise: the Web tier, the data warehouse and the most demanding technical software applications.

POSPac Air 5.0 now available to all Optech airborne survey clients

Optech Incorporated, shall offer its airborne survey clients the latest developments in inertial navigation solutions. POSPac Air 5.0 by Applanix represents a huge leap in maximizing data collection efficiencies when using Optech’s ALTMs and ultimately increases return on investment.

ESRI Vietnam Opens

ESRI in association with ESRI Thailand has opened ESRI Viet-nam. The company hopes to expand the education market in the country and plans to increase GIS training through joint initiatives with local schools and universities.

Chronos launches portable GPS reradiator solution

Chronos Technology, has launched a portable GPS Reradiator solution for military applications. The L1/ L2 GPS Reradiator is designed for rapid deployment in a variety of military environments such as aircraft and helicopters (up to 70,000ft), hangars, bunkers, armoured fighting vehicles, field deployable solutions etc. . http://www.pr-inside.com

Rockwell Collins delivers 40,000th GPS engine to the US army

Rockwell Collins has delivered 200,000 Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receivers (DAGR) for use by US and international warfighters, and has reached the 40,000 unit sales milestone for its GPS engine for the US Army’s Ground Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM) program. http://www.rockwellcollins.com

Raytheon wins $61 million contract for GPS Receivers

Raytheon Company has won a $61 million U.S. Air Force contract to complete the development and certification of next-generation GPS receivers. http://money.cnn.com

Raytheon wins $61 million contract for GPS Receivers

Raytheon Company has won a $61 million U.S. Air Force contract to complete the development and certification of next-generation GPS receivers. http://money.cnn.com

HTC launches the P3470 in India

HTC Corporation has launched HTC P3470™ in India. Combining a lightweight design, large screen, navigation wheel, and macro lens, this smartphone is coupled with GPSbased devices and offers the best satnav solution for PDA or mobile phone. http://sifybroadband.techwhack.com

Altek announces GPS digital camera

Altek, a Taiwan-based digital camera maker, unveiled a digital camera with built-in GPS function. With an 8-megapixel resolution and a 3-inch touch screen, the camera can automatically record the longitude and latitude of where a picture is taken. http://www.digitimes.com

From the desk of Novatel

NovAtel Inc. has released EuroPak- 15ab receiver. It tracks the Galileo E1/L1, E5a, and E5b signals from the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B test satellites. It also tracks GPS and SBAS L1 and L5 signals, and is ideal for monitoring the new L1/ L5 wide area system GEO signals.

NovAtel Waypoint Products Group™ has also released Inertial Explorer Version 8.10 software used for GNSS/INS post-processing.

As part of the integration of Antcom products into the NovAtel offering, it is changing the names of our Special-Purpose antennas, and discontinuing our non- RoHS-compliant L1 antennas.

NovAtel Inc. recently launched its GL1DE technology for agricultural applications; it combines L1 code and L1 phase data for consistent positional output. It is designed for agricultural applications in which pass-to-pass repeatability is critical. Users of GL1DE will experience a smooth, consistent position appropriate for both lightbar and autosteer systems; position jumps are virtually eliminated.