TRIUMPH-VS software updates version 1.6 is released: Javad has released Version 1.6 of TRIUMPH-VS software. Its new features include Polish language support and Action button debounce. It has also improved Map screen performance, Languages support, Point coordinates input, Fixed Base Station action, Solution RMSes display in Action screen, US Survey units (feet) support, Device temperature monitoring and UHF Setup.

France to begin investigation of Apple’s location-based tracking services: The issue over location-based tracking has been plaguing Apple for a while now. The Cupertino-based company along with Google were questioned by the government over privacy concerns with location-based tracking. A federal lawsuit was also filed against Apple several months ago and not too long ago Apple recently settled a similar lawsuit in South Korea by paying a $3,000 fine and an additional $1,000 to a South Korean user, who seemed to take an issue with the tracking. Given that the fine Apple had to pay in South Korea seems like a pittance, we’re guessing the legal fees will cost a lot more and it appears that Apple may have to start digging into their coffers again as France has started their own investigation.

1,145 satellites to be launched in next decade:
Euroconsult, a research and analyst firm specialising in the satellite and space sectors, forecasted that approximately 1,145 satellites will be built for launch during the next ten years (2011-2020), 51 percent more satellites than the previous decade. These projections came from Euroconsult’s just-released Satellites to be Built & Launched by 2020, World Market Survey.

This paper is going to provide a concept of a new system for positioning the target bees. The biologists eagerly wish to collect the bodies of the bees in order to find the causes of the colony collapse disorder (CCD) of bees. As we know it, there are several ways used to find out and trace animals. For example, the scientists set up the transponders or the GPS trackers on the top of shells of thalassians or on the feet of migrant birds by ringing. These methods make great contributions for tracking and studying in the field of the biological research. However, how to track or position small insects, like cicadas, butterflies, or bees, is still a problem needed to be solved. The obvious crux of the problem is the size and the weight of the devices which are not suitable for fitting on such a small insects.

Cadastre: Evolution or Revolution?- Kees de Zeeuw, Martin Salzmann;
Track me if you can! – Pei-Hung Jau, Zuomin Tsai, Fan-ren Chang, Huei Wang;
How to measure traffic jam?- Martin Grzebellus;
National GIS: Views and voices- K R Sridhara Murthi, NL Sarda, Swarna Subba Rao, Vandana Sharma

We come from a situation where the societal relevance of a cadastre was limited to the core statutory tasks of registration and maintenance of cadastral maps and providing information on land parcels and their ownership and use-rights (van der Molen, 2009). Nowadays, modern land registry organisations do not only face many new challenges, also the pace of demand for new products and services increases every year.

As traffic jam is getting a bad reality in our times, realistic information on the traffic situation together with optimized routing to reduce overall waiting time on the trip become more and more valuable all over the world. But how to vlaidate, if the information provided is reliable and trutsworthy? On the first look, this sounds easy, but as truth is in the details, a lot of hurdles have to be passed for a successful finish.

The Planning Commission has proposed the establishment of National GIS (NGIS) through Indian National GIS Organization (INGO). It has formed Interim Core Group (ICG) to prepare a blueprint of the NGIS. Readers may recall the views of Dr Shaliesh Nayak, Chairman, National GIS Interim Core Group (ICG) and Dr Mukund Rao, Member Secretary, ICG (Coordinates – July 2011). To carry forward the discussion, we present here the views of some of the ICG Members. The views, though diverse, contribute significantly in building a strong foundation for an important initiative like NGIS

It is a battle about resources, which is scarce and precious
It is about spectrum.
Stakes are high and consequences are serious.
When in January this year, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) gave conditional approval to LightSquared,
To roll out its ground based wireless network (4G).
GPS community got nervous.
As testing indicates that LightSquared’s ground-based transmissions
overpower the relatively weak GPS signal …

August 2011: 7th International Symposium on Digital Earth,
23 – 25 August 2011, Perth, Australia, Perth, Australia, www.isde7.net;