Over the years topographic mapping generally involved acquisition of data related to the features of the earth, its environs of user’s interest and its graphic depiction on a suitable media, generally paper, ensuring that the accuracy specifications, which depend upon the type of end product, are strictly adhered to.
Over the years topographic mapping generally involved acquisition of data related to the features of the earth, its environs of user’s interest and its graphic depiction on a suitable media, generally paper, ensuring that the accuracy specifications, which depend upon the type of end product, are strictly adhered to.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) consists of GPS, GLONASS and Galileo which is still under construction by the European Union. GPS is the most widespread GNSS in the world and applies successfully in so many fields such as positioning, navigation, geodesy, mapping, timing and so on. However, GLONASS has not done its work well for about ten years because of lack of funds. In summer of 2006, Russia’s GLONASS program continued its comeback and will have a full 24-satellite constellation by the end of 2009. Notably, China has a regional RDSS system using three geostationary satellites since 2000.
INS is a self-contained positioning and attitude device. In other words, it meets the all-environment requirement. The primary advantage of using INS is that velocity and position of the vehicle can be provided with abundant dynamic information and excellent short term performance. The main shortcoming is that the INS accuracy degrades greatly over time.

Galileo – the European Programme for Global Navigation Services for civil purposes is an initiative led by European Union. We provide regular updates to our readers on the Galileo programme.

US expresses concern over satellite-killing test by China
The USA, Australia and Canada have voiced concerns to China over the fi rst known satellite-killing test in space in more than 20 years. The capability demonstrated by China was no surprise to the Bush administration, which revised U.S. national space policy in October to assert a right to deny space access to anyone hostile to US Interests. The US has been researching satellitekillers of its own, experimenting with lasers on the ground that could disable, disrupt and destroy spacecraft. http://news.scotsman.com

NATO awards GIS contract to TENET
NATO NC3 Agency has awarded the GIS Data Preparation Contract to TENET supported by Galdos Systems Inc. and IIC Technologies Inc in Canada. The project involves the generation of a wide range of geospatial data models compliant with some of the latest spatial open information standards from OGC and ISO and the conversion of many terabytes of vector, raster and gridded data. A large proportion of NATO’s paper holdings of maps and charts will also be digitized and converted to the same set of open standards. The objective is to create an open and shareable map database as part of NATO core GIS infrastructure withinz the Alliance. At the forefront of these open standards are the two key encodings of GML and GMLJP2 to provide effective encoding for Raster and Coverage data.
www.galdosinc.com

Russia, India sign agreements on GLONASS
Russia and India has signed two cooperation agreements on GLONASS, which will be used by Moscow’s longtime partner in the military-technical sector. The agreements were signed by the head of Russia’s Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, and Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Perminov earlier said Russia and India plan to jointly use GLONASS. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that Moscow and New Delhi had agreed to launch GLONASS-M satellites with the help of Indian booster rockets, and to create new-generation navigation satellites. The Russian Ministry of Defense has already lifted all restrictions on obtaining and using the geospatial information provided by the GLONASS.
http://en.rian.ru

OnFinally, Google agreed.
Agreed to blur the pictures of sensitive Indian establishments.
Recently, Google Earth shocked many.
Many took the development as the deathblow to the issues like
“non-accessibility/non-availability of spatial information”.
However, many got worried, more than ever before,
about the security implications.
The issue was more important as many contended that “such
exposures” were selective in nature and not for all …

GloNav unveils industry’s lowest-power GPS RFIC
GloNav Inc. announced the volume production availability of its ultra low-power L1 GPS RFIC optimized for integration into cellular handsets, portable consumer electronic devices and battery operated GPS devices.
The GNR1040 is a highly integrated, low-power, single-conversion low- IF GPS RFIC for the 1.575GHz – L1 signal that includes built-in flexibility and programmability to support multiple GPS baseband processors. www.glonavgps.com

Leica FCMS Flight & Sensor Control Management System
Sweden-based Leica Geosystems’ Flight & Sensor Control Management System (FCMS), assists pilots and sensor operators to effi ciently control GPS-based survey fl ights. It performs all tasks, such as fl ight guidance, sensor recording and sensor monitoring, on a single man-machine interface, providing automated operation and minimized user interaction.Leica Geosystems also introduces the Rugby 50 and Rugby 55. With the Leica Rugby 50 and 55 are two new lasers that are designed for different applications: The Rugby 50 is dedicated to general construction contractors, being a tough, affordable laser with a single button. Whereas the Leica Rugby 55 is designed for the interior contractor – a versatile laser, perfect for almost any leveling and alignment job. In addition, Leica Geosystems has also announced a new enterprise software licensing program called Leica EnterpriseElite. Qualifi- ed companies benefi t from simplified software license management tools, fl exibility to immediately react to changing project demands, signifi cant software cost savings, and the ability to effi ciently standardize an entire global organization. www.leica-geosystems.com

February 2007

Integrated Water Resource Management- (IWRM-2007)

5-7 February, Banglore, India

www.angelfire.com/planet/kerf/

Geomatica 2007: Geomatics …