PRS92 surveying standard compulsory
All offices of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines have to adopt the Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PRS92) as the standard reference for all their surveying and mapping activities. “PRS92 is based on the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) which makes use of the GPS. Adoption of this system in the Philippines may help the country to be at par with global standards.

UN proposes global geospatial information mechanism
“There is general agreement of an urgent need for an inter-government consultative mechanism that can play a leadership role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information, and to promote its use to address key global challenges; to liaise and coordinate among member states, and between member states and international organizations,” according to a statement by the United Nations (UN). During a meeting on Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM), Cochair Hiroshi Murakami said while there are various international organisations that have been working on geospatial information, the UN feels that there is a need for an official mechanism that would link the outcomes of such organisations to specific policy decisions and actions of member states. www.futuregov.asia

NRSC inducts state of the art Airborne Large Format Digital Camera into service
National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, India has inducted state of the art Airborne Large Format Digital Camera (LFDC) into the country and successfully carried out the first operational task during December, 2010 over 10 towns in Chhattisgarh state for the Department of Land Records, Government of Chhattisgarh. NRSC utilized it Super King Air B -200 aircraft fitted with Computer Controlled Navigation System (CCNS), Gyro stabilized mount and Kinematic GPS system (KGPS) for the survey.

Consumers share uneasy relationship with LBS
Location-based advertisements prompt nearly half of customers to take action, says a new study from Microsoft. The Microsoft-commissioned research in the UK, Germany, Japan, the U.S. and Canada, and found that 18% of consumers (22% in the U.S.) have seen an advertisement based on their location. Of those, 46% have taken action, including redeeming the coupon offered or visiting the store. Nine in 10 users think location-based ads are useful.

JAXA selects Spirent for Multi-GNSS Testing
To further the development of the Quazi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) program, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has selected Spirent Communications’ testing solutions to verify performance of its satellite receivers. JAXA is using Spirent’s GSS8000 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator.

Japan keen to own navigation satellite system
Japan is considering launching new satellites to establish its own global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in a bid to reduce its reliance on GPS network. The country aims to make it 10 times more accurate than GPS. The satellites would be of the same type as the so-called quasi-zenith satellite, Michibiki, or of a geostationary type. The project is being drafted by the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development headed by Naoto Kan, Prime Minister, Japan.

Law to ensure optimum use of geospatial tech in Delhi
A year after the Delhi government, India, launched its much-publicised INR 120-crore geo-spatial project to map the land and utility service records of the city, it has been observed that its officials prefer sticking to the old ways. Hence the Delhi State Government is now planning to enact a law to ensure that its officials use the technology in everyday applications.

Wikileaks syndrome affects Galileo project
Berry Smutny, CEO of OHB-System, has lost his job because of Wikileaks. He was reported in a Wikileaks’ cable to have told US diplomats that Europe’s Galileo satellite-navigation project was a “stupid idea”. Although Smutny has denied the cable’s contents, OHB’s board has decided to remove him from his post.

Trimble buys Indian vehicle tracking, telematics company
Trimble releases eCognition version 8.64
NAVTEQ’s Global R&D Center now in Mumbai
Astrium bags billion dollar military contract
TopSURV 8 sets new industry standards

NavCom announces new capabilities
CORE Geospatial and DAT/EM announcement for DVP Users
RapidEye German mosaic now available
GMV announces the release of a Software GPS receiver for mass-market applications
SuperGeo develop dynamic bus info & transit system for Taichung City

Chronos leading a Consortium to develop a trusted service to detect and locate GPS jamming
u-blox launches LISA 3G modules optimized for M2M
NovAtel wins 2010 Alberta Export Award
Weihai Emergency Operations Centre Wins 2010 China City Information Application Award
GPS Mobile Mapping used to resolve Kosovo private property claims

ISRO to set up ground station to relay RS data DG’s satellite imagery for Chinese navigation companies China, Pakistan ink deal on remote sensing GeoEye to buy SPADAC for USD 46million PCI Geomatics to deliver GXL satellite processing system