Indian NSDI publishes Metadata Standards ver 2.0

The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), under Department of Science & Technology of Government of India, has released Metadata Standard 2.0. It is prepared by the working group on ‘Metadata Standards’ chaired by Dr. S K Pathan, from Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmadabad. The National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) Metadata Standards defines the schema and design for the NSDI Metadata. It also contains a set of relational tables that standardise the layer metadata, the geographic search metadata, the access metadata etc.

Metadata is the first element of the NSDI, which enables a user to find spatial data that is available in different NSDI Agency servers. It serves two major purposes – both for the spatial data generator and for the spatial data user. For the generator, it provides a framework to document the spatial data and declare its content for users. For the user, it serves many important purposes, including finding the spatial data as per need; browsing spatial data; deciding on whether the spatial data will meet the application need and finding how the spatial data can be accessed.

ISRO, with the involvement of Survey of India, National Informatics Centre, Geological Survey of India, Forest Survey of India, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation, Central Ground Water Board, Central Water Commission and the private sector, has led the effort of defining a ‘National Metadata Standards’. http://www.nsdiindia.gov.in

Obama proposes terminating system that backs up GPS

In his fiscal 2010 budget, President Obama killed funding for a system that would back up the much relied on GPS if it failed, despite calls from the telecom industry and federal agencies that it is needed. The Homeland Security Department (DHS) endorsed Loran-C a year ago as a backup for the satellite-based GPS, but in its fiscal 2010 budget, the department zeroed out funding for the system. www.nextgov.com

Garmin GPS device users can use MapmyIndia maps now

Garmin GPS devices users can now use MapmyIndia’s India maps, and have access to maps of 202 cities, 130,000 towns and villages, 450,000 point of interests, and navigate to 640,000 unique reachable destinations across India. www.mapmyindia.com

Iwave launches SiRF III based GPS module in India

Iwave Systems Technologies Private Ltd has unveiled iw-GPS receiver module based on SiRF III, a low power, miniature module for Personal Navigation, fleet management, asset tracking, personal tracking, surveying, security and other navigation devices. www.iwavesystems.com

DigitalGlobe announces agreement with Nokia for use of imagery

DigitalGlobe and Nokia have agreed to bring high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery to Nokia Maps, both on mobile devices and on Ovi, improving the global driving, hiking and walking navigation capabilities for consumers who use these applications. www.digitalglobe.coma

NASA to use RFID for spacecraft part tracking
Intermec, USA has announced a cooperative research effort with NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center to investigate new automatic identi?cation tracking (AIT) technologies, to qualify machine-readable symbol markings and RFID devices for use on spaceborne vehicles. Intermec will evaluate markings that have been exposed to low earth orbit environments during the third and fourth Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions, and will also prepare additional marked samples and soft and rigid RFID tags to be included in MISSE 6, scheduled for July 2007. www.usingr?d.com

Hemisphere partners sponsorship of The Green Miles project
From December 2008 through October 2010, Arjen van Eijk and Florian Dirkse of the Netherlands will set sail on an adventure and produce a documentary targeted at raising awareness about the critical role oceans play in our world’s climate. To accomplish the “Care for the Ocean” mission, Hemisphere GPS and its partners Saderet and Nautikaris have donated navigation equipment. www.thegreenmiles.nl

GRACE hosts UK ‘Growing Galileo’ event
The GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence (GRACE) based at the University of Nottingham hosted the UK ‘Growing Galileo’ event. The event focused on access to new funding from the European GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) Supervisory Authority (GSA) for collaborative R&D projects under the European Framework 7 Programme (FP7). www.grace.ac.uk

Satellite built by Indian university to be launched in ISRO’s next flight
For the first time in the history of Indian space research, a satellite developed by a university in India will be launched by Indian Space Research Institute (ISRO) during the next flight of the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) in March-April this year. It will carry a small remote sensing satellite – Anusat, developed and fabricated by Chennai-based Anna University. www.business-standard.com

Intelligent map system tender by SLA
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has awarded the tender for the design, development and maintenance of a government-wide intelligent map system to NIIT Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The proposed solution shall be based on ESRI ArcGIS Server 9.3 and Microsoft Dot Net Technology. www.sla.gov.sg