Geospatial industry poised for growth
Information systems alone, based on maps and satellite imagery is set to touch Rs 576 crore by 2010. At present, the market estimates for these services are Rs 12 crore. The optimism is based on the current growth rates of around 200 per cent and the huge potential. Geospatial Today and Spatial India, geospatial publications in association with Antrix Corporation and Survey of India, have brought out the report. According to the highlights of the report, the domestic market estimates for these geospatial services amounted to about Rs 562 crore in the financial year 2005. The market for these services is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.57 per cent per annum and reach Rs 1,824.98 crore by year 2010. The key driver for this increased growth is the expected investments in land information systems (ILIS) in several states of the country. It also provides an optimistic overview in as much as the total market in our country (domestic and exports markets) is expected to record a potential growth from Rs 962 crore in the year 2005 to Rs 2,820.30 crore at a CAGR of 14.5 per cent. India has emerged as a major data conversion centre for geospatial services. In FY 2005, this sector marked Rs 720 crore with an expected growth rate of 20 per cent.
www.blonnet.com

Indonesian military plane to map quake-hit areas
The Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) have assigned a CN-235 airplane to carry out aerial photography on areas in the Yogyakarta region affected by 27 May 5.9-magnitude earthquake. The activity is aimed at making a detailed map of areas devastated by the quake.
TNI had also sent a Hercules C-130 plane carrying a TNI field medical team and three helicopters to evacuate victims.http://news.xinhuanet.com

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.
Galileo OS SIS ICD now available on-line The information contained in the Galileo Open Service Signal In Space Interface Control Document (SIS ICD) is made available to the public by the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU), an undertaking jointly created by the European Commission and the European Space Agency. www.galileoju.com

China to survey the Great Wall
The Great Wall resource investigation has kicked off officially in Hebei Province. It is the first time for China to make precise measurement and accurate survey on the Great Wall with comprehensive investigation and mapping skills, which will be undertaken for several years.
China has launched the nationwide investigation of the Great Wall for twice since the establishment of the new China. In the mid-1950s, China did primary investigation on the age and distribution of the Great Wall with the help of the national cultural relic survey, and the second-time investigation was undertaken in the 1980s.
http://news.xinhuanet.com

Navigate with Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin International Inchas announced the StreetPilot 2820, a premium automotive and motorcycle navigation device for customers, as well as a configurable platform for Garmin’s growing list of OEM partners. The StreetPilot 2820 builds upon the success of the StreetPilot 2700 series, and also incorporates Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a hands-free calling interface.
www.garmin.com

RT-5SW new long-range laser
A new long-range, dual-slope laser ideally suited for large job sites and agricultural land-leveling has been announced by Topcon Positioning Systems. The RT-5SW retains all of the primary benefits of the RT-5S series including five-arc-second accuracy – less than 1/32nd of an inch per 100 feet. It also features an integrated radio remote controller capable of two-way communication up to 1,000 feet. Radio communications between the remote and the base laser allows the operator to verify adjustments right from the cab of a machine. www.topconpositioning.com

US LBS market to grow to 1 million subscribers by 2010
Depending largely on the cellular operators actions, the US LBS business market is forecast to grow to from 582,000 to 1.1 million subscribed devices by the end of 2010, reports In-Stat. Location-enabled enterprise applications constitute a small but important segment of the market for mobile IT applications, the high-tech market research firm says. Applications for this technology include fleet management/dispatch, workforce and sales force management, as well as a variety of public sector location applications.
www.instat.com

ISRO and NASA Sign MOU on Chandrayaan-1
The Indian Space Research Organization and National Aeronautics and Space Administration of USA have signed an MOU on inclusion of two US scientifi c instruments on board India’s first mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-1. These instruments are – Mini Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini SAR) developed by Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University and Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), jointly built by Brown University and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of NASA.
www.isro.gov.in

Ambulance Trusts join mapping agreement
Every ambulance trust in England is to benefit from greater access to Ordnance Survey’s most detailed digital geographic information (GI) from this month. It follows the launch of a pilot agreement aimed at encouraging the use of computerised mapping across the NHS. The plan is to ensure health providers have the reliable information they need to improve patient care while making the most effi cient possible use of their resources.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

ProLink patent on Payfor- Play approved
ProLink Holdings Corp. the provider of GPS golf course management systems, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded patent number 7,031,947, Method And Apparatus For Continuing Play With Cart-Based Navigation/ Information System Display, effective April 18, 2006.
www.goprolink.com