IMAGING

Satellite data centre to come up at ANU

A Satellite Data Analysis and Application Centre (SDAAC) will be established on the premises of Acharya Nagarjuna University in India. ANU has signed an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish the centre. The SDAAC being established will be developed into a research centre dealing with satellite remote sensing technology, to develop expertise in space science research in area of satellite remote sensing, capacity building by starting a M.Tech course in Geo Informatics. www.thehindu.com

Drone industry to get an edge in Japan

The government of Japan, a country with a proven track record in electronics and robotics, is looking to fast track industryfriendly regulation to give its drone sector an edge over the United States.

Companies from motorcycle maker Yamaha Motor to security firm Secom Co are readying drone technology and services, as advisers to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe drive a regulatory overhaul The Robot Revolution Realization Committee, an advisory panel appointed by Abe, will review existing radio and civil aeronautics laws and set up industry-run best practice for drones. Another panel is asking companies for ideas on how to open up new special economic zones in Tokyo and other big cities to drones on a test basis.

The only aviation regulations covering drones in Japan require that they fly below 150 meters and at least 9 kms (5.6 miles) away from airports. Drones used in agriculture need two operators, with precautions for the surrounding environment. ©Thomson Reuters 2015

KOMPSAT-3A launched

KOMPSAT-3A was recently deployed in space from Yasny Launch Base, Russia. The major goal of the KOMPSAT- 3A programme is to obtain imagery for GIS applications related to environment, agriculture, oceanographic studies as well as natural disasters using its 5.5m resolution IR (Infrared) sensor and 0.55m very high resolution EO (Electro-Optical). KOMPSAT-3A has been designed and built by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

European Space Imaging to provide 30 cm imagery

European Space Imaging has announced that they would supply 30 cm imagery from the WorldView-3 satellite to European and North African customers. Imagery of this resolution was previously only available from aerial platforms, which are difficult, costly, or impossible to access in many parts of the world. European Space Imaging

Exelis to track drones with its new system

Exelis has been working on launching low-altitude surveillance system for drones to aid the authorities in safeguarding the airspace. NASA is working with Exelis and other companies, universities and government agencies, to develop an air traffic management system that could persuade the FAA to allow flights beyond the line of sight, provided the operator is using such a tracking system.

Exelis’ products – Symphony UAS-Vue and RangeVue, are significant because it has the exclusive right to use a data feed it already supplies the FAA to track manned aircraft, using 650 ground stations. These stations will augment the feed with lower-altitude data that pinpoint drone locations. Exelis plans to announce the products this soon.

IGN France International Opts for SimActive’s Correlator3D™

SimActive Inc has announced the purchase of Correlator3D™ by IGN France International, the international subsidiary of IGN France (French National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information). IGN France International required software for major mapping projects in Africa. www.ignfi.com