Industry

GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, unveils the Leica GS18 I a versatile, GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning. It allows users to capture points of interest from a distance and measure points from the images in the field or the office.

Visual Positioning technology (sensor fusion combining GNSS, IMU and a camera) allows users to reach previously inaccessible or obstructed points safely and efficiently. It is based on photogrammetric technology with near real-time data processing, allowing surveyors to check the quality of their data while on site. The GS18 I continues the success from the tilt-compensated Leica GS18 T rover. In addition to visual point positioning, it inherits all the functionalities of a GS18 T, including the ability to map and stake out points with either tilted or levelled pole. hexagon.com

Spectra Geospatial and Aplitop Collaboration

Spectra Geospatial has announced a collaboration with Aplitop to provide a comprehensive tunnel survey solution to increase productivity for survey service providers. This collaboration provides surveyors and geospatial professionals with a complete hardware and software solution for performing efficient tunnel construction surveys.

Combining the accuracy and speed of the Spectra® Focus® 35 robotic total station with the simple workflows of Aplitop TcpTUNNEL, running on the ST10 or Ranger 7 data collector, enables tunnel surveyors to perform excavation control, automated survey and stakeout of tunnel cross-sections. www.spectrageospatial.com

Sony to release highprecision GNSS receiver

Sony Corporation has announced the upcoming release of high-precision GNSS receiver LSIs for use in IoT and wearable devices. The new receiver LSIs boast the industry’s lowest power consumption*1 for dual-band positioning operation—only 9 mW.

Increasing use of IoT and wearable devices that utilize location information has resulted in growing demand for GNSS receiver LSIs. Precise positioning and reliable communications must be ensured to maintain proper operation of IoT and wearable devices, which are being used even in difficult communication environments and unstable conditions, such as multipath propagation situations caused by reflection off the ground or nearby buildings or the effects of the swinging of the arms when attached to a person’s wrist.

The new LSIs support not only the conventional L1 band reception, but also L5 band reception, which is currently being expanded across GNSS constellations, thereby making them capable of dual-band positioning. https://presscentre.sony.eu/

Spirent introduces SimIQ to Accelerate GNSS Product Evolution

Spirent Communications plc has announced the release of SimIQ, a new software that will allow for earlier and more efficient GNSS testing during product development. From software-in-the-loop through to final form testing, it enables developers to collaborate across the full design lifecycle through the creation, sharing and replay of I/Q data files.

SimIQ has been developed to meet the growing need to test GNSS capabilities earlier to accelerate product development, while simultaneously reducing costs by identifying issues prior to the purchase of hardware components. It extends multi-frequency, multi-constellation simulation capabilities to cover softwareonly testing needs through the capture and replay of high fidelity I/Q data files.

SimIQ will be available to new and existing customers beginning in Q4 2020. www.spirent.com

VectorNav introduces New Miniature IMU and GNSS/INS product line

VectorNav Technologies have introduced a groundbreaking new line of inertial products: the VectorNav Tactical Embedded. Featuring a tactical-grade IMU and a multi-band GNSS receivers, it delivers milliradian attitude accuracy and centimeter-level positioning capability in a miniature 15 gram package.

VectorNav’s Tactical Embedded line delivers unprecedented size to performance and enables cost reductions for a wide range of autonomous pointing and geo-referencing applications, such as gimballed ISR, SATCOM systems, LiDAR mapping and photogrammetry, among many others. www.vectornav.com

Cyient to Acquire IG Partners

Cyient, a global engineering and digital technology solutions company, has agreed to acquire specialist Australian consulting firm, IG Partners, to expand its end-to-end offerings for the local and regional resources sector.

The partnership will enable the development of a unique customer proposition that allows its customers to take full advantage of the growing convergence between operational and information technologies. www.cyient.com

HUBER+SUHNER launches new SENCITY® PTC antenna

HUBER+SUHNER has launched its new SENCITY® PTC Antenna which boasts the highest number of heavy-rail certifications in the industry. Deployed throughout the USA, PTC (Positive Train Control) systems are designed to monitor and, if necessary, take control of railway vehicles to provide railway operators with increased safety.

The new Antenna offers advanced features such as high voltage and high current protection, added protection for the antenna and RF path from catenary line strikes which can destroy electronic devices. The antenna meets the highest requirements for mechanical robustness and fire safety according to the EN 50155 and NFPA-130 standards. hubersuhner.com

New evolution of its flagship GNSS solution by Trimble

Trimble has introduced the Trimble® R12i GNSS receiver, the latest addition to its GNSS portfolio. It incorporates Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)-based tilt compensation using Trimble TIP™ technology, which enables points to be measured or staked out while the survey rod is tilted, empowering land surveyors to focus on the job at hand and complete work faster and more accurately.

Designed with flexible signal management that enables the use of all available GNSS constellations and signals, the Trimble ProPoint GNSS engine provides new levels of reliability and productivity. In addition, the ProPoint engine is a key enabler of the new TIP technology. Surveyors can continue to use the R12i’s tilt compensation functionality even in challenging environments when other solutions struggle to maintain GNSS and inertial positioning. https://R12i.trimble.com

Elevate your performance with UltraMap 5.0

Vexcel Imaging has released UltraMap version 5.0, the latest update of its all-in-one aerial photogrammetry software featuring comprehensive DTM generation and full integration of Ortho Production in UltraMap Studio.

With the introduction of a completely new Digital Terrain Model (DTM) algorithm based on automatic semantic image segmentation and intelligent filtering, UltraMap 5.0 now generates comprehensive DSMs and DTMs for export at unprecedented quality. Additionally, several new features have been implemented to facilitate and speed up the data production process. From simultaneous DSM and DTM editing in one interface and simple re-processing for ortho products, to the full integration of Ortho Production in UltraMap Studio and new quality control tools like visualization of non-ground objects: Customers gain the best possible insight and control over their data throughout the entire value chain to create 3D spatial data products that meet the highest photogrammetric standards. www.vexcel-imaging.com

Applanix introduces next generation OEM solution

Applanix has introduced the Trimble® AP+ Air OEM solution for Direct Georeferencing of airborne sensor data. The solution enables users to accurately and efficiently produce maps and 3D models without the use of ground control points. It is a powerful solution for manned platforms yet small enough for use on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It is also compatible with virtually any type of airborne remote sensor, including photogrammetric cameras, LiDAR, hyper and multi-spectral cameras, and synthetic aperture radar. www.applanix.com

New version of Quadri by Trimble

Trimble is introducing a new version of its Quadri cloud-based BIM server and collaboration platform. This solution will offer an innovative common data environment platform for infrastructure projects specifically to the European market.

Quadri now promotes both open formats and third-party software in a bidirectional workflow. Planners, designers and contractors can use their preferred engineering software and add a shared, live project model. The open formats software also allows project owners to see abreast of their project through an equivalent model. All changes in a project are tracked including change history. Quadri will be now offered as a software-as-a-service solution for model and issue management, bundled with Trimble’s file data management system, Trimble Connect. www.trimble.com

Atmospheric monitoring and earth observation microsatellites

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), a developer of 52 distinct microspace missions, has announced the successful launch and deployment of the GHGSat-C1 greenhouse gas monitoring microsatellite and the Slovenian NEMO-HD Earth observation microsatellite. SFL developed the small satellites at its facility in Toronto.

Established at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) in 1998, SFL has developed CubeSats, nanosatellites, and microsatellites that have achieved more than 126 cumulative years of operation in orbit. These microspace missions have included SFL’s trusted attitude control and, in some cases, formation-flying capabilities. Other core SFL-developed components include modular (scalable) power systems, onboard radios, flight computers, and control software.

GHGSat Inc. awarded SFL the development contract for GHGSat-C1 (“Iris”) after building the pathfindingGHGSat-D (“Claire”) microsatellite launched in 2016. Using high-precision target tracking capabilities developed by SFL, Claire successfully demonstrated that sources of methane and other gas emissions could be detected and measured from space. SFL is currently developing another microsatellite, GHGSat-C2, for the company. www.utias-sfl.net

MyGalileoSolution competition

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches the #MyGalileoSolution competition. The contest is targeting European innovators and entrepreneurs ready to develop location-based solutions, such as mobile applications, wearable-based solutions, asset management and tracking solutions, or robotics, leveraging Galileo as a source of positioning, navigation and/or timing. A wide participation from all Member States is expected.

GSA has a successful track record in supporting and boosting GNSS-based innovative applications. For years the Agency has been leading several research and innovation initiatives such as the Galileo Masters, Horizon 2020 projects, and more recently European competitions like the 2019 MyGalileoApp and Hackathons across Europe and beyond.

With a prize pool of almost € 1.5 million, MyGalileoSolution is the largest competition ever organized by the GSA. It consists of two independent and parallel tracks, each one with a list of goals and deliverables. Track 1 – From Idea to Prototype – aims to develop a beta version of an application or a prototype of a solution implementing an idea, reaching minimum 50 % of its functionality. Track 2 -From Prototype to Product – aims to develop a fully functional solution ready to be commercialised starting from a beta version of an application or a prototype. www.gsa.europa.eu