INDUSTRY

Rohde & Schwarz adds ERA GLONASS to its reliable test solution

Rohde & Schwarz recently demonstrated an ERA-GLONASS test setup consisting of the R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester and R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator as a GNSS simulator. This setup allows manufacturers and suppliers of automatic in-vehicle systems (IVS) to perform reliable and reproducible preconformance tests on their ERA GLONASS modules in the lab.

In the Russian Federation, ERAGLONASS works much like the EU’s eCall system. When an accident occurs, the IVS connects with a public safety answering point (PSAP) via the local wireless communications network and transmits a standardized minimum set of data (MSD). In addition to GLONASS or GPS coordinates, the MSD also contains additional data with information about the accident vehicle as specified in ERA GLONASS. Rohde & Schwarz developed its R&S CMW-KA095 application software to meet ERA GLONASS requirements in line with Russia’s GOST specification.

Based on the R&S CMW-KA094 eCall software, the R&S CMW-KA095 simulates a PSAP and controls the R&S CMW500 emulating a wireless communications network in the lab. The software also controls the GNSS simulator that supplies the coordinates required for vehicle localization. www.press.rohde-schwarz.com

Sao Paolo based company chooses ProMark GNSS Receivers

Saneamento Basico do Estado de São Paulo (SABESP), a Brazilian water and sewage collection utility owned by São Paulo state and Latin America’s largest water company by market capitalization, has selected Spectra Precision ProMark 120 and 220 GNSS receivers to assist in gathering the geographic location of all SABESP network assets and the location of all customers.

To help improve revenue generation and reduce water loss SABESP developed two projects: LigGeo, to geo-reference the water meter location of approximately 4.8 million SABESP customers; and CadGeo, to geo-reference and register the location of the SABESP water and sewage network infrastructure www.spectraprecision.com

Spectra Precision launches FOCUS DL-15 Digital Level

Spectra Precision has launched its new FOCUS DL-15 Digital Level. Its electronic height measurement capability provides the accuracy and range for a wide range of survey and construction tasks. It provides consistent height measurement precision through an electronic reading of a standard bar code staff to an accuracy of 1.5 mm (0.005 feet). It has in-built data storage and offers a distance measurement range of 100 metres (328 feet). Spectra Precision

Sub-decimetre accuracy and instant re-convergence solution by Novatel

NovAtel has announced significant performance improvements to its PPP positioning solution. NovAtel CORRECT™ with PPP will now offer the new TerraStar-C correction service as its exclusive source for satellite delivered PPP correction data. TerraStar-C contains an enhanced correction data set which enables up to 4 centimetre accuracy and instant re-convergence when combined with the state-of-the-art receiver error models and positioning algorithms offered by NovAtel CORRECT. This new level of PPP performance is available on NovAtel’s OEM6® receivers with firmware version 6.600. www.novatel.com

GNSS Software by Credo-Dialogue

The Russian company Credo-Dialogue has released Credo GNSS 1.0, a GNSS processing software. It is designed for processing of satellite geodetic measurements in differential mode. In this mode, the simultaneous operation of two or more receivers forms the baseline. Also in the program, users can view images from web services such as Google Maps, Bing and Express Kosmosnimki.

Fugro introduces G2+ service

Fugro has introduced its high accuracy G2+ service, designed to benefit offshore operators around the globe who require positioning and measurement accuracy at centimeter level. It is an enhancement of Fugro’s highly regarded G2 service (based on GPS and GLONASS) and utilizes highly advanced GNSS augmentation algorithms developed in-house. www.oedigital.com

Spirent announces enhancements to its GNSS record and playback system

Spirent Communications has announced additional capabilities for its ultrawideband GSS6425, which enable recording up to 150MHz bandwidth of GNSS signals. Users can now record up to three RF frequency bands at any one time with 10, 30 or 50 MHz bandwidth each1. Other enhancements include ability to record up to four video streams, USB 3.0 support and easy remote control using tablet or smartphone.

A single portable test system, the ultrawideband GSS6425 allows customers to record GPS L1 and L2 and GLONASS L1 and L2 signals commonly needed for applications requiring very high accuracy such as surveying, precision agriculture, automotive research, and advanced navigation. www.spirent.com

Indoor and anti-theft location based positioning solution by KCS TraceMe

KCS BV has extended their successful TraceMe product line with an intelligent location based positioning solution for indoor and anti-theft applications. The solution is based on RF with an intelligent algorithm of measuring the propagation time of transmitted (proprietary protocol) signals.

‘Listen before talk’ algorithm makes it practically impossible to locate the module which secures the valuable vehicle or asset. Supporting GPRS/ SMS and optional 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth LE, ANT/ANT+ and iBeacon provides easy integration with existing wireless networks and mobile apps. www.trace.me

New 3D laser scanner of Zoller + Fröhlich

The Z+F IMAGER® 5010X – a new 3D laser scanner by Zoller + Fröhlich, comes with a unique navigation system which works outdoors and indoors too! It will estimate the scanner position and orientation without any external targets in order to enable automatic registration. It also tracks the movements while carrying the device on to the next scanning position. Combining the Z+F IMAGER® 5010X with the newly presented software Z+F LaserControl® Scout, results in a totally new laser scanning workflow, called Blue Workflow, which allows you to register and check scans (completeness, etc.) already in the field – without using any targets.

BeiDou Leap Second issue successfully handled

During the preparation of playback scenarios for the upcoming leap second event this year, engineers at Racelogic identified a potential pitfall for GNSS engineers. The difficulty arises from the fact that BeiDou uses a different ‘day number’ for the date to apply the leap second compared with GPS and Galileo. GPS and Galileo use 1-7 as week day numbers, and BeiDou uses 0-6. If this fact has been missed during development, then the result is that the leap second may be implemented a day early on GNSS engines which are tracking the BeiDou constellation.

Indeed, four different Beidou enabled receivers, from four leading GNSS companies have been tested, and none of them appeared to handle the Beidou leap second correctly. This included an engine which originates from China!

Racelogic has since been in contact with two of these companies who have confirmed that their hardware does have a bug in the leap second code due to the numbering of the days. The error presents itself when the receiver is running on the BeiDou constellation alone, and when the date is the 29th of June this year. In some cases, the BeiDou leap second will be adjusted from 2s to 3s from midnight on the 29th June, which should in fact occur on midnight of the 30th. This will result in an error for the reported UTC time of 1s for the period of this day. In other cases, the leap second was not implemented at all when running on Beidou alone.

In order to help companies test for this problem, simulated RF data have been generated for the 29th and 30th of June, starting 15 minutes before midnight. Racelogic has two sets of files, one set contains Bediou only signals and the other contains a combination of BeiDou and GPS signals. Note that on some of the receivers that have been tested, when GPS is being tracked as well, the GPS leap second message overrides the one coming from Beidou and applies the leap second correctly. These scenarios are compatible with the LabSat3 triple constellation simulator, which is available on a free 15 day loan or can be purchased from Racelogic. www.labsat.co.uk

Trimble VRS Now available in Australia

Trimble together with its distribution partner Ultimate Positioning Group (UPG), announced the availability of Trimble® VRS Now™ correction service in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The commercial subscription service provides surveyors, civil engineers, geospatial professionals and other industry specialists in these areas with instant access to RTK GNSS corrections without the need for a base station. www.trimble.com

Mobile Builder for Forestry by Trimble

Mobile Builder is a new platform that enables forestry clients to quickly create and deploy customized forms to field workers. The solution provides companies a cost-effective method for field personnel to access enterprise data, update data in the field and synchronize the data back to the office in real time on iOS, Android and Windows Embedded mobile devices.

It enables to mobilize existing workflows while retaining business rules already in place.

Microsemi Integrated GNSS Master solution

Microsemi has announced its Integrated GNSS Master (IGM) solution for small cell synchronization. The IGM is the company’s first solution that fully integrates a 1588v2 PTP grandmaster with a GNSS receiver and antenna in a small, fully-contained package, designed to mount indoors. It solves the often documented challenge of indoor synchronization which has been a significant hurdle for costeffective small cell indoor deployments in the past. www.electropages.com

Inertial Positioning to Reduce Power Consumption in GPS Watches

Invensense offers inertial navigation software that calculates the position of the device based on its movements between two GPS fixes. Therefore GPS does not need to run continuously.

This can expand the battery life from two to five times. This inertial positioning system was developed by Trusted positioning, Calgary, Canada, bought by Invensense last summer. www.gpsbusinessnews.com

Esri and RouteSmart Help Postal Carriers Reduce Operating Costs

Esri and RouteSmart Technologies, Inc., are collaborating to help postal organizations deliver packages reliably, efficiently, and accurately. The companies provide comprehensive dynamic routing solutions based on Esri’s ArcGIS platform. National postal and global and regional parcel delivery services, including Whistl, Posti, and Swiss Post, are among the customers that leverage these routing solutions. Most customers have experienced cost savings of 15 percent, on average, through reduced working hours, mileage, and new vehicle acquisition.

Leica News

Nova MS50

The Leica Nova MS50 combines every significant measuring technology in one device and opens the doors to a fascinating new dimension of the geospatial world. All functions, including precision 3D scanning, extensive and precise total station capabilities, digital imagery and GNSS connectivity are now brought together in the Leica Nova MultiStation.

Viva GS14

The Leica Viva GS14 is the most compact and powerful GNSS receiver and easy to use. Together with the leading GNSS RTK the Leica Viva GS14 meets the highest standards for measurement technology.

ScanStation P20

Leica ScanStation P20 also brings data quality at range (120m, max), plus outstanding environmental capabilities, survey-grade tilt compensation, and an industry first “Check & Adjust” capability. Friendly touch screen or remote operation, plus a compact design make it easy-to-use.