286 cities in China will complete digital surveying and mapping to facilitate planning and management by the end of 2015, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said. The digital database will serve as the sole authoritative geographical information source for each city. All the databases will be nationally networked so governments at national, provincial and municipal levels can share information

Testing Galileo applications for rail transportation
In the future, trains are to be equipped with systems that work with positioning information that is provided by satellite. This will be made possible by “Galileo”, which is to be simulated from 2010 onwards at the rolling stock Test and Validation Centre operated by Siemens Mobility in Wegberg- Wildenrath, Germany. A test area for satellitebased navigation for rail systems is already being set up there which will enable tests to be carried out under real conditions before the Galileo system actually goes into operation. By doing so, Siemens is supporting the futureoriented “railGATE” project that is being conducted by RWTH Aachen University and sponsored by the space agency of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). With testing slated to begin in 2010, Galileo is due to enter operation in 2013. www.siemens.com

Beijing plans Earth Resource III
According to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in Beijing, China shall launch a satellite carrying the country’s first stereo mapping camera. Earth Resource III will be launched in the first half of 2011. http://en.sbsm.gov.cn

China to regulate its GI industry
Authorities in Guangdong are cracking down on illegal surveying and mapping to better regulate the geographic information industry in the southern province. Foreign organizations, businesses and individuals have been told that they must apply to the central government’s surveying and mapping authority for approval to gather geographic information in the southern province. www.chinadaily.com.cn

ISRO to develop Indian satellite security cover
ISRO will develop its own version of the US GPS and Russian Glonass system, albeit with a limited, regional capability, with the added advantage of providing the country’s defence establishment round-the-clock security cover. The constellation of seven satellites will keep an eye on a wide swath of territory – 2,000km – in and around the Indian sub-continent. According to ISRO chief, G Madhavan Nair, the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) was being developed “considering security related issues”. www.domain-b.com

Survey of India maps for SatNav

SatNav Technologies and Survey of India (SOI) have signed an agreement that allows SatNav to use SOI maps in its consumer products. It will release SOIapproved digital maps and custom map content for commercial use in personal and mobile navigation and locationbased solutions. www.satguide.in

GSS6300 from Spirent
Spirent Communications plc. launched GSS6300 Multi-GNSS Signal Generator. It provides GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and SBAS test solutions from high-end R&D through integration and production applications. www.spirent.com

Telespazio takes control of Galileo Ground Facility
Telespazio has taken over management of a Galileo satellite constellation control centre. The company will begin cabling the entire structure as well as installing and integrating required systems and equipment for the satellite constellation and mission. Telespazio said its work will begin on the areas dedicated to security, navigation signal generation systems, orbital management and atomic clocks. The control centre is expected to be fully operational and will be inaugurated this fall. www.telespazio.it

ISRO gets 40% more funds
India’s space research programme recently got a signifi cant 40% boost from the union budget for 2009-10. The bulk of the funds will be used in ongoing projects like development of the GSLV Mark III. www.domain-b.com

OGC calls for Industry input on Geospatial Fusion

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC®) has issued a Request for Information to solicit industry input into a Fusion Standards Study to be conducted in preparation for the planned OGC Web Services, Phase 7 (OWS-7) Testbed. It will also partner with other Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) having technology relevant to fusion. www.opengeospatial.org

Delhi 3 months away from geogovernance

For the first time ever Delhi city will have a utility map through aerial photographs and also real-time monitoring of the ground situation throughout the city with the help of 64 wireless internet protocol cameras. 31 departments and agencies will be able to access this data in real time. The Rs 120 crore project called the Delhi State Spatial Data Infrastructure (DSSDI) project is in the last stages of completion. It is being done by Delhi government along with Survey of India (SOI). Times of India