Google Street view hits roadblock in India: Commissioner of Police of Bangalore in India has asked Google to stop photographing streets of Bangalore. However, before Street View cars started operating, Google claimed it took permission from the traffic department of Bangalore police. The police have reservations regarding legality of Google’s Street View in India.

Venezuela to use Chinese technology in RS satellite:
Venezuela signed manufacturing contract with China for the development of its remote sensing (RS) satellite. The satellite will be launched in October 2012. This remote sensing satellite will be used for monitoring of natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, floods and heavy rains. The life of satellite will be five to six years.

SatNav in JV with AND:
SatNav Technologies has announced plans to set up a Joint Venture based on shared vision and complementary business opportunities. From an India perspective, the deal will give SatNav access to the best mapping technologies in the world and upgrade their Indian map IP in line with the standards followed worldwide.

Spatial energy continues global expansion with announcement of European subsidiary:
Spatial Energy has announced the opening of a European subsidiary at the 2011 EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers) Conference & Exhibition in Vienna, Austria. With increased interest in oil and gas exploration and production, including activity in Africa, as well as in shale gas plays in Eastern and Western Europe, Spatial Energy made the strategic decision to focus on building and strengthening relationships with key EAME energy companies.

India’s GSAT-8 satellite to help GAGAN:
India’s advanced communication satellite GSAT-8 successfully launched into its geosynchronous transfer orbit by Arianespace’s launch vehicle Ariane-5 from Kourou in French Guyana. Weighing about 3100 Kg, GSAT-8 is configured to carry 24 high-power transponders and a two channel GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload.

ArcLogistics update gives drivers a break:
ArcLogistics, Esri’s web-based vehicle routing and scheduling solution, has new options to route drivers more efficiently. New settings allow dispatchers to account for drivers’ daily break times, such as 15-minute and 1-hour lunch breaks. These improvements will help dispatchers better account for the actual time it takes to complete a route when creating the day’s plan.

Galileo prepares for October launch:
The European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace and the European Commission announced that the first two satellites of Europe’s global navigation satellite system, Galileo, will be launched on October 20, 2011. This will be the first of a series of Galileo satellite launches by Arianespace from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Trimble’s LaserAce™ 1000 rangefinder
Trimble has introduced the new Trimble® LaserAce™ 1000 rangefinder, an easy-to-use handheld measurement tool combining a laser distance meter, digital inclinometer, sighting scope and Bluetooth® wireless technology. The new rangefinder expands Trimble’s portfolio by seamlessly integrating with its Geographic Information System (GIS) data collection solutions.
www.trimble.com/laserace.

Taiwan releases its first aerial photography drone
A local company has unveiled Taiwan’s first indigenous unmanned vehicle for aerial photography, hoping to break into a market that so far has been monopolized by imported products. The AI Rider, a system based on a six-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle weighing about 1,450 grams, is highly competitive because of its price and after-sales service, including training that is more easily available to domestic customers, said Clark Lin, vice president of Gang Yu Corp.
The remote-controlled aerial photography vehicle is said to be entirely developed in Taiwan and made with domestic components. It can carry a payload, such as a video camera, of up to 400 grams, and can climb to an altitude of 550 meters.

European satnav competition opens for entries
The eighth European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) is now open for innovative ideas in the field of satellite navigation. Deadline for companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes, universities and individuals from all over the world, to submit their ideas is June 30, 2011. One can submit entries online at http://www.galileo-masters.eu. ESA