Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The newly signed Defense Authorization Act incorporates a number of GPS-related provisions though a measure ordering the creation of a GPS timing back-up was pulled by conferees as they hammered out their final deal.
By Dee Ann Divis
While news broke last week of a Department of Defense (DOD) policy to prohibit GPS-enabled devices in deployed settings, no one should expect a drop in usage of popular devices such as Fitbit fitness trackers from the general public.
By Stan Goff
NovAtel Inc. today launched its new TerraStar-C PRO correction service with multi-constellation support, including the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou constellations. Combined with NovAtel’s OEM7 positioning technology, TerraStar-C PRO cuts initial convergence times by nearly 60 percent and offers 40 percent better horizontal accuracy than the current TerraStar-C service.
By Inside GNSS
Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global supplier of Internet of Things (IoT) modules, announced on Monday the release of MC90, a quad-band GSM/GPRS/GNSS/Wi-Fi module. The new module supports hybrid positioning technologies including GNSS, Cell ID and Wi-Fi aided positioning, and enables position tracking in both indoor and outdoor environments.
By Inside GNSS
The Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate will host the 2018 Public Interface Control Working Group and Open Public Forum on September 12, 2018 for the following NAVSTAR GPS public documents: IS-GPS-200 (Navigation User Interfaces), IS-GPS-705 (User Segment L5 Interfaces), IS-GPS-800 (User Segment L1C Interface), ICD-GPS-240 (NAVSTAR GPS Control Segment to User Support Community Interfaces), and ICD-GPS-870 (NAVSTAR GPS Control Segment to User Support Community Interfaces).
By Inside GNSS
The Galileo constellation took another big step towards full operational capability with the successful launch last month of four satellites on-board an Ariane 5 launcher. Representatives of leading industry that have adopted Galileo then held a special press briefing for journalists from across the continent to address updates on how European citizens and businesses are already taking advantage of benefits delivered by Galileo.
By Stan Goff
The need for smart devices to have a highly accurate self-awareness of their own location, and the location of other smart devices around them is becoming increasingly important. Many devices rely on a singular location technology (typically GPS), which is one type of the wider eco system of GNSS. These systems, while becoming more capable, still suffer at times from the deployment environment, typically in urban areas where buildings and other cityscape features interfere with the signal.
By Inside GNSS
GNSS receiver manufacturer Septentrio recently launched the next generation AsteRx-i which combines the company’s latest compact, multi-frequency multi-constellation GNSS engine with an external industrial grade MEMS based IMU. It can deliver accurate and reliable GNSS/IMU integrated positioning to the cm-level as well as full 3D attitude at high update rates and low latency, according to Septentrio.
By Inside GNSS
The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is excited to announce the addition of Al Di Leonardo and Patty Mims to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. USGIF’s Board includes 26 directors representing the many aspects of the broad and expanding GEOINT Community.
Di Leonardo is an experienced intelligence and special operations officer and is widely recognized as a subject matter expert in analytical tradecraft, and Mims is currently director of Global National Government at USGIF Organizational Member Esri.
“I am pleased that professionals of this experience and caliber are part of the USGIF leadership,” said The Honorable Jeffrey K. Harris, Chairman of USGIF’s Board of Directors.
Di Leonardo has more than 25 years of government experience centered at the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and Joint Special Operations Command. As a career U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, he earned the Bronze Star Medal from U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for his work in Afghanistan and Iraq and led SOCOM’s first geospatial big data innovation cell. After retiring from the Army, Di Leonardo founded HumanGeo, a tech company that created software solutions at the intersection of big data, social media, and geospatial intelligence that he later sold to The Radiant Group. As president of The Radiant Group, he led the integration of five companies while simultaneously rebranding the team as “Radiant” and significantly growing revenue, leading to Radiant’s acquisition by DigitalGlobe.
“Al brings rich operational and analytic experience across important market sectors to the USGIF boardroom,” Harris said. “His understanding of both mission and business effectiveness will be invaluable to help drive the USGIF working groups and technical forums.”
In her current role at Esri, Mims oversees all business development across the U.S. federal government, including intelligence, defense, public safety, and civilian as well as provides support to nonprofit programs globally and national government organizations around the world. Mims was Esri’s Director of Intelligence Programs from 2012 to 2015, and in this role managed all activities across the U.S. Intelligence Community and State Department. She has also held positions at Esri as team lead for the company’s Defense Installation Team and account lead for the Defense and Intelligence Team. Prior to joining Esri, Mims worked for an international software company where she supported customers around the world as manager of Technical Support and Training.
“Patty operates at the intersection of commercial and defense and intelligence geographic information systems,” Harris said. “Her market understanding and technical expertise will add great value to the Foundation as we help build improved tradecraft.”
By Inside GNSS
The nation’s leading GPS experts voted unanimously Monday to oppose allowing Ligado Networks to use spectrum neighboring the GPS band for terrestrial communications.
By Dee Ann Divis
For the fourth year in a row CRP USA is attending the Small Satellite Conference and Exhibit at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, from August 4-9. The event is held at the Taggart Student Center, and CRP USA is displaying cutting edge solutions for the space industry manufactured in the Windform family of high performance materials.
By Inside GNSS
The European Space Agency (ESA) recently ran an internal competition for its trainees to develop an app capable of making positioning fixes using only Galileo satellites. ESA challenged these young graduate and national trainees to develop smartphone apps to perform satellite navigation fixes solely with the use of Galileo satellites. Three teams developed apps in their spare time, presenting their results to a jury of experts from ESA, the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA) and Google.
By Inside GNSS
Solutions to toughen receivers (make them more resistant to jamming and spoofing), and to augment GPS signals with those from other sources, will require either replacement or modification of existing equipment.
By Inside GNSS
