Slashdot discussed this story named China Begins Using New Global Positioning Satellites.

Their summary: "cswilly writes with the news that China's satellite navigation system, called Beidou, has been successfully activated. "With ten satellites now, 16 in, and 35 in, China is making damn sure they are independent of the U.S. military's lock on GPS. According to the article, 'Beidou, or 'Big Dipper,' would cover most parts of the Asia Pacific by next year and then the world.'" The BBC also has slightly more detailed coverage"

We started talking about Beidou in, sometimes under the Compass name.

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Last week, Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) announced the release of the Topcon MR-1, a rugged, compact GNSS modular receiver with advanced technology.

The MR-1 receiver incorporates 72 universal tracking channels and is capable of tracking all signals from GPS, GLONASS and SBAS satellite systems that are currently operational and available for public use. VISOR technology, with dual antenna input support on the receiver, extends capability to enable precise heading determination through use of differential phase computations.

You can get the full specs of this new GNSS receiver here:

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The Hemisphere GPS S320 GNSS Survey Receiver was announced earlier this week.  The entire system also includes the  XF1 data collector and survey software. S320 combines the advanced GNSS receiver performance of Hemisphere GPS' Eclipse™ II technology, precise geodetic antenna, wireless communication and batteries all in a portable, rugged unit with matching data collector. Designed to be compatible with a variety of existing surveying equipment, S320 is the ideal multi-GNSS positioning system for applications in GIS, construction, mapping, land and marine surveying.

You can get the full specs of these new survey system here:

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Eariler this week, Trimble introduced the Trimble BD910 and Trimble BD920 modules to its GNSS OEM portfolio. These small modules feature centimeter-level, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning capabilities that are ideal for high-precision and control applications. Capable of receiving a wide range of commercially available GNSS signals, the BD910 and BD920 modules are designed to allow OEMs and system integrators to easily add centimeter-level positioning to specialized or custom hardware solutions.

You can get the full specs of these new oem modules here:

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Here's the "Friday" geonews in batch mode a bit late. From the Google front:

• Google offers yet another imagery update, including fresh imagery over Japan, but also high resolution imagery in tens of other countries
• There's also new 45 degrees imagery in about 10 new locations
• The directions provided by Google now offers public transit automatically if it is a good alternative to driving to your destination
• If you're like me and think that Google Earth is great but the globe doesn't look good at small scales, here's an updated Blue Marble to make Google Earth look nice from high above
• Here's an update on TriDef product to use Google Earth in anaglyphic 3D, works even in StreetView
• The GEB discusses using the Google Earth plugin for energy efficiency 3D tours in the context of the Home Greenover Project
• Here's the Battle of Fort Sumter in Google Earth, right from the American civil war in April 1861

From the open source/data front:

• The Marble virtual globe version 1.1 has been released
• Via OGD, I learned about OpenStreetBlock, providing textual description of a city block based on a lat long
• The Geocaching website includes OpenStreetMap
• Here's an entry on Polygon Triangulation via Ear-Clipping with Delaunay Refinement and another one on Slope/Aspect/Elevation using JTS
• There was also an announcement of a VMWare-powered GIS Virtual Machine for open source geospatial software
• Kurt reports on geolocation plans at 'Camp KDE'
• The OpenGeo Suite Community Edition 2.4.1 has been released

From the Esri front:

• James Fee mentions words from Esri that the File Geodatabase API will support all 4 platforms and 32/64 bits and be released in mid-May

In the miscellaneous category:

• O'Reilly offers an article named 3 big challenges in location development
• V1 offers a perspective on if it matters to compare GPS to GLONASS to BEIDOU
• V1 also reminds us that the SPOT satellite is now 25 years old
• V1 offers a short entry on routing ships based on waves and weather

In the maps category:

• Via internal mail, I learned about this dispersion modeling animation of the Japan tsunami debris over the Pacific, in 3 years, the patch of debris will be close to California
• Mapperz mentions an interactive site for visualizing official New Zealand 1:50,000/250,000 topographic maps
• O'Reilly offers an article named Maps aren't easy on maps and journalism

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Slashdot discusses the following topic: Are We Too Reliant On GPS? Their summary: "A new report from the Royal Academy of Engineering in London suggests developed nations have become too reliant on GPS systems. The report from the Academy focuses on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and their vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities include deliberate or accidental interference, both man-made (such as jamming) and natural (such as solar flares). While most people equate GPS systems with the tiny screens which get drivers from point A to point B, the report says society's reliance on the technology goes well beyond that. The Academy says the range of applications using the technology is so vast that without adequate independent backup, signal failure or interference could potentially affect safety systems and other critical parts of the economy." We have a few previous stories on LORAN-C and eLORAN that could have served as a backup to GNSS in some use case and some areas.

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The Royal Institute of Navigation, London, UK, the Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy, University of Nottingham, UK, and the Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Rijeka, Croatia have a pleasure in welcoming you to the 5th GNSS Vulnerabilities and Solutions Conference to be held 23 - 25 May, in Baška, Krk Island, Croatia. This traditional and unique world-wide event aims to gather GNSS experts and focuses on GNSS problems and vulnerabilities, as well as to developments aiming to improve the accuracy and reliability of GNSS. The unique environment of Baška and its natural resources and rich history, combined with friendly hospitality will again create an inspiring atmosphere for ideas and knowledge exchange, well known to those who attended the last year's conference. A photo-gallery of Baška, a well known tourist resort with the range of 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels. Conference activities will be organised in the following sections:

• Core satellite navigation systems (plenary),
• Space Weather and Ionospheric Effects on GNSS,
• Safety- and Mission-Critical Applications for Air, Marine, Land and Personal Navigation, and Search and Rescue Operations,
• Location-Based Services (LBS),
• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and
• Regulatory and legal aspects of GNSS utilisation.

Interested parties are kindly invited to submit the extended abstracts (300 - 500 words) of the proposed papers to Sally-Anne Cooke, the RIN conference and events manager no later than 25th March. Submitted papers will be considered by the International reviewing committee, with the acceptance report to be distributed before 15 April. You are kindly invited to join the leading GNSS experts and discuss the most important issues related to further exploitations of satellite navigation systems in the wonderful Mediterranean environment of Northern Adriatic. In addition, the organising committee kindly appreciate your efforts in informing your colleagues about the event. Finally, you are invited to contact either RIN, or Dr Renato Filjar, FRIN for any further information or assistance you may need in regard to your participation to the 5th GNSS Vulnerabilities and Solutions Conference in Baška. The latest developments in regard to the fothcoming conference can be followed. The conference organisers are looking forward for a privilege to welcome you to Baška. With my best regards, Dr Renato Filjar, FRIN MIET The Royal Institute of Navigation Read More »

The Russian Federal Space Agency has fired two (2) Russian Space Agency officials over the recent crash of 3 GLONASS satellites. You can read the full news story on GPS World. The Sunburned Surveyor

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Inside GNSS reports that China has launched its fourth Compass satellite this year on November 1. You can read the full story at Inside GNSS.

The Sunburned Surveyor

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The October issue of Inside GNSS reports in its 360 Degrees section that Japan's first quasi-zenith satellite was successfully launched on September 11 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. You can read the full story at Inside GNSS.

In a related story, Inside GNSS reports the satellite has started broadcasting its signal.

 

The Sunburned Surveyor

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