Opinions Survey GPS for GIS Data Collection – 101: Webinar Follow-up Published March 3, 2010 By Eric Gakstatter Join the Discussion Thank you for making “GPS for GIS Data Collection – 101” one of the most well-attended webinars we’ve done. It’s the first that was co-hosted by GPS World magazine and Geospatial Solutions online. As customary, the newsletter after the webinar is dedicated to addressing some of the questions and posting the results from the polls I took during the webinar. Read more » data collection GIS Survey Scene webinar
GNSS The System: New Kid on the Block: IIF Readied Published March 1, 2010 By Alan Cameron Join the Discussion The first Block IIF satellite destined for orbit arrived at the Navstar Processing Facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard an Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft on February 12. It is now undergoing preparations for its launch this spring on a Delta IV rocket. Block IIF will enhance GPS performance by reportedly providing twice the navigational accuracy of heritage satellites, more robust signals for commercial aviation and search-and-rescue, and greater resistance to jamming in hostile environments. Plus: GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, 24+3 FAQ, and AEP 5.5C software update. Read more » GPS IIF SVN-49 The System
Opinions Expert Advice: Are We There Yet? Published March 1, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion At the start of a new decade, let’s examine the state of the GNSS consumer market and technology. In the December 2009 issue of GPS World, I described the developments that put GPS in cell phones over the last decade. That technology revolution has brought GPS a very long way. Having come this far, we can ask that most famous of all navigation questions: Are we there yet? Read more » consumer E911 Expert Advice Frank van Diggelen Moore's Law
Research & Development Innovation: Hybrid Positioning Published March 1, 2010 By Richard B. Langley Join the Discussion A Prototype System for Navigation in GPS-Challenged EnvironmentsA team of Australian and U.S. researchers have integrated a ground-based system with GPS and INS to create a hybrid system that provides precise and accurate position information continuously in a variety of environments where GPS alone comes up short. Read more » algorithms and methods Australia GPS challenged GPS-denied GPS/INS hybrid positioning inertial navigation system OEM
Opinions Out in Front: Apply the Seat of the Pants Published March 1, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion Not “fly by,” but “apply.” As in W. Somerset Maugham’s advice to aspiring young writers: Apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. Get grounded. Confront the blank page, the typewriter, or the less preferable modern equipments (because instant electronics short-circuit orderly brain function) for a period of silence and contemplation. Above all, think. Then, and only then, communicate. Read more » editorial From the Editor
GNSS SBAS Future Augmented: Coverage Improvement for Dual-Frequency SBAS Published March 1, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion After reviewing current performance of WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS, the authors present expected future performance, including the benefits of GPS L5. They evaluate the impact of the Indian GAGAN and Russian SDCM systems on global coverage and examine southward expansions for the original three SBASs. Finally, a look at the impact of a second constellation of navigation satellites and the performance for a user taking advantage of two core constellations. Read more » augmentation EGNOS WAAS
On the Edge: Sharing GNSS Wealth Published March 1, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion Last year I helped coordinate a three-week workshop for 50 scientists from 15 African countries, introducing the basics of GPS for applications with socioeconomic benefits and scientific exploration. Held in Trieste, Italy, the workshop was quite successful, producing new initiatives on the African continent. We repeat the workshop next month, April 6–24, again in Trieste. Read more » Africa continuing education Cote d’Ivoire Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Morocco Nigeria OEM Uganda Zambia
Machine Control / Agriculture Survey Pulling in All Signals Published March 1, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion Adding GLONASS to GPS gives a total of about 50 satellites, for a significant improvement in navigation availability, reliability, robustness, and convergence time through a new multi-GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) service. System performance and field results demonstrate that there is no need to await future constellations — better performance is available now. Read more » GPS signals multi-GNSS receiver PPP precise point positioning sensor fusion signal
Defense GNSS Raytheon Awarded Next-Generation Control Segment Contract (OCX) Published February 26, 2010 By GPS World Staff Join the Discussion Officials from the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Global Positioning Systems Wing announced today the award of the Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) contract to Raytheon Company, Intelligence & Information Systems, Aurora, Colorado. The OCX development contract will be 73 months in duration and with option years for sustainment worth $1,535,147,916. Read more » defense contract GPS III GPS modernization Raytheon
The Ugly LBS Word: Privacy Published February 24, 2010 By Eric Gakstatter Join the Discussion As usual with an emerging personal, digital communications technology on the brink of mass appeal (think e-mail, mobile phones), privacy is a major concern and a serious topic of discussion with regard to location-based services (LBS). With the GPS component, LBS worries users and regulators even more. So much so that there was a House […] Read more » GSS GSS Monthly
