GPS World

Tag: Montreal

  • First all-Canadian Antarctic expedition creates underwater maps using GNSS technology

    First all-Canadian Antarctic expedition creates underwater maps using GNSS technology

    Canadian scientists recently led their first Antarctic research expedition, using Montreal-made Arrow Gold+ GNSS technology for precise location data in remote and challenging conditions. The mission, which departed in early March 2025 aboard HMCS Margaret Brooke, included experts from multiple Canadian universities and government agencies. Researchers conducted water, sediment, air, and sea-ice sampling to study climate change, glacial retreat and pollution such as mercury and microplastics.

    The month-long journey around the South Shetland Islands and the northern Antarctic Peninsula yielded surveys of coastal and oceanic sites. The crew relied on a small, unmanned surface vessel (USV) carrying various equipment for bathymetric surveys including an onboard computer, IMU and multibeam sonar.

    In order to find the USV’s precise position in an environment with no land-based RTK infrastructure, the team relied on the Arrow Gold+ GNSS receiver, designed and manufactured by Canadian-based Eos Positioning Systems. The Arrow Gold+ utilized Galileo High Accuracy Service (GalHAS), a free satellite-based PPP correction available worldwide from the European Union’s Galileo Programme.

    “There aren’t any RTK networks in Antarctica,” said Kevin Wilcox, Ocean Mapping Group research scientist, who piloted the USV. “That sent us looking for the Arrow Gold+ and GalHAS corrections. When we found these, we realized we had a possible solution.”

    While using GalHAS corrections, the Arrow Gold+ provided estimated accuracies of about 10 cm horizontal and 15 vertical to 20 vertical.

    “The vertical accuracy was especially important for our bathymetric work,” Wilcox said. “Any vertical error would directly add error to our depth.”

    Sites surveyed include Admiralty Bay, Livingston Island and Deception Island, which includes an active, flooded volcano caldera. The resulting, high-accuracy maps will support further scientific and oceanographic research, environmental monitoring, and improvements to marine charts.

    By adding high-accuracy locations with an average accuracy of 10 cm to 20 cm horizontal and vertical, the team was able to accurately georeference and further refine the detail of the bathymetry for their map inside the underwater Deception Island caldera. (Photo: Eos Positioning Systems)
    By adding high-accuracy locations with an average accuracy of 10 cm to 20 cm horizontal and vertical, the team was able to accurately georeference and further refine the detail of the bathymetry for their map inside the underwater Deception Island caldera. (Photo: Eos Positioning Systems)
  • SimActive software enhances utility mapping

    SimActive software enhances utility mapping

    Image: SimActive
    Image: SimActive

    Sharper Shape has used SimActive software’s distributed processing capabilities to complete utility corridor base maps in Montreal, Canada. In 2022, more than eight million images were collected in SimActive’s Correlator3D software to generate orthomosaics and colorized point clouds.

    Correlator3D, hosted on an Amazon cloud environment, enabled quick processing of thousands of images per day over a network of virtual machines. The resulting map products covered more than 34,000 miles of utility corridor and were imported into Sharper Shape’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools to extract infrastructure information.

    “The quantity of data that we capture to feed our AI tools for utility infrastructure deliverables is incredible and comes from various geographical locations at the same time,” said Petri Rauhakallio, vice president of business development at Sharper Shape. “Correlator3D allows our teams to easily import and process massive amounts of imagery for use in our digital twin production.”

     

  • New ADS-B mandate to enhance aircraft operations in Canada

    New ADS-B mandate to enhance aircraft operations in Canada

    Canada is leveraging advanced surveillance capabilities to enhance safety and efficiency by implementing a new mandate that will require aircraft operators flying in certain domestic airspace to meet Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out performance requirements.

    ADS-B uses GNSS technology to calculate an airplane’s precise location, speed and direction. This information is transmitted twice per second, providing greater situational awareness for air traffic controllers. It also provides increased flexibility to accommodate airline and customer preferred routes.

    The mandate will take effect in Class A and B Canadian airspace above 12,500 feet on Feb. 23, 2023.

    “ADS-B is a foundational building block for our future airspace and operations,” said Raymond G. Bohn, president and CEO of Nav Canada. “The Canadian equipage mandate — when combined with Nav Canada’s space-based surveillance capabilities — will enhance safety and service.”

    “The aviation sector plays an essential role in connecting Canadians to each other and the world,” said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport. “We welcome advancements and innovation that enhance the safety and environmental sustainability of our transportation networks and supply chains.”

    The equipage requirements of Canada’s ADS-B mandate are in line with a growing number of other countries in the world, and the adoption of satellite-based surveillance technology ensures long-term alignment with the global aviation system.

    Space-based ADS-B is already being used and delivering safety and efficiency benefits to suitably equipped aircraft over Hudson Bay, the North Atlantic and in domestic airspace above 29,000 feet in Canada. In December 2021, Nav Canada began providing service to appropriately equipped aircraft below 29,000 feet in the Montreal Flight Information Region and plans to expand to the Edmonton and Winnipeg Flight Information Regions later this year, prior to the mandate going into effect in 2023.

    Future implementation of a mandate in areas within Class C, D and E will leverage a phased approach to help achieve the maximum benefits of a performance-based mandate for Canadian airspace. Aircraft operators and owners will have adequate time to meet the equipage requirements to use space-based ADS-B technology across the country. Implementation in these classes of airspace, to occur no sooner than 2026, will be determined pending further assessment.

    About the ADS-B mandate

    To meet the ADS-B Out mandate, aircraft will be required to:

    • Be equipped with an appropriate transponder with ADS-B Out capabilities and performance with the applicable standard of Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) DO-260B, “Minimum Operational Performance Standards” or newer.
    • Have antenna capability for broadcast toward space-based ADS-B receivers emitting 1090 MHz extended squitter. This requirement can be met either through antenna diversity (the use of a top and a bottom antenna) or with a single antenna capable of transmitting both toward the ground and up toward satellites.

    Photo: MJ_Prototype/iStock Editorial/ Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: MJ_Prototype/iStock Editorial/ Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

  • Averna Partners with Investor Tandem Expansion

    Tandem Expansion Fund, a Canadian growth-equity investor, has acquired a majority interest in Averna, a developer of test solutions and services for communications and electronics device-makers, according to a news release from Averna. The transaction provides Averna with the financial resources to “accelerate organic and strategic growth as well as to expand its international presence,” the release said.

    Founded in 1999, Averna is a test engineering company that provides test expertise and solutions for tier-one clients in wide-ranging industries around the world, including aerospace and defense, telecom infrastructures, automotive and transportation, consumer electronics and life sciences. Averna has more than 300 employees and offices in 5 countries.

    “This is a new chapter for Averna and we are proud to have the support of these strategic and respected partners who share our vision and values,” said André Gareau, Averna’s president and CEO. “Averna is a Montreal-based success story and it is important for us to continue hiring the best local talents. This investment will help us extend our leadership position in each of our key industries as well as continue growing the company locally and internationally.”

    “Averna’s unique expertise in test, growing base of customers across the globe, excellent management team and portfolio of solutions position the company at the forefront of the electronic test and quality market,” said André Gauthier, managing partner at Tandem Expansion Fund. “With this investment, Tandem is providing solid support to Averna in the next phase of its development.”

    Averna has offices around the world as well as a network of partners such as JOT Automation, Keysight Technologies, and National Instruments. Incorporated in 1999, Averna is a Best in Test award winner and has been honored as one of the Deloitte Fast 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America.