Author: GPS World Staff

ASC sells auto division to focus on 3D flash lidar

Advanced Scientific Concepts (ASC), supplier of 3D flash lidar vision systems for terrestrial, aerial and space applications, is creating of Advanced Scientific Concepts LLC, following the sale of its ASCar division to Continental AG.

With the acquisition of ASCar, Continental plans to mass produce flash lidars at an affordable price to support the commercial automotive industry.

Advanced Scientific Concepts LLC will continue to focus on providing 3D flash lidar custom and standard product solutions for space, manned airborne and underwater applications. This includes also providing UAS, autonomous vehicle and 3D mapping solutions for the domestic and international military markets.

“ASC’s product line for military and aerospace has matured over the past couple years to a high technology readiness level (TRL) through rigorous design and development,” said Jim Curriden, president of ASC LLC. “ASC LLC will now be entirely focused and well positioned to provide affordable solutions for the military and aerospace community by providing either off the shelf or tailored products to meet a user’s unique requirements.”

Advanced Scientific Concepts LLC is aimed at concentrating on the key markets at the foundation of their technology, ready to invest in the future advancement of 3D flash lidar.

March 24, 2016
Webinar explores BYOD for field data collection
A GPS World webinar on April 14 explores how five organizations made the switch to using their own tablets and smartphones for field data collection (also known as bring your own device, or BYOD).

In BYOD GPS Gets Real: Lessons Learned with the New Rules of GPS Data Collection, TerraGo’s Michael Gundling and David Basil will discuss case studies from five industries — oil & gas, engineering, water utility, transportation and natural resources.

Lance Fugate of Enmapp based in Calgary inspects pipelines using TerraGo Edge on iPads.

Webinar participants will learn about and benefit from the real-world challenges faced during the five deployments of BYOD GPS field data-collection solutions. These customers and projects span very different industries, working conditions and requirements for GPS field data collection. Each offers a unique perspective based on their requirements and ultimately their approach to using smartphones and tablets for GPS-powered asset inspections, surveys, field service and remote workforce management.
- The City of Sebring Water Utility faced challenges with field crew use of CAD diagrams, as well as obtaining RTK accuracy on iPads. Read more about the Sebring project in this article from our March issue.
- The State of Louisiana needed to complete more than 4,000 miles of annual levee inspections while syncing field data from tablets to the cloud. Read more about the project.
- Kleinfelder engineers needed to shift to real-time GPS on tablets so they could eliminate four hours per day of post-field processing, and bring projects in faster and under budget.
- Empire Electric needed a method for customers to approve GPS-tagged work orders in real-time from the job site to avoid delays and lower costs.
- Enmapp needed to cut pipeline inspection hardware and labor costs in the face of the oil industry’s low-price and margin-challenged cost environment.
Register today for the free webinar.
March 24, 2016
US, Cuba agree to improve maritime navigation safety

President Obama’s trip to Cuba this week marks a historic milestone in the normalization process between the U.S. and Cuba. At the same time, the two countries are working to improve maritime navigation safety and related areas of mutual interest to protect lives and property at sea.

Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, and Col. Candido Alfredo Regalado Gomez, chief of Cuba’s National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy (ONHG), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on maritime navigation.

The MOU calls for cooperation in the areas of hydrography, oceanography, geodesy and related services of mutual interest. One of the major focuses will be to improve maritime navigation safety including efforts to ensure the accuracy of both electronic and paper charts, eliminate charting overlaps and fill in gaps in navigational chart coverage.

In addition to updating data on domestic charts like the NOAA chart above, the U.S. and Cuba agreed to work together on a new international paper chart which will cover south Florida, the Bahamas and northern Cuba. (NOAA)

In February 2015, less than two months after President Obama announced the United States’ new approach toward Cuba, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the ONHG, through a set of reciprocal exchanges, launched what became a year-long effort to formulate the technical exchange that is a normal course of affairs between most of the other maritime nations of the world. Both agencies are working on plans for monitoring and forecasting tides and currents for ports and improving positioning networks among other related scientific and technical activities.

“NOAA has a strong interest in both improving navigational safety and in protecting the marine environment in the heavily travelled and vibrant waters between our two countries in the Straits of Florida,” said Russell Callender, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for the National Ocean Service. “We welcome this agreement and the progress it represents.”

“Improved navigation services are important for commercial mariners and individual boaters alike,” said Ambassador DeLaurentis, “and it is particularly important as authorized trade and authorized travel increase between the two countries.”

“This MOU will allow us to fill gaps in essential navigational data, working on a practical level with our Cuban counterparts,” said Kathryn Ries, deputy director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. “The U.S. works with hydrographic offices of all nations that have waters adjacent to the United States and our territories, and this agreement improves the exchange of charting information with Cuba as well.”

The MOU is the first step in what is expected to be a long-term collaboration between the two countries.

In addition to aligning each country’s navigational charts, NOAA and ONHG are sharing data for the creation of a new international chart (known in mariner’s parlance as “INT chart”) 4149, which will cover south Florida, the Bahamas, and north Cuba. NOAA plans to publish the new chart this year.

March 24, 2016
Drone market to hit $37B by 2022

The worldwide market for drones, now $6.8 billion, is anticipated to reach $36.9 billion by 2022, according to a new report by RnR Market Research.

“Drones Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022” provides a comprehensive analysis of drones in nine different categories, illustrating the diversity of uses for remote flying devices. The use scenarios cover agriculture, oil and gas, border patrol, law enforcement, homeland security, disaster response, package delivery, photography, videography and others.

Army UAS have logged more than 3 million flight hours — 88 percent in combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, giving drones market credibility and paving the way for commercial drone markets to develop.

Now, UAV technology has reached a level of maturity that has permitted DJI to garner $1 billion in revenue in 2015, doubling the company’s revenue in one year. This achievement puts drone systems at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing.

According to the report, “Use of drones represents a key milestone in provision of value to every industry. Customized cameras are used to take photos and videos with stunning representations. Digital controls will further automate flying, making ease of use and flight stability a reality. New materials and new designs are bringing that transformation forward. By furthering innovation, continued growth is assured.”

March 23, 2016
Harxon offers new GNSS helix antenna

Chinese antenna maker Harxon has launched a new GNSS helix antenna for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and geospatial applications.

The HX-CH6601A receives GPS L1/L2, GLONASS L1/L2 and BeiDou B1/B2 signals. It offers exceptional pattern control, polarization purity and high efficiency in a very compact form factor.

The antenna is equipped with a high-quality, durable IP65 sealed radome housing and terminated with a SMA connector, which has high gain and wide beam width to ensure the signal receiving performance of satellites at a low elevation angle.

The 25-gram antenna is designed for applications across various markets, including aerial photographs, telemetry technology, disaster monitoring, traffic patrol and security monitoring.

HX-CH6601A offers a significant improvements compared to its predecessor HX-CH4601A GPS/GLONASS L1L2. The built-in low noise amplifier (LNA) and filtering offer up to 35-decibel gain with a single 50-Ohm SMA connector.

Customers samples of HX-CH6601A are now available.

March 22, 2016
2016 Simulator Buyers Guide
Cast Navigation IFEN
GmbH Racelogic Skydel Spectracom Spirent Federal Systems

Cast Navigation

CAST-3000: Complete GPS/INS Integration Testing

CAST GNSS/INS simulators generate high-fidelity GNSS RF signals along with the coherent digital inertial signals that allow for the precise stimulation of the next generation of GNSS/INS navigation equipment. CAST’s GNSS/INS systems provide the highly precise system performance that is required to aid in the integration and testing of the next-generation of GNSS navigation system technologies. The 35-year-old company’s business focus is supplying GNSS/INS simulators, GNSS/INS test equipment, and GPS/INS support services to government and military avionics laboratories, prime contractors, GNSS receiver manufacturers and system integrators.

The CAST-3000 fully supports integration testing of GPS/INS navigation systems where the inertial sensor and GPS receiver are either tightly or ultra-tightly coupled. The CAST-3000 produces GPS RF signals coincident with simulated IMU sensor data that provide dynamic testing in the laboratory environment for military and government applications. CAST has worked closely with both Honeywell and Northrop Grumman over the past two decades in the development of the CAST-3000, which
- - provides strapdown IMU measurement data synchronized with GPS RF data to the navigation system under test.
  - contains a mature avionic sensor simulation Barometric Altimeter model.
  - includes high rate inertial measurements with very high degree of fidelity to support testing of high-performance coupled systems.
  - simulates sensors to provide the necessary fully coordinated, dynamic vertical channel aiding needed to maintain Kalman filter stability of the navigation system.
  - includes years of development and refinement of the precise GPS/INS synchronization capability needed for simulation of aircraft dynamics.
  - includes a complete 6-DOF motion generation capability.
www.castnav.com
phone: 978 858-0130
email: [email protected]

Ifen GmbH

NavX-NCS Professional GNSS Simulator
NavX-NCS Essential GNSS Simulator

The flexibility of the NavX-NCS Professional GNSS Simulator allows it to be configured with up to 108 channels and all of the following signals:
- GPS L1/L2/L5 C/A and P-code and L2C
- GLONASS G1/G2 standard and high-accuracy codes
- Galileo E1/E5/E6 (BOC/CBOC/AltBOC)
- BeiDou B1/B2/B3
- SBAS L1/L5 (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, SDCM)
- IRNSS L5/S-band
- QZSS L1 and L1-SAIF
- IMES
The user can assign signals freely to any of the RF modules fitted to the simulator. This allows the same hardware to be used in a range of different configurations.

Signals can be added by software license with no need to return the hardware for upgrade.

Up to four independent RF outputs can be fitted, enabling the user to simulate multiple antenna locations simultaneously (allowing simulation of multiple antennas on one vehicle, multiple vehicles simultaneously, a mixture of static locations and mobile vehicles, and multiple antenna elements for Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna [CRPA] testing).

The comprehensive and easy-to-use Control Center operating software allows the operator to quickly create realistic test scenarios for effective testing of user equipment.

IFEN also offers the NavX-NCS Essential GNSS Simulator, which is available with 21 or 42 channels and is capable of simulating GPS L1 (including SBAS L1), GLONASS G1, Galileo E1, BeiDou B1, QZSS L1 and IMES. The simulator is also supplied with Control Center operating software for comprehensive scenario generation.

www.ifen.com
For USA and Canada:
Mark Wilson
phone: 951-739-7331
email: [email protected]
For Rest of World:
Dr. Guenter Heinrichs
phone: +49-8121-2238-20
email: [email protected]

Racelogic

LabSat 3 and LabSat Real-Time

LabSat 3 from Racelogic is a low cost, stand-alone, battery-powered, multi-constellation, RF record and replay device, designed to assist GNSS engineers in the development and testing of their products. By capturing live-sky RF signals, it enables repeatable and realistic testing to be carried out under controlled conditions, and is available as a record and replay, or replay only version; either one, two or three constellation types generate a single, dual or triple constellation file.

With standalone operation, LabSat 3 can be used in any outdoor location to create real-world scenarios for eventual replay back in the lab. As well as being able to simultaneously record or replay GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS, Galileo and SBAS signals, it can log CAN bus, serial or digital data, embedded alongside the satellite information. This additional information can then be replayed alongside the GNSS output, with synchronization to within 60 nanoseconds. A 1 PPS signal can also be generated using the internal GPS receiver.
LabSat 3 can be used as a replay system out of the box with a set of 60 pre-recorded scenarios supplied as part of the package, recorded from various locations around the globe.

Additionally, SatGen software allows for scenario generation of user-defined trajectories, with precise control over velocity, heading, height and constellation profiles, giving the test engineer the ability to develop their product using simulations that would be difficult or impossible to record due to geographic location or safety constraints. NMEA and KML imports are supported.

New for 2016 is LabSat Real-Time, which allows for bench testing of GNSS devices where a current time stamp is required. SatGen V3 PC software generates a live signal stream to a LabSat RT unit which up converts the RF data from digital to analogue with less than one second latency. LabSat RT operates on any two of the three constellations of GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou.

www.labsat.co.uk
phone: +44 (0)1280 823803

Skydel

SDX: Software-Defined GNSS Simulator
Software-Defined Innovation

Skydel brings a new generation of GNSS simulators to the market. With the SDX simulator, signals are modulated by the graphics processing unit (GPU) as opposed to dedicated FPGAs found in traditional simulators. This allows new possibilities, such as adding signals and constellations without resorting to additional hardware. This design offers many benefits:
- The number of channels is defined by the GPU, eliminating the need to buy additional proprietary FPGA-based hardware whenever more channels are needed.
- Price per simulated channel is greatly reduced by using powerful, mass-produced off-the-shelf hardware such as graphic cards and software-defined radios. Moreover, the same hardware can be repurposed for numerous applications.
- Numerous hardware configurations provide flexibility ranging from single software-defined receiver (SDR) setups to racked instruments multi-element systems.
- SDX can be distributed over many computers, GPUs and signal generators to expand its capabilities.
Turnkey or Software-Only Solutions

SDX users can reuse their own SDR with the software-only solution, or choose a turnkey solution that comes with all the required hardware and a preconfigured laptop or desktop. Skydel can customize turnkey solutions to meet special requirements.

SDX Key Features
- - Real-time signal generation for multiple GNSS constellations
  - Directional jammers
  - Multi-element antenna with better than 1 degree of phase offset
  - SDK for GNSS signal customization (injection and modification of navigation message and code)
  - 1000-Hz update rate: realistic high-dynamic trajectories
  - High-quality and precise GNSS signal
  - Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration
  - Generate Python automation scripts from the simulator’s graphical user interface (GUI)
  - Powerful Python, C++ and C# API to configure and control the simulator remotely
  - Windows and Linux compatible
SDX is designed for military, research, industrial and consumer applications.

www.skydelsolutions.com
[email protected]

Spectracom

All Constellations, All Frequencies

Spectracom GSG-5/6 series simulators are easy-to-use, feature-rich and affordable, offering value compared to the limitations of testing from “live sky” signals. The Spectracom platform approach allows users to buy what they need today and upgrade later. The adaptability of the GNSS RF generation platform can extend it to applications for intelligent repeating and meaconing.

Test Solutions
- Position accuracy and dynamic range/sensitivity
- Simulate movements/trajectories anywhere on or above Earth
- Sensitivity to GPS impairments: loss of satellites, multipath, atmospheric conditions, interference, jamming and spoofing
- Conducted or over-the-air RF
- GPS time-transfer accuracy
- Effect of leap-second transition
- Multi-constellation testing
- Modernization signals/ frequencies
- Keyless military SAASM and dual-frequency and survey-grade receiver testing
- Application packages for RTK, A-GPS, CRPA (controlled radiation pattern antennas)
- Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration
Infrastructure Possibilities
- Zone-based indoor location (intelligent repeating)
- Other meaconing applications
GSG-6 Series 64-channel multi-frequency, advanced GNSS simulator is powerful enough for any cutting-edge test program. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS and IRNSS signals are available across multiple frequencies. The GSG-6 is designed for military, research or professional applications.

GSG-5 Series 16-channel multi-constellation L1-band GNSS simulator is designed for commercial development/integration programs. If the user is developing commercial products with GNSS capability, the GSG-5 will shorten test programs with confidence.

GSG-51 single channel signal generator is designed for one purpose — fast, simple Go/No-Go manufacturing test and validation, ensuring the manufacturing line is operating at full capacity with confidence in quality.

spectracom.com
email: [email protected]
phone: +1-585-321-5800

Spirent Federal Systems

GSS9000 simulator, CRPA Test System, GSS6425 RPS

Spirent Federal provides simulators that cover all price points, from high-end research and development, to integration/verification, to single-channel production testing.

GSS9000. The Spirent GSS9000 multi-frequency, multi-GNSS RF constellation simulator can simulate signals from all GNSS and regional navigation. The GSS9000 offers a four-fold increase in RF signal iteration rate (SIR) over Spirent’s GSS8000 simulator.

The GSS9000 SIR is 1000 Hz (1ms), enabling higher dynamic simulations with more accuracy and fidelity. It includes support for restricted and classified signals from the GPS and Galileo systems, as well as advanced capabilities for ultra-high dynamics. It can evaluate resilience of navigation systems to interference and spoofing attacks, and has the flexibility to reconfigure constellations, channels and frequencies between test runs or test cases.

Hardware changes can be made in the field, supported by the new on-board calibrator module. The GSS9000 is extensible and can support the widest range of carriers, ranging codes and data streams for the Galileo, GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou systems, as well as regional/augmentation systems. Multi-antenna/multi-vehicle simulation for differential GNSS and attitude determination, and interference/jamming and spoofing testing, are also supported.

CRPA Test System. Spirent’s Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) Test System generates both GNSS and interference signals. Users can control multiple antenna elements. Null-steering and space/time adaptive CRPA testing are both supported by this comprehensive approach.

GSS6425. The Spirent GSS6425 RPS quickly and simply records complex real-world RF environments, capturing both GNSS signals and atmospheric/interference effects. These environments can then be replayed repeatedly to the hardware software under test, reducing project, travel and engineering costs.

www.spirentfederal.com
phone: 801 785 1448; fax: 801 785 1294
email: [email protected]
Key contacts:
Jeff Martin, Sales East
Kalani Needham, Sales West
March 22, 2016
Interaerial Solutions returns to Intergeo as independent UAS event
Intergeo 2014 in Berlin hosted a flight zone event for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) business applications, which led to the 2015 debut in Stuttgart, Germany, of Interaerial Solutions as an integrated topic platform. For the first time, Interaerial Solutions will run as a free-standing UAS platform Oct. 11–13 during Intergeo 2016 in Hamburg.

“Interaerial Solutions Expo. Forum. Flight Zone for UAS.” hosted by Hinte GmbH, now has a dedicated website, www.interaerial-solutions.com, and will serve as a showcase for manufacturers, UAS users and operators, accessories, software and end-to-end solutions.

The repositioning of Interaerial Solutions is the result of its organizers recognizing the rapid development of the UAS market and the high rate of innovation in this new technology. UAS manufacturing and the development of related solutions currently form the most dynamic growth generator in geo-based data capture, processing and the development of applications, Intergeo said in a news release.

“A new chapter in aviation history is unfolding, as UAS takes over the civilian market and unlocks huge potential for developing innovative applications in countless directions,” Christoph Hinte, CEO of Hinte, said in the news release. “We will be scripting the storyline at Interaerial Solutions. We are already the biggest platform in this field in the German-speaking world.”

Uwe Nortmann, managing director of UAV Dach e.V., Interaerial Solutions’ partner organization, already considers the Interaerial Solutions marketplace to be the leading trade fair for unmanned aircraft systems. “For me, the event’s main appeal lies in the way it reveals how a range of sectors can benefit from the fledgling technological developments surrounding UAS,” he said. “By replacing manned flights, UAS heralds vast potential savings in costs. The future lies in unmanned aircraft systems, and Interaerial Solutions is the platform to show this.”

About 80 exhibitors and approximately 3,200 visitors attended the event as part of Intergeo 2015. A third of those visitors placed an order at the trade fair or immediately afterwards, Intergeo said, and two-thirds of visitors at Interaerial Solutions rated Intergeo 2015 as either “important” or “very important” for investment decisions.

The event will maintain the same format this year as last year with an exhibition area, expert forum and outdoor flight zone. Exhibitors of the 2016 event include:
- Suppliers of hardware for UAS.
- UAS manufacturers.
- Hardware manufacturers for remote sensing.
- Manufacturers of UAS accessories.
- Suppliers of evaluation software/photogrammetry.
- Suppliers of UAS services.
- Technology and services for data utilisation.
- Education and training.
- Service providers and dealers.
- Insurersand consultants.
- Publishers and associations.
- Authorities.
“Interaerial Solutions already gave professional UAS manufacturers like us the chance last year to present our products to a large, enthusiastic trade audience,” said Daniel Schmitt, manager of RotorKonzept Multikoptermanufaktur. “At the same time, visitors to the trade fair were able to gain a comprehensive overview of the market. Interaerial Solutions is the most important exhibition platform of the year for RotorKonzept. We will definitely be on board again in Hamburg.”
March 21, 2016
AirLink GX450 from Sierra Wireless now supports advanced vehicle telemetry

Sierra Wireless has released an advanced fleet management feature to support the company’s AirLink GX450 mobile gateway, allowing it to collect OBD-II vehicle telemetry data.

The added functionality will enable large organizations and fleet management solution providers to rapidly develop applications to monitor vehicle health and performance, helping them reduce costs, streamline operations and increase efficiency.

Managing a vehicle-based workforce involves a large group of stakeholders, including operations, IT and fleet management. By combining mobile networking and rich vehicle telematics onto a single platform that gathers and reports vehicle diagnostic data directly to applications, this new feature will simplify and centralize vehicle management across an organization. Organizations will no longer need to purchase a separate in-vehicle telematics platform to gather and monitor vehicle health data.

“We added advanced, easy-to-use telemetry to the AirLink GX450 to enable customers to simplify the adoption of vehicle telemetry solutions, including the ability to leverage their existing investment in fleet communications equipment,” said Jason Krause, senior vice president, Enterprise Solutions, Sierra Wireless.

Clevest, a provider of mobile workforce management solutions for utilities, has worked closely with Sierra Wireless through the development of the AirLink GX450’s vehicle telemetry feature to produce a complete workforce management and vehicle monitoring solution.

“Our mobile workforce platform is tightly integrated with AirLink gateways,” said Edna Menon, senior product marketing manager, Clevest. “With the GX450 telemetry feature, our utility customers can take advantage of robust vehicle diagnostic capabilities, in addition to the reliability and ease-of-use of our integrated solutions.”

The AirLink GX450 vehicle telemetry uses an optional OBD-II accessory to collect vehicle diagnostic data and send it to a remote server using an open messaging protocol (MQTT). Vehicle telemetry is designed for applications in public safety, utilities, emergency and field services, and for large organizations or fleet management solution providers that have the in-house resources to develop their own vehicle monitoring applications.

March 16, 2016
AAGS seeks input on geodetic certification program
The American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS) has undertaken an effort to explore creating a geodetic certification program. The geodetic certification would provide official recognition that a person has the working knowledge and skills to understand and solve practical problems in applied geodesy.

The vision is that the geodetic certification program would be similar to other existing certifications, such as the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Certified Photogrammetrist, the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) GIS Professional, and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and The Hydrographic Society of America (THSOA) Certified Hydrographer.

“As geospatial technology continues to advance and gain wider adoption, geodesy is becoming an increasingly important part of the geospatial framework,” said AAGS past president Michael Dennis, RLS, PE. “To that end, we are exploring the concept of creating a program that officially recognizes professionals with a minimum level of geodetic competence.”

To gain input from industry professionals, AAGS created an online questionnaire about the program and invites all those involved with geospatial technologies to contribute. The questionnaire is available here.

The questionnaire is intended to serve multiple purposes:
- Establish an appropriate body of knowledge for applied geodesy
- Determine the level of support in the geospatial community
- Identify areas of interest and existing status of geodetic knowledge
- Provide guidance on creating and prioritizing educational content
- Show the breadth and depth of the field of geodesy
- Raise awareness of the proposed program
The questionnaire also helps lay the foundation for creating a certification program and consists of 50 questions. The first ten are general questions, and the remaining 40 are divided among the eight topic areas listed below.
1. Geometrical Geodesy and Reference Systems
2. Map Projections
3. Physical Geodesy
4. Astronomic and Celestial Coordinate Systems
5. Global Navigation Satellite Systems
6. Statistics and Least Squares
7. Geodetic Observation Procedures and Practices
8. Standards, Specifications, and Guidelines
AAGS is seeking input from a broad cross section of geospatial practitioners, including surveyors, engineers, GIS professionals, photogrammetrists, programmers and any others who use geodetic methods and calculations to combine, manipulate, and analyze spatial data.

The proposed geodetic certification program is being developed in cooperation with the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). Participation of other professional geospatial organizations is currently being solicited as part of program development.
March 16, 2016
Septentrio Americas delivers machine control receivers for world’s largest iron ore mine

The Vale S11D mine is the largest iron ore mine in the world.

Vale’s new S11D mine is the largest iron ore project in the world. It will produce more than 90 million tons of iron ore annually when it becomes operational in the second half of 2016. Vale is leveraging technology from Septentrio and other mining companies to implement a highly automated truckless transport system that will substantially reduce fuel consumption and emissions, as well as saving water.

The Vale S11D machine control project is being managed from Septentrio Americas in Torrance, California.

Septentrio GNSS receivers and antennas will be deployed across a range of machines to provide highly accurate and reliable position and orientation. The AsteRx-U receiver family features built-in jamming detection and countermeasures, multipath rejection and fast acquisition.

With more than 500 channels to track all available constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, IRNSS and QZSS), the receivers offer a built-in L-band receiver for PPP corrections as well as centimeter-level RTK positioning accuracy.

The AsteRx-U family also incorporates proprietary Septentrio algorithms, including LOCK+ technology to maintain tracking during heavy vibration from the machine and IONO+ technology to assure the accuracy of the position even in regions of elevated ionospheric activity. The receiver is configurable from any device with a web browser, and includes advanced capabilities such as a built-in spectrum analyzer.

“Septentrio has been a leader in multi-constellation and multi-frequency machine control GNSS receivers for the past decade,” said Neil Vancans, vice president of Septentrio Americas. “The selection of AsteRx-U receivers for Vale’s S11D project is a strong validation of Septentrio’s rugged design and high performance in challenging environmental conditions.”

March 16, 2016
ESA to research monitoring of ground hazards affecting transportation
Operators of UK transport networks will be the first to benefit from Live Land, a satellite-based land monitoring system developed through the European Space Agency (ESA).

Transport operators across the UK face significant challenges in monitoring and detecting landslides and subsidence across their networks. Geological hazards in the vicinity of roads and railways can disrupt business and communities.

The Live Land demonstration project will help to assess and monitor high-risk areas by providing more information on geological hazards along rail and road networks using integrated data from GNSS and Earth observation satellites.

CGG GeoConsulting‘s NPA Satellite Mapping group has been awarded a contract to lead the Live Land project, sponsored by the ESA within its Integrated Applications Program (IAP). Over the next two years, the Live Land consortium will develop a number of products for two prominent Scottish transport operators, Network Rail (Scotland) and Transport Scotland.

Once successfully demonstrated in Scotland and regions of England, Live Land is expected to expand across the UK and continental Europe as the project team engages with other transport operators who could benefit from the new information that will be available on geohazards.

The Live Land demonstration project is the follow-on of a previous ESA IAP feasibility study concluded in 2014 and draws on expertise from a team of internationally respected authorities in their respective fields:
- NPA Satellite Mapping
- British Geological Survey
- Met Office
- Nottingham Scientific Ltd. (GNSS experts)
Live Land offers transport operators increased information on geological hazards, such as landslides and subsidence. (Photo: ritish Geological Survey NERC)

How it works

Radar images from Europe’s Sentinel-1A observation satellite detect surface motion changes with millimeter precision. This is complemented with data from satnav receivers and sensors installed for in-situ monitoring in specific locations. This space-based information is combined with knowledge about the geology of the area and weather forecasts. For example, an area of steep slopes and wet soil that is expecting heavy rainfall is at a higher risk of a landslide.

Furnished with such knowledge, transport operators can assess the risks and improve their planning and response to incidents.

“Live Land integrates data collected from different sources to assess and monitor potential geological threats for transport operators,” said ESA’s Roberta Mugellesi. “Combining space-based data increases the confidence in risk assessment and predictions.”

NPA Satellite Mapping

The NPA Satellite Mapping consultancy derives geospatial intelligence from satellite imagery. Its mapping solutions are used around the world by a client base ranging from oil and gas operators to transport asset owners to maximize operational insight and minimize risk. The company has considerable experience in geohazard research projects for ESA and European Commission, and, with its expertise in satellite InSAR (surface deformation) mapping, is optimally placed to coordinate and bring to market the unique monitoring solutions that will be developed within the Live Land project.

The services are expected to range from regional geological hazard susceptibility and activity datasets that exploit satellite InSAR measurements, to hazard forecasting models using geological and meteorological data, and the development of cost-effective, multi-sensor devices (GNSS receiver and inertial sensors) for in-situ monitoring.

“Live Land will initially play a crucial role in helping to better understand, monitor and forecast geological hazards across the UK’s road and rail networks,” said Claire Roberts, Live Land project manager and remote sensing consultant with NPA Satellite Mapping. “The developments targeted in the project are ambitious but necessary given the scale of the issues we want to address.”
March 15, 2016
Hemisphere GNSS debuts smart antenna for survey
Hemisphere GNSS has released the S321, its next-generation multi-frequency, multi-GNSS survey smart antenna. The S321 — designed for land or marine survey — combines Hemisphere’s Athena and Atlas technologies with a new web user interface offering customer-friendly performance.

For professional marine applications — such as marine construction, hydrographic surveying or dredging — using the S321 with Athena RTK (real-time kinematic) enables users to achieve impeccable results and maintain peak up-time, the company said. The ruggedized antenna was designed for demanding and challenging environments and meets IP67 requirements.

The S321 smart antenna by Hemisphere GNSS.

“The S321 is another example of how much Hemisphere has changed,” said Chuck Joseph, president and CEO. “A fantastic survey smart antenna with industry-leading RTK, connectivity, and management capabilities, the S321 offers unbeatable performance and value to the industry.”

Athena RTK

Athena excels in environments where high-accuracy GNSS receivers can be used. Hemisphere’s customers have tested and proven Athena’s performance in long baseline, in open-sky environments, under heavy canopy, and in locations experiencing significant scintillation.
- Initialization time – Reliably consistent initialization performance, while at the same time performing initializations in less than 15 seconds at better than 99.9 percent reliability.
- Robustness in difficult operating environments – Extremely high productivity under aggressive geographic and landscape-oriented environments for GNSS.
- Performance on long baselines – Position stability for long baseline applications.
- Performance under scintillation – Sustained accuracy under ionospheric scintillation activities.
Atlas GNSS Global Corrections

The S321 ships preconfigured to test drive corrections from Hemisphere’s Atlas global corrections service. The bundled solution provides users worldwide with an easy way to use Atlas, including the worldwide H10 service offering 8-centimeter, 95-percent accuracy (4 cm RMS).

Network RTK Augmentation

BaseLink technology allows Atlas-capable receivers like the S321 to self-calibrate, self-survey, and automatically manage the transmission of RTK correction data to augment or extend established or new GNSS reference networks in areas of poor Internet connectivity.

The S321 introduces Hemisphere’s aRTK technology. Powered by Atlas, aRTK enables the S321 to operate with RTK accuracies when RTK corrections fail. If the S321 is Atlas-subscribed, it will continue to operate at the subscribed service level until RTK is restored.

The S321 also introduces SureFix, Hemisphere’s new processor running in combination with Athena to provide high-fidelity RTK quality information that results in guaranteed precision with virtually 100 percent reliability.

Features:
- Athena RTK engine
- GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS
- 372 channels
- Atlas corrections delivered via L-band and over the Internet
- Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
- Powerful web user interface
- Two versions (Each can be configured as Base or Rover):
  - UHF + GSM / WCDMA
  - GSM / WCDMA (Network Rover)
- 4 GB internal memory card and 64 GB-capable MicroSD card for data logging, download and upload.
The S321 can be ordered now and is available to ship before the end of the month.

The S321 is making its tradeshow debut at Oceanology International 2016 at ExCeL, London, UK, March 15-17, at booth G500.

For more information about the S321, Athena, Atlas, or its other advanced features, please call +1 (844) 217-2845 (within Canada / USA only) or +1 (480) 291-6766, or email [email protected].
March 15, 2016