GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • OGC Hires Lew Leinenweber and Bart de Lathouwer to Fill Key Technical Positions

     

    The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) announced it has appointed both Lew Leinenweber and Bart de Lathouwer to the position of Director, Interoperability Programs. These are key technical positions in the OGC Interoperability Program.

    "OGC members will benefit greatly from the leadership that Lew and Bart will bring to OGC Interoperability Program (IP) initiatives," said George Percivall, Chief Architect and Executive Director, OGC Interoperability Program. "Lew brings a wealth of experience from leading prior OGC initiatives, including the fourth OGC Web Services Testbed (OWS-4) and the Geo-Decision Support Services (GeoDSS) activity. As the first member of the OGC IP Staff in Europe, Bart begins what we anticipate will be an exciting and broad-ranging program of OGC projects focused in Europe."

    OGC announced that Lew will begin by leading the OGC Climatology-Hydrology Information Sharing Pilot, Phase 1 (CHISP-1) that will advance hydrology services using open standards in an operational, cross-border setting, creating a model for use around the world.  Lew brings exceptional experience with the OASIS Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) and NIEM (National Information Exchange Model). His experience will be a critical asset as the OGC works to advance open geospatial standards in the area of information sharing for intelligence and homeland security applications.  

    Further, OGC announced that Bart will lead the OGC element of the COBWEB ("Citizen OBservatory WEB") project recently awarded by the European Commission. COBWEB focuses on crowdsourcing of geospatial environmental information, addressing privacy and security elements.  Bart will also represent OGC in the EO2HEAVEN (Earth Observation and Environmental Modelling for the Mitigation of Health Risks) project and the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) Architecture Implementation Pilot. He leads project development in Europe on many fronts, with particular emphasis on Building Information based on his successful service at Autodesk. This work will support adoption of the OGC CityGML standard for storage and exchange of virtual 3D city models.

  • SuperGIS Server 3.1 Supports Integration with OpenStreetMap

    SuperGeo announced that SuperGIS Server 3.1 Value Edition, a GIS server developed by SuperGeo for enterprises, supports the integration with OpenStreetMap.

     

    According to the announcement, SuperGIS Server 3.1 is designed for enabling the organizations to create, manage, integrate and publish a variety of spatial services. Therefore, the spatial data in all types as well as GIS functions can be applied to desktop, mobile and web applications over the Internet.

    The company reports that to provide developers with a flexible server structure, the newest SuperGIS Server 3.1 Value Edition aims to optimize the ability to integrate with other sources. In addition to Google Map services and the services published by ArcGIS Server, the services, published by SuperGIS Server 3.1, can be overlaid with OpenStreetMap services. Administrators are able to publish map services and overlay these services with OpenStreetMap after building SuperGIS Server website. Therefore, the contents of the map website would be richer and more flexible.

  • Polar Launches Integrated Training Device, RC3 GPS

    Polar, a heart-rate training technology company, has released the RC3 GPS wrist device, a new training device with fully integrated GPS.

    The RC3 GPS has been developed to provide sports and fitness enthusiasts with an all-in-one training device with the GPS technology built in. Ergonomically designed, with naturally placed buttons, the RC3 GPS has a breathable wristband for maximum comfort, Polar said. Weighing 58 grams and measuring 1.37-centimeters in depth, the device has a huge digital display that makes it easy to read and customizable, allowing a user to display up to three rows of training data.

    The RC3 GPS combines the latest GPS technology with “Smart Coaching” — training guidance and features developed by Polar over the last 35 years. The device contains a wide range of easy-to-use heart rate based features including “Sports Profile,” where users preselect a sport and can monitor intensity specific to the demands of that discipline, and “Training Benefit,” where instant intuitive feedback is given straight after exercise.

    The RC3 GPS also includes the “Back to Start” GPS feature that directs users back to their starting point in the shortest distance possible. RC3 GPS users can now check out the more adventurous routes and explore them knowing that at the touch of a button they can be directed back to their starting place.

    The RC3 GPS uses SiRFstar IV technology. It has a 250 mAH Li-Pol fixed rechargeable battery that allows users to train for up to 12 hours without the need to recharge.

  • Taking It to the House

    U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security; Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management; Hearing, July 19, 2012:  Using Unmanned Aerial Systems Within the Homeland: Security Game Changer?

    Testimony by Todd E. Humphreys, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin. [Excerpted. Prof. Humphreys is a co-author of the article “Drone Hack” in the August issue of GPS World.].

    The vulnerability of civil GPS to spoofing has serious implications for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as was recently illustrated by a dramatic remote hijacking of a UAV at White Sands Missile Range.

    Hacking a UAV by GPS spoofing is but one expression of a larger problem: insecure civil GPS technology has over the last two decades been absorbed deeply into critical systems within our national infrastructure. Besides UAVs, civil GPS spoofing also presents a danger to manned aircraft, maritime craft, communications systems, banking and finance institutions, and the national power grid.

    Constructing from scratch a sophisticated GPS spoofer like the one developed by the University of Texas is not easy. It is not within the capability of the average person on the street, or even the average Anonymous hacker. But the emerging tools of software-defined radio and the availability of GPS signal simulators are putting spoofers within reach of ordinary malefactors.

    There is no quick, easy, and cheap fix for the civil GPS spoofing problem. What is more, not even the most effective GPS spoofing defenses are foolproof. But reasonable, cost-effective spoofing defenses exist which, if implemented, will make successful spoofing much harder.

    I recommend that for non-recreational operation in the national airspace civil UAVs exceeding 18 lbs be required to employ navigation systems that are spoof-resistant.

    More broadly, I recommend that GPS-based timing or navigation systems having a non-trivial role in systems designated by DHS as national critical infrastructure be required to be spoof-resistant.

    Finally, I recommend that the DHS commit to funding development and implementation of a cryptographic authentication signature in one of the existing or forthcoming civil GPS signals.

    Complete testimony (PDF) covers:

    • The potential vulnerabilities of U.S. national transportation, communications, banking and finance, and energy distribution infrastructure;
    • What does it take to build a spoofer? Buy a spoofer?
    • Range and required knowledge of target.
    • Fixing the problem:
      • Jamming-to-noise sensing defense;
      • Defense based on SSSC or NMA on WAAS signals;
      • Multi-system multi-grequency defense;
      • Single-antenna defense;
      • Defense based on spread-spectrum security codes on L1C;
      • Defense based on navigation message authentication on L1C, L2C, or L5;
      • Correlation prole anomaly defense;
      • Multi-antenna defense;
      • Defense based on cross-correlation with military signals.

  • Geneq Introduces Palm-Sized GPS/GLONASS RTK Receiver for Real-Time Centimeter Accuracy

    Geneq Inc. has launched the SXBlue III GNSS, a palm-sized GNSS RTK receiver that uses both GPS and GLONASS for real-time centimeter accuracy. Via Bluetooth, it brings centimeter accuracy to any smartphone, handheld, tablet, or notebook computer that is Bluetooth-compliant.

    sxblue3gnss_hand

    According to the announcement, the SXBlue III GNSS uses new, patented technology that allows it to generate corrections for both GPS and GLONASS satellite data even if the user’s reference station (or RTK network) only supports GPS. This opens up productivity benefits of GLONASS to all high-precision users around the world, and not just ones who have access to GLONASS-enabled reference stations, Geneq said.

    “With its competitive price and creative implementation of GLONASS, the SXBlue III GNSS will open new doors for users who want to improve their productivity with GLONASS but don’t have control over their reference station infrastructure,” said Jean-Yves Lauture, product engineer. “With the SXBlue III GNSS, the user doesn’t need to be concerned with their RTK reference station at all. It could be a 20 year-old GPS-only reference station and the SXBlue III GNSS will still create corrections for the GLONASS data and allow you the benefit of GPS/GLONASS RTK productivity in the field.”

    By implementing GLONASS, the SXBlue III GNSS immediately increases your RTK productivity with its ability to track 55 satellites (31 GPS, 24 GLONASS). With 12 to 19 satellites in view at all times, the SXBlue III GNSS provides superior performance when working in tough environments such as in and around tree canopy, buildings, and rugged terrain.

    The company reports the next-generation SXBlue III GNSS is a small, palm-sized unit that uses a 2.7-inch diameter GNSS antenna. The unit is  waterproof (submersible), dustproof, and ruggedized, with an IP-67 rating. Its Class-1 long-range Bluetooth 2.0 has a typical range of 250 meters. The internal, rechargeable, field replaceable Li-Ion battery has on-board LEDs to let the user know how much battery life is left. The operating temperature range of the SXBlue III GNSS is -40°C (-40°F) to 85°C (185°F).

    In addition to the built-in long-range Bluetooth transceiver, the SXBlue III GNSS also has a standard DB-9 RS-232 port and a USB Type B port whose outputs are fully programmable up to 10-Hz standard with a 20-Hz option.

    The SXBlue III GNSS is targeted at high-precision users in industries such as surveying, GIS, utilities, construction, agriculture, engineering, and other natural resource industries in addition to local, state, and federal government users.

  • Trimble Expands Functionality of ThingMagic RFID Readers

    Trimble announced the availability of a number of new capabilities for its ThingMagic Mercury 6e (M6e) embedded UHF RFID module and Mercury 6 (M6) finished UHF RFID reader. Available through a firmware upgrade, the added functionality helps users develop and deploy reliable, high-performance RFID-enabled solutions for a broad range of traditional and innovative applications. Trimble also introduced a redesign of its Universal Reader Assistant, a graphical user interface developed to simplify the use and deployment of ThingMagic RFID readers.

    According to the announcement, this upgrade delivers significant enhancements including an increase in tag read rate of up to 75 percent and greater data acquisition rates with every tag read. Several application-specific features designed to read RFID tags in diverse and challenging conditions have also been introduced, including:

    • A new “fast search” tag reading mode
    • The ability to obtain up to 128 bytes of data with every tag read
    • ISO 18000-6B performance enhancements
    • Support for IDS Micro SL900A Gen2 Class 3 Sensor Tags

    Driven by increased demand for RFID-enabled solutions in the transportation, supply chain, retail and healthcare markets, Trimble reports these new features offer several application specific improvements:

    The ThingMagic M6e embedded module now includes a ‘fast search’ algorithm which forces tags to respond rapidly and repeatedly for optimal read performance across diverse use cases. This feature supports applications such as tolling, vehicle management and race timing where fast moving tags need to be distinguished from each other with a high degree of accuracy. Operational up to 200 kilometers per hour, ‘fast search’ supports both Gen2 and ISO 18000-6B tags.

    Superior receive sensitivity, higher tag read rates, and better adaptation to changing tag populations enhance the ability of the ThingMagic M6e and M6 readers to read RFID tags in varied environments and on more items. For example, in a retail supply chain, manufacturers can track high volumes of items on densely packed pallets across multiple distribution points and retailers can inventory tagged items rapidly and with predictable accuracy. In addition, the ability to read more data from every tag supports emerging retail uses such as anti-counterfeiting, brand protection and other security-sensitive applications, without impacting the performance of tag inventory or tag encoding activities.

    This upgrade also adds support for the full cool-Log command set for IDS SL900A sensor tags, addressing increased demand for temperature and state monitoring within utilities, food/cold-chain, healthcare and other markets. The IDS 900A is an EPC global Class 3 tag IC which can be operated in either semi-passive or passive mode.

    “This release represents a significant step in optimizing our portfolio of high-performance embedded RFID modules and finished RFID readers for use across industries,” said Tom Grant, general manager of Trimble’s ThingMagic Division. “Superior performance and versatility continue to be primary differentiators for our products. Equally important are advancements in ease of use which are fundamental to the growth of RFID-enabled solutions and driving better business results across a growing number of connected enterprise applications.”

    With a key goal of driving the barriers for deploying RFID technology as low as possible, this update improves the out-of-the-box experience for solution developers and end users of ThingMagic M6 readers. An improved Web interface includes a reorganization of configuration and management screens, new performance tuning settings, and enhanced tag data access and displays. Enhancements also include zero configuration support for automating network connectivity, Web-based device discovery and management and advanced testing capabilities.

    Trimble reports that a redesign of the ThingMagic Universal Reader Assistant is also available. Supported by all ThingMagic readers, this utility is used to initialize readers and perform common tasks, including selecting application specific performance settings. With a focus on ease-of-use, this redesign meets the needs of an expanding customer base by reducing complexity for novice users while permitting low-level control for advanced users.

  • J-Shield from JAVAD to Counter Interference

     

    JAVAD GNSS announces that it has improved its GNSS protection filters, not only to protect the L1 band against all interferences (including LightSquared 10L, 10H and 10R handset), but to protect against all other interferences which may come in any other GNSS band.

    The company calls its improved filter the J-Shield, and states that it will “help make the bands near any GNSS band free for other usages like broadband wireless, which the United States desperately needs to catch up with other nations, as currently the United States is number 16 in the world [in broadband capacity], and to help to create competition to potentially reduce U.S. wireless broadband costs to 1/3 of what they are today.”

    CEO and founder Javad Ashjaee will present details on the J-Shield on Thursday, September 20, at the ION-GNSS conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in a talk titled “All about GNSS Interferences and Jammers.”

    The talk will cover:

    1. Where does interference come from?
    2. How to know, view, quantify and analyze interference.
    3. How to protect against interferences.
    4. Implementation of these features in JAVAD GNSS’s mass-produced commercial products.
    5. Introduction of the J-Shied for all GNSS bands.

    The company will also have an exhibit on the ION-GNSS show floor in the Nashville Convention Center, from Wednesday, September 19 to Friday, September 21.

  • Trimble Brings Smartphone Look and Feel to a Rugged Handheld Computer

    Trimble has introduced the Juno T41 handheld computer, bringing a smartphone-inspired option to industries demanding a rugged field computer for data collection and mobile workforce management. The Juno T41 handheld is a developer-friendly computing device for real-world field conditions, with either Windows Embedded Handheld or Android operating systems, Trimble said.

    “With the release of the Juno T41, we are providing a rugged handheld that delivers the capabilities and convenience of a smartphone,” said Jim Sheldon, general manager of Trimble’s Mobile Computing Solutions Division. “It’s slim, ergonomic design is thinner and lighter than other rugged computing products in its class today. Powerful, connected, compact and easy-to-use, the Juno T41 handheld computer is ideal for any mobile professional or demanding consumer.”

    The initial launch of the Trimble Juno T41 computer features:

    • Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 or Android 2.3.4 “Gingerbread” operating system in choice of 10 languages
    • Multi-touch user interface with capacitive stylus compatibility
    • 8 MP camera with dual LED flash and geo-tagging
    • 3.75G cellular data, SMS text and voice capability option 
    • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® b/g/n
    • 4.3-inch WVGA sunlight-readable Gorilla® Glass display
    • GPS receiver with typical 2-4 meter accuracy
    • Accelerometer and Electronic Compass
    • Fully rugged design with IP65 or IP68 rating
    • 800MHz or 1 GHz processor with up to 512MB RAM
    • Up to 16 GB non-volatile onboard flash storage, plus microSD card slot
    • Built-in rechargeable 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery

    The Trimble Juno T41 is available for order now with shipments beginning in September.

  • Google Maps Has Schedules for One Million Public Transit Stops

    Since 2005, Google has collaborated with hundreds of transit authorities around the world to make a comprehensive resource for millions of riders to find out which bus, train, subway, or tram can take them to their next destination. Today, Google Maps reports it has public transportation schedules for more than one million transit stops worldwide, in nearly 500 cities, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney.

    In support of the database, Google is releasing an update to the Google Maps for Android app (version 6.10). Google said it has made some changes to the Transit Lines layer, so that the user can select a specific mode of public transportation (train, bus, tram, or subway) to display on the mobile map, hiding the other modes. This is helpful in areas where there is a tight concentration of several types of public transit, Google said.

    Left: Mobile map with all modes of public transit shown; Right: Transit Lines layer in Subway mode (Source: Google)

    Google also reported an update to the layout of station pages to be more useful. Users open it by tapping on the name of the station on your mobile map.

    Updated station pages show departure times, lines serving the station and the distance to nearby stations

     

    In addition to these new transit features, Google has updated region highlighting, My Places, and Location History displays in Google Maps for Android:
    • When a user searches for a city or postal code, the borders of that region are highlighted.
    • Under My Places are new tabs that help users access information from a single place.
    • If Location History is enabled, users can browse the places they’ve been on a daily basis with an updated Location History dashboard.
    Update to the latest version of Google Maps for Android in the Google Play store.

  • Next GPS IIF Satellite Launch Expected October 4

    News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserv.

     

    Spaceflight Now is reporting that the next GPS satellite, Block IIF-3 (SVN65) to be launched on October 4, 2012, will be positioned in orbital slot 1, which is in plane A. This slot is currently occupied by a Block IIA satellite, SVN39, operating as PRN09. SVN39 is one of the oldest operating satellites in the GPS fleet, having been launched on June 26, 1993.

    This will be the third satellite in the Block IIF series of GPS spacecraft with improved accuracy, enhanced internal atomic clocks, better anti-jam resistance, a civil signal for commercial aviation (and others) and a longer design life. Boeing is building a dozen craft to upgrade the constellation’s foundation over the coming years.

  • GIOVE-B: Lost and Found

    News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserv.

     

    After more than four years of service as a Galileo test-bed satellite, GIOVE-B was retired on July 23. Its navigation transmitters were switched off and, according to an announcement from the European Space Agency, the satellite’s height was subsequently raised in a series of steps to place it in a so-called “graveyard” orbit where there will be no danger of it interfering with the operational Galileo satellites or other spacecraft.

    After the first delta-V orbit manoeuvre, NORAD/JSpOC lost the satellite — at least NORAD/JSpOC stopped providing updated two-line orbital element sets for it. Eventually, 24 days later, the agency found it and resumed issuing element sets.

    Just before the orbit manoeuvres, GIOVE-B had a mean motion of 1.70959839 orbits per day according to NORAD/JSpOC, which translates to an orbit semi-major axis value of approximately 29,544 kilometres. When NORAD/JSpOC recovered the satellite, its mean motion was 1.65377594 orbits per day with a semi-major axis of 30,205 kilometres, a change of 661 kilometres.

  • Gakstatter Reports on CGSIC Meeting

    GPS World Survey and GIS editor Eric Gaskstatter attended the CGSIC (Civil GPS Service Interface Committee) State and Local Government subcommittee meeting in Seattle August 14, and provided a report in his Survey Scene editorial.

    The Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC) was established to facilitate communication among civilian GPS users, identify civilian user community needs, and report to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation. The U.S. state and local government subcommittee meeting moves around to different parts of the U.S. The next meeting is the annual CGSIC meeting, typically held the two days prior to the Institute of Navigation (ION) GNSS conference. This year it’s being held in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Gakstatter reports on how GNSS receiver technology is moving much faster than GPS policymakers can keep up with, the National Telcommunications and Information Administration’s efforts to execute the National Broadband Plan, and a whether illegal jamming has been on the rise.