GPS World

Tag: France

  • Dam repair monitored by robotic total station

    The project raised the dam height by 60 centimeters, reinforcing existing abutments and adding two piano key spillways.
    The project raised the dam height by 60 centimeters, reinforcing existing abutments and adding two piano key spillways.

    At the Razisse dam in southwest France, a Spectra Precision Focus 35 robotic total station was used to monitor structural movements during major repairs.

    The Focus 35 total station on the job.
    The Focus 35 total station on the job.

    The Focus 35 monitored to a half-millimeter accuracy movement of the arch dam abutments during a critical six-week period in the project. Raising the height of the dam was expected to cause the abutments to settle, so the Focus 35 was positioned to measure XY movement to ensure they were settling properly and within expectations.

    Measurements were taken at each step, with results communicated in real time to the contractor through an Excel file. The results enabled engineers to make critical decisions on whether to move further into the project. The final movement was less than a tenth of a millimeter, well within the acceptable value.

  • Canal+ broadcasts race with GPS GeoRacing system

    Canal+ broadcasts race with GPS GeoRacing system

    Photo: Canal+

    Canal+, a French cable television channel, used Trimaran’s GeoRacing GPS tracking and visualization system to improve live television coverage of the Tour de Corse 2015, the FIA World Rally Championship held on the island of Corsica in October.

    Through a combination of GPS data and advanced technologies like virtual timing and ghost visualization, Trimaran’s GeoRacing solution allowed Canal+ to track the motorsport race in real time and better visualize its progression, enhancing the television viewer’s experience. The system dramatically improves the broadcaster’s ability to deliver live audio commentary about the race, giving viewers a race-time comparison of the drivers along with other important stats.

    During the Tour de Corse race, Canal+ used multiple cameras with GPS trackers in cars and helicopters, and at the starting, mid-point and finish lines. The GPS tracking system situated on the cameras was provided by AMPVisual TV, a technology partner of Canal+ and Trimaran.

    Throughout the race, GPS positioning from each of the cars was sent to the GeoRacing system. Using Trimaran’s solution, Canal+ instantly delivered detailed sports information and statistics, such as speed, timing (retiming for staggered starts) and ranking. This enabled viewers to better understand the progression of the live race.

    With the virtual timing capability, Canal+ was able to demonstrate the virtual differences between cars at a precision of 1/10th of a second. Trimaran’s ghost visualization feature provides a 3D representation of the rival positions in real time, creating the feeling that the cars all left the starting line simultaneously.

  • Second Toulouse Symposium on Navigation and Timing Planned

    The Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC) and the French Space Agency’s “Satellite Positioning and Timing” Technical Skills Community (CNES CCT PDS) will hold the second edition of the International Technical Symposium on Navigation and Timing on Nov. 16-17, 2015, at the ENAC premises in Toulouse, France.

    The event is based on the following key elements:

    • Technical presentations on hot topics related to navigation and timing.
    • All presentations given by invited international guest speakers recognized worldwide for their expertise.
    • Round tables to facilitate discussions between the audience and the guest speakers.

    Registration to this symposium is free of charge. The number of seats is limited, so register as early as possible.

    Program

    This year, the symposium is composed of three sessions: “Positioning in Challenging Environments” , “GNSS Signals and System Design” and “Air Navigation.”

    Invited guest speakers are:

    Martin Haueis – Head of Localisation and Data Management, Daimler AG, Germany
    Christopher J. Hegarty – Director for CNS Engineering and Spectrum, MITRE Corporation, USA
    Mikael Mabilleau – Navigation Services Manager, Egis Avia, France
    Mitch Narins (Invited) – Chief Systems Engineer for Navigation Programs, Federal Aviation Authority, USA
    Oscar Pozzobon – Founder and Technical Director, Qascom, Italy
    Mark L. Psiaki – Professor, Cornell University, USA
    John F. Raquet – Director of the Autonomy and Navigation Technology (ANT) Center, US Air Force Institute of Technology, USA
    Lionel Ries – Head of the Navigation/Location Signals Dept, CNES, France
    Francis Soualle – Navigation System Engineer, Airbus Defence and Space, Germany
    Morton Stakkeland – Development Engineer, Indra Navia, Norway
    A. J. Van Dierendonck – AJ Systems, USA
    Lauri Wirola – System Architect, HERE, Finland
    Zheng Yao – Ass. Professor, Tsinghua University, China

    The full program can be downloaded.

    For more information, including preferred hotels and directions to come to ENAC, visit the event website.

  • IGN France International to Update Congo’s Roadway Database

    Photo credit: © Vincent LECAMUS/ IGN FI
    Photo credit: © Vincent LECAMUS/ IGN FI

    A contract between the Congolese Ministry of Roads and Public Works and IGN France International for a preliminary study on updating the country’s existing roadways database was signed on Jan. 12 at the Congolese Embassy in France.

    Once this database is fully operational it will be used as a decision-making tool for the Ministry and various institutions in charge of road network maintenance, as well enabling the management of Congo’s road heritage.

    IGN France International will carry out a preliminary study for the Ministry, which aims to update the existing roadways database for the whole of the country.

    Among those present at the signing of the contact was a large Congolese delegation led by the Ministry of Roads and Public Works Minister, Emile Ouosso.

    Photo credit: ©Aude ARESTE-LAMENDOUR / IGN FI
    Photo credit: ©Aude ARESTE-LAMENDOUR / IGN FI

    This project is the next phase of an overall program of large-scale works undertaken by the Congolese government since 2009, which have already included the extension and improvement of the country’s road network, which no longer resembles the map created by IGN — French National Institute for Geographic and Forest Information — in 1993.

    The preliminary study will define:

    • the expected functionalities of the future database;
    • the status of reference data;
    • the status of various “trades;”
    • the general organization to be implemented for the effective update of the database;
    • the equipment required for data acquisition, treatment and conservation;
    • and the knowledge transfer to be provided in order that work can be carried out locally.

    This database will constitute a road heritage management and decision-making tool for the Ministry.

    At present, the National Transport program (PNT) adopted by the Parliament of Congo in 2007 remains the general framework governing the actions to be taken in terms of the construction, rehabilitation or maintenance work on roadway infrastructures includes in the societal program created by the President of the Republic.

  • Thales to Provide GPS SAASM Receivers for French Navy Lynx Helicopters

    Thales has been awarded a contract by the Service Industriel de l’Aéronautique (SIAé), France’s military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service, to supply stand-alone GPS receivers for the French Navy’s Lynx helicopters, which are currently being upgraded by the French defence procurement agency (DGA).

    Thales’s GNSS 1000-S receiver relies on SAASM (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module) technology to access military GPS encrypted signals. This technology also uses state-of-the-art signal processing offering extended satellite tracking capabilities in terms of precision, integrity, availability and jamming resistance in severe operational conditions.

    This contract consolidates Thales’s European leadership in the field of military GPS receivers, which already equip FREMM multi-mission frigates, cruise missiles, Tiger helicopters, C-135 refuelling aircraft, Atlantique-2 marine patrol aircraft and Mirage 2000D fighters in service with the French armed forces, and the tanker aircraft being delivered for the UK’s FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft) programme.

    The GNSS 1000-S is part of Thales’s suite of GNSS products which will be presented at the European Navigation Conference in Gdansk, Poland, April 25-27 on the Galileo Services booth.