ION GNSS+ 2013 is the 26^th International Technical Meeting of the ION Satellite Division and the world’s largest technical meeting and showcase of GNSS technology, products and services.

ION GNSS+ brings together international leaders in GNSS and related positioning, navigation and timing fields to present new research, introduce new technologies, update current policy, demonstrate products and exchange ideas. The addition of “+” to the conference name reflects the growing emphasis on GNSS and the rapidly evolving field of alternative navigation methods.

This year’s conference will feature pre-conference tutorials September 16-17, policy and panel discussions, commercial and applications oriented sessions, and more than 250 technical papers on a diverse array of topics including:

• Advanced Inertial Sensing and Applications
• Advances in Military GNSS Systems and Applications
• Algorithms and Methods
• Alternatives and Backups to GNSS
• Aviation Applications
• Clock/Timing and Scientific Applications
• Emerging GNSS (Galileo, COMPASS, QZSS, IRNSS) (both a Panel Discussion and a technical session)
• Future PNT and Its Applications
• Geodesy, Surveying and RTK for Civil Applications
• GNSS Algorithms and Methods
• GNSS and the Atmosphere
• GNSS Compatibility, Interoperability, and Interchangeability
• GNSS Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS)
• GNSS Simulation and Testing
• GNSS Space Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS)
• GNSS-MEMS Integration
• GNSS Program Updates (Panel Discussion)
• GPS and GLONASS Modernization
• High Integrity Systems (Panel Discussion)
• Indoor Navigation and Timing
• Interference and Spectrum Issues
• IP Policies Related to GNSS (Panel Discussion)
• Land Based Applications
• Marine Navigation and Applications
• Multi-Constellation/Portable Navigation Devices
• Multi-Sensor and Integrated Navigation in GNSS-Challenged Environments
• New Products and Commercial Services (both a Panel Discussion and a commercial applications oriented session)
• Next Generation GNSS Integrity
• Non Traditional PNT Applications
• Portable Navigation Devices
• Precise Point Positioning
• Receiver/Antenna Technology
• Remote Sensing with GNSS and Integrated Systems
• Safety Critical Applications
• Software Receivers
• Space Applications
• Standalone GNSS Services in Challenging Environments
• Timing and Scientific Applications
• Unmanned GNSS (Panel Discussion)
• Urban Navigation Technology

New this year will be two For Official Use Only (FOUO) U.S. only sessions: Multi-Sensor Integrated Navigation and Networked-Related Navigation. These sessions are sponsored by the ION’s Military Division and The MITRE Corporation.

The theme of ISGNSS 2013 is “Connecting Continents through GNSS where Europe and Asia Meet.” As for all the past symposiums on GNSS, this symposium will provide opportunities to connect scientists, researchers and professional all around the world, as Istanbul connects the continents.

Organizers invite presenters to submit abstracts and papers until July 21. Paper topics include those listed below, or any other related topic.

• GNSS Current Status, Organizational and Governance Issues
• Regional Navigation Satellite Systems
• Atmospheric Effects on GNSS
• GNSS Augmentation Systems
• GNSS-Related Remote Sensing and GIS
• GNSS Policy, Services and Opportunities
• CORS
• Surveying, Mapping and Geodesy
• Indoor Positioning
• GNSS Receivers, Antenna, Algorithms and Products
• Signal Processing, Interference, Multipath
• Land applications and Intelligent Transport Systems
• Aviation, Marine and Space Applications
• Inertial Navigation
• Sensor Networks
• Precise Point Positioning
• RTK and e-GNSS
• LBS and Telematics
• Alternatives and Backup to GNSS
• Timing and Scientific Applications
• Engineering applications
• Multisensor Fusion
• International GNSS Applications and Developments
• Agriculture, Mining and Rural Industries
• Consumer and Urban Applications
• Machine Automation and Control

For more information, email isgnss2013@vip.com.tr

This will be the second Survey Earth in a Day event; in 2012 the first Survey Earth event was held, establishing many new understandings between geospatial and geomatics professionals and the general public on geospatial issues, organizers said. “With a mission not only to learn more about the Earth’s surface but also monitor its changes over time, and the changes in public perspective, as a global community, we may be more capable of assessing our future,” organizers said.

“Our results will change the knowledge we currently have of the shape of the earth and thus provide new information about our planet’s surface for the benefit of all man-kind. Help the surveying industry and the surveyors in your region of the world by representing your area as we re-measure the entire globe in one single day,” organizers said.

“If you are a geospatial professional with access to survey grade GPS equipment, you should consider helping us set a world’s record, right from where you live and work. Only a surveyor can provide the kind of precision that will be needed to truly understand the shape of planet earth. Just imagine how much this can help our industry,” organizers said.

Firmware v0206 offers:

• Stabilized raw data output for output rates up to 10 Hz
• Extended $POUTC NMEA message, including current LEAP SECONDS value, flags for expected UTC correction, and PPS edge shift relative to UTC (sawtooth correction SW).
• Stabilized sleep mode operation ($POPWR,1111*66) for all NV08C series HW versions
• Increased position accuracy and stability in urban canyon conditions with poor SV visibility
• Cold start initialized to LEAP SECOND 16 (LEAP SECOND 16 came into effect July 1, 2012)

Benefits include:

• Obtain initial receiver coordinates more quickly, in cold starts, low satellite signal (foliage/canopy) and loss of satellite signal conditions (indoor, garages, tunnels…).
• Greater satellite tracking reliability in poor visibility conditions (urban canyon/tall buildings, bridges/underpasses…).
• Stable raw data output up to 10Hz rate.
• Full sleep mode support for effective power savings.
• Complies with ERA-GLONASS requirements.

“Today, acquisitions and fast growth in the gathering industry are forcing operators to develop a data strategy and look deeper at all aspects of their pipeline asset data – from how it is collected, to making it available to decision makers,” said Victoria Skogman, is the conference manager. “Currently, gathering systems are unregulated, but trends in the industry show this is likely to change in the future. Preparing for this impending change is crucial, hence the theme of the conference.”

The goal of the GeoGathering Conference is to provide valuable information to gathering system and upstream operators who want to create efficient, accurate, and collaborative data strategies that work for their organizations. Presenters will demonstrate how GIS technology allows attendees to collect and share data between the field and the office, enabling their organization to make well-informed decisions. The versatile agenda focuses on real-world experiences — everything from integrity management and data requirements to data security and making GIS technology more accessible to stakeholders, Skogman said.

The GeoGathering Conference committee estimates that close to 150 GIS professionals and top-level management from leading oil and gas companies will attend this year. Attendees will be able to attend sessions that include:

• Developing a Data Strategy
• Data Collection Methods to Meet Requirements
• Data Security and the Cloud
• Data Sharing: GIS as an Enterprise
• Organizing Data for Decision-Makers
• PHMSA MAOP Strategies
• Web-enabled Data Sharing Technologies & Portals
• Collecting & Sharing Data to Enhance Safety

This year, attendees will experience the new, audience-focused format that offers two simultaneous tracks giving attendees the chance to tailor their own conference schedule. Plus, two of the biggest improvements are the addition of “structured networking” sessions and a “GIS Think Tank.”

Structured Networking facilitates a small group setting, in which attendees have the opportunity to meet people with common interests, share practical ideas, and network with individuals who might possibly help your organization. When attendees leave the networking session, they will have a solid list of new business contacts, Skogman said. The networking sessions are strategically placed at the beginning of the conference to help you build new relationships over the duration of the conference.

The GIS Think Tank session is also a unique addition to the agenda. It will feature five to seven GIS managers from a variety of gathering operators around the country. This is not a typical Q&A panel session; instead, it will allow the participating GIS managers to converse among themselves as the audience listens in. This will be mostly an unstructured session so that managers can spend more or less time on topics as they choose, Skogman said. It will be facilitated with questions from the audience. The purpose is to lead an informal discussion on some of the successes that each manager has had along with their opinions on pressing issues that gathering operators are facing.

This year’s conference has a seven-person steering committee with pipeline gathering background. Members include Trisha Menasco of DCP Midstream, Tom Coolidge of Esri, Ellen Nodwell of Hess, Cameron Collins of Williams, Rob McElroy of McElroy Consulting, Ron Brush of New Century Software and Victoria Skogman of New Century Software.

“The conference topics are very timely,” said Menasco. “Just when I thought I had all the data requirements figured out, it feels like we are starting over. I look forward to helping build an agenda that will be useful to the gathering community.”

Early bird registration is open. The conference committee welcomes senior management, project managers, integrity management specialists, GIS professionals, field operations managers, regulatory compliance personnel, and engineers.

The new version 2.0 of the European Commission’s EGNOS SDD (Open Service Definition Document) reflects recent improvements implemented for the EGNOS service. The document shows significant improvements in the geographic coverage of the EGNOS Open Service as can be seen from the map on this site.

The update is of particular interest to receiver manufacturers, GNSS applications developers and users.

EGNOS is the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service and is the European Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) that complements the GPS system by improving the accuracy and providing integrity for the signal.

Both European businesses and citizens are benefiting from EGNOS. It can support new applications in many different sectors such as agriculture (for high-precision spraying of fertilisers) or transport (enabling automatic road-tolling or pay-per-use insurance schemes). EGNOS can also support much more precise personal navigation services, both for general and specific uses.

As of that date, the location on 9th Street will be replaced by this address:

150 – 6712 Fisher Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2A7

IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing is designed for customers who need the highest level of differential GNSS position accuracy and perform long, linear projects such as power-line corridors, long highways or stretches of coastline. During these projects, a GNSS base station network may not be available, or the geometry of the network so weak that an Applanix SmartBase solution — which uses existing reference stations to achieve high accuracy over longer distances — is not viable. In these cases, IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing allows base stations to be established along the full length of the travel path and makes optimal use of the nearest base station at all times.

Customers can now take advantage of robust tightly coupled in-fusion processing without the need to break the project up into multiple segments for each base station to attain the highest accuracy, Applanix said.

“In addition to IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing, POSPac MMS V6.2 includes new features designed to increase productivity, efficiency and ease-of-use.  The Coordinate Conversion tool included allows users to choose from a number of local reference frames for inputting base station coordinates,” said Edith Roy, Development Manager of POSPac MMS at Applanix.  “POSPac MMS Version 6.2 demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with not only the most advanced software solutions for mobile mapping applications, but also the easiest to use.”

POSPac MMS V6.2 can be purchased through Applanix’ global sales network. The software is available as an upgrade to all POSPac users currently under a maintenance contract.