>>SURVEY & CONSTRUCTION
Judge Tosses Lawsuit that Sought to Limit GIS Contractors
On June 14, a federal judge threw out the lawsuit crucial to the geospatial industry. The lawsuit was filed in June 2006 against the U.S. government by the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) and co-plaintiffs the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services.
The plaintiffs sought to force the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council to apply the qualifications-based selection (QBS) process established by the Brooks Architect-Engineer Act to all federal contracts involving mapping services, even those unrelated to architecture or engineering. All types of federal surveying and mapping projects should be treated equally under the law, the suit alleged.
Industry Opposition. An amicus brief to the court was filed on January 24 by a cadre of industry groups opposing the suit, including the Association of American Geographers, the GIS Certification Institute, the Geospatial Information and Technology Association, and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.
The court ruling against MAPPS was a victory for the amicus parties, but the issue isn’t resolved. In a statement issued by MAPPS, Executive Director John Palatiello said, “The game is not over. This action is tantamount to a ball being called in the top of the first inning. This is still a nine-inning game.”
According to Judge T.S. Ellis III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, MAPPS and its fellow plaintiffs do not have the standing to bring the question of implementation of the Brooks Act. In short, the plaintiffs failed to “establish that an injury in fact was suffered by the individual surveyors or their firms.” Because the court only ruled on process and did not return an answer on the applicability of QBS to mapping, further litigation is probably in the cards, but MAPPS hasn’t announced further action yet. “The organization hasn’t decided on its next move yet,” Palatiello said. “Our attorneys are still evaluating the decision. All options are on the table right now.”
“The main part of the substance of our case was not heard,” Palatiello said, but he nonetheless interprets much of what the court did say as a victory for his camp. First, where the scope of work in a contract is covered by an applicable state law that requires performance by a licensed surveyor, the federal government must honor that licensing requirement and use QBS on the contract. “That’s a significant victory for us,” he said.Second, the court stated in its opinion that mapping is a much broader field today than traditional definition of land surveying, a statement which MAPPS calls “the essence of the substance in the case.” Congress has passed laws recognizing that change, but regulations have not kept up with the industry’s evolution, Palatiello said.
Finally, the court did not accept the argument made by the amicus parties that only licensed architects, engineers, or surveyors would be able to do federal mapping contract work if the court ordered QBS. MAPPS has contended throughout that this concern was not an issue in the case.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community has been watching the case closely. “Simply put, an adverse outcome would effectively exclude everyone but licensed architects, engineers, and surveyors from federal government contracts for ‘mapping’ services of every sort and description-not just those mapping services traditionally performed by surveyors,” said Doug Richardson, executive director of the Association of American Geographers, in a January opinion piece. Richardson termed the lawsuit a “very serious threat to the GIS community.”
The GIS vs. survey/engineering turf war has been brewing for several years. A few states have already enacted legislation that prohibits non-survey-licensed people (e.g. GIS) from participating in many types of GIS data collection if they aren’t under the direct supervision of a licensed surveyor. In those states, GIS people cannot participate in most GIS contracts, whether they are private or public contracts.
Also, some states have special provisions for photogrammetrists, the professionals represented by MAPPS, but not GIS professionals in general. Compounding matters, each state’s statute has a different definition of “surveying” and different licensing requirements.
— Reporting by Jeff Chapell, Eric Gakstatter, Cyrena Respini-Irwin, and Tracy Cozzens
>>SURVEY & CONSTRUCTION
Topcon Acquires Javad Assets; JAVAD GNSS Moves Ahead
Topcon Corporation has announced that it has acquired certain assets of Javad Navigation Systems, Inc. (JNS), which was created as part of the July 2000 agreements between Topcon and Javad Ashjaee. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, but include certain assets and rights of JNS and Ashjaee.
Fumio Ohtomo, managing executive officer and general manager of Topcon’s Positioning Business Division said “Topcon’s 2000 acquisition of Javad Positioning Systems, Inc. included certain market limitations and license and resource-sharing agreements. With this latest transaction, we are pleased to announce that no such market limitations and sharing agreements now exist for either party. This deal allows both Topcon and Dr. Ashjaee the ability to pursue our business objectives independently of each other. We wish Dr. Ashjaee future success as he focuses on his new venture, JAVAD GNSS.”
Ashjaee said, “I am so pleased to have completed this transaction and focus solely on my new venture JAVAD GNSS, which has been developing the next generation of GNSS receivers for all applications and is expected to release new products by January 2008. My most recent seven year association with Topcon has been mutually beneficial and I wish their entire organization continued growth and success. I am also pleased with certain provisions of this acquisition that minimizes the chance of future conflicts between Topcon and JAVAD GNSS.”
The deal includes provisions to ensure continued support and sales to all existing JNS customers until January 2008 when new products of JAVAD GNSS will be introduced.Ashjaee founded JAVAD GNSS in August 2005 to pursue the next generation of GNSS receivers for high precision applications as well as others. Its engineering division employs about 100 scientist and engineers who have designed many generations of GNSS receivers. The company is also focusing on establishing worldwide distribution channels. All the employees and tangible assets of JNS are moving to JAVAD GNSS.
>>MASS MARKET OEM
Navigation Drives Chinese GPS Handset Boom
Domestic GPS-enabled handset shipments will increase 10-fold over the course of the next four years in China, from 1.4 million phones this year to 16.5 million in 2011, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp.
Strong demand for navigation services from Chinese consumers, coupled with wireless carriers’ desire to offset declining revenues with value added services like navigation, are driving this growth.
With falling average selling prices (ASPs) for GPS handsets as a backdrop, both China Mobile and China Unicom began to provide navigation services this year. The two operators have partnered with digital-mapping, handset, and chipset suppliers to bring GPS to the mobile market.
In contrast to dedicated personal navigation devices (PNDs), GPS handsets receive mapping data through wireless networks to provide navigation. Therefore, GPS-enabled handsets do not need to embed mapping data, iSuppli notes-only free GPS navigation software.
The typical monthly fee for mobile navigation services is $2.50 per subscriber with 5 MB of data throughput included, according to the firm. As an option, consumers can install complete maps into their GPS-enabled handsets to use the navigation service. In this case, the GPS-enabled handset only needs to retrieve specific data on longitude, latitude, and altitude directly from orbiting GPS satellites.
The optimal route to the user’s destination is then displayed based on geographical information system (GIS) software and on the digital map installed. At present, three map suppliers dominate the market, including Beijing-based Lingtu Software Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen-based Careland Information System Co. Ltd., and Beijing-based Guantu Information Technology Co. Ltd.
“The greatest barrier to the mass-market adoption of GPS-equipped handsets is their high selling prices,” said Kevin Wang, senior analyst for China research for iSuppli. “By the end of 2006, GPS handsets were mainly high-end smart phones costing more than $700.” Major suppliers last year included Taiwan-based MiTAC with its model Mio A701 handset and Dopod with its model P800 handset.
However, domestic handset OEMs are aggressively entering the market, iSuppli says. Amoi’s E860 model launched in February, for example, and has built-in GPS, Wang noted. This model integrates a Windows Mobile operating system, a GPS chipset from SiRF, an application processor from Intel Corp., and GPS software from Lingtu. The selling price is only $450; this relatively cheaper price made it the bestselling GPS handset in May, according to the market research firm.
»UTILITIES & COMMUNICATIONS
Samsung Turns to Trimble GPS Clock for Ubicell
Korea’s Samsung is incorporating Trimble’s indoor GPS timing technology in its latest Ubicell system, a plug-and-play miniature wireless base station, the companies announced June 28.
The Ubicell is designed to improve mobile coverage in the home by leveraging access-point base-station technology, known as a femtocell, to improve mobile coverage in the home, according to Samsung. It works by connecting to a mobile carrier’s network employing the user’s home broadband connection, creating a mini-cell in the user’s home.
It enlarges CDMA service coverage to homes in shadow areas and maximizes the frequency utility to provide customers with high-quality voice capabilities inside and outside the home, Samsung said. Mobile handsets do not require any special technology to use the system; for security, up to four devices can be authorized to connect to the cell and all others will be denied access, according to Samsung.
GPS clocks and timing boards are used for precise timing applications such as maintaining code division multiple access (CDMA) holdover specifications, enhanced 911 (E911) location positioning using time difference of arrival, maximizing bandwidth for wireless local loops, WiMax, and broadcasting.
»MILITARY & GOVERNMENT
Bunker Buster Warhead a Success
NetFires LLC successfully demonstrated in late June its Precision Attack Missile warhead, which penetrated a fortified bunker target. NetFires LLC is a joint venture between Raytheon Company’s Missile Systems business and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
The Precision Attack Missile is part of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System under development for the U.S. Army’s Future Combat System and the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships; bunker penetration is a key program requirement. The missile is guided by a dual-mode seeker-imaging infrared and semi-active laser-as well as GPS and inertial guidance systems.
The missile simulation test took place at the Redstone Arsenal Technical Test Center in Huntsville, Alabama, against an earth-and-timber bunker target. The demonstration verified that the Precision Attack Missile warhead will detonate on impact and perforate the bunker wall structure as required. All primary and secondary test objectives were met during the test, according to NetFires LLC.
The Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System is one of the 14 Future Combat System’s core systems. Compared to systems with equivalent firepower, the Non Line of-Sight-Launch System provides a modular, highly deployable, and flexible precision-fires capability to the U.S. Army, Navy, and joint maneuver forces for a low life-cycle system cost, according to Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
The multi-target warhead and fuze possesses both a shaped-charge capability to defeat armored targets and a blast fragmentation capability for use against buildings, bunkers, small boats, lightly armored vehicles, and other soft targets.
»SYSTEM DESIGN & TEST
Spirent Tapped for GPS Wing
On July 2, Rockwell Collins selected Spirent Federal Systems, Inc. to supply multiple GPS simulators to support the Modernized User Equipment (MUE) Receiver Card Development contract that Rockwell has with the GPS Wing.
The GPS modernization effort is a system-wide program that includes upgrades to the space, control, and user segments. The award includes Spirent Federal’s GSS7700 Series GPS Simulator, fully approved classified package, interface/jamming, and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) M-Code and Simulator Data Sets (SDS) M-Code capability.
In June, Spirent Federal received GPS Wing security approval for its SDS Upgrade Package for the GSS7700 GPS Simulator, making it the first company to obtain security approval for a simulator that meets all the requirements for MUE, including the new SDS M-Code capabilities, the company says.
»BOOK REVIEW
Short-Course Text
As GPS continues its relentless expansion into other fields, the need for electrical engineers of all persuasions to understand satnav technology grows exponentially — as does the requirement for GPS to be covered in any graduate or undergraduate engineering curriculum, electrical or not. The second edition of Ahmed el-Rabbany’s Introduction to GPS from Artech House Publishers admirably suits the need for a fairly rapid and up-to-date treatment of essential aspects.
Designed to serve as the text for a short course (one or two days) on GPS, or as part of a semester-long college survey course that includes other fields as well, the book covers signal structure, errors and biases, positioning modes, ambiguity resolution techniques, products and services, standard formats, integration (with Loran, dead reckoning, inertial, pseudolites, and cellular), and touches on a wide range of applications.
Second Edition. New material for the second edition includes a chapter on satellite orbits and update coverage of precise point positioning and location-based services. An appendix on geodetic principles gives clear treatment to datums, coordinate systems, and maps, making the book suitable for survey, construction, and land resource use as well as electrical engineering.
At 196 pages of core material, and forsaking the use of advanced mathematics (reminiscent of the physical fitness regime that promises “no unpleasant bending”), it can be read in an uninterrupted afternoon. Single copy price, $69; see www.artechhouse.com.
IN BRIEF
AT&T Inc. and Psion Teklogix are jointly selling a version of Psion’s Workabout Pro, a rugged handset designed to work with AT&T’s BroadbandConnect and EDGE, the first such rugged device for 3G UMTS/HSPDA-based networks available in the United States, the companies claim. Under this alliance, sales teams from both AT&T and Psion Teklogix will sell Workabout Pro throughout the United States.
On July 2, Garmin Ltd. announced that it had completed its acquisition of GPS Gesellschaft fur Professionelle Satellitennavigation mbH, the sole distributor of its consumer products in Germany. The company will be renamed Garmin Deutschland GmbH and will retain its management, sales, and marketing staff of 60, and will continue operations at its headquarters and warehouse outside Munich.
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command on June 28 selected Rockwell Collins to supply GPS receivers for its Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM) program. The five-year base contract and additional five-year option represent a total potential contract value of more than $300 million. The government has already placed an initial $14 million order for GB-GRAM units, Rockwell Collins said. Trimble has introduced field-revision management and GIS redlining capabilities for its Fieldport software, a Web-based, wireless software suite for utility field service management and location-based mobile mapping. Trimble acquired Spacient Technologies, Inc. and its modular Fieldport software in November 2006. to expand its mapping and GIS products.
Rebecca "Becky" Casswell retired July 3 as chief of the GPS Branch at the Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN). Until a replacement is named, Gene Schlechte, NAVCEN Systems Management Division Chief, and CAPT Matthew Blizard, NAVCEN Commanding Office and CGSIC Deputy Chair, are taking over her duties.
GloNav Inc. has appointed Cambridge Positioning Systems veteran Paul Hansen to its management team; as head of customer design and support, he will be responsible for overall customer integration strategies.
Peter L. Gammel has been appointed chief technology officer of SiGe Semiconductor, responsible for driving technical innovation of wireless consumer products.
Northport Systems has released Fugawi Google Earth Plug-in for its Fugawi Global Navigator and Fugawi Marine ENC software products. The plug-in allows Fugawi users to view their current GPS location on geo-referenced Google Earth images next to actual maps or charts in split-screen mode.
