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The European GNSS Agency together with ESSP demonstrates the improved accuracy of EGNOS at the annual ESRI user’s conference in Spain. 

The GSA, along with the European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP), recently presented success stories on EGNOS and ArcGIS at this year’s Conferencia ESRI España, the annual Environmental Systems Research Institute user’s conference in this country.

The Environmental Systems Research Institute (+ESRI) is an international supplier of GIS (Geographic Information System) software, web GIS, and geodatabase management application, holding about 40-percent of the global market share. At the conference, the GSA was able to demonstrate how EGNOS’ architecture and services work in real mapping situations.

Using the Barcelona Port Cartographic Institute measurement campaign as an example, the Agency together with ESRI showed how EGNOS improves GPS accuracy. Surveys of ports and harbours cover a range of topographic elevations and hydrographic depths to assess the condition of navigation channels. These assessments help quantify and determine dredging requirements, and the conditions of navigation structures such as jetties, breakwaters, and the adjacent shoreline.

The Barcelona Port Cartographic Institute wanted to check if EGNOS could fulfil the requirements put in place by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to perform bathymetries. Typically, the data used to make bathymetric maps comes from an echo sounder mounted under or on the side of a boat, which ‘pings’ a beam of sound towards the seafloor. Next, a GNSS system positions the soundings with respect to the surface of the earth.

In this example, data was collected from an EGNOS compatible Leica GNSS system. After analysing the data collected using EGNOS, analysts found that the service accomplished the requirements of Surveys 1a (waters more than 40 meters deep), 1b, and 2, according to the IHO, in offshore bathymetrics.

The GSA, ESSP and ESRI also presented a case study from the beach of El Prat, a zone of high interest due to its constantly changing coastline – a result of dumping sand. The data accuracy of measurements collected from GPS and EGNOS signals were compared, using ZenoCollector, a solution from Leica Geosystems. ZenoCollector combines a high-accuracy data collection Zeno 20 device with another tool, the Collector for ArcGIS. The latter system allows data to be automatically synced online, where multiple people can view it instantly.

Results of both projects showed that EGNOS considerably improves GPS accuracy for free. For municipalities and organisations hoping to obtain more accurate results, all that is needed is an EGNOS-compatible requirement, and the vast majority are so. What was clearly demonstrated at the conference was the ease, benefits and cost-effectiveness of EGNOS for GIS.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

To highlight the essential role GNSS plays in the developing area of the Internet of Things, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) recently participated in four global events on the topic.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a major development in the role of the Internet: the interconnectivity of uniquely identifiable devices. Beyond improving productivity and efficiency of organizations, IoT solutions are opening a new set of applications in almost every sector of the economy.  The IoT network can connect anything ranging from personal cell phones, tablets and PCs to smart roads, smart shelf signage and smart appliances.

While GNSS is integral to the Internet of Things, its role is often downplayed as an element within smart applications. To raise awareness of its role and to ensure that European GNSS programmes will be considered as important players in this potentially massive global market, the GSA recently took a closer look at the market trends surrounding the Internet of Things. 

The Essential Role of GNSS

At World Smart Week, an annual event dedicated to smart, connected services and innovation, the GSA took part in a panel discussion entitled ‘Geo-Location, the Beating Heart of IoT’. The discussion highlighted how location based services and timing information, using GNSS, will become increasingly important for IoT applications. For example, the improved accuracy and overall performance created by multi-constellation systems means GNSS will move from being a sensor to actually controlling the ‘things’, including UAVs and connected cars.

In Prague, at the IOT Forum, over 200 representatives of Czech companies gathered to discuss the role of IoT in industry. The GSA joined Vodafone, EMC, BMW, IDC, Robodrone and others for a panel discussion on the evolution of IoT. Specifically, the GSA explained how the technology enabling IoT relies heavily on sensors that connect the physical and digital worlds. As such, Galileo sensors will play an important role in providing valuable information on location, velocity and time.

At the TechUK Satellite Applications and Services Conference, the focus was on how new developments in satellite technology are expanding the scope of applications. New developments in satellite technology are finding applications not only in the traditional sectors of broadcasting, communications, navigation, earth observation and defence, but across the wider economy, including transport and healthcare. Speaking at the conference, the GSA stressed that European GNSS is an enabler of IoT, pointing to the ITS sector as an example where Galileo will provide better positioning accuracy and signal authentication.

Last but not least, at a seminar hosted by GNSS.asia in Taipei entitled ‘Smart X: When GNSS Meets the Internet of Things”, the GSA joined a variety of institutional and industrial experts from the EU and Taiwan. The event was an excellent opportunity to build a solid team of EU and Asian industrial professionals and GNSS experts, the GNSS.asia project seeks to develop relationships, networking opportunities, and increased visibility to Asian markets.

The Message is Clear

From these various events – across sectors and countries - the message is clear: European GNSS provides a level of reliability, precision and robustness that can help expand the Internet of Things and its benefits throughout the EU and beyond. By allowing for the development of new applications, in addition to the improvement of existing applications, European GNSS will provide new avenues of economic opportunity to EU countries, businesses and citizens via IoT.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

GSA Administrative Board unanimously votes to keep Carlo des Dorides at the helm of Europe’s satellite navigation agency for another four years.  

Carlo des Dorides has been re-elected as the Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), following a unanimous vote from the GSA Administrative Board held on 30 October. The Board, comprised of representatives of the 28 EU Member States, elected des Dorides to a second four-year term on 29 October 2015. Per EU Regulation 512/2014, each EU member state has one vote, with four votes given to the European Commission.

“My election has a special significance this time. I was first elected following a one-hour interview by the GSA Administrative Board, but this time it was after five years of performance,” says des Dorides. “The next four years will put into practice all that we have been preparing for over the past five years. In 2017, for example, the Agency will be responsible for the service and operations of Galileo as well as EGNOS, where we have been in charge since 2014.”

As Executive Director, des Dorides sets the vision and goals for the GSA. Specifically, he is charged with ensuring the Agency accomplishes its mission of supporting the effective operation, maintenance and security of Europe’s satellite navigation systems, while guaranteeing optimal service levels and developing applications and services that ensure satellite technology benefits end users.

During his first term, des Dorides was focused on building an organisation that will focus on achieving the greatest return on investment for the Europe’s satellite navigation programmes – a goal he will continue to work toward in his second term.

A Space Orientated Career Path

For the past three decades des Dorides has been managing space service teams. In his role prior to Executive Director of the GSA, he held a management role at the European Commission, and was responsible for the definition of the Galileo/EGNOS exploitation phases.

Previously, he led the Concession Department at the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, and served as Chief Negotiator of the Galileo Public-Private-Partnership/Concession contract at the Galileo Joint Undertaking. This in-depth understanding of Galileo and EGNOS, as well as a career in management, helped him excel in his first term as Executive Director.

From a young age, des Dorides was interested in advanced satellite system management. After obtaining a degree in engineering from the University of Rome, he went on to achieve an M.B.A. from CUOA, Vicenza, Italy, and obtained additional education at the International Space University in Toulouse, France. From there, he worked in management in the aerospace sector, including a position as Head of Advanced Telecommunication Programmes and Programme Manager for major satellite telecommunication projects at Alenia Spazio. Later, he served as Director of Programmes and Engineering at ENAV, the Italian air navigation service provider.

Looking Ahead

Today, des Dorides enters a second term as GSA Executive Director in the midst of an exciting time for the GNSS market. There are currently more than 4 billion devices using GNSS services, and that number is expected to triple by 2023. The sector is estimated to grow at more than 8% each year until at least 2019. With all the potential for GNSS – and in particular European GNSS – in the coming four years, the GSA is looking forward to having des Dorides again at the forefront of Europe’s satellite navigation systems.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

GSA Administrative Board unanimously votes to keep Carlo des Dorides at the helm of Europe’s satellite navigation agency for another four years.  

Carlo des Dorides has been re-elected as the Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), following a unanimous vote from the GSA Administrative Board held on 30 October. The Board, comprised of representatives of the 28 EU Member States, elected des Dorides to a second four-year term on 29 November 2015. Per EU Regulation 512/2014, each EU member state has one vote, with four votes given to the European Commission.

“My election has a special significance this time. I was first elected following a one-hour interview by the GSA Administrative Board, but this time it was after five years of performance,” says des Dorides. “The next four years will put into practice all that we have been preparing for over the past five years. In 2017, for example, the Agency will be responsible for the service and operations of Galileo as well as EGNOS, where we have been in charge since 2014.”

As Executive Director, des Dorides sets the vision and goals for the GSA. Specifically, he is charged with ensuring the Agency accomplishes its mission of supporting the effective operation, maintenance and security of Europe’s satellite navigation systems, while guaranteeing optimal service levels and developing applications and services that ensure satellite technology benefits end users.

During his first term, des Dorides was focused on building an organisation that will focus on achieving the greatest return on investment for the Europe’s satellite navigation programmes – a goal he will continue to work toward in his second term.

A Space Orientated Career Path

For the past three decades des Dorides has been managing space service teams. In his role prior to Executive Director of the GSA, he held a management role at the European Commission, and was responsible for the definition of the Galileo/EGNOS exploitation phases.

Previously, he led the Concession Department at the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, and served as Chief Negotiator of the Galileo Public-Private-Partnership/Concession contract at the Galileo Joint Undertaking. This in-depth understanding of Galileo and EGNOS, as well as a career in management, helped him excel in his first term as Executive Director.

From a young age, des Dorides was interested in advanced satellite system management. After obtaining a degree in engineering from the University of Rome, he went on to achieve an M.B.A. from CUOA, Vicenza, Italy, and obtained additional education at the International Space University in Toulouse, France. From there, he worked in management in the aerospace sector, including a position as Head of Advanced Telecommunication Programmes and Programme Manager for major satellite telecommunication projects at Alenia Spazio. Later, he served as Director of Programmes and Engineering at ENAV, the Italian air navigation service provider.

Looking Ahead

Today, des Dorides enters a second term as GSA Executive Director in the midst of an exciting time for the GNSS market. There are currently more than 4 billion devices using GNSS services, and that number is expected to triple by 2023. The sector is estimated to grow at more than 8% each year until at least 2019. With all the potential for GNSS – and in particular European GNSS – in the coming four years, the GSA is looking forward to having des Dorides again at the forefront of Europe’s satellite navigation systems.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Maritime use of GNSS goes far beyond navigation at sea to include applications for search and rescue, inland waterways, environmental protection and sailing.

The maritime industry was quick to adopt satellite navigation, and an estimated 87% of merchant shipping already uses global satellite systems for navigation and positioning. About 90% of world trade is carried by sea, and shipping accounts for around 40% of trade between EU-28 countries.

More so, there are more than 50,000 merchant ships over 500 GRT (gross registered tons) trading internationally. And, every year, some 400 million passengers use European ports. With larger ships costing over EUR 100 million to build and cargoes on very large crude carriers (VLCCs) worth over EUR 200 million, the stakes for security, safety and efficiency are high.

As a result, there is now rapidly growing interest in the huge potential of GNSS for leisure craft users, coastal navigation, search and rescue operations and navigation on inland waterways - especially in conjunction with a space-based augmentation system (SBAS) like the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

These are some of the forecasts contained in the latest edition of the GSA GNSS Market Report.

Multiple constellations and the challenges of accuracy and resilience

GNSS has radically changed maritime navigation, whether on board the largest super-tankers and container ships, which often have two or more receivers for redundancy, or on small leisure craft using inexpensive handsets. In fact, GNSS has become the main source of position and timing information for the integrated Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) that are used on merchant ships.

However, the widespread uptake of GNSS for commercial shipping has raised the need for common standards for performance, reliability and resilience across and within constellations. With the susceptibility of the GNSS signal to interruptions in the availability of any given constellation, the ability of receivers to process signals from more than one constellation is obviously an advantage.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) recognises the core GNSS constellations as part of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS), and Galileo is currently pending approval. Galileo dual frequency receivers will be compliant with the accuracy levels required for navigation in ocean and coastal waters, harbour entrances and harbour approaches - with a Horizontal Navigation System Error of less than 10 metres, with a probability of 95%.

The GNSS signal is also vulnerable to interference (whether natural, because of reflections and canyons caused by port infrastructure and other shipping, or deliberate jamming and spoofing), emphasizing the need for shipping to integrate a complementary back-up navigation system. IMO is developing multisystem performance standards for ship-borne receivers, and the need to integrate the different available and future satellite navigation systems, as well as terrestrial systems (such as e-Loran) and augmentation systems (like DGPS or SBAS).

The IMO eNavigation Strategy Implementation Plan (SIP), which was approved by its Maritime Safety Committee in November 2014, is looking to optimize the integration of these complementary sources of PNT data with standards for an ergonomic, resilient and reliable common bridge display.

Coastal navigation, port approaches and inland waterways

GNSS is much more than a source of globally accessible PNT information for mariners in the open sea. When combined with SBAS, GNSS can provide accurate and reliable positioning, not just for ocean navigation, but also in port approaches, inland waterways and restricted waters. The signal can be used both on board and by shore-based VTS to assist port operations, traffic management and collision avoidance. SBAS-enabled GNSS is also commonly used in conjunction with DGPS and RTK in Portable Pilot Units (PPUs) to bring even the largest VLCCs and container vessels from deep draught channels at sea, all the way to berth.

GNSS is one of the key sources of position information for Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, which exchange information with nearby ships and land-based vessel traffic services (VTS) on a vessel’s position, course and speed. AIS is mandatory on international shipping over 300 GRT, all cargo ships over 500 GRT, all passenger ships as well as fishing vessels over 15 m in length, under IMO regulation 19 of SOLAS Chapter V.
The AIS ground-based infrastructure can also be used to transmit SBAS correction signals, such as EGNOS, as a complementary source of accurate position information to overcome current issues of signal availability on some inland waterways. With around 37,000 km of inland waterways connecting European cities and industrial regions, the potential for increased safety and efficiency is considerable - over 520 million tonnes of freight were carried on EU-27 inland waterways in 2011 and the global inland waterways fleet is estimated at around 529,000 vessels.

Leisure craft, search and rescue

There are an estimated 29.2 million recreational vessels globally. Although they are not required to carry minimum navigational equipment under SOLAS, around 22% do have some form of GNSS receiver on board, many EGNOS-enabled – often without the skipper even knowing it.  According to the latest GSA GNSS Market Report, annual shipments of GNSS receivers for recreational navigation are likely to double from 1.15 million units in 2013, to 2 million units in 2013. Skippers, says the report, like to have technological aids to navigation with them, but often choose hand-held and non-professional devices.

By integrating accurate GNSS position information into distress beacon signals, GNSS is also revolutionising search and rescue (SAR) operations. By 2020, all Cospas-Sarsat Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Personal Location Beacons (PLBs) are expected to be using precise GNSS positioning, helping to reduce response times and save lives.  In Galileo-enabled beacons, the Galileo return link service will reassure the navigator that the signal has been received and that help is on its way.

Surveillance and environmental protection

Combined with SBAS, GNSS can be used to monitor and protect environmentally vulnerable areas, such as marine parks, and to monitor and prevent illegal fishing. Around 5 million tonnes of fish are caught each year by the EU fleet of 87,500 fishing vessels. As a result of legislation under the EU Common Fisheries Policy, some 9,000 fishing vessels in the European fleet are now fitted with GNSS-enabled vessel monitoring system (VTM) devices, alongside mandatory AIS transponders. These complementary systems allow a close watch to be kept on illegal fishing.

SBAS-enabled GNSS is also enabling vessel traffic services to play a greater role in offering navigational assistance in confined waters and to help improve efficiency of port operations. And SBAS-enabled GNSS can be used to track containers in busy terminals, such as the port of Antwerp, where a joint initiative with Septentrio uses EGNOS, with specially developed firmware linked to yard-management software.  Tracking containers from pick-up to drop-off the EGNOS-enabled Septentrio system can even remotely control the straddle carriers and gantry cranes, greatly improving efficiency.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).