European GNSS Agency

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread of a disease and GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo, currently embedded in over 1.3 billion smartphones and devices worldwide, is helping to increase GNSS accuracy and availability, especially in urban areas. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, many apps have been developed that use GNSS location to monitor the global spread of the virus and to map outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease. GNSS-apps are also proving their usefulness by helping people to implement social distancing in queues and other public spaces.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA)1 is compiling a repository of these apps as a knowledge bank of solutions that are being used to fight the pandemic. If you have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, tell us about it and we will include it in our database. We are also looking for practical apps that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, such as by helping them to manage queues in supermarkets, pharmacies and public spaces or by facilitating the logistics of goods, which has become more complicated in the current situation. 

We are looking for apps that are already working and available in app stores. Submit details of your solutions in writing to market@gsa.europa.eu and we will feature them on  www.useGalileo.eu/GNSS4Crisis. The goal is for this page to become a toolbox to help authorities, emergency response services, citizens and app developers to understand what resources are currently available and what needs remain unmet. 

Watch this: European GNSS Agency: Linking space to user needs 

“The coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that we are facing as a global society and any effective response will require the use of all available tools. GNSS and apps that leverage GNSS positioning, including Galileo, our ‘made in Europe’ global navigation system, have a key role to play,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “It has always been a core function of the GSA to connect space applications to innovative ideas for the benefit of society. The database we are building now will become a resource for everybody to use, from citizens to organisations and authorities,” she said. 

Watch also this: Will Galileo satellites track my phone?

Risk alert

Some examples of apps currently in use include Mapy.cz, a mapping application that has been updated to alert citizens to potential risky encounters through location sharing. User location data is anonymous and the developers are also working to obtain anonymous data about people who tested positive and compare it with the location of users. Advanced algorithms will then make it possible to identify cases of probable contacts with an infected person. 

Read this: Space is an enabler of security and defence 

Helping people deal with the constraints of lockdown, the Filaindiana (Italian for “single file) web app, which is currently operating only in Lombardy, allows users to check the length of queues in local supermarkets by using real-time crowd-sourced location data from users waiting to enter the supermarkets. This information allows citizens to plan their shopping responsibly and to avoid creating crowds and traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of the city. 

Positioning is key

The requirement for reliable and robust positioning in these and in similar apps is clear. Various approaches can be used to increase the robustness and precision of the solution. Dual frequency capability, a key Galileo differentiator, enables GNSS receivers to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. This provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. Other benefits include a reduced signal acquisition time, increased resistance to multipath interference, and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. 

Developers working in Android also have access to GNSS raw measurements. With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to users and these raw measurements can be used by developers to improve the positioning accuracy of their solutions. 

Share with us your apps and services that leverage these and other benefits of GNSS to provide the positioning needed to map, track, cope with and, hopefully, help halt the spread of this disease. 

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).

• 1. The GSA disclaims any responsibility concerning: the completeness of the list, possible omissions, the actual fitness for use of the listed applications, the possible breach of third parties’ rights arising from the use of the listed applications.

Hackers came together online at the Raw Galileo 24-hour hackathon over the weekend to develop innovative solutions that leverage Galileo raw measurements for use on Android-based mobile devices. Organized by the University of Nottingham and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as a part of the FLAMINGO project, the hackathon challenged the participants to develop solutions addressing two key challenges, enticing them with a prize pot of EUR 6000.

In the first of these, the FLAMINGO Navigation Challenge, the hackers were tasked with developing solutions that use Galileo and the high accuracy positioning and navigation services provided by FLAMINGO on an Android-based mobile device to enhance their existing applications or to develop new ones. 

First prize of EUR 1 800 in this challenge went to #VastMapping, an app that leverages Galileo and FLAMINGO accuracy to provide real time computer vision for asset mapping and management. Targeted at construction sites, the app will reduce costs due to loss of materials, support sharing of equipment and optimise on-site resource use.

While working on this challenge, the developers had access to the FLAMINGO API, which is designed to improve the accuracy of GNSS positioning in smartphones and IoT devices by utilising FLAMINGO services. 

Raw drive to innovation

“Access to raw measurements and advanced positioning solutions, like the FLAMINGO API, means that developers are now able to utilize services that were up until very recently available only in professional receivers,” said GSA Market Development Innovation Officer Martin Šunkevič. “The drive towards innovation that this access generates was very much in evidence at the Raw Galileo hackathon, and we were very impressed with the ideas and solutions that were developed,” he said.

Read this: Harnessing Galileo to shape the future of IoT

The second track – the FLAMINGO Verified Location Challenge – was oriented at demonstrating non-navigation use of GNSS raw measurements. This challenge targeted experienced programmers with no particular GNSS experience, with a view to seeing how they utilise raw measurements in a more complex ecosystem. The goal for the teams was to create their own system (user terminals + backend) that use GNSS raw measurements to verify position, using freely available tools and source code. 

First prize of EUR 1200 in this challenge went to the ClaimR app – a verified location signing service. Service providers currently request customers to verify their location when providing a service. This app verifies the customer’s location for the service provider and might be a useful tool against apps providing fake location.

And this: Fundamental Elements call targets shipborne double-frequency receivers

The Horizon 2020 FLAMINGO project is addressing the current trend for high precision positioning and navigation in the mass market and is working to achieve 50 cm accuracy on smartphones and wearables using PPP/RTK correction techniques applied to GNSS raw measurements. Within the project a special application interface (API) was developed for mobile developers, who can use it to test and use this increased accuracy. 

GNSS raw measurements

With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to smartphone users, allowing them to improve their positioning accuracy. Aware of the benefits to developers that these raw measurements offer, in June 2017 the GSA launched a GNSS Raw Measurements Task Force to share knowledge and expertise on Android raw measurements and their use, including their potential for robustness and high accuracy positioning techniques relevant to mass market applications. 

The Task Force includes more than 150 international GNSS experts, scientists and market players, all of whom are dedicated to promoting a wider use of these raw measurements. For more information on the Task Force, its members and their work, click here.

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).

Hackers came together online at the Raw Galileo 24-hour hackathon over the weekend to develop innovative solutions that leverage Galileo raw measurements for use on Android-based mobile devices. Organized by the University of Nottingham and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as a part of the FLAMINGO project, the hackathon challenged the participants to develop solutions addressing two key challenges, enticing them with a prize pot of EUR 6000.

In the first of these, the FLAMINGO Navigation Challenge, the hackers were tasked with developing solutions that use Galileo and the high accuracy positioning and navigation services provided by FLAMINGO on an Android-based mobile device to enhance their existing applications or to develop new ones. 

First prize of EUR 1 800 in this challenge went to #VastMapping, an app that leverages Galileo and FLAMINGO accuracy to provide real time computer vision for asset mapping and management. Targeted at construction sites, the app will reduce costs due to loss of materials, support sharing of equipment and optimise on-site resource use.

While working on this challenge, the developers had access to the FLAMINGO API, which is designed to improve the accuracy of GNSS positioning in smartphones and IoT devices by utilising FLAMINGO services. 

Raw drive to innovation

“Access to raw measurements and advanced positioning solutions, like the FLAMINGO API, means that developers are now able to utilize services that were up until very recently available only in professional receivers,” said GSA Market Development Innovation Officer Martin Šunkevič. “The drive towards innovation that this access generates was very much in evidence at the Raw Galileo hackathon, and we were very impressed with the ideas and solutions that were developed,” he said.

Read this: Harnessing Galileo to shape the future of IoT

The second track – the FLAMINGO Verified Location Challenge – was oriented at demonstrating non-navigation use of GNSS raw measurements. This challenge targeted experienced programmers with no particular GNSS experience, with a view to seeing how they utilise raw measurements in a more complex ecosystem. The goal for the teams was to create their own system (user terminals + backend) that use GNSS raw measurements to verify position, using freely available tools and source code. 

First prize of EUR 1200 in this challenge went to the ClaimR app – a verified location signing service. Service providers currently request customers to verify their location when providing a service. This app verifies the customer’s location for the service provider and might be a useful tool against apps providing fake location.

And this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

The Horizon 2020 FLAMINGO project is addressing the current trend for high precision positioning and navigation in the mass market and is working to achieve 50 cm accuracy on smartphones and wearables using PPP/RTK correction techniques applied to GNSS raw measurements. Within the project a special application interface (API) was developed for mobile developers, who can use it to test and use this increased accuracy. 

GNSS raw measurements

With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to smartphone users, allowing them to improve their positioning accuracy. Aware of the benefits to developers that these raw measurements offer, in June 2017 the GSA launched a GNSS Raw Measurements Task Force to share knowledge and expertise on Android raw measurements and their use, including their potential for robustness and high accuracy positioning techniques relevant to mass market applications. 

The Task Force includes more than 150 international GNSS experts, scientists and market players, all of whom are dedicated to promoting a wider use of these raw measurements. For more information on the Task Force, its members and their work, click here.

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).

Hackers came together online at the Raw Galileo 24-hour hackathon over the weekend to develop innovative solutions that leverage Galileo raw measurements for use on Android-based mobile devices. Organized by the University of Nottingham and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as a part of the FLAMINGO project, the hackathon challenged the participants to develop solutions addressing two key challenges, enticing them with a prize pot of EUR 6000.

In the first of these, the FLAMINGO Navigation Challenge, the hackers were tasked with developing solutions that use Galileo and the high accuracy positioning and navigation services provided by FLAMINGO on an Android-based mobile device to enhance their existing applications or to develop new ones. 

First prize of EUR 1 800 in this challenge went to #VastMapping, an app that leverages Galileo and FLAMINGO accuracy to provide real time computer vision for asset mapping and management. Targeted at construction sites, the app will reduce costs due to loss of materials, support sharing of equipment and optimise on-site resource use.

While working on this challenge, the developers had access to the FLAMINGO API, which is designed to improve the accuracy of GNSS positioning in smartphones and IoT devices by utilising FLAMINGO services. 

Raw drive to innovation

“Access to raw measurements and advanced positioning solutions, like the FLAMINGO API, means that developers are now able to utilize services that were up until very recently available only in professional receivers,” said GSA Market Development Innovation Officer Martin Šunkevič. “The drive towards innovation that this access generates was very much in evidence at the Raw Galileo hackathon, and we were very impressed with the ideas and solutions that were developed,” he said.

Read this: Harnessing Galileo to shape the future of IoT

The second track – the FLAMINGO Verified Location Challenge – was oriented at demonstrating non-navigation use of GNSS raw measurements. This challenge targeted experienced programmers with no particular GNSS experience, with a view to seeing how they utilise raw measurements in a more complex ecosystem. The goal for the teams was to create their own system (user terminals + backend) that use GNSS raw measurements to verify position, using freely available tools and source code. 

First prize of EUR 1200 in this challenge went to the ClaimR app – a verified location signing service. Service providers currently request customers to verify their location when providing a service. This app verifies the customer’s location for the service provider and might be a useful tool against apps providing fake location.

And this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

The Horizon 2020 FLAMINGO project is addressing the current trend for high precision positioning and navigation in the mass market and is working to achieve 50 cm accuracy on smartphones and wearables using PPP/RTK correction techniques applied to GNSS raw measurements. Within the project a special application interface (API) was developed for mobile developers, who can use it to test and use this increased accuracy. 

GNSS raw measurements

With the release of Android 7 (Nougat) in 2016, Google made GNSS raw measurements available to smartphone users, allowing them to improve their positioning accuracy. Aware of the benefits to developers that these raw measurements offer, in June 2017 the GSA launched a GNSS Raw Measurements Task Force to share knowledge and expertise on Android raw measurements and their use, including their potential for robustness and high accuracy positioning techniques relevant to mass market applications. 

The Task Force includes more than 150 international GNSS experts, scientists and market players, all of whom are dedicated to promoting a wider use of these raw measurements. For more information on the Task Force, its members and their work, click here.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) joins the 2020 Global Surveyors Day, to celebrate the men and women of the surveying profession and their valuable work across a wide range of geomatics applications including land surveying (cadastral, construction, mapping and GIS, mining and infrastructure monitoring) and offshore surveying. The surveying industry and community have been an early adopter of Galileo and EGNOS leveraging on the high-precision positioning to develop new services and applications. 

The geomatics community has always supported and trusted the European GNSS, and this is confirmed by the gradual penetration of Galileo in GNSS receivers for surveying and mapping. Currently around 55% of GNSS surveying receivers already support Galileo and around 90% are EGNOS-enabled. Moreover, most RTK providers in Europe have already upgraded to Galileo or are starting to do so, and major PPP and PPP-RTK providers are following their example.

The 2019 GSA GNSS Market Report highlights the benefits of GNSS for the geomatics community, noting that geomatics professionals already benefit from EGNSS in a multi-constellation environment, where it provides higher availability, continuity, reliability and better results in harsh conditions. 

Watch this: EGNOS and Galileo for Mapping

“Geomatics is a key user segment for EGNSS, in which the added accuracy and reliability that Galileo and EGNOS bring to the table are a key driver of innovative services and solutions,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “We are working continuously with this user community to understand their needs and requirements, so we can ensure that future EGNSS evolutions adequately reflect these needs,” she said.

Research and development

A number of Horizon 2020-funded research projects aim to harness the benefits of EGNSS in targeted geomatics solutions. One such project is GIMS, which is building an advanced low-cost system based on EGNSS, Copernicus Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and other in-situ sensors to monitor ground deformations, with a focus on landslides and subsidence. 

The project’s goal is to provide detailed and timely knowledge of the geophysical behaviour of parts of the Earth surface, and its impact on structures, in order to prevent injury to the public in the event of landslides, for instance, and to better plan preventative maintenance. The system will report deformations with millimetre-level accuracy and the integration of in-situ accelerometers will give real-time alerts in case of sudden movements. 

Another project, GISCAD-OV, covers the entire cadastral value chain and aims to design, develop and validate an innovative and cost-effective High Accuracy Service (HAS) for Cadastral Surveying applications, based on GPS+Galileo E6 HAS and Precise Point Positioning-Ambiguity Resolution (PPP-AR) quick convergence techniques. 

It will achieve this by upgrading commercial GNSS receivers for decoding and applying Galileo E6 corrections and integrating them into the PPP solution. It will also use PPP-RTK Multiple Constellation and Multiple Carrier Ambiguity Resolution and instantaneous fixing, along with cost effective solutions using low-cost augmentation services and receivers, paving the way for “Smartphone Surveying”.

Success stories

While ongoing research is set to deliver some exciting developments for the geomatics community, EGNSS is already being successfully used in the sector. One success story is at Eustream, the operator of a high-pressure gas transmission system in the Slovak Republic. The company operates gas pipelines with an overall length of 2,273 km, which are regularly inspected. The operator’s field operators use handheld GNSS devices to directly locate specific pipes with the required precision.

Read this: Galileo and EGNOS: supporting effective disaster management

“Our pipelines are routed through rural areas and there are sites with no GPRS coverage. EGNOS helps us to achieve the required precision and fulfil our task even without Internet connection,” said Branislav Reťkovský, head of Eustream’s GIS department. “For us, EGNOS means a reliable, open and free-of-charge back-up solution that brings confidence to our land survey practice,” he said.

The Portuguese Cycling Federation is also aware of the benefits that EGNOS has to offer and has recommended the use of EGNOS for the creation of cycling tracks and marking of paths, thanks to the higher-precision geolocation it offers, in its Regulation for the Homologation of cycling routes and ‘Cyclin’ Portugal’ Centres”.

Engaging with stakeholders

The GSA engages in a systematic process of consultation with the surveying community, and based on this consultation, it produces The Report on Surveying User Needs and Requirements, which can be downloaded here.

On the occasion of Global Surveyors Day, the GSA would like to congratulate the men and women of the surveying profession. We thank you for your dedicated service and we look forward to our ongoing mutually-beneficial cooperation in the future.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) joins the 2020 Global Surveyors Day, to celebrate the men and women of the surveying profession and their valuable work across a wide range of geomatics applications including land surveying (cadastral, construction, mapping and GIS, mining and infrastructure monitoring) and offshore surveying. The surveying industry and community have been an early adopter of Galileo and EGNOS leveraging on the high-precision positioning to develop new services and applications. 

The geomatics community has always supported and trusted the European GNSS, and this is confirmed by the gradual penetration of Galileo in GNSS receivers for surveying and mapping. Currently around 55% of GNSS surveying receivers already support Galileo and around 90% are EGNOS-enabled. Moreover, most RTK providers in Europe have already upgraded to Galileo or are starting to do so, and major PPP and PPP-RTK providers are following their example.

The 2019 GSA GNSS Market Report highlights the benefits of GNSS for the geomatics community, noting that geomatics professionals already benefit from EGNSS in a multi-constellation environment, where it provides higher availability, continuity, reliability and better results in harsh conditions. 

Watch this: EGNOS and Galileo for Mapping

“Geomatics is a key user segment for EGNSS, in which the added accuracy and reliability that Galileo and EGNOS bring to the table are a key driver of innovative services and solutions,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “We are working continuously with this user community to understand their needs and requirements, so we can ensure that future EGNSS evolutions adequately reflect these needs,” she said.

Research and development

A number of Horizon 2020-funded research projects aim to harness the benefits of EGNSS in targeted geomatics solutions. One such project is GIMS, which is building an advanced low-cost system based on EGNSS, Copernicus Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and other in-situ sensors to monitor ground deformations, with a focus on landslides and subsidence. 

The project’s goal is to provide detailed and timely knowledge of the geophysical behaviour of parts of the Earth surface, and its impact on structures, in order to prevent injury to the public in the event of landslides, for instance, and to better plan preventative maintenance. The system will report deformations with millimetre-level accuracy and the integration of in-situ accelerometers will give real-time alerts in case of sudden movements. 

Another project, GISCAD-OV, covers the entire cadastral value chain and aims to design, develop and validate an innovative and cost-effective High Accuracy Service (HAS) for Cadastral Surveying applications, based on GPS+Galileo E6 HAS and Precise Point Positioning-Ambiguity Resolution (PPP-AR) quick convergence techniques. 

It will achieve this by upgrading commercial GNSS receivers for decoding and applying Galileo E6 corrections and integrating them into the PPP solution. It will also use PPP-RTK Multiple Constellation and Multiple Carrier Ambiguity Resolution and instantaneous fixing, along with cost effective solutions using low-cost augmentation services and receivers, paving the way for “Smartphone Surveying”.

Success stories

While ongoing research is set to deliver some exciting developments for the geomatics community, EGNSS is already being successfully used in the sector. One success story is at Eustream, the operator of a high-pressure gas transmission system in the Slovak Republic. The company operates gas pipelines with an overall length of 2,273 km, which are regularly inspected. The operator’s field operators use handheld GNSS devices to directly locate specific pipes with the required precision.

Read this: Galileo and EGNOS: supporting effective disaster management

“Our pipelines are routed through rural areas and there are sites with no GPRS coverage. EGNOS helps us to achieve the required precision and fulfil our task even without Internet connection,” said Branislav Reťkovský, head of Eustream’s GIS department. “For us, EGNOS means a reliable, open and free-of-charge back-up solution that brings confidence to our land survey practice,” he said.

The Portuguese Cycling Federation is also aware of the benefits that EGNOS has to offer and has recommended the use of EGNOS for the creation of cycling tracks and marking of paths, thanks to the higher-precision geolocation it offers, in its Regulation for the Homologation of cycling routes and ‘Cyclin’ Portugal’ Centres”.

Engaging with stakeholders

The GSA engages in a systematic process of consultation with the surveying community, and based on this consultation, it produces The Report on Surveying User Needs and Requirements, which can be downloaded here.

On the occasion of Global Surveyors Day, the GSA would like to congratulate the men and women of the surveying profession. We thank you for your dedicated service and we look forward to our ongoing mutually-beneficial cooperation in the future.

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).

Point.IoT, an exciting new programme designed to empower innovation using Galileo and IoT technologies, is offering 10 teams of ambitious entrepreneurs the chance to tackle relevant industry challenges while showcasing the use of European positioning technologies in IoT. The winning team stands to win a cash prize of EUR 20,000. Interested? Apply here!

The Point.IoT competition is centred on two challenges, which were reached following a careful study of where Galileo can make a positive impact on IoT. The first of the challenges asks the teams to design and develop the next generation of asset tracking and management solutions for industries with large-scale infrastructure, such as airports, construction sites and power stations.

As part of the second challenge, the teams are tasked with designing and developing a real-time risk and location monitoring device that can be worn on or around the body to improve personal safety in the workplace. This solution will increase safety because, when site managers can better understand the movements of their personnel, they can create a safer environment for everyone on site.

Essential tools

The Point.IoT programme kicks off with a two-day, action-packed boot camp in Paris, France, where the teams will acquire some essential tools for their work ahead. The teams will also have the opportunity to meet with industry experts who will become their lead, business and technical mentors to guide them on their solution development journey.

Read this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

Then the teams will return home for a three-month virtual sprint, during which they will receive one-on-one coaching from industry experts to ensure their solutions are both technically robust and strategically positioned for market success. 

Exciting opportunities

Point.IoT culminates in a demo day, where the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their developments. All the teams will pitch their solutions to the jury, which will evaluate each team’s solution and decide on the overall winner and the EUR 20,000 cash prize recipient. 

Watch This: #MyGalileoApp Final

It’s not only money that’s on offer however. The jury will also select five teams to take part in a leading investor roadshow. The programme also offers excellent networking, with the teams being introduced to the programme’s corporate partners and maybe even to their first customers. So, if you have an idea for an IoT solution that harnesses Galileo, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and sign up before 24 May 2020.

Point.IoT, an exciting new programme designed to empower innovation using Galileo and IoT technologies, is offering 10 teams of ambitious entrepreneurs the chance to tackle relevant industry challenges while showcasing the use of European positioning technologies in IoT. The winning team stands to win a cash prize of EUR 20,000. Interested? Apply here!

The Point.IoT competition is centred on two challenges, which were reached following a careful study of where Galileo can make a positive impact on IoT. The first of the challenges asks the teams to design and develop the next generation of asset tracking and management solutions for industries with large-scale infrastructure, such as airports, construction sites and power stations.

As part of the second challenge, the teams are tasked with designing and developing a real-time risk and location monitoring device that can be worn on or around the body to improve personal safety in the workplace. This solution will increase safety because, when site managers can better understand the movements of their personnel, they can create a safer environment for everyone on site.

Essential tools

The Point.IoT programme kicks off with a two-day, action-packed boot camp in Paris, France, where the teams will acquire some essential tools for their work ahead. The teams will also have the opportunity to meet with industry experts who will become their lead, business and technical mentors to guide them on their solution development journey.

Read this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

Then the teams will return home for a three-month virtual sprint, during which they will receive one-on-one coaching from industry experts to ensure their solutions are both technically robust and strategically positioned for market success. 

Exciting opportunities

Point.IoT culminates in a demo day, where the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their developments. All the teams will pitch their solutions to the jury, which will evaluate each team’s solution and decide on the overall winner and the EUR 20,000 cash prize recipient. 

Watch This: #MyGalileoApp Final

It’s not only money that’s on offer however. The jury will also select five teams to take part in a leading investor roadshow. The programme also offers excellent networking, with the teams being introduced to the programme’s corporate partners and maybe even to their first customers. So, if you have an idea for an IoT solution that harnesses Galileo, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and sign up before 28 June 2020.

Registration for the 5th Farming by Satellite Prize, which aims to promote the use of EGNSS and Earth observation in European and African agriculture, will open on 16 March. If you are a young innovator with an idea for using satellite technologies to enable sustainable farming practices, improve efficiency in agriculture and reduce its environmental impact, this is your chance to win some great prizes!

Innovation is crucial if the agricultural sector is to grow sustainably and meet emerging global challenges such as feeding a growing population and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With these challenges in mind, the Farming by Satellite Prize encourages young professionals, farmers and students in Europe to create new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. 

Special Africa Prize

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize includes a Special Africa Prize, which aims to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa. The Farming by Satellite Prize is a joint initiative between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). 

“Agriculture has been an enthusiastic early adopter of satellite technologies to improve performance in the sector. The Farming by Satellite prize aims to tap into this thirst for innovation and support young innovators in delivering applications and services based on Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus that will contribute to the evolution of agriculture and to meeting some of the critical challenges facing the global community,” said GSA Acting Executive Director Pascal Claudel.

Watch this: European Satellites for Agriculture

“It is clear that we need to make food production much more sustainable and lessen its impact on the environment and climate. Satellite data, technology and innovation can support this change, which is why partnering with this initiative aligns well with the EEA’s commitment to protecting our nature, climate and human health,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

An amazing experience

Applicants can take part as individuals or as a team and are invited to register online between March 16 and June 15, 2020. The top teams selected as finalists will enter the competition’s deep dive phase. A total prize purse of EUR 10,000 will be distributed among the top four teams (three in Europe and one in Africa). 

First prize in the 2018 edition of the competition went to Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, for FODDERApp a mobile app for grass and grazing management. Commenting at the time, Teagasc team member Gabriela Afrasinei said: “This was an amazing experience; we really enjoyed brainstorming and developing the idea back in Ireland, and meeting all the other finalists and judges was fantastic! We hope to keep these connections in the years to come.” 

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize is supported by industry partners such as the agricultural engineering company CLAAS. For more information on the competition, click here.

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).

Registration for the 5th Farming by Satellite Prize, which aims to promote the use of EGNSS and Earth observation in European and African agriculture, will open on 16 March. If you are a young innovator with an idea for using satellite technologies to enable sustainable farming practices, improve efficiency in agriculture and reduce its environmental impact, this is your chance to win some great prizes!

Innovation is crucial if the agricultural sector is to grow sustainably and meet emerging global challenges such as feeding a growing population and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With these challenges in mind, the Farming by Satellite Prize encourages young professionals, farmers and students in Europe to create new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. 

Special Africa Prize

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize includes a Special Africa Prize, which aims to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa. The Farming by Satellite Prize is a joint initiative between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). 

“Agriculture has been an enthusiastic early adopter of satellite technologies to improve performance in the sector. The Farming by Satellite prize aims to tap into this thirst for innovation and support young innovators in delivering applications and services based on Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus that will contribute to the evolution of agriculture and to meeting some of the critical challenges facing the global community,” said GSA Acting Executive Director Pascal Claudel.

Watch this: European Satellites for Agriculture

“It is clear that we need to make food production much more sustainable and lessen its impact on the environment and climate. Satellite data, technology and innovation can support this change, which is why partnering with this initiative aligns well with the EEA’s commitment to protecting our nature, climate and human health,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

An amazing experience

Applicants can take part as individuals or as a team and are invited to register online between March 16 and June 15, 2020. The top teams selected as finalists will enter the competition’s deep dive phase. A total prize purse of EUR 10,000 will be distributed among the top four teams (three in Europe and one in Africa). 

First prize in the 2018 edition of the competition went to Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, for FODDERApp a mobile app for grass and grazing management. Commenting at the time, Teagasc team member Gabriela Afrasinei said: “This was an amazing experience; we really enjoyed brainstorming and developing the idea back in Ireland, and meeting all the other finalists and judges was fantastic! We hope to keep these connections in the years to come.” 

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize is supported by industry partners such as the agricultural engineering company CLAAS. For more information on the competition, click here.

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).

Registration for the 5th Farming by Satellite Prize, which aims to promote the use of EGNSS and Earth observation in European and African agriculture, will open on 16 March. If you are a young innovator with an idea for using satellite technologies to enable sustainable farming practices, improve efficiency in agriculture and reduce its environmental impact, this is your chance to win some great prizes!

Innovation is crucial if the agricultural sector is to grow sustainably and meet emerging global challenges such as feeding a growing population and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With these challenges in mind, the Farming by Satellite Prize encourages young professionals, farmers and students in Europe to create new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. 

Special Africa Prize

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize includes a Special Africa Prize, which aims to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa. The Farming by Satellite Prize is a joint initiative between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). 

“Agriculture has been an enthusiastic early adopter of satellite technologies to improve performance in the sector. The Farming by Satellite prize aims to tap into this thirst for innovation and support young innovators in delivering applications and services based on Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus that will contribute to the evolution of agriculture and to meeting some of the critical challenges facing the global community,” said GSA Acting Executive Director Pascal Claudel.

Watch this: European Satellites for Agriculture

“It is clear that we need to make food production much more sustainable and lessen its impact on the environment and climate. Satellite data, technology and innovation can support this change, which is why partnering with this initiative aligns well with the EEA’s commitment to protecting our nature, climate and human health,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

An amazing experience

Applicants can take part as individuals or as a team and are invited to register online between March 16 and June 14, 2020. The top teams selected as finalists will enter the competition’s deep dive phase. A total prize purse of EUR 10,000 will be distributed among the top four teams (three in Europe and one in Africa). 

First prize in the 2018 edition of the competition went to Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, for FODDERApp a mobile app for grass and grazing management. Commenting at the time, Teagasc team member Gabriela Afrasinei said: “This was an amazing experience; we really enjoyed brainstorming and developing the idea back in Ireland, and meeting all the other finalists and judges was fantastic! We hope to keep these connections in the years to come.” 

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize is supported by industry partners such as the agricultural engineering company CLAAS. For more information on the competition, click here.

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).

Registration for the 5th Farming by Satellite Prize, which aims to promote the use of EGNSS and Earth observation in European and African agriculture, will open on 16 March. If you are a young innovator with an idea for using satellite technologies to enable sustainable farming practices, improve efficiency in agriculture and reduce its environmental impact, this is your chance to win some great prizes!

Innovation is crucial if the agricultural sector is to grow sustainably and meet emerging global challenges such as feeding a growing population and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With these challenges in mind, the Farming by Satellite Prize encourages young professionals, farmers and students in Europe to create new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. 

Special Africa Prize

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize includes a Special Africa Prize, which aims to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa. The Farming by Satellite Prize is a joint initiative between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). 

“Agriculture has been an enthusiastic early adopter of satellite technologies to improve performance in the sector. The Farming by Satellite prize aims to tap into this thirst for innovation and support young innovators in delivering applications and services based on Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus that will contribute to the evolution of agriculture and to meeting some of the critical challenges facing the global community,” said GSA Acting Executive Director Pascal Claudel.

Watch this: European Satellites for Agriculture

“It is clear that we need to make food production much more sustainable and lessen its impact on the environment and climate. Satellite data, technology and innovation can support this change, which is why partnering with this initiative aligns well with the EEA’s commitment to protecting our nature, climate and human health,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

An amazing experience

Applicants can take part as individuals or as a team and are invited to register online between March 16 and June 15, 2020. The top teams selected as finalists will enter the competition’s deep dive phase. A total prize purse of EUR 10,000 will be distributed among the top four teams (three in Europe and one in Africa). 

First prize in the 2018 edition of the competition went to Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, for FODDERApp a mobile app for grass and grazing management. Commenting at the time, Teagasc team member Gabriela Afrasinei said: “This was an amazing experience; we really enjoyed brainstorming and developing the idea back in Ireland, and meeting all the other finalists and judges was fantastic! We hope to keep these connections in the years to come.” 

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize is supported by industry partners such as the agricultural engineering company CLAAS. For more information on the competition, click here.

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).

Registration for the 5th Farming by Satellite Prize, which aims to promote the use of EGNSS and Earth observation in European and African agriculture, will open on 16 March. If you are a young innovator with an idea for using satellite technologies to enable sustainable farming practices, improve efficiency in agriculture and reduce its environmental impact, this is your chance to win some great prizes!

Innovation is crucial if the agricultural sector is to grow sustainably and meet emerging global challenges such as feeding a growing population and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With these challenges in mind, the Farming by Satellite Prize encourages young professionals, farmers and students in Europe to create new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. 

Special Africa Prize

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize includes a Special Africa Prize, which aims to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa. The Farming by Satellite Prize is a joint initiative between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA). 

“Agriculture has been an enthusiastic early adopter of satellite technologies to improve performance in the sector. The Farming by Satellite prize aims to tap into this thirst for innovation and support young innovators in delivering applications and services based on Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus that will contribute to the evolution of agriculture and to meeting some of the critical challenges facing the global community,” said GSA Acting Executive Director Pascal Claudel.

Watch this: European Satellites for Agriculture

“It is clear that we need to make food production much more sustainable and lessen its impact on the environment and climate. Satellite data, technology and innovation can support this change, which is why partnering with this initiative aligns well with the EEA’s commitment to protecting our nature, climate and human health,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

An amazing experience

Applicants can take part as individuals or as a team and are invited to register online between March 16 and June 15, 2020. The top teams selected as finalists will enter the competition’s deep dive phase. A total prize purse of EUR 10,000 will be distributed among the top four teams (three in Europe and one in Africa). 

First prize in the 2018 edition of the competition went to Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, for FODDERApp a mobile app for grass and grazing management. Commenting at the time, Teagasc team member Gabriela Afrasinei said: “This was an amazing experience; we really enjoyed brainstorming and developing the idea back in Ireland, and meeting all the other finalists and judges was fantastic! We hope to keep these connections in the years to come.” 

The 2020 edition of the Farming by Satellite Prize is supported by industry partners such as the agricultural engineering company CLAAS. For more information on the competition, click here.

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).

Point.IoT, an exciting new programme designed to empower innovation using Galileo and IoT technologies, is offering 10 teams of ambitious entrepreneurs the chance to tackle relevant industry challenges while showcasing the use of European positioning technologies in IoT. The winning team stands to win a cash prize of EUR 20,000. Interested? Apply here!

The Point.IoT competition is centred on two challenges, which were reached following a careful study of where Galileo can make a positive impact on IoT. The first of the challenges asks the teams to design and develop the next generation of asset tracking and management solutions for industries with large-scale infrastructure, such as airports, construction sites and power stations.

As part of the second challenge, the teams are tasked with designing and developing a real-time risk and location monitoring device that can be worn on or around the body to improve personal safety in the workplace. This solution will increase safety because, when site managers can better understand the movements of their personnel, they can create a safer environment for everyone on site.

Essential tools

The Point.IoT programme kicks off with a two-day, action-packed boot camp in Paris, France, where the teams will acquire some essential tools for their work ahead. The teams will also have the opportunity to meet with industry experts who will become their lead, business and technical mentors to guide them on their solution development journey.

Read this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

Then the teams will return home for a three-month virtual sprint, during which they will receive one-on-one coaching from industry experts to ensure their solutions are both technically robust and strategically positioned for market success. 

Exciting opportunities

Point.IoT culminates in a demo day, where the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their developments. All the teams will pitch their solutions to the jury, which will evaluate each team’s solution and decide on the overall winner and the EUR 20,000 cash prize recipient. 

Watch This: #MyGalileoApp Final

It’s not only money that’s on offer however. The jury will also select five teams to take part in a leading investor roadshow. The programme also offers excellent networking, with the teams being introduced to the programme’s corporate partners and maybe even to their first customers. So, if you have an idea for an IoT solution that harnesses Galileo, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and sign up before 24 May 2020.

Point.IoT, an exciting new programme designed to empower innovation using Galileo and IoT technologies, is offering 10 teams of ambitious entrepreneurs the chance to tackle relevant industry challenges while showcasing the use of European positioning technologies in IoT. The winning team stands to win a cash prize of EUR 20,000. Interested? Apply here!

The Point.IoT competition is centred on two challenges, which were reached following a careful study of where Galileo can make a positive impact on IoT. The first of the challenges asks the teams to design and develop the next generation of asset tracking and management solutions for industries with large-scale infrastructure, such as airports, construction sites and power stations.

As part of the second challenge, the teams are tasked with designing and developing a real-time risk and location monitoring device that can be worn on or around the body to improve personal safety in the workplace. This solution will increase safety because, when site managers can better understand the movements of their personnel, they can create a safer environment for everyone on site.

Essential tools

The Point.IoT programme kicks off with a two-day, action-packed boot camp in Paris, France, where the teams will acquire some essential tools for their work ahead. The teams will also have the opportunity to meet with industry experts who will become their lead, business and technical mentors to guide them on their solution development journey.

Read this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

Then the teams will return home for a three-month virtual sprint, during which they will receive one-on-one coaching from industry experts to ensure their solutions are both technically robust and strategically positioned for market success. 

Exciting opportunities

Point.IoT culminates in a demo day, where the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their developments. All the teams will pitch their solutions to the jury, which will evaluate each team’s solution and decide on the overall winner and the EUR 20,000 cash prize recipient. 

Watch This: #MyGalileoApp Final

It’s not only money that’s on offer however. The jury will also select five teams to take part in a leading investor roadshow. The programme also offers excellent networking, with the teams being introduced to the programme’s corporate partners and maybe even to their first customers. So, if you have an idea for an IoT solution that harnesses Galileo, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity and sign up before 24 May 2020.

The first performance evaluation of the Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) following its launch has revealed excellent service provision that exceeds set targets. The Galileo RLS, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was declared operational at the 12th European Space Conference on January 21.

The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Service locates people in distress and makes their position known to Rescue Coordination Centres worldwide. At the same time as the launch of the RLS, new targets were also set in January for the SAR/Galileo Forward Link Service, which was declared operational in December 2016. 

Excellent performance

For the Galileo Forward Link Service, the new targets aim for 99% service availability and 95% location accuracy within 5 km. Over the first month under the new regime, both parameters were comfortably exceeded reaching 99.9% and 99.8% respectively.

Read this: Successful Galileo Return Link demonstration with market-ready beacon

During the same period, the Galileo Return Link Service was available 100% of the time, above the target value of 95%. On average, the Galileo system took 37 seconds to deliver automatic acknowledgement to the beacon. This is significantly better than the target value of 15 minutes, which was achieved 99.61% of the time.

Global service

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1) – for more information, see the updated SAR/Galileo Service Definition Document. The GSA in its role as service provider is continuously monitoring the services provided by the Galileo system, including the Galileo SAR service. 

Galileo SAR users that would like to receive more information about the service can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: https://www.gsc-europa.eu/.

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).

Space applications in support of more efficient agricultural operations and optimised food processing in Europe will be in focus at the EO4AGRI workshop, to be held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters on 16-17 March.

EO4AGRI will be structured into four main panel discussions spread across the two days of the workshop. These discussion blocks will target stakeholders from the AgriFood industry, the financial and insurance sector and the agricultural public sector, along with food and nutrition security stakeholders. 

Leveraging EU investment

EO4AGRI aims to improve Europe’s agriculture monitoring capacity based on information derived from Copernicus Earth observation and the use of geospatial and socio-economic information services. With this goal in mind, EO4AGRI is working with farmers, farmer associations and the agro-food industry to develop specifications for data-driven farming services, with a view to leveraging the EU’s investments in Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).

In particular, EO4AGRI helps with the implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly in light of the planned CAP2020 reform. The project also helps farmers meet the requirements of Paying Agencies, and supports them in implementing Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) processes. 

Read this: EGNSS and agriculture – a win-win relationship

Within the context of discussions on CAP at the workshop, the GSA will also present its EGNSS4CAP app. This is a mobile app for Android that digitises procedures for farmers in the EU, helping them to meet their reporting requirements under the current and reformed CAP. The GSA is also supporting the EC in its efforts to integrate the EGNSS4CAP app with the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), which aims to facilitate a sustainable use of fertilisers while boosting the digitisation of the agricultural sector in the EU.

Watch this: Tractor Navigator. 2nd place winner at #MyGalileoApp Competition

The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will help shape future data and services in Earth Observation and will feed into the evolution of the next generation of Copernicus Sentinel satellites.

Space applications in support of more efficient agricultural operations and optimised food processing in Europe will be in focus at the EO4AGRI workshop, to be held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters on 16-17 March.

EO4AGRI will be structured into four main panel discussions spread across the two days of the workshop. These discussion blocks will target stakeholders from the AgriFood industry, the financial and insurance sector and the agricultural public sector, along with food and nutrition security stakeholders. 

Leveraging EU investment

EO4AGRI aims to improve Europe’s agriculture monitoring capacity based on information derived from Copernicus Earth observation and the use of geospatial and socio-economic information services. With this goal in mind, EO4AGRI is working with farmers, farmer associations and the agro-food industry to develop specifications for data-driven farming services, with a view to leveraging the EU’s investments in Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).

In particular, EO4AGRI helps with the implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly in light of the planned CAP2020 reform. The project also helps farmers meet the requirements of Paying Agencies, and supports them in implementing Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) processes. 

Read this: EGNSS and agriculture – a win-win relationship

Within the context of discussions on CAP at the workshop, the GSA will also present its EGNSS4CAP app. This is a mobile app for Android that digitises procedures for farmers in the EU, helping them to meet their reporting requirements under the current and reformed CAP. The GSA is also supporting the EC in its efforts to integrate the EGNSS4CAP app with the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), which aims to facilitate a sustainable use of fertilisers while boosting the digitisation of the agricultural sector in the EU.

Watch this: Tractor Navigator. 2nd place winner at #MyGalileoApp Competition

The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will help shape future data and services in Earth Observation and will feed into the evolution of the next generation of Copernicus Sentinel satellites.

Space applications in support of more efficient agricultural operations and optimised food processing in Europe will be in focus at the EO4AGRI workshop, to be held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters on 16-17 March.

EO4AGRI will be structured into four main panel discussions spread across the two days of the workshop. These discussion blocks will target stakeholders from the AgriFood industry, the financial and insurance sector and the agricultural public sector, along with food and nutrition security stakeholders. 

Leveraging EU investment

EO4AGRI aims to improve Europe’s agriculture monitoring capacity based on information derived from Copernicus Earth observation and the use of geospatial and socio-economic information services. With this goal in mind, EO4AGRI is working with farmers, farmer associations and the agro-food industry to develop specifications for data-driven farming services, with a view to leveraging the EU’s investments in Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).

In particular, EO4AGRI helps with the implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly in light of the planned CAP2020 reform. The project also helps farmers meet the requirements of Paying Agencies, and supports them in implementing Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) processes. 

Read this: EGNSS and agriculture – a win-win relationship

Within the context of discussions on CAP at the workshop, the GSA will also present its EGNSS4CAP app. This is a mobile app for Android that digitises procedures for farmers in the EU, helping them to meet their reporting requirements under the current and reformed CAP. The GSA is also supporting the EC in its efforts to integrate the EGNSS4CAP app with the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), which aims to facilitate a sustainable use of fertilisers while boosting the digitisation of the agricultural sector in the EU.

Watch this: Tractor Navigator. 2nd place winner at #MyGalileoApp Competition

The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will help shape future data and services in Earth Observation and will feed into the evolution of the next generation of Copernicus Sentinel satellites.

Space applications in support of more efficient agricultural operations and optimised food processing in Europe will be in focus at the EO4AGRI workshop, to be held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters on 16-17 March.

EO4AGRI will be structured into four main panel discussions spread across the two days of the workshop. These discussion blocks will target stakeholders from the AgriFood industry, the financial and insurance sector and the agricultural public sector, along with food and nutrition security stakeholders. 

Leveraging EU investment

EO4AGRI aims to improve Europe’s agriculture monitoring capacity based on information derived from Copernicus Earth observation and the use of geospatial and socio-economic information services. With this goal in mind, EO4AGRI is working with farmers, farmer associations and the agro-food industry to develop specifications for data-driven farming services, with a view to leveraging the EU’s investments in Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).

In particular, EO4AGRI helps with the implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly in light of the planned CAP2020 reform. The project also helps farmers meet the requirements of Paying Agencies, and supports them in implementing Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) processes. 

Read this: EGNSS and agriculture – a win-win relationship

Within the context of discussions on CAP at the workshop, the GSA will also present its EGNSS4CAP app. This is a mobile app for Android that digitises procedures for farmers in the EU, helping them to meet their reporting requirements under the current and reformed CAP. The GSA is also supporting the EC in its efforts to integrate the EGNSS4CAP app with the Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients (FaST), which aims to facilitate a sustainable use of fertilisers while boosting the digitisation of the agricultural sector in the EU.

Watch this: Tractor Navigator. 2nd place winner at #MyGalileoApp Competition

The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will help shape future data and services in Earth Observation and will feed into the evolution of the next generation of Copernicus Sentinel satellites.

The European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) has recently launched a call for proposals under its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism targeting the development of a shipborne dual-frequency multi-constellation (DFMC) receiver that leverages the differentiators of European GNSS (EGNOS and Galileo).

The call for proposals is split into two lots, the first of which targets the development and testing of an E1/E5a double-frequency shipborne multi-constellation receiver based on the Galileo Open Service. The receiver should be compliant with International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolution MSC.233 and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 61108-3.

The second lot in the call covers the preparation of guidelines for manufacturers for the implementation of SBAS DFMC open service and the development of firmware to process Galileo augmentation messages provided by the SBAS DFMC.

IMO standards

The IMO recognised Galileo as part of the world wide radio navigation system (WWRNS) in 2016, allowing for its use in merchant shipping. IMO resolutions MSC.401(95) and MSC.432 put in place performance standards for multi-system shipborne radio navigation receivers.

Read this: Looking for funding? The EIC may have something for you!

These resolutions state that shipborne equipment should use at least two independent GNSS recognised by IMO as part of the WWRNS and should have the capacity to process augmentation data. This requirement can be fulfilled if the GNSS receiver tracks both Galileo and GPS and uses EGNOS for augmentation in dual frequency, providing differential corrections and integrity data.

In combination with the Open Service, Galileo will provide an authentication service for the navigation message (OS-NMA). Both the authentication of the navigation message and the integrity of the computed position will contribute to the concept of resilient PNT.

At a glance

More information

If you are interested in applying for this call, and would like more information, click here for a detailed overview of all the requirements. If, after reviewing the information, you still have questions related to the content of the call, you should address them to: gnss-grants@gsa.europa.eu, with the subject line "GSA/GRANT/02/2019 Shipborne double frequency multi-constellation receiver (E1/E5)".

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).

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has as its goal to put Europe on top of the next wave of breakthrough and disruptive innovation that creates new markets. Space-based technology fits this profile and there are number of funding opportunities available under open EIC calls that may be of interest to space-tech innovators.

Support for deep-tech, high-risk SMEs and innovators

One such opportunity is the EIC Accelerator Pilot (previously known as the SME Instrument), which supports innovative, high-potential SMEs to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models. The EIC Accelerator supports, for example, trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication.

Projects will receive between EUR 0.5 and EUR 2.5 million in the form of grants. The EIC Accelerator also offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will financed only through blended finance.  You can find a map of current EIC Accelerator companies here. The next cut-off date for applications is 18 March 2020. You can apply here.

Novel ideas for radically new technologies 

Another opportunity is the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open call Novel ideas for radically new technologies, which is looking for proposals for cutting-edge, high-risk or high-impact interdisciplinary research. This research should have a radical vision and target a novel and ambitious science-to-technology breakthrough that opens up new areas of investigation.

FET Open aims to establish European leadership in the early exploration of future technologies. It looks for opportunities that are of long-term benefit for citizens, the economy and society. With this aim in mind, it strives to mobilise Europe's most creative and forward-thinking researchers from all disciplines to work together and explore possible leading technology paradigms of the future.

Cutting-edge innovation

As part of its Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) Boosting emerging technologies call, the EIC looked for proposals for projects that aimed to demonstrate a new technological paradigm for human-centric Artificial Intelligence, contributing  to the wider debate on the sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of these technologies and systems. Also targeted were proposals for implantable autonomous biomedical devices and materials and breakthrough solutions for zero-emissions energy generation.

Read this: Last calls for Horizon 2020, first views for Horizon Europe

FET Proactive aims to identify the future and emerging technologies with the highest economic and societal potential. It looks to establish a broad and solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and interdisciplinary communities to ensure that Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging societal and industrial opportunities.

EGNSS R&D White Paper

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has gathered input from EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) users, confirming the importance of investing in the development of EGNSS downstream applications in order to capture economic and technological returns.

This can be achieved by identifying the priority areas for investing in downstream applications by market segment; analysing the different funding tools that could support EGNSS market uptake; and describing the desirable characteristics that define best practices for EGNSS R&D programmes.

The results of this research have been complied in a White Paper outlining recommendations for areas of focus and innovation funding for EGNSS R&D, which is available for download here.

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).

Support for deep-tech, high-risk SMEs and innovators

One such opportunity is the EIC Accelerator Pilot (previously known as the SME Instrument), which supports innovative, high-potential SMEs to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models. The EIC Accelerator supports, for example, trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication.

Projects will receive between EUR 0.5 and EUR 2.5 million in the form of grants. The EIC Accelerator also offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will financed only through blended finance.  You can find a map of current EIC Accelerator companies here. The next cut-off date for applications is 18 March 2020. You can apply here.

Novel ideas for radically new technologies

Another opportunity is the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open call Novel ideas for radically new technologies, which is looking for proposals for cutting-edge, high-risk or high-impact interdisciplinary research. This research should have a radical vision and target a novel and ambitious science-to-technology breakthrough that opens up new areas of investigation.

FET Open aims to establish European leadership in the early exploration of future technologies. It looks for opportunities that are of long-term benefit for citizens, the economy and society. With this aim in mind, it strives to mobilise Europe's most creative and forward-thinking researchers from all disciplines to work together and explore possible leading technology paradigms of the future.

Cutting-edge innovation

As part of its Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) Boosting emerging technologies call, the EIC looked for proposals for projects that aimed to demonstrate a new technological paradigm for human-centric Artificial Intelligence, contributing  to the wider debate on the sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of these technologies and systems. Also targeted were proposals for implantable autonomous biomedical devices and materials and breakthrough solutions for zero-emissions energy generation.

Read this: Last calls for Horizon 2020, first views for Horizon Europe

FET Proactive aims to identify the future and emerging technologies with the highest economic and societal potential. It looks to establish a broad and solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and interdisciplinary communities to ensure that Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging societal and industrial opportunities.

EGNSS R&D White Paper

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has gathered input from EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) users, confirming the importance of investing in the development of EGNSS downstream applications in order to capture economic and technological returns.

This can be achieved by identifying the priority areas for investing in downstream applications by market segment; analysing the different funding tools that could support EGNSS market uptake; and describing the desirable characteristics that define best practices for EGNSS R&D programmes.

The results of this research have been complied in a White Paper outlining recommendations for areas of focus and innovation funding for EGNSS R&D, which is available for download here.

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).

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has as its goal to put Europe on top of the next wave of breakthrough and disruptive innovation that creates new markets. Space-based technology fits this profile and there are number of funding opportunities available under open EIC calls that may be of interest to space-tech innovators.

Support for deep-tech, high-risk SMEs and innovators

One such opportunity is the EIC Accelerator Pilot (previously known as the SME Instrument), which supports innovative, high-potential SMEs to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models. The EIC Accelerator supports, for example, trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication.

Projects will receive between EUR 0.5 and EUR 2.5 million in the form of grants. The EIC Accelerator also offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will financed only through blended finance.  You can find a map of current EIC Accelerator companies here. The next cut-off date for applications is 18 March 2020. You can apply here.

Novel ideas for radically new technologies 

Another opportunity is the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open call Novel ideas for radically new technologies, which is looking for proposals for cutting-edge, high-risk or high-impact interdisciplinary research. This research should have a radical vision and target a novel and ambitious science-to-technology breakthrough that opens up new areas of investigation.

FET Open aims to establish European leadership in the early exploration of future technologies. It looks for opportunities that are of long-term benefit for citizens, the economy and society. With this aim in mind, it strives to mobilise Europe's most creative and forward-thinking researchers from all disciplines to work together and explore possible leading technology paradigms of the future.

Other funding is available

If your profile does not fit any of the above opportunities, take a look at this Guide to European GNSS Funding Mechanisms, recently published by the GSA. This funding guide provides a snapshot of the various funding mechanisms available to any team or individual working on an EGNOS/Galileo technology or application. 

The guide illustrates the nature of the various funding mechanisms, explains their target applicants, the markets in which they operate, and the funding envelopes they can be expected to provide. It also highlights the eligibility criteria, if any, and the additional support mechanisms for each project.

Cutting-edge innovation

Last year, as part of its Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) Boosting emerging technologies call, the EIC looked for proposals for projects that aimed to demonstrate a new technological paradigm for human-centric Artificial Intelligence, contributing  to the wider debate on the sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of these technologies and systems. Also targeted were proposals for implantable autonomous biomedical devices and materials and breakthrough solutions for zero-emissions energy generation.

Read this: Last calls for Horizon 2020, first views for Horizon Europe

FET Proactive aimed to identify the future and emerging technologies with the highest economic and societal potential. It looked to establish a broad and solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and interdisciplinary communities to ensure that Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging societal and industrial opportunities.

EGNSS R&D White Paper

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has gathered input from EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) users, confirming the importance of investing in the development of EGNSS downstream applications in order to capture economic and technological returns.

This can be achieved by identifying the priority areas for investing in downstream applications by market segment; analysing the different funding tools that could support EGNSS market uptake; and describing the desirable characteristics that define best practices for EGNSS R&D programmes.

The results of this research have been complied in a White Paper outlining recommendations for areas of focus and innovation funding for EGNSS R&D, which is available for download here.

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).

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has as its goal to put Europe on top of the next wave of breakthrough and disruptive innovation that creates new markets. Space-based technology fits this profile and there are number of funding opportunities available under open EIC calls that may be of interest to space-tech innovators.

Support for deep-tech, high-risk SMEs and innovators

One such opportunity is the EIC Accelerator Pilot (previously known as the SME Instrument), which supports innovative, high-potential SMEs to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models. The EIC Accelerator supports, for example, trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication.

Projects will receive between EUR 0.5 and EUR 2.5 million in the form of grants. The EIC Accelerator also offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will financed only through blended finance.  You can find a map of current EIC Accelerator companies here. The next cut-off date for applications is 18 March 2020. You can apply here.

Novel ideas for radically new technologies 

Another opportunity is the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open call Novel ideas for radically new technologies, which is looking for proposals for cutting-edge, high-risk or high-impact interdisciplinary research. This research should have a radical vision and target a novel and ambitious science-to-technology breakthrough that opens up new areas of investigation.

FET Open aims to establish European leadership in the early exploration of future technologies. It looks for opportunities that are of long-term benefit for citizens, the economy and society. With this aim in mind, it strives to mobilise Europe's most creative and forward-thinking researchers from all disciplines to work together and explore possible leading technology paradigms of the future.

Cutting-edge innovation

As part of its Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) Boosting emerging technologies call, the EIC looked for proposals for projects that aimed to demonstrate a new technological paradigm for human-centric Artificial Intelligence, contributing  to the wider debate on the sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of these technologies and systems. Also targeted were proposals for implantable autonomous biomedical devices and materials and breakthrough solutions for zero-emissions energy generation.

Read this: Last calls for Horizon 2020, first views for Horizon Europe

FET Proactive aims to identify the future and emerging technologies with the highest economic and societal potential. It looks to establish a broad and solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and interdisciplinary communities to ensure that Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging societal and industrial opportunities.

EGNSS R&D White Paper

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has gathered input from EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) users, confirming the importance of investing in the development of EGNSS downstream applications in order to capture economic and technological returns.

This can be achieved by identifying the priority areas for investing in downstream applications by market segment; analysing the different funding tools that could support EGNSS market uptake; and describing the desirable characteristics that define best practices for EGNSS R&D programmes.

The results of this research have been complied in a White Paper outlining recommendations for areas of focus and innovation funding for EGNSS R&D, which is available for download here.

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).

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has as its goal to put Europe on top of the next wave of breakthrough and disruptive innovation that creates new markets. Space-based technology fits this profile and there are number of funding opportunities available under open EIC calls that may be of interest to space-tech innovators.

Support for deep-tech, high-risk SMEs and innovators

One such opportunity is the EIC Accelerator Pilot (previously known as the SME Instrument), which supports innovative, high-potential SMEs to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models. The EIC Accelerator supports, for example, trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication.

Projects will receive between EUR 0.5 and EUR 2.5 million in the form of grants. The EIC Accelerator also offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will financed only through blended finance.  You can find a map of current EIC Accelerator companies here. The next cut-off date for applications is 18 March 2020. You can apply here.

Novel ideas for radically new technologies 

Another opportunity is the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open call Novel ideas for radically new technologies, which is looking for proposals for cutting-edge, high-risk or high-impact interdisciplinary research. This research should have a radical vision and target a novel and ambitious science-to-technology breakthrough that opens up new areas of investigation.

FET Open aims to establish European leadership in the early exploration of future technologies. It looks for opportunities that are of long-term benefit for citizens, the economy and society. With this aim in mind, it strives to mobilise Europe's most creative and forward-thinking researchers from all disciplines to work together and explore possible leading technology paradigms of the future.

Cutting-edge innovation

Last year, as part of its Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) Boosting emerging technologies call, the EIC looked for proposals for projects that aimed to demonstrate a new technological paradigm for human-centric Artificial Intelligence, contributing  to the wider debate on the sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of these technologies and systems. Also targeted were proposals for implantable autonomous biomedical devices and materials and breakthrough solutions for zero-emissions energy generation.

Read this: Last calls for Horizon 2020, first views for Horizon Europe

FET Proactive aimed to identify the future and emerging technologies with the highest economic and societal potential. It looked to establish a broad and solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and interdisciplinary communities to ensure that Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging societal and industrial opportunities.

EGNSS R&D White Paper

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has gathered input from EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) users, confirming the importance of investing in the development of EGNSS downstream applications in order to capture economic and technological returns.

This can be achieved by identifying the priority areas for investing in downstream applications by market segment; analysing the different funding tools that could support EGNSS market uptake; and describing the desirable characteristics that define best practices for EGNSS R&D programmes.

The results of this research have been complied in a White Paper outlining recommendations for areas of focus and innovation funding for EGNSS R&D, which is available for download here.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo has thrown its support behind the international half marathon series and will become the Presenting Partner. The news comes as thousands prepare to plot their running journey across the continent.

The SuperHalfs series will welcome thousands of runners and millions of spectators, both attending the races and viewing the global coverage from their homes when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month. Prague hosts the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen, across the North Sea to Cardiff and finishes up in the warm climes of Valencia in October. 

“One of the core values of SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian Global Navigation Satellite System,” said SuperHalfs Founding Member Carlo Capalbo.

The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun between the European cities of Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. 

Win with Galileo

“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Officer of the European GNSS Agency.

Read this: SARA scores at football match

The flourishing market for wearable sports tracking devices, for example fitness trackers or smartwatches and eHealth apps, is clear evidence that runners are already benefitting from the precise positioning, timing and navigation provided by Galileo. According to the GSA GNSS Market Report 2019, wearables are the second most sold GNSS device after smartphones, reaching 70 million shipments globally in 2019, and the market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach 240 million shipments by 2029.

The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status. Thousands of runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based fitness tracker.

While general entries to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon and Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon have sold-out, runners can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners. For more information, click here.

About the Series

The SuperHalfs is a series of the world’s leading half marathons, including races in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. It offers running enthusiasts the opportunity to embark on their own running adventure whilst being rewarded for their efforts with exclusive benefits such as guaranteed entry, merchandise, stamps in a SuperPassport and a SuperMedal for completing the five-race circuit within 36 months.

All of the events are World Athletics' Gold Label races or are run on World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses. They are certified by AIMS or have been awarded a 5 Star Road Race standard by European Athletics. What's more, several races in the SuperHalfs group have played host to World Record performances.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo has thrown its support behind the international half marathon series and will become the Presenting Partner. The news comes as thousands prepare to plot their running journey across the continent.

The SuperHalfs series will welcome thousands of runners and millions of spectators, both attending the races and viewing the global coverage from their homes when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month. Prague hosts the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen, across the North Sea to Cardiff and finishes up in the warm climes of Valencia in October. 

“One of the core values of SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian Global Navigation Satellite System,” said SuperHalfs Founding Member Carlo Capalbo.

The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun between the European cities of Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. 

Win with Galileo

“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Officer of the European GNSS Agency.

Read this: SARA scores at football match

The flourishing market for wearable sports tracking devices, for example fitness trackers or smartwatches and eHealth apps, is clear evidence that runners are already benefitting from the precise positioning, timing and navigation provided by Galileo. According to the GSA GNSS Market Report 2019, wearables are the second most sold GNSS device after smartphones, reaching 70 million shipments globally in 2019, and the market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach 240 million shipments by 2029.

The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status. Thousands of runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based fitness tracker.

While general entries to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon and Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon have sold-out, runners can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners. For more information, click here.

About the Series

The SuperHalfs is a series of the world’s leading half marathons, including races in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. It offers running enthusiasts the opportunity to embark on their own running adventure whilst being rewarded for their efforts with exclusive benefits such as guaranteed entry, merchandise, stamps in a SuperPassport and a SuperMedal for completing the five-race circuit within 36 months.

All of the events are World Athletics' Gold Label races or are run on World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses. They are certified by AIMS or have been awarded a 5 Star Road Race standard by European Athletics. What's more, several races in the SuperHalfs group have played host to World Record performances.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo has thrown its support behind the international half marathon series and will become the Presenting Partner. The news comes as thousands prepare to plot their running journey across the continent.

The SuperHalfs series will welcome thousands of runners and millions of spectators, both attending the races and viewing the global coverage from their homes when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month, moving then to Prague hosting the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen.

“One of the core values of SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian Global Navigation Satellite System,” said SuperHalfs Founding Member Carlo Capalbo.

The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun between European cities. 

Win with Galileo

“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Officer of the European GNSS Agency.

Read this: SARA scores at football match

The flourishing market for wearable sports tracking devices, for example fitness trackers or smartwatches and eHealth apps, is clear evidence that runners are already benefitting from the precise positioning, timing and navigation provided by Galileo. According to the GSA GNSS Market Report 2019, wearables are the second most sold GNSS device after smartphones, reaching 70 million shipments globally in 2019, and the market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach 240 million shipments by 2029.

The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status. Thousands of runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based fitness tracker.

While general entries to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon and Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon have sold-out, runners can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners. For more information, click here.

About the Series

The SuperHalfs is a series of the world’s leading half marathons, including races in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. It offers running enthusiasts the opportunity to embark on their own running adventure whilst being rewarded for their efforts with exclusive benefits such as guaranteed entry, merchandise, stamps in a SuperPassport and a SuperMedal for completing the five-race circuit within 36 months.

All of the events are World Athletics' Gold Label races or are run on World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses. They are certified by AIMS or have been awarded a 5 Star Road Race standard by European Athletics. What's more, several races in the SuperHalfs group have played host to World Record performances.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo has thrown its support behind the international half marathon series and will become the Presenting Partner. The news comes as thousands prepare to plot their running journey across the continent.

The SuperHalfs series will welcome thousands of runners and millions of spectators, both attending the races and viewing the global coverage from their homes when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month, moving then to Prague hosting the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen.

“One of the core values of SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian Global Navigation Satellite System,” said SuperHalfs Founding Member Carlo Capalbo.

The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun between European cities. 

Win with Galileo

“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Officer of the European GNSS Agency.

Read this: SARA scores at football match

The flourishing market for wearable sports tracking devices, for example fitness trackers or smartwatches and eHealth apps, is clear evidence that runners are already benefitting from the precise positioning, timing and navigation provided by Galileo. According to the GSA GNSS Market Report 2019, wearables are the second most sold GNSS device after smartphones, reaching 70 million shipments globally in 2019, and the market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach 240 million shipments by 2029.

The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status. Thousands of runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based fitness tracker.

While most of the general entries to some of the Half Marathons have sold-out, runners can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners. For more information, click here.

About the Series

The SuperHalfs is a series of the world’s leading half marathons, including races in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. It offers running enthusiasts the opportunity to embark on their own running adventure whilst being rewarded for their efforts with exclusive benefits such as guaranteed entry, merchandise, stamps in a SuperPassport and a SuperMedal for completing the five-race circuit within 36 months.

All of the events are World Athletics' Gold Label races or are run on World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses. They are certified by AIMS or have been awarded a 5 Star Road Race standard by European Athletics. What's more, several races in the SuperHalfs group have played host to World Record performances.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo has thrown its support behind the international half marathon series and will become the Presenting Partner. The news comes as thousands prepare to plot their running journey across the continent.

The SuperHalfs series will welcome thousands of runners and millions of spectators, both attending the races and viewing the global coverage from their homes when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month, moving then to Prague hosting the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen.

“One of the core values of SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian Global Navigation Satellite System,” said SuperHalfs Founding Member Carlo Capalbo.

The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun between European cities. 

Win with Galileo

“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency.

Read this: SARA scores at football match

The flourishing market for wearable sports tracking devices, for example fitness trackers or smartwatches and eHealth apps, is clear evidence that runners are already benefitting from the precise positioning, timing and navigation provided by Galileo. According to the GSA GNSS Market Report 2019, wearables are the second most sold GNSS device after smartphones, reaching 70 million shipments globally in 2019, and the market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach 240 million shipments by 2029.

The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status. Thousands of runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based fitness tracker.

While most of the general entries to some of the Half Marathons have sold-out, runners can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners. For more information, click here.

About the Series

The SuperHalfs is a series of the world’s leading half marathons, including races in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. It offers running enthusiasts the opportunity to embark on their own running adventure whilst being rewarded for their efforts with exclusive benefits such as guaranteed entry, merchandise, stamps in a SuperPassport and a SuperMedal for completing the five-race circuit within 36 months.

All of the events are World Athletics' Gold Label races or are run on World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses. They are certified by AIMS or have been awarded a 5 Star Road Race standard by European Athletics. What's more, several races in the SuperHalfs group have played host to World Record performances.

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).

The GEO-3 payload of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), hosted aboard the EUTELSAT 5 West B satellite, has successfully entered into service. The satellite was successfully launched on a Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on 9 October last year.

EUTELSAT 5 West B is hosting the Eutelsat-procured EGNOS payload under an 18-year agreement with the European GNSS Agency (GSA). The contract also includes technical services and European ground infrastructure, including two gateways installed at Eutelsat’s Rambouillet and Cagliari teleports.  

Essential services

“With this new payload in service, EGNOS is moving on towards the transition to its new generation,” said Pascal Claudel, GSA Acting Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. “Delivery and continuity of satellite service are part of our mission as delegated by the European Commission. It is essential that we, at the GSA, are providing these services to support economic growth and to ensure that the European Union’s citizens and companies can benefit from the latest GNSS technology,” he said.

Watch this: EGNOS – How does it work?

The next generation of EGNOS - EGNOS V3 - will augment both GPS and Galileo in the L1 and L5 bands. It will also provide additional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) service capabilities through a new SBAS channel on L5 and will deliver increased EGNOS service availability within and beyond the EU, supporting a growing number of users.

Enhanced performance

"Eutelsat is proud of its collaboration with its customer GSA, its partners including the European Space Agency, and its suppliers, culminating in the entry into service of this next generation technology of EGNOS on EUTELSAT 5 West B,” said Eutelsat’s Deputy CEO and Chief Technical Officer Yohann Leroy. “We are delighted to host this payload, which will significantly enhance the performance of global navigation satellite systems across Europe, notably Galileo, in the coming years.”

Read this: Instrument flying supported by EGNOS for General Aviation

The GSA signed a contract with Eutelsat Communications in March 2017 for the development, integration and operation of the next-generation EGNOS payload. The contract covers the preparation and service provision phases of EGNOS GEO-3 and ensures the continuous availability of the EGNOS Signal in Space (SIS) and a smooth transition from EGNOS V2.

About EGNOS

EGNOS is Europe's regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS). It is currently used to improve the performance of GPS and will augment Galileo from 2025 onwards. EGNOS was deployed to provide safety of life navigation services to aviation, maritime and land-based users.

EGNOS uses GNSS measurements taken by reference stations deployed mainly across Europe and North Africa. These measurements are transferred to a central computing centre where differential corrections and integrity messages are calculated. These calculations are then broadcast over the covered area using geostationary satellites that serve as an augmentation, or overlay, to the original GNSS message. 

The information provided by EGNOS improves the accuracy and reliability of GNSS positioning information while also providing a crucial integrity message. EGNOS also transmits an accurate time signal.

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).

Although it has been a taboo at the European level up to now, the time has come to break this taboo and to recognise that space is an enabler of security and defence, with a defence dimension for Galileo and a security element for Copernicus, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said at the 12th Space Policy Conference in Brussels on 22 January.

In his address at the Conference, the Commissioner stressed that the security and defence element of the space programmes would be strengthened with the progressive launch of two new initiatives – a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system to monitor space debris, and a Governmental Satellite Communication (GovSatCom) initiative to provide Member States with reliable and secure satellite communication to support police, border protection and civil defence.

GSA ready for EUSPA

These programmes will be partly under the responsibility of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as its mandate expands with the creation of the new European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Speaking at the conference, GSA Chief Operating Officer Pascal Claudel noted that, while some of the elements in the EUSPA mandate had yet to be finalised, the GSA was already preparing to take it up and, in particular, has started preparatory activities for GovSatCom.

Read this: EU space infrastructure guarantees leadership in security and defence

Commissioner Thierry Breton outlined his objectives for the Galileo programme, one of which is to ensure the smooth development of the Public Regulated Service (PRS). “Galileo is also a strategic asset, designed to be used for military and civil security purposes,” he said. In turn, Claudel noted that the GSA’s experience with the PRS had been of particular value in setting up the project aiming at identifying GovSatCom user needs and technological requirements.

In addition to the PRS, Commissioner Breton’s other objectives for Galileo include continuing deploying the programme in order to reach the Full Operational Capability as soon as possible; continuing to improve precision - with a target of 20 cm; and preparing already for the second generation of Galileo, to stay ahead in the technological race.

Space awareness

As regards Space Situational Awareness and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SSA/SST), P. Claudel said that EUSPA would benefit from the GSA’s security-oriented approach and experience of working with Member States as users of the PRS service and handling classified information with multiple stakeholders. The experience that the GSA has in the operations of the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre would be beneficial for the SSA, he said.

Reference to the cyber security aspect of the Galileo programme was also made. “This is taken very seriously by the GSA. In recent years, new specific cyber security requirements have been defined and taken into account in the development of the Galileo system and its operations,” said the GSA COO.

And this: PRS – the future is bright!

The GSA puts measures in place based on regular monitoring and analysis of threats to the system. “Vulnerabilities are analysed regularly and security measures are set up,” said P. Claudel, adding that while the complexity of the GNSS systems makes this task very complex, the GSA has processes in place to handle this activity.

Working together for success

In his speech, Commissioner Thierry Breton stressed the importance of governance. He said that to develop his strategy and vision for the space programmes, it would be necessary to work efficiently together. “Governance is central to any successful strategy and project, political or industrial. ... When governance is not clear, mistakes happen or issues appear,” he said.

The Commissioner said he had the impression that, in Europe, a lot of time is spent discussing who does what – especially between public actors – rather than actually doing it. “Let me be loud and clear: This is not possible anymore. If we are to be successful and invest efficiently our citizens’ taxpayer money, we have to … work as a team,” he said, adding that this team includes the European Commission, National Space Agencies, the European Space Agency (ESA), the GSA, and industry.

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).

Although it has been a taboo at the European level up to now, the time has come to break this taboo and to recognise that space is an enabler of security and defence, with a defence dimension for Galileo and a security element for Copernicus, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said at the 12th Space Policy Conference in Brussels on 22 January.

In his address at the Conference, the Commissioner stressed that the security and defence element of the space programmes would be strengthened with the progressive launch of two new initiatives – a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system to monitor space debris, and a Governmental Satellite Communication (GovSatCom) initiative to provide Member States with reliable and secure satellite communication to support police, border protection and civil defence.

GSA ready for EUSPA

These programmes will be partly under the responsibility of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) as its mandate expands with the creation of the new European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Speaking at the conference, GSA Chief Operating Officer Pascal Claudel noted that, while some of the elements in the EUSPA mandate had yet to be finalised, the GSA was already preparing to take it up and, in particular, has started preparatory activities for GovSatCom.

Read this: EU space infrastructure guarantees leadership in security and defence

Commissioner Thierry Breton outlined his objectives for the Galileo programme, one of which is to ensure the smooth development of the Public Regulated Service (PRS). “Galileo is also a strategic asset, designed to be used for military and civil security purposes,” he said. In turn, Claudel noted that the GSA’s experience with the PRS had been of particular value in setting up the project aiming at identifying GovSatCom user needs and technological requirements.

In addition to the PRS, Commissioner Breton’s other objectives for Galileo include continuing deploying the programme in order to reach the Full Operational Capability as soon as possible; continuing to improve precision - with a target of 20 cm; and preparing already for the second generation of Galileo, to stay ahead in the technological race.

Space awareness

As regards Space Situational Awareness and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SSA/SST), P. Claudel said that EUSPA would benefit from the GSA’s security-oriented approach and experience of working with Member States as users of the PRS service and handling classified information with multiple stakeholders. The experience that the GSA has in the operations of the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre would be beneficial for the SSA, he said.

Reference to the cyber security aspect of the Galileo programme was also made. “This is taken very seriously by the GSA. In recent years, new specific cyber security requirements have been defined and taken into account in the development of the Galileo system and its operations,” said the GSA COO.

And this: PRS – the future is bright!

The GSA puts measures in place based on regular monitoring and analysis of threats to the system. “Vulnerabilities are analysed regularly and security measures are set up,” said P. Claudel, adding that while the complexity of the GNSS systems makes this task very complex, the GSA has processes in place to handle this activity.

Working together for success

In his speech, Commissioner Thierry Breton stressed the importance of governance. He said that to develop his strategy and vision for the space programmes, it would be necessary to work efficiently together. “Governance is central to any successful strategy and project, political or industrial. ... When governance is not clear, mistakes happen or issues appear,” he said.

The Commissioner said he had the impression that, in Europe, a lot of time is spent discussing who does what – especially between public actors – rather than actually doing it. “Let me be loud and clear: This is not possible anymore. If we are to be successful and invest efficiently our citizens’ taxpayer money, we have to … work as a team,” he said, adding that this team includes the European Commission, National Space Agencies, the European Space Agency (ESA), the GSA, and industry.

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).

The recent successful activation of the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Return Link Service was very much in the spotlight at a press event held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters on February 3. At the ‘GNSS for #EUProtect’ event, which focused on the contribution of European GNSS to emergency response and civil protection in Europe, the SAR Return Link was successfully tested, demonstrating an impressive response time.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS), which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their distress signal has been received, was officially declared operational on January 21. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1B).

Game changer

The RLS was successfully demonstrated during the Prague event, at which an end-to-end test of the forward and the return link was carried out with a ready-to-market beacon. With only 4.5 minutes between the activation of the beacon and the reception of the return link, the demonstration clearly showed the advantages of this service in a real life emergency situation. 

For someone in distress, receiving such acknowledgment in just over four minutes will provide a significant psychological boost and reduce panic, while allowing the rescue crew to improve the on-board logistics and planning of the rescue mission, thereby helping to save more lives. As such, the RLS is a real game changer for search and rescue services.

Read this: Galileo Return Link Service declared at European Space Conference

Speaking at the event, Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Services Programme Manager at the GSA, said that a new Galileo facility – the Return Link Service Provider – had just been deployed in Toulouse, France to act as an interface between Galileo and Cospas-Sarsat, the international satellite-based search and rescue system. 

Da Costa summarised some of the RLS performance indicators: “The Galileo system loop latency is less than 15 minutes 99% of the time, with an end-to-end loop latency of less than 30 minutes,” he said, adding that this is typically less than 10 minutes as demonstrated during the Prague event, depending largely on the time it takes for Cospas-Sarsat to detect and locate the alert.

Saving lives

GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani spoke more generally about the contribution of EGNSS to the European economy and to emergency response, highlighting Galileo’s contribution to the eCall and E112 emergency response systems and the benefits of EGNOS for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). 

 “Galileo and EGNOS will contribute to saving at least 10,000 lives in the 2020-2025 timeframe. For example, with the Galileo-compatible eCall, by speeding up emergency response times by up to 50%, we can reduce the number of fatalities by 4% and the number of severe injuries by 6%-10%,” Diani said.

And this: Market understands value of dual frequency

“In the case of the Search and Rescue service we are demonstrating today, it is required to have a specialised beacon, as the users are normally outside the cellular network coverage, for example in the middle of the sea, while eCall and E112 are designed for our daily lives and can work directly from our cars and smartphones. They permit the emergency services to locate us quickly in case of accident or when we call the emergency number, without the need to explain where we are, which is often difficult or impossible when we are in distressful situations,” she said.

Following the launch of the RLS, the SAR/Galileo Service Definition Document (SDD) was updated to include information about new service, including details on the characteristics of the service and the infrastructure underpinning it, and also the Minimum Performance Levels (MPLs) that the SAR/Galileo Services users shall experience, as well as the main limitations and conditions of use. The latest version can be found here.

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

The Galileo performance is reported in the Galileo Initial Services – Open Service – Quarterly Performance Report, where several key performance indicators are analysed according to criteria (Minimum Performance Levels, MPLs) defined in the Galileo Service Definition document (SDD), published in the European GNSS Service Centre and last updated in May 2019.

As planned, recently the GSA published the Q3 2019 performance report. This report covers the period when a technical incident caused by an equipment malfunction in Galileo last July resulted in a six-day interruption in Galileo navigation and timing services. This had an important effect on the programme and, following the incident, an independent Inquiry Board was set up by the European Commission to investigate its causes and to make recommendations for actions to avoid another such incident in the future. 

Performance measurement: how is it done?

Measurement of service performance is one of the key activities of the GSA, the Galileo Service Provider. The GSA’s Galileo Reference Centre, located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, plays a crucial role in monitoring the Galileo performance . 

The Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) is one of the Galileo Service Facilities and it supports the provision of services to Galileo users. The GRC is operated by the GSA, providing an independent means of evaluating the performance of the Galileo Service Operator and the quality of the signals in space. The GRC is fully independent of the system and the Galileo Service Operator with respect to both the technical solution and operations, and consists of both a core facility and contributions available in EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. Data and products from cooperating entities in the Member States make it possible to observe the Galileo signals all over the world at all times, in support of both routine operations and specific performance assessment campaigns.

The minimum performance levels

The MPLs address several parameters of interest, and can be mainly grouped into two categories:

• Accuracy MPLs refer to how well (accurately) the Galileo services perform, whenever the Galileo signals are usable (or “healthy”, as defined in the SDD). This includes:
  • Ranging Accuracy; related to the navigation data transmitted by the satellites which is used to calculate the distance between the satellite and the receiver;
  • Timing and Frequency Accuracy; related to the parameters that allow the receiver to obtain a precise synchronisation to either Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) or GPS time.

Accuracy MPLs are statistically defined as “95th percentile”, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering only those epochs where the signals were healthy. In line with other GNSS constellation providers, timing parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods. For accuracy parameters, the smaller the achieved value, the better.

• Availability MPLs refer to how much time per month (or year) a given performance level is to be met (for which the signals have to be healthy). This includes:
  • Per-Slot Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the signals from each satellite are healthy;
  • Timing Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the timing parameters are broadcast, and the time synchronisation error is within the specified target;
  • Positioning Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the users have enough satellites in view to calculate their position, and the calculated position error is within the specified target.

Availability MPLs are reported as percent, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering all epochs (healthy or not). Again, in line with other GNSS constellation providers, some parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods (timing and per-slot availability). For availability parameters, the larger the achieved value, the better.

The Service Definition Document also describes how to assess whether the Galileo signals are healthy or not, by looking into some parameters (“flags”) transmitted by the satellites, and checking the last time when the navigation data was refreshed (it should not be older than 4 hours).

The Galileo performance in Q3 2019

The Galileo system is currently in a partial deployment stage, with some satellites still to be launched and a number of ground infrastructure upgrades on-going to provide redundancy and complete all functionalities. For this reason, the MPL commitments published in the SDD include margins that account for possible planned and unplanned outages. The quarterly performance reports provide visibility on the measured performance and compare it with the MPL. Galileo has regularly performed well above the MPL targets since the declaration of Initial Services in 2016.

The Galileo incident in July 2019 prevented the refresh of the data transmitted by the satellites, therefore eventually the signals were flagged a not healthy and/or the data became outdated. This caused an impact on the availability MPLs that are calculated monthly. These parameters went well below the values typically provided by Galileo, yet in most of the cases (all but two) they stayed above the committed figure, which includes margins for the reasons explained above. The performance report, therefore, displays them as “green” in the dashboard, however the trend chart clearly shows the difference with the months of June and August and the margin with the MPL. 

An example is provided below (Figure 12 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 19) for the positioning availability:

The committed value (MPL) is 77%. Due to the incident in July, the signals were not available for some days and the parameter was only met 81% of the time, whereas in August and September it was met well above 99%. Still, all values are above the target.

Another example (Figure 16 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 13) for the time determination availability:

In this case, the committed value (MPL) is 87%. Due to the incident in July, the parameter was only met 81% of the time therefore not fulfilling the target, whereas in August and September it was met 100%.

During the 3rd quarter of 2019, whenever the signals were Healthy, they provided good performance. Therefore, the accuracy MPLs were fulfilled despite the incident.

An example is provided below (Figure 2 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 10) for the ranging accuracy:

The committed value (MPL) is 7 meters, 95%. During July, August and September, 95% of the time where the signals were healthy the error was below 0.5 meters for all satellites. Therefore, the target was largely met.

Next steps

Regardless of the fact that the published MPLs were mostly met due to a proper estimation of the margins associated to the current deployment status, the programme fully recognises the magnitude of the service outage, and is working consistently on actions to increase Galileo’s stability, robustness and resilience. This will translate into a future update of the Service Definition Document, including more stringent commitments with lower margins, and the reporting of the delivered performance according to the new MPLs.

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).

The Galileo performance is reported in the Galileo Initial Services – Open Service – Quarterly Performance Report, where several key performance indicators are analysed according to criteria (Minimum Performance Levels, MPLs) defined in the Galileo Service Definition document (SDD), published in the European GNSS Service Centre and last updated in May 2019.

As planned, recently the GSA published the Q3 2019 performance report. This report covers the period when a technical incident caused by an equipment malfunction in Galileo last July resulted in a six-day interruption in Galileo navigation and timing services. This had an important effect on the programme and, following the incident, an independent Inquiry Board was set up by the European Commission to investigate its causes and to make recommendations for actions to avoid another such incident in the future. 

Performance measurement: how is it done?

Measurement of service performance is one of the key activities of the GSA, the Galileo Service Provider. The GSA’s Galileo Reference Centre, located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, plays a crucial role in monitoring the Galileo performance . 

The Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) is one of the Galileo Service Facilities and it supports the provision of services to Galileo users. The GRC is operated by the GSA, providing an independent means of evaluating the performance of the Galileo Service Operator and the quality of the signals in space. The GRC is fully independent of the system and the Galileo Service Operator with respect to both the technical solution and operations, and consists of both a core facility and contributions available in EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. Data and products from cooperating entities in the Member States make it possible to observe the Galileo signals all over the world at all times, in support of both routine operations and specific performance assessment campaigns.

The minimum performance levels

The MPLs address several parameters of interest, and can be mainly grouped into two categories:

• Accuracy MPLs refer to how well (accurately) the Galileo services perform, whenever the Galileo signals are usable (or “healthy”, as defined in the SDD). This includes:
  • Ranging Accuracy; related to the navigation data transmitted by the satellites which is used to calculate the distance between the satellite and the receiver;
  • Timing and Frequency Accuracy; related to the parameters that allow the receiver to obtain a precise synchronisation to either Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) or GPS time.

Accuracy MPLs are statistically defined as “95th percentile”, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering only those epochs where the signals were healthy. In line with other GNSS constellation providers, timing parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods. For accuracy parameters, the smaller the achieved value, the better.

• Availability MPLs refer to how much time per month (or year) a given performance level is to be met (for which the signals have to be healthy). This includes:
  • Per-Slot Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the signals from each satellite are healthy;
  • Timing Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the timing parameters are broadcast, and the time synchronisation error is within the specified target;
  • Positioning Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the users have enough satellites in view to calculate their position, and the calculated position error is within the specified target.

Availability MPLs are reported as percent, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering all epochs (healthy or not). Again, in line with other GNSS constellation providers, some parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods (timing and per-slot availability). For availability parameters, the larger the achieved value, the better.

The Service Definition Document also describes how to assess whether the Galileo signals are healthy or not, by looking into some parameters (“flags”) transmitted by the satellites, and checking the last time when the navigation data was refreshed (it should not be older than 4 hours).

The Galileo performance in Q3 2019

The Galileo system is currently in a partial deployment stage, with some satellites still to be launched and a number of ground infrastructure upgrades on-going to provide redundancy and complete all functionalities. For this reason, the MPL commitments published in the SDD include margins that account for possible planned and unplanned outages. The quarterly performance reports provide visibility on the measured performance and compare it with the MPL. Galileo has regularly performed well above the MPL targets since the declaration of Initial Services in 2016.

The Galileo incident in July 2019 prevented the refresh of the data transmitted by the satellites, therefore eventually the signals were flagged a not healthy and/or the data became outdated. This caused an impact on the availability MPLs that are calculated monthly. These parameters went well below the values typically provided by Galileo, yet in most of the cases (all but two) they stayed above the committed figure, which includes margins for the reasons explained above. The performance report, therefore, displays them as “green” in the dashboard, however the trend chart clearly shows the difference with the months of June and August and the margin with the MPL. 

An example is provided below (Figure 12 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 19) for the positioning availability:

The committed value (MPL) is 77%. Due to the incident in July, the signals were not available for some days and the parameter was only met 81% of the time, whereas in August and September it was met well above 99%. Still, all values are above the target.

Another example (Figure 16 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 13) for the time determination availability:

In this case, the committed value (MPL) is 87%. Due to the incident in July, the parameter was only met 81% of the time therefore not fulfilling the target, whereas in August and September it was met 100%.

During the 3rd quarter of 2019, whenever the signals were Healthy, they provided good performance. Therefore, the accuracy MPLs were fulfilled despite the incident.

An example is provided below (Figure 2 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 10) for the ranging accuracy:

The committed value (MPL) is 7 meters, 95%. During July, August and September, 95% of the time where the signals were healthy the error was below 0.5 meters for all satellites. Therefore, the target was largely met.

Next steps

Regardless of the fact that the published MPLs were mostly met due to a proper estimation of the margins associated to the current deployment status, the programme fully recognises the magnitude of the service outage, and is working consistently on actions to increase Galileo’s stability, robustness and resilience. This will translate into a future update of the Service Definition Document, including more stringent commitments with lower margins, and the reporting of the delivered performance according to the new MPLs.

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).

The Galileo performance is reported in the Galileo Initial Services – Open Service – Quarterly Performance Report, where several key performance indicators are analysed according to criteria (Minimum Performance Levels, MPLs) defined in the Galileo Service Definition document (SDD), published in the European GNSS Service Centre and last updated in May 2019.

As planned, recently the GSA published the Q3 2019 performance report. This report covers the period when a technical incident caused by an equipment malfunction in Galileo last July resulted in a six-day interruption in Galileo navigation and timing services. This had an important effect on the programme and, following the incident, an independent Inquiry Board was set up by the European Commission to investigate its causes and to make recommendations for actions to avoid another such incident in the future. 

Performance measurement: how is it done?

Measurement of service performance is one of the key activities of the GSA, the Galileo Service Provider. The GSA’s Galileo Reference Centre, located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, plays a crucial role in monitoring the Galileo performance . 

The Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) is one of the Galileo Service Facilities and it supports the provision of services to Galileo users. The GRC is operated by the GSA, providing an independent means of evaluating the performance of the Galileo Service Operator and the quality of the signals in space. The GRC is fully independent of the system and the Galileo Service Operator with respect to both the technical solution and operations, and consists of both a core facility and contributions available in EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. Data and products from cooperating entities in the Member States make it possible to observe the Galileo signals all over the world at all times, in support of both routine operations and specific performance assessment campaigns.

The minimum performance levels

The MPLs address several parameters of interest, and can be mainly grouped into two categories:

• Accuracy MPLs refer to how well (accurately) the Galileo services perform, whenever the Galileo signals are usable (or “healthy”, as defined in the SDD). This includes:
  • Ranging Accuracy; related to the navigation data transmitted by the satellites which is used to calculate the distance between the satellite and the receiver;
  • Timing and Frequency Accuracy; related to the parameters that allow the receiver to obtain a precise synchronisation to either Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) or GPS time.

Accuracy MPLs are statistically defined as “95th percentile”, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering only those epochs where the signals were healthy. In line with other GNSS constellation providers, timing parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods. For accuracy parameters, the smaller the achieved value, the better.

• Availability MPLs refer to how much time per month (or year) a given performance level is to be met (for which the signals have to be healthy). This includes:
  • Per-Slot Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the signals from each satellite are healthy;
  • Timing Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the timing parameters are broadcast, and the time synchronisation error is within the specified target;
  • Positioning Availability; related to the amount of time per period that the users have enough satellites in view to calculate their position, and the calculated position error is within the specified target.

Availability MPLs are reported as percent, and calculated over a period of 30 days, using a sample of measurements taken every 5 minutes and considering all epochs (healthy or not). Again, in line with other GNSS constellation providers, some parameters are normalised over a year by averaging the past twelve 30-day periods (timing and per-slot availability). For availability parameters, the larger the achieved value, the better.

The Service Definition Document also describes how to assess whether the Galileo signals are healthy or not, by looking into some parameters (“flags”) transmitted by the satellites, and checking the last time when the navigation data was refreshed (it should not be older than 4 hours).

The Galileo performance in Q3 2019

The Galileo system is currently in a partial deployment stage, with some satellites still to be launched and a number of ground infrastructure upgrades on-going to provide redundancy and complete all functionalities. For this reason, the MPL commitments published in the SDD include margins that account for possible planned and unplanned outages. The quarterly performance reports provide visibility on the measured performance and compare it with the MPL. Galileo has regularly performed well above the MPL targets since the declaration of Initial Services in 2016.

The Galileo incident in July 2019 prevented the refresh of the data transmitted by the satellites, therefore eventually the signals were flagged as not healthy and/or the data became outdated. This caused an impact on the availability MPLs that are calculated monthly. These parameters went well below the values typically provided by Galileo, yet in most of the cases (all but two) they stayed above the committed figure, which includes margins for the reasons explained above. The performance report, therefore, displays them as “green” in the dashboard, however the trend chart clearly shows the difference with the months of June and August and the margin with the MPL. 

An example is provided below (Figure 12 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 19) for the positioning availability:

The committed value (MPL) is 77%. Due to the incident in July, the signals were not available for some days and the parameter was only met 81% of the time, whereas in August and September it was met well above 99%. Still, all values are above the target.

Another example (Figure 16 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 13) for the time determination availability:

In this case, the committed value (MPL) is 87%. Due to the incident in July, the parameter was only met 81% of the time therefore not fulfilling the target, whereas in August and September it was met 100%.

During the 3rd quarter of 2019, whenever the signals were Healthy, they provided good performance. Therefore, the accuracy MPLs were fulfilled despite the incident.

An example is provided below (Figure 2 of the Quarterly Performance Report Q3 2019, page 10) for the ranging accuracy:

The committed value (MPL) is 7 meters, 95%. During July, August and September, 95% of the time where the signals were healthy the error was below 0.5 meters for all satellites. Therefore, the target was largely met.

Next steps

Regardless of the fact that the published MPLs were mostly met due to a proper estimation of the margins associated to the current deployment status, the programme fully recognises the magnitude of the service outage, and is working consistently on actions to increase Galileo’s stability, robustness and resilience. This will translate into a future update of the Service Definition Document, including more stringent commitments with lower margins, and the reporting of the delivered performance according to the new MPLs.

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).

Carlo des Dorides took up his position as executive director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) on February 1, 2011. In the nine years since then, the Galileo programme has progressed from a project on paper to an operational programme with over a billion users around the globe. As his term at the helm of the Agency draws to an end, the GSA executive director looks back at the successes and challenges of the past nine years and speaks about his hopes for the future.

During your nine years at the head of the GSA there have been significant advances in the European GNSS programme. What do you see as the greatest achievement during your term?

When I first took up my position as executive director of the GSA, the Galileo programme only existed on paper and EGNOS had yet to be certified for use in civil aviation. Since then, we have achieved the remarkable figures of over 1 billion Galileo-enabled smartphones on the market and EGNOS present at more than 350 airports in Europe. These figures represent the culmination of the two programmes, but they also represent a remarkable path. On one hand, we built a performing system for both Galileo and EGNOS. But having a performing system is not enough - you also need to have the confidence of users. The GSA played a crucial role in building this confidence.

EGNOS is the first pan-European infrastructure for civil aviation, and in offering it to the market we were faced with many questions. There were questions about certification, about the liability chain, about the updating of avionics. The GSA worked consistently with all stakeholders and brought all of these elements together, and the result is that we now have EGNOS present at so many airports. After nine years of hard work, the figures bear testament to the fact that we have truly created a success story.

As with any venture on this scale, there have been ups and downs in building the European GNSS over the years. What have been the greatest challenges, and how were they overcome?

One difficult decision that we had to face was the decision to take over operational management of the Galileo programme in January 2017. Why was this difficult? Well, there were diverging views about operational readiness, and different assessments of the risks involved. Even though we had declared Initial Services in December 2016, the system was not complete at the time. In a sense, we were taking the wheel of a car that had not yet been fully built, which was not an easy thing to do. At the same time, the GSA itself was not fully formed – it was still a house under construction. To continue with the car analogy, we were a skilled driver, but still a young and untested driver. It was a challenge to manage this uncertainty while still building the system. 

Another difficult choice was the decision to declare Initial Services, as this meant that there was now greater public scrutiny of the programme in what was essentially a period of testing and fine-tuning in preparation for the launch of Full Operating Capability. This was a blessing and a curse – while the programme’s successes were celebrated, all technical glitches were very much in the public eye. This was the case with the technical incident last year that resulted in a temporary interruption of the Galileo signal. While this incident was a setback, we learned valuable lessons and are stronger as a result.

Another challenge was when the GSA moved to Prague. At the beginning it was difficult to build the team and to attract the right profiles, as there was uncertainty about the future of the GSA and people didn’t know what to expect in Prague. A mere nine years later the Agency has grown tremendously, both in terms of staff numbers and in prestige, and Prague is one of the top-rated European capitals for quality of life. Now that GSA is expanding into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, I don’t anticipate any problems with our capacity to attract talented professionals.

During your term, the GSA managed to bring Galileo to over 1 bln smartphones, moving the programme from paper to space and back to Earth to devices and users, what triggered this progress?

In achieving this milestone, the work of the Agency in liaising with user communities has been of fundamental importance. Our constant interaction with users through our User Consultation Platforms has given us a unique understanding of the dynamics of the GNSS market and of the needs of the various user segments. We have also compiled, in alternate years, GNSS Market Reports and GNSS User Technology Reports, which has deepened our understanding of market needs. This understanding has allowed us to effectively meet these needs – and the market has been quick to respond. The work of our Market Development Department has been important in this regard, thanks to their ongoing interaction with all the market segments. 

We have also been active in communicating, both to industry and to the general public, about the benefits that Galileo offers in terms of increased accuracy, availability and robustness of the positioning, navigation and timing signal. Manufacturers have been quick to understand these benefits and have been eager to pass them on to their customers. These customers, in turn, are becoming increasingly aware of the accuracy and availability gains that Galileo offers, and this is reflected in the 1 billion smartphone milestone. This was a remarkable achievement for the Galileo programme, and the fact that it occurred in the same week that we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Agency made it especially gratifying. 

You have been leading one of the fastest growing European agencies, linking space to user needs, with assets and teams spread across Europe. What are the key elements of your leadership?

Building the right team for the job was key to my success at the head of the GSA and key to the success of the Agency in building Galileo and EGNOS. In my position as GSA executive director I had to wear many hats to understand and respond to the needs of the Agency and its growing team, along with our stakeholders and user communities. As a leader, you are responsible for guiding the team and creating the right mind-set among the team members. You need to lead by example, but you also need to play as a team member, know when to take the stage and when let others shine, and be ready to serve and do what is required of you. I am proud of the team that we have built at the GSA. I believe that GSA has a key role to play in making the EU Space programme grow and thrive both at the European and Global level.

On a more personal level, when you look back at your term as the executive director of the GSA, what gives you the most pride or satisfaction?

There are a number of things that come to mind when I look back at my term at the GSA. First of all, by helping to establish the Galileo programme, I feel that I have made a contribution to building Europe. I am a true believer in the European project. My position at the GSA gave me a wonderful opportunity to work on a concrete project that shows what the EU can achieve by working together. The European space programmes would not have been possible for any individual Member State to accomplish alone – it was only by coming together as Europeans that this became possible. 

Secondly, I am proud to have helped create a future for all the staff that believed in our project and put their trust in me and in the Agency. Thanks to their dedication, the future of the Agency looks bright. I was approached by an Agency employee recently who told me that they had really enjoyed working at the GSA because of the positive working atmosphere that exists here, based on a common motivation and shared values. It takes time to build this, but it is fundamentally important. Building the GSA team was difficult in the beginning but it was an important achievement and it is one of which I am particularly proud. 

What does the future look like for the European space programme and for the GSA, and do you have any ‘words of wisdom’ for your successor?

The future looks promising, both for the EU Space Programme and for the GSA. The recently approved Regulation on the EU Space Programme and on setting up the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) paves the way for the expansion of the programme, with an increased budget and expanded responsibilities. The approval of the Regulation shows that we have earned the confidence of the Member States. They can see that the space programme is creating economic opportunities and jobs, and understand the benefits that it offers for their citizens and for European growth.

In terms of ‘words of wisdom’ for my successor – I would just say that it is important to embrace change. We live in a dynamic world and change is an important part of our daily work. That said; change should be approached with caution. What we have built here at the GSA is the result of maturity gained over the years. I would advise that change should be preceded by careful listening to all stakeholders and careful consideration of all possible outcomes. Otherwise we could stand to lose what we have built. 

Chip manufacturers are very aware of the opportunities that dual frequency offers and, correspondingly, the market has witnessed the launch of a range of mass-market dual-frequency chips targeted at various applications. In turn, smartphone manufacturers also understand the benefits that these chips provide in terms of positioning accuracy for location based services and are eager to pass on these benefits to their users.

To date, there are 41 smartphone models on the market, from 10 manufacturers, offering dual-frequency capability. One of the most recent launches by a major manufacturer was the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy Note10+ from Samsung Electronics, which hit the market in the second half of last year. Fitted with the Broadcom BCM47755 chip, these smartphones are the first from the South Korean multinational to provide dual-frequency GNSS capability. 

Users of these and other dual-frequency smartphones are able to benefit from the increased accuracy and robustness of the GNSS signal, particularly in urban environments, as dual-frequency phones are more resistant to multipath errors. Developers too are able to leverage the enhanced accuracy offered by this dual-frequency capability to create new applications requiring high accuracy, robust positioning. Check on the UseGalileo site, to see if your smartphone has dual-frequency capability.

Read this: MyGalileoApp – an ecosystem of innovation

The growing number of dual-frequency smartphones on the market clearly shows that the major electronics manufacturers understand the opportunities that this capability provides in terms of enabling a new generation of location based services. But there is one area in particular that will spark growing demand for dual frequency.

Dual-frequency – Galileo leads the way

According to the latest GNSS Market Report, published in October last year, for the 5G market in particular, the availability of accurate, cost effective and robust, dual-frequency GNSS systems will be critical in providing business opportunities. With the increased rollout of 5G internationally in the coming years, dual-frequency capability will be a key factor and we are likely to see an even greater number of compatible devices on the market.

And this: EU Space Week 2019: Investors meet innovation

This is good news for the Galileo system – dual-frequency capacity is a key Galileo differentiator, as the Galileo constellation has the highest number of dual-frequency satellites of any GNSS system. “Since the first dual-frequency GNSS smartphone hit the market back in June 2018, the trend has been towards increased implementation of dual-frequency capability in consumer platforms, allowing them to improve their location performance,” said European GNSS Agency (GSA) Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani, adding that Galileo stands ready to support this trend.

Why is it important?

Dual-frequency capability means that the GNSS receivers are able to receive two GNSS signals at different frequencies from a satellite. In the case of Galileo, these frequencies are E1 and E5a. Dual frequency provides increased reliability to users – if one of the frequency bands fails, the other can be used as backup. 

Other advantages of dual-frequency capability include a reduced signal acquisition time and improved accuracy of positioning and timing. Dual frequency also reduces problems caused by obstructions such as buildings and other obstacles, thanks to the fact that the L5/E5a signals are lower in frequency, making them are less prone to multipath interference errors.

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).

Many promising geomatics applications benefit from the European navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS. Land, marine and mine surveying, infrastructure monitoring and mapping and GIS applications that require high precision GNSS are all enabled by both the EU satellite navigation systems. The European GNSS Agency (GSA), together with Geospatial Media, invites you to participate in a free webinar - EGNSS for Geomatics – where you can learn about everything that EGNSS has to offer for geomatics.

GNSS is one of the key Geomatics technologies along with GIS, Earth Observation and Remote Sensing, to help with the geospatial data acquisition. Geomatics disciplines include the geo-data collection means and techniques used in land surveying (including cadastral, construction, mapping and GIS, mining or infrastructure monitoring), photogrammetry, remote sensing, marine surveying and other emerging tools such as drones or mobile mapping, for which high-precision GNSS is either paramount, or a key enabler. EGNOS and Galileo are the two EU satellite navigation systems that provide high-quality positioning, navigation and timing services to users across the whole world.

In the webinar EGNSS for Geomatics experts in navigation and geomatics will guide you through the Galileo and EGNOS programmes, the use, the benefits, the added value for the geomatics user community, and the applications already available as well as the innovation potential.

Save the date in your calendar: Thursday, 23 January at 14:00 CET.  

Don´t miss out - REGISTER NOW!

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).

Many promising geomatics applications benefit from the European navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS. Land, marine and mine surveying, infrastructure monitoring and mapping and GIS applications that require high precision GNSS are all enabled by both the EU satellite navigation systems. The European GNSS Agency (GSA), together with Geospatial Media, invites you to participate in a free webinar - EGNSS for Geomatics – where you can learn about everything that EGNSS has to offer for geomatics.

GNSS is one of the key Geomatics technologies along with GIS, Earth Observation and Remote Sensing, to help with the geospatial data acquisition. Geomatics disciplines include the geo-data collection means and techniques used in land surveying (including cadastral, construction, mapping and GIS, mining or infrastructure monitoring), photogrammetry, remote sensing, marine surveying and other emerging tools such as drones or mobile mapping, for which high-precision GNSS is either paramount, or a key enabler. EGNOS and Galileo are the two EU satellite navigation systems that provide high-quality positioning, navigation and timing services to users across the whole world.

In the webinar EGNSS for Geomatics experts in navigation and geomatics will guide you through the Galileo and EGNOS programmes, the use, the benefits, the added value for the geomatics user community, and the applications already available as well as the innovation potential.

Save the date in your calendar: Thursday, 23 January at 14:00 CET.  

Don´t miss out - REGISTER NOW!

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).

The Galileo Return Link Service, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was declared operational at the 12th European Space Conference, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels on January 21.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1).

Joint effort

The RLS is a joint effort between Cospas-Sarsat and the Galileo programme, supported on one hand by the existing Cospas-Sarsat system and, on the other, by a new Galileo Service Facility called the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP). The RLSP is in charge of securely providing the ground segment interface between the French Mission Control Centre and the Galileo core infrastructure, enabling the transmission of RLM requests to Galileo satellites in view of the beacon.

“The GSA, as the Galileo Search and Rescue Service Authority, has contributed tremendously to the development of the Return Link,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA has also supported the development of Galileo Return Link-enabled beacons in recent years. Today, there are several beacon manufacturers worldwide ready to sell Galileo SAR Return Link-compatible beacons, including 5 in Europe,” he said.

Read this: Remote beacon activation with Galileo return link successfully tested

By sending a confirmation to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and the information relayed to the relevant Search and Rescue governmental authorities, the Return Link Service (RLS) will help save more lives. Receiving reassurance that their distress alert has been well received will deliver a valuable psychological lift to victims and further boost survival rates by reducing panic.

“The contributions to Cospas-Sarsat from France and the CNES, as the Galileo SAR Operator, have been of paramount importance in transforming the Galileo SAR Return Link Service into a success,” said French Space Agency (CNES) President and GSA Administrative Board Chair Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Unique differentiator

The end-to-end RLM delivery time is expected to be about 10 minutes, but in some cases it may take longer, possibly up to 30 minutes from the moment the beacon is activated until the notification is sent via the Galileo Signal in Space. A total of 15 minutes are allocated to the Cospas-Sarsat system for the localisation and routing of the alert and 15 minutes to the Galileo System for the Return Link message broadcast. However, measured results generally achieve a much faster message delivery time.

And this: Operation Shark Bait: Galileo SAR will save lives!

“Today with its unique differentiator, Galileo SAR is demonstrating how Europe is at the forefront of high technology for the good of European citizens. This wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support of the international community - Cospas-Sarsat, CNES, the International Maritime Organization  and the International Civil Aviation Organization - and the main beacon manufacturers, all of which have contributed to the provision of an end-to-end solution for people in distress,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. 

A Return Link capability was first introduced by the Galileo Programme back in 2005. The SAR community soon expressed interest and, in 2008, the Return Link Service was adopted in the Cospas-Sarsat Strategic Plan. Following a great deal of effort by the Galileo Programme, Cospas-Sarsat and beacon manufacturers, a dedicated transmission protocol for Return Link-enabled beacons was established in 2010 and successfully verified during the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Phase in 2013. In 2019, deployment of the required infrastructure was completed and the Return Link Service underwent a thorough System and Service validation that concluded in November 2019.

The SAR Service Definition Document (SAR SDD), available in the European GNSS Service Centre electronic library, is aimed at Galileo SAR users, and describes in detail the characteristics and performance of the Galileo SAR Services. The document presents the relevant system infrastructure and introduces the Minimum Performance Levels that represent Galileo’s commitment to its users during the Galileo SAR Service provision phase. 

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

The Galileo Return Link Service, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was presented at the 12th European Space Conference, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels on January 21.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1).

Joint effort

The RLS is a joint effort between Cospas-Sarsat and the Galileo programme, supported on one hand by the existing Cospas-Sarsat system and, on the other, by a new Galileo Service Facility called the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP). The RLSP is in charge of securely providing the ground segment interface between the French Mission Control Centre and the Galileo core infrastructure, enabling the transmission of RLM requests to Galileo satellites in view of the beacon.

“The GSA, as the Galileo Search and Rescue Service Authority, has contributed tremendously to the development of the Return Link,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA has also supported the development of Galileo Return Link-enabled beacons in recent years. Today, there are several beacon manufacturers worldwide ready to sell Galileo SAR Return Link-compatible beacons, including 5 in Europe,” he said.

Read this: Remote beacon activation with Galileo return link successfully tested

By sending a confirmation to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and the information relayed to the relevant Search and Rescue governmental authorities, the Return Link Service (RLS) will help save more lives. Receiving reassurance that their distress alert has been well received will deliver a valuable psychological lift to victims and further boost survival rates by reducing panic.

“The contributions to Cospas-Sarsat from France and the CNES, as the Galileo SAR Operator, have been of paramount importance in transforming the Galileo SAR Return Link Service into a success,” said French Space Agency (CNES) President and GSA Administrative Board Chair Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Unique differentiator

The end-to-end RLM delivery time is expected to be about 10 minutes, but in some cases it may take longer, possibly up to 30 minutes from the moment the beacon is activated until the notification is sent via the Galileo Signal in Space. A total of 15 minutes are allocated to the Cospas-Sarsat system for the localisation and routing of the alert and 15 minutes to the Galileo System for the Return Link message broadcast. However, measured results generally achieve a much faster message delivery time.

And this: Operation Shark Bait: Galileo SAR will save lives!

“Today with its unique differentiator, Galileo SAR is demonstrating how Europe is at the forefront of high technology for the good of European citizens. This wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support of the international community - Cospas-Sarsat, CNES, the International Maritime Organization  and the International Civil Aviation Organization - and the main beacon manufacturers, all of which have contributed to the provision of an end-to-end solution for people in distress,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. 

A Return Link capability was first introduced by the Galileo Programme back in 2005. The SAR community soon expressed interest and, in 2008, the Return Link Service was adopted in the Cospas-Sarsat Strategic Plan. Following a great deal of effort by the Galileo Programme, Cospas-Sarsat and beacon manufacturers, a dedicated transmission protocol for Return Link-enabled beacons was established in 2010 and successfully verified during the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Phase in 2013. In 2019, deployment of the required infrastructure was completed and the Return Link Service underwent a thorough System and Service validation that concluded in November 2019.

The SAR Service Definition Document (SAR SDD), available in the European GNSS Service Centre electronic library, is aimed at Galileo SAR users, and describes in detail the characteristics and performance of the Galileo SAR Services. The document presents the relevant system infrastructure and introduces the Minimum Performance Levels that represent Galileo’s commitment to its users during the Galileo SAR Service provision phase. 

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

The Galileo Return Link Service, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was declared operational at the 12th European Space Conference, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels on January 21.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1).

Joint effort

The RLS is a joint effort between Cospas-Sarsat and the Galileo programme, supported on one hand by the existing Cospas-Sarsat system and, on the other, by a new Galileo Service Facility called the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP). The RLSP is in charge of securely providing the ground segment interface between the French Mission Control Centre and the Galileo core infrastructure, enabling the transmission of RLM requests to Galileo satellites in view of the beacon.

“The GSA, as the Galileo Search and Rescue Service Authority, has contributed tremendously to the development of the Return Link,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA has also supported the development of Galileo Return Link-enabled beacons in recent years. Today, there are several beacon manufacturers worldwide ready to sell Galileo SAR Return Link-compatible beacons, including 5 in Europe,” he said.

Read this: Remote beacon activation with Galileo return link successfully tested

By sending a confirmation to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and the information relayed to the relevant Search and Rescue governmental authorities, the Return Link Service (RLS) will help save more lives. Receiving reassurance that their distress alert has been well received will deliver a valuable psychological lift to victims and further boost survival rates by reducing panic.

“The contributions to Cospas-Sarsat from France and the CNES, as the Galileo SAR Operator, have been of paramount importance in transforming the Galileo SAR Return Link Service into a success,” said French Space Agency (CNES) President and GSA Administrative Board Chair Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Unique differentiator

The end-to-end RLM delivery time is expected to be about 10 minutes, but in some cases it may take longer, possibly up to 30 minutes from the moment the beacon is activated until the notification is sent via the Galileo Signal in Space. A total of 15 minutes are allocated to the Cospas-Sarsat system for the localisation and routing of the alert and 15 minutes to the Galileo System for the Return Link message broadcast. However, measured results generally achieve a much faster message delivery time.

And this: Operation Shark Bait: Galileo SAR will save lives!

“Today with its unique differentiator, Galileo SAR is demonstrating how Europe is at the forefront of high technology for the good of European citizens. This wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support of the international community - Cospas-Sarsat, CNES, the International Maritime Organization  and the International Civil Aviation Organization - and the main beacon manufacturers, all of which have contributed to the provision of an end-to-end solution for people in distress,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. 

A Return Link capability was first introduced by the Galileo Programme back in 2005. The SAR community soon expressed interest and, in 2008, the Return Link Service was adopted in the Cospas-Sarsat Strategic Plan. Following a great deal of effort by the Galileo Programme, Cospas-Sarsat and beacon manufacturers, a dedicated transmission protocol for Return Link-enabled beacons was established in 2010 and successfully verified during the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Phase in 2013. In 2019, deployment of the required infrastructure was completed and the Return Link Service underwent a thorough System and Service validation that concluded in November 2019.

The SAR Service Definition Document (SAR SDD), available in the European GNSS Service Centre electronic library, is aimed at Galileo SAR users, and describes in detail the characteristics and performance of the Galileo SAR Services. The document presents the relevant system infrastructure and introduces the Minimum Performance Levels that represent Galileo’s commitment to its users during the Galileo SAR Service provision phase. 

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

The Galileo Return Link Service, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was declared operational at the 12th European Space Conference, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels on January 21.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1).

Joint effort

The RLS is a joint effort between Cospas-Sarsat and the Galileo programme, supported on one hand by the existing Cospas-Sarsat system and, on the other, by a new Galileo Service Facility called the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP). The RLSP is in charge of securely providing the ground segment interface between the French Mission Control Centre and the Galileo core infrastructure, enabling the transmission of RLM requests to Galileo satellites in view of the beacon.

“The GSA, as the Galileo Search and Rescue Service Authority, has contributed tremendously to the development of the Return Link,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA has also supported the development of Galileo Return Link-enabled beacons in recent years. Today, there are several beacon manufacturers worldwide ready to sell Galileo SAR Return Link-compatible beacons, including 5 in Europe,” he said.

Read this: Remote beacon activation with Galileo return link successfully tested

By sending a confirmation to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and the information relayed to the relevant Search and Rescue governmental authorities, the Return Link Service (RLS) will help save more lives. Receiving reassurance that their distress alert has been well received will deliver a valuable psychological lift to victims and further boost survival rates by reducing panic.

“The contributions to Cospas-Sarsat from France and the CNES, as the Galileo SAR Operator, have been of paramount importance in transforming the Galileo SAR Return Link Service into a success,” said French Space Agency (CNES) President and GSA Administrative Board Chair Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Unique differentiator

The end-to-end RLM delivery time is expected to be about 10 minutes, but in some cases it may take longer, possibly up to 30 minutes from the moment the beacon is activated until the notification is sent via the Galileo Signal in Space. A total of 15 minutes are allocated to the Cospas-Sarsat system for the localisation and routing of the alert and 15 minutes to the Galileo System for the Return Link message broadcast. However, measured results generally achieve a much faster message delivery time.

And this: Operation Shark Bait: Galileo SAR will save lives!

“Today with its unique differentiator, Galileo SAR is demonstrating how Europe is at the forefront of high technology for the good of European citizens. This wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support of the international community - Cospas-Sarsat, CNES, the International Maritime Organization  and the International Civil Aviation Organization - and the main beacon manufacturers, all of which have contributed to the provision of an end-to-end solution for people in distress,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. 

A Return Link capability was first introduced by the Galileo Programme back in 2005. The SAR community soon expressed interest and, in 2008, the Return Link Service was adopted in the Cospas-Sarsat Strategic Plan. Following a great deal of effort by the Galileo Programme, Cospas-Sarsat and beacon manufacturers, a dedicated transmission protocol for Return Link-enabled beacons was established in 2010 and successfully verified during the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Phase in 2013. In 2019, deployment of the required infrastructure was completed and the Return Link Service underwent a thorough System and Service validation that concluded in November 2019.

The SAR Service Definition Document (SAR SDD), available in the European GNSS Service Centre electronic library, is aimed at Galileo SAR users, and describes in detail the characteristics and performance of the Galileo SAR Services. The document presents the relevant system infrastructure and introduces the Minimum Performance Levels that represent Galileo’s commitment to its users during the Galileo SAR Service provision phase. 

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

The Galileo Return Link Service, which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received, was declared operational at the 12th European Space Conference, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels on January 21.

The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space (I/NAV E1).

Joint effort

The RLS is a joint effort between Cospas-Sarsat and the Galileo programme, supported on one hand by the existing Cospas-Sarsat system and, on the other, by a new Galileo Service Facility called the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP). The RLSP is in charge of securely providing the ground segment interface between the French Mission Control Centre and the Galileo core infrastructure, enabling the transmission of RLM requests to Galileo satellites in view of the beacon.

“The GSA, as the Galileo Search and Rescue Service Authority, has contributed tremendously to the development of the Return Link,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA has also supported the development of Galileo Return Link-enabled beacons in recent years. Today, there are several beacon manufacturers worldwide ready to sell Galileo SAR Return Link-compatible beacons, including 5 in Europe,” he said.

Read this: Remote beacon activation with Galileo return link successfully tested

By sending a confirmation to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and the information relayed to the relevant Search and Rescue governmental authorities, the Return Link Service (RLS) will help save more lives. Receiving reassurance that their distress alert has been well received will deliver a valuable psychological lift to victims and further boost survival rates by reducing panic.

“The contributions to Cospas-Sarsat from France and the CNES, as the Galileo SAR Operator, have been of paramount importance in transforming the Galileo SAR Return Link Service into a success,” said French Space Agency (CNES) President and GSA Administrative Board Chair Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Unique differentiator

The end-to-end RLM delivery time is expected to be about 10 minutes, but in some cases it may take longer, possibly up to 30 minutes from the moment the beacon is activated until the notification is sent via the Galileo Signal in Space. A total of 15 minutes are allocated to the Cospas-Sarsat system for the localisation and routing of the alert and 15 minutes to the Galileo System for the Return Link message broadcast. However, measured results generally achieve a much faster message delivery time.

And this: Operation Shark Bait: Galileo SAR will save lives!

“Today with its unique differentiator, Galileo SAR is demonstrating how Europe is at the forefront of high technology for the good of European citizens. This wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support of the international community - Cospas-Sarsat, CNES, the International Maritime Organization  and the International Civil Aviation Organization - and the main beacon manufacturers, all of which have contributed to the provision of an end-to-end solution for people in distress,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. 

A Return Link capability was first introduced by the Galileo Programme back in 2005. The SAR community soon expressed interest and, in 2008, the Return Link Service was adopted in the Cospas-Sarsat Strategic Plan. Following a great deal of effort by the Galileo Programme, Cospas-Sarsat and beacon manufacturers, a dedicated transmission protocol for Return Link-enabled beacons was established in 2010 and successfully verified during the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Phase in 2013. In 2019, deployment of the required infrastructure was completed and the Return Link Service underwent a thorough System and Service validation that concluded in November 2019.

The SAR Service Definition Document (SAR SDD), available in the European GNSS Service Centre electronic library, is aimed at Galileo SAR users, and describes in detail the characteristics and performance of the Galileo SAR Services. The document presents the relevant system infrastructure and introduces the Minimum Performance Levels that represent Galileo’s commitment to its users during the Galileo SAR Service provision phase. 

Galileo SAR RLS users that would like to receive more information can send their inquiries to the European GNSS Service Centre Help Desk at: www.gsc-europa.eu/helpdesk.

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).

A recent project funded by the European Commission has carried out technical and financial studies aiming at supporting the standardisation process for EGNSS in drones (also known as UAS or RPAS), in line with the Space Strategy for Europe regarding fostering the use of EGNSS in aviation.

As part of the EGNSS4RPAS project, dedicated flight trials were performed to understand how EGNSS can contribute to safer and more efficient drone operations in real-life scenarios in the future U-Space. The outcomes of the trials will contribute to ongoing standardisation efforts, notably by EUROCAE and ASD-STAN.

The first and second trials were organized at the ATLAS drone test facility in Villacarrillo, Spain. The first test involved one X-UAV Clouds fixed-wing drone with a 1.85-metre wingspan and two DJI multicopters performing several operations in visual line of sight (VLOS) conditions. The second test used the same fixed-wing drone which flew various flight plans in VLOS and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) conditions. Moreover, dynamic geo-fencing and geo-caging demonstrations were performed as well as a scenario where the drone lost the Command & Control link and was required to return autonomously to the Home Point.

Watch the video: EGNSS4RPAS Project demonstration

Citizen safety guaranteed

A third trial took place in the urban environment of Villacarrillo, placing a DJI S1000 multicopter drone in a more challenging environment for the reception of GNSS signals. This trial performed regular use cases such as building inspection or parcel delivery. Remarkably, it was the first experimental drone operation in an urban environment ever approved by the national civil aviation authority AESA, and one of the few examples of real urban operations in Europe. For this reason, a safety analysis following the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology was undertaken to guarantee the safety of citizens.

Read this: Instrument flying supported by EGNOS for General Aviation

In all the trials, the drones were equipped with a multi-constellation and multi-frequency receiver called MagicUT which was used to compute the EGNSS solutions and the reference trajectory using PPP. Dedicated multi-constellation and multi-frequency antennas tailored for drone missions were also installed.

Galileo improves accuracy

In open visibility conditions, the results clearly show that the use of Galileo in dual constellation with GPS significantly improves accuracy compared to GPS-only for both the horizontal and vertical dimension. The introduction of EGNOS significantly enhances the GPS-only accuracy. Looking at integrity, the protection levels are well below the requirements defined for LPV-200 in manned aviation and the availability and continuity percentages reached very high values for all EGNSS solutions during the missions.

The urban environment poses several challenges to the reception of GNSS signals. Despite having fewer satellites available, the Galileo-only solution still provides significantly better performances than the GPS-only solution. As envisaged, the performances for the combined GPS and Galileo solution yield an even greater improvement versus the GPS-only solution. 

And this: White Paper on EGNSS for drones now available

Performance are in general very stable for the in-flight phase and error glitches correspond to the take-off and landing phases, where the multipath and satellite visibility may impact the navigation solution. It is demonstrated that the combination of Galileo with GPS is a very robust solution for the urban scenario, achieving 100% of availability for all flight plans. For the in-flight phase, protections levels provided by EGNOS are a differentiator vis-à-vis other GNSS solutions and a potential enabler of critical applications requiring high levels of integrity.

European GNSS solutions – EGNOS and Galileo - were demonstrated to be a pivotal element for the safety and efficiency of drone operations even in cities. As such, EGNSS has the capability to boost the drone market and facilitate public acceptance of these new entrants. The European Commission and the GSA will continue to demonstrate the added value of EGNSS for drones and support the uptake of EGNSS-based standards in this user community.

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).

A recent project funded by the European Commission has carried out technical and financial studies aiming at supporting the standardisation process for EGNSS in drones (also known as UAS or RPAS), in line with the Space Strategy for Europe regarding fostering the use of EGNSS in aviation.

As part of the EGNSS4RPAS project, dedicated flight trials were performed to understand how EGNSS can contribute to safer and more efficient drone operations in real-life scenarios in the future U-Space. The outcomes of the trials will contribute to ongoing standardisation efforts, notably by EUROCAE and ASD-STAN.

The first and second trials were organized at the ATLAS drone test facility in Villacarrillo, Spain. The first test involved one X-UAV Clouds fixed-wing drone with a 1.85-metre wingspan and two DJI multicopters performing several operations in visual line of sight (VLOS) conditions. The second test used the same fixed-wing drone which flew various flight plans in VLOS and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) conditions. Moreover, dynamic geo-fencing and geo-caging demonstrations were performed as well as a scenario where the drone lost the Command & Control link and was required to return autonomously to the Home Point.

Watch the video: EGNSS4RPAS Project demonstration

Citizen safety guaranteed

A third trial took place in the urban environment of Villacarrillo, placing a DJI S1000 multicopter drone in a more challenging environment for the reception of GNSS signals. This trial performed regular use cases such as building inspection or parcel delivery. Remarkably, it was the first experimental drone operation in an urban environment ever approved by the national civil aviation authority AESA, and one of the few examples of real urban operations in Europe. For this reason, a safety analysis following the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology was undertaken to guarantee the safety of citizens.

Read this: Instrument flying supported by EGNOS for General Aviation

In all the trials, the drones were equipped with a multi-constellation and multi-frequency receiver called MagicUT which was used to compute the EGNSS solutions and the reference trajectory using PPP. Dedicated multi-constellation and multi-frequency antennas tailored for drone missions were also installed.

Galileo improves accuracy

In open visibility conditions, the results clearly show that the use of Galileo in dual constellation with GPS significantly improves accuracy compared to GPS-only for both the horizontal and vertical dimension. The introduction of EGNOS significantly enhances the GPS-only accuracy. Looking at integrity, the protection levels are well below the requirements defined for LPV-200 in manned aviation and the availability and continuity percentages reached very high values for all EGNSS solutions during the missions.

The urban environment poses several challenges to the reception of GNSS signals. Despite having fewer satellites available, the Galileo-only solution still provides significantly better performances than the GPS-only solution. As envisaged, the performances for the combined GPS and Galileo solution yield an even greater improvement versus the GPS-only solution. 

And this: White Paper on EGNSS for drones now available

Performance are in general very stable for the in-flight phase and error glitches correspond to the take-off and landing phases, where the multipath and satellite visibility may impact the navigation solution. It is demonstrated that the combination of Galileo with GPS is a very robust solution for the urban scenario, achieving 100% of availability for all flight plans. For the in-flight phase, protections levels provided by EGNOS are a differentiator vis-à-vis other GNSS solutions and a potential enabler of critical applications requiring high levels of integrity.

European GNSS solutions – EGNOS and Galileo - were demonstrated to be a pivotal element for the safety and efficiency of drone operations even in cities. As such, EGNSS has the capability to boost the drone market and facilitate public acceptance of these new entrants. The European Commission and the GSA will continue to demonstrate the added value of EGNSS for drones and support the uptake of EGNSS-based standards in this user community.

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).

With the declaration of Galileo Initial Services in December 2016, Galileo officially moved to the provision of live services and EGNOS has been operating successfully since 2009, European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) services are now experiencing an unprecedented acceleration in market uptake. During EU Space Week 2019 in Helsinki the European GNSS Agency (GSA) presented the latest developments for both services, and sought feedback from users of position, navigation and time (PNT) solutions and the organisations and institutions involved in the management, service provision and security of EGNSS, to build better services.

The first full day of EU Space Week 2019 on 3 December saw the EGNSS Service Provision Workshop and EGNSS User Assembly. These two sessions reviewed the current status and future plans for Galileo and EGNOS services, market uptake initiatives and an overview of user needs and requirements for EGNSS.

Welcoming participants to the workshop session, Pascal Claudel Chief Operating Officer at the GSA emphasised that “Users are at the centre of the game from the GSA’s point of view.” He also noted that Galileo is central to the provision of current EU policy priorities such as circular economy, smart cities and zero hunger.

Following a review of Galileo services performance and operations during the year from Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Service Manager at the GSA and Pierluigi Fedele, Galileo Services Delivery Manager of Spaceopal GmbH, the European Commission presented some insights on the future evolution of Galileo and some initial thoughts on possible services that might be offered by Galileo 2nd Generation (G2G). 

A vision document to 2035 was the contextual background for planning. By then there are likely to be over 120 broadcasting GNSS satellites available in medium Earth orbit grouped in four constellations. “GNSS will be the fifth utility,” stated the EC representative “And massive usage will not tolerate and service downtime.” He foresaw emerging new requirements including authentication, indoor capability, and high accuracy for all. A significant new capability would be a robust signal for users in space and remote activation of emergency beacons. The transition to G2G could start as early as 2024 with the first launch of test satellites.

User viewpoint

The EGNSS User Assembly covered an update on user needs and requirements; the results of user satisfaction surveys – the latest of which has just been published; and highlights from the latest GNSS Market Report 2019 that was published in mid-October. Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at GSA described the process for assessing user inputs from the first two User Consultations Platforms held in Madrid and Marseille in 2017 and 2018 respectively. “This is a cyclic process open to all users to voice their needs and future requirements,” she said. “GSA is a pioneer in this type of open consultation - no other GNSS does this.”

The user inputs are used to compile a report on user needs that are then subject to an engineering assessment and fed back to the consultation platform. The second edition of the User Report is now available on the GSA website. Diani announced that the consultation system had been modified to be a bi-annual process with a User Assembly alternating with the full User Consultation Platform.

Carmen Aguilera Rios, Operational Market Development Manager at GSA, said that GSA wanted to hear from users to make Galileo and EGNOS even better. “We want to help you deliver better service and boost your business based on EGNSS,” she said. “We want to know if the performance perceived satisfies your needs. Do we help when you need it? Do you need more from EGNSS?” 

She also announced the launch of the 2019 edition of Galileo and EGNOS User Satisfaction Surveys. These surveys aim to gain a better understanding of the needs and requirements of Galileo and EGNOS end users and to ensure that these needs are taken into consideration in future evolutions of the programmes. To take part in the Galileo survey, click here; and here for the EGNOS survey.

The users presented and shared the latest trends and applications. Their presentations are now available here.

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).

With the declaration of Galileo Initial Services in December 2016, Galileo officially moved to the provision of live services and EGNOS has been operating successfully since 2009, European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) services are now experiencing an unprecedented acceleration in market uptake. During EU Space Week 2019 in Helsinki the European GNSS Agency (GSA) presented the latest developments for both services, and sought feedback from users of position, navigation and time (PNT) solutions and the organisations and institutions involved in the management, service provision and security of EGNSS, to build better services.

The first full day of EU Space Week 2019 on 3 December saw the EGNSS Service Provision Workshop and EGNSS User Assembly. These two sessions reviewed the current status and future plans for Galileo and EGNOS services, market uptake initiatives and an overview of user needs and requirements for EGNSS.

Welcoming participants to the workshop session, Pascal Claudel Chief Operating Officer at the GSA emphasised that “Users are at the centre of the game from the GSA’s point of view.” He also noted that Galileo is central to the provision of current EU policy priorities such as circular economy, smart cities and zero hunger.

Following a review of Galileo services performance and operations during the year from Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Service Manager at the GSA and Pierluigi Fedele, Galileo Services Delivery Manager of Spaceopal GmbH, the European Commission presented some insights on the future evolution of Galileo and some initial thoughts on possible services that might be offered by Galileo 2nd Generation (G2G). 

A vision document to 2035 was the contextual background for planning. By then there are likely to be over 120 broadcasting GNSS satellites available in medium Earth orbit grouped in four constellations. “GNSS will be the fifth utility,” stated the EC representative “And massive usage will not tolerate and service downtime.” He foresaw emerging new requirements including authentication, indoor capability, and high accuracy for all. A significant new capability would be a robust signal for users in space and remote activation of emergency beacons. The transition to G2G could start as early as 2024 with the first launch of test satellites.

User viewpoint

The EGNSS User Assembly covered an update on user needs and requirements; the results of user satisfaction surveys – the latest of which has just been published; and highlights from the latest GNSS Market Report 2019 that was published in mid-October. Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at GSA described the process for assessing user inputs from the first two User Consultations Platforms held in Madrid and Marseille in 2017 and 2018 respectively. “This is a cyclic process open to all users to voice their needs and future requirements,” she said. “GSA is a pioneer in this type of open consultation - no other GNSS does this.”

The user inputs are used to compile a report on user needs that are then subject to an engineering assessment and fed back to the consultation platform. The second edition of the User Report is now available on the GSA website. Diani announced that the consultation system had been modified to be a bi-annual process with a User Assembly alternating with the full User Consultation Platform.

Carmen Aguilera Rios, Operational Market Development Manager at GSA, said that GSA wanted to hear from users to make Galileo and EGNOS even better. “We want to help you deliver better service and boost your business based on EGNSS,” she said. “We want to know if the performance perceived satisfies your needs. Do we help when you need it? Do you need more from EGNSS?” 

She also announced the launch of the 2019 edition of Galileo and EGNOS User Satisfaction Surveys. These surveys aim to gain a better understanding of the needs and requirements of Galileo and EGNOS end users and to ensure that these needs are taken into consideration in future evolutions of the programmes. To take part in the Galileo survey, click here; and here for the EGNOS survey.

The users presented and shared the latest trends and applications. Their presentations are now available here.

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).

With the declaration of Galileo Initial Services in December 2016, Galileo officially moved to the provision of live services and EGNOS has been operating successfully since 2009, European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) services are now experiencing an unprecedented acceleration in market uptake. During EU Space Week 2019 in Helsinki the European GNSS Agency (GSA) presented the latest developments for both services, and sought feedback from users of position, navigation and time (PNT) solutions and the organisations and institutions involved in the management, service provision and security of EGNSS, to build better services.

The first full day of EU Space Week 2019 on 3 December saw the EGNSS Service Provision Workshop and EGNSS User Assembly. These two sessions reviewed the current status and future plans for Galileo and EGNOS services, market uptake initiatives and an overview of user needs and requirements for EGNSS.

Welcoming participants to the workshop session, Pascal Claudel Chief Operating Officer at the GSA emphasised that “Users are at the centre of the game from the GSA’s point of view.” He also noted that Galileo is central to the provision of current EU policy priorities such as circular economy, smart cities and zero hunger.

Following a review of Galileo services performance and operations during the year from Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Service Manager at the GSA and Pierluigi Fedele, Galileo Services Delivery Manager of Spaceopal GmbH, the European Commission presented some insights on the future evolution of Galileo and some initial thoughts on possible services that might be offered by Galileo 2nd Generation (G2G). 

A vision document to 2035 was the contextual background for planning. By then there are likely to be over 120 broadcasting GNSS satellites available in medium Earth orbit grouped in four constellations. “GNSS will be the fifth utility,” stated the EC representative “And massive usage will not tolerate and service downtime.” He foresaw emerging new requirements including authentication, indoor capability, and high accuracy for all. A significant new capability would be a robust signal for users in space and remote activation of emergency beacons. The transition to G2G could start as early as 2024 with the first launch of test satellites.

User viewpoint

The EGNSS User Assembly covered an update on user needs and requirements; the results of user satisfaction surveys – the latest of which has just been published; and highlights from the latest GNSS Market Report 2019 that was published in mid-October. Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at GSA described the process for assessing user inputs from the first two User Consultations Platforms held in Madrid and Marseille in 2017 and 2018 respectively. “This is a cyclic process open to all users to voice their needs and future requirements,” she said. “GSA is a pioneer in this type of open consultation - no other GNSS does this.”

The user inputs are used to compile a report on user needs that are then subject to an engineering assessment and fed back to the consultation platform. The second edition of the User Report is now available on the GSA website. Diani announced that the consultation system had been modified to be a bi-annual process with a User Assembly alternating with the full User Consultation Platform.

Carmen Aguilera Rios, Operational Market Development Manager at GSA, said that GSA wanted to hear from users to make Galileo and EGNOS even better. “We want to help you deliver better service and boost your business based on EGNSS,” she said. “We want to know if the performance perceived satisfies your needs. Do we help when you need it? Do you need more from EGNSS?” 

She also announced the launch of the 2019 edition of Galileo and EGNOS User Satisfaction Surveys. These surveys aim to gain a better understanding of the needs and requirements of Galileo and EGNOS end users and to ensure that these needs are taken into consideration in future evolutions of the programmes. To take part in the Galileo survey, click here; and here for the EGNOS survey.

The users presented and shared the latest trends and applications. Their presentations are now available here.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) Executive Director has been awarded the Karel Kramar Medal by the Czech Prime Minister. The honour is awarded as a token of gratitude for demonstrable service in the Czech Republic.

The honour was awarded to the GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides in a ceremony held at on January 8 at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. In a tweet following the award ceremony, the Czech Prime Minister said: “I awarded the Karel Kramar honour to the GSA Director Mr Carlo des Dorides, who was responsible for moving the Galileo navigation system to Prague in 2012.”

“Space systems have huge potential and the GSA headquarters in the Czech Republic offers many opportunities for our entrepreneurs,” the Prime Minister Andrej Babis said.

Great honour

Accepting the award, des Dorides thanked the Prime Minister for the great honour bestowed on him and outlined the history of the GSA in the Czech Capital. “When the GSA came to Prague on September 2012 it was a small agency with many plans and hopes and Galileo was a system on paper only,” he said.

Read this: A message from Carlo des Dorides, GSA Executive Director

“We can now safely say that a lot has changed in these 7 years. The GSA has grown to more than 5 times its original size and is now sitting at the table with the main space agencies in Europe; 26 satellites have been launched and Galileo is operational with more than 1 billion users world-wide,” des Dorides said.

Space renaissance

In his speech, the GSA Executive Director also looked to the future and the evolution of the GSA into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). “The Czech Republic is now positioning itself, more and more, at the centre of  a ‘space renaissance’ with high potential ahead,” he said.

And this: From GSA to EUSPA: space transforming business and the economy

“My best wish is that EUSPA will be for the Czech Republic not only a nice jewel but will really become the engine of a new course for the Czech entrepreneurial sector, which uses space as a driver for innovation,” he said, adding: “When I look at the number of new companies belonging to the space ecosystem that are looking at establishing here in the Czech Republic, I think you have already started to move in this direction.”

The Karel Kramar Honour was crafted to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the first Czechoslovak government and was named after the first Czechoslovak Prime Minister, Karel Kramar.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) Executive Director has been awarded the Karel Kramar Medal by the Czech Prime Minister. The honour is awarded as a token of gratitude for demonstrable service in the Czech Republic.

The honour was awarded to the GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides in a ceremony held at on January 8 at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. In a tweet following the award ceremony, the Czech Prime Minister said: “I awarded the Karel Kramar honour to the GSA Director Mr Carlo des Dorides, who was responsible for moving the Galileo navigation system to Prague in 2012.”

“Space systems have huge potential and the GSA headquarters in the Czech Republic offers many opportunities for our entrepreneurs,” the Prime Minister Andrej Babis said.

Great honour

Accepting the award, des Dorides thanked the Prime Minister for the great honour bestowed on him and outlined the history of the GSA in the Czech Capital. “When the GSA came to Prague on September 2012 it was a small agency with many plans and hopes and Galileo was a system on paper only,” he said.

Read this: A message from Carlo des Dorides, GSA Executive Director

“We can now safely say that a lot has changed in these 7 years. The GSA has grown to more than 5 times its original size and is now sitting at the table with the main space agencies in Europe; 26 satellites have been launched and Galileo is operational with more than 1 billion users world-wide,” des Dorides said.

Space renaissance

In his speech, the GSA Executive Director also looked to the future and the evolution of the GSA into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). “The Czech Republic is now positioning itself, more and more, at the centre of  a ‘space renaissance’ with high potential ahead,” he said.

And this: From GSA to EUSPA: space transforming business and the economy

“My best wish is that EUSPA will be for the Czech Republic not only a nice jewel but will really become the engine of a new course for the Czech entrepreneurial sector, which uses space as a driver for innovation,” he said, adding: “When I look at the number of new companies belonging to the space ecosystem that are looking at establishing here in the Czech Republic, I think you have already started to move in this direction.”

The Karel Kramar Honour was crafted to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the first Czechoslovak government and was named after the first Czechoslovak Prime Minister, Karel Kramar.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) Executive Director has been awarded the Karel Kramar Medal by the Czech Prime Minister. The honour is awarded as a token of gratitude for demonstrable service in the Czech Republic.

The honour was awarded to the GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides in a ceremony held at on January 8 at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. In a tweet following the award ceremony, the Czech Prime Minister said: “I awarded the Karel Kramar honour to the GSA Director Mr Carlo des Dorides, who was responsible for moving the Galileo navigation system to Prague in 2012.”

“Space systems have huge potential and the GSA headquarters in the Czech Republic offers many opportunities for our entrepreneurs,” the Prime Minister Andrej Babis said.

Great honour

Accepting the award, des Dorides thanked the Prime Minister for the great honour bestowed on him and outlined the history of the GSA in the Czech Capital. “When the GSA came to Prague on September 2012 it was a small agency with many plans and hopes and Galileo was a system on paper only,” he said.

Read this: A message from Carlo des Dorides, GSA Executive Director

“We can now safely say that a lot has changed in these 7 years. The GSA has grown to more than 5 times its original size and is now sitting at the table with the main space agencies in Europe; 26 satellites have been launched and Galileo is operational with more than 1 billion users world-wide,” des Dorides said.

Space renaissance

In his speech, the GSA Executive Director also looked to the future and the evolution of the GSA into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). “The Czech Republic is now positioning itself, more and more, at the centre of  a ‘space renaissance’ with high potential ahead,” he said.

And this: From GSA to EUSPA: space transforming business and the economy

“My best wish is that EUSPA will be for the Czech Republic not only a nice jewel but will really become the engine of a new course for the Czech entrepreneurial sector, which uses space as a driver for innovation,” he said, adding: “When I look at the number of new companies belonging to the space ecosystem that are looking at establishing here in the Czech Republic, I think you have already started to move in this direction.”

The Karel Kramar Honour was crafted to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the first Czechoslovak government and was named after the first Czechoslovak Prime Minister, Karel Kramar.

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).

A major theme running through EU Space Week 2019 in Helsinki was the wealth of innovative space-based applications, products and services being created in Europe. The ‘New Space’ sector is full of bright ideas and creative people, but turning a brilliant concept into a profitable enterprise is not easy. Fortunately, Space Week provided a wide range of opportunities for space innovators to develop ideas, meet investors and network with partners. One session allowed entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to business angels, venture capitalists and other sources of public and private investment.

Over the two days prior to the main Space Week events, the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom had invited teams of developers to an Innovation Challenge to develop innovative applications using the enhanced performance of Galileo in three areas: high accuracy (supported by the GSA), signal interference, and robotics.

Space Week itself also included sessions on the EGNSS Accelerator initiative that provides multiple benefits to Galileo Masters winners and finalists, such as coaching services and business incubation opportunities, and, of course, the glittering 2019 Galileo Masters Award Ceremony too.

Read this: Put your project in the spotlight at MWC Barcelona

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) organised a specific ‘Investors meet the Innovators’ event on the morning of 3 December with three panel discussions that covered an introduction to the most promising application areas from the investors’ point of view, the most common mistakes of start-ups and SMEs when applying for private funding, and advice on how to grow, minimise risks, and achieve self-sustainability once initial finance or funding has been obtained. 

Following these panel debates innovators had the opportunity to meet the investors on a one-to-one basis in a ‘speed dating’ session that extended through into a wider SME showcase Fair in the afternoon. Here SMEs and entrepreneurs had the possibility to talk to investors who provided them with investment readiness and pitch training.

Pitch perfect

The highlight of the day was the dynamic, early evening pitching session, where 13 space-based companies were given just four minutes to sell their ideas and aspirations to a broader audience of potential investors, press, corporates, public sector officials and fellow startups. Their presentations were followed by testing questions from the audience. 

The pitching entrepreneurs illustrated the wide range and ambitions of the growing space-based business sector.

A major theme running through EU Space Week 2019 in Helsinki was the wealth of innovative space-based applications, products and services being created in Europe. The ‘New Space’ sector is full of bright ideas and creative people, but turning a brilliant concept into a profitable enterprise is not easy. Fortunately, Space Week provided a wide range of opportunities for space innovators to develop ideas, meet investors and network with partners. One session allowed entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to business angels, venture capitalists and other sources of public and private investment.

Over the two days prior to the main Space Week events, the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom had invited teams of developers to an Innovation Challenge to develop innovative applications using the enhanced performance of Galileo in three areas: high accuracy (supported by the GSA), signal interference, and robotics.

Space Week itself also included sessions on the EGNSS Accelerator initiative that provides multiple benefits to Galileo Masters winners and finalists, such as coaching services and business incubation opportunities, and, of course, the glittering 2019 Galileo Masters Award Ceremony too.

Read this: Put your project in the spotlight at MWC Barcelona

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) organised a specific ‘Investors meet the Innovators’ event on the morning of 3 December with three panel discussions that covered an introduction to the most promising application areas from the investors’ point of view, the most common mistakes of start-ups and SMEs when applying for private funding, and advice on how to grow, minimise risks, and achieve self-sustainability once initial finance or funding has been obtained. 

Following these panel debates innovators had the opportunity to meet the investors on a one-to-one basis in a ‘speed dating’ session that extended through into a wider SME showcase Fair in the afternoon. Here SMEs and entrepreneurs had the possibility to talk to investors who provided them with investment readiness and pitch training.

Pitch perfect

The highlight of the day was the dynamic, early evening pitching session, where 13 space-based companies were given just four minutes to sell their ideas and aspirations to a broader audience of potential investors, press, corporates, public sector officials and fellow startups. Their presentations were followed by testing questions from the audience. 

The pitching entrepreneurs illustrated the wide range and ambitions of the growing space-based business sector.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for a planned call for a new service contract to assess the feasibility of an EGNSS-based safety service for the rail sector beyond 2022 which would enable the rationalisation of rail signalling infrastructure.

The main tasks of the study are the identification of user and service requirements, the development of an appropriate integrity concept and the definition of the service provision scheme. As part of the user level integrity concept, the contractor shall develop an algorithm to cope with the local environment of the rail sector.

When defining the service, the contractor shall produce the service concept and consolidate it through iteration with a Working Group of experts. The analysis will enable the EC to determine whether a European rail safety service based on EGNOS and Galileo needs to be created specifically to enable the rationalisation of the current rail signalling infrastructure. 

More information about the Invitation to Tender (ITT) can be found here.

European GNSS in ERTMS

Rail signalling systems are used to safely control railway traffic in order to prevent train collisions. There are currently more than 20 rail signalling systems in Europe, since each country has developed its own railway infrastructure, equipment and operational rules. This has led to increased costs and technical and operational complexity of the train sets. This is why the European rail industry, supported by the EU Institutions, is working on the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), with an aim to implement a common signalling system for Europe.

Read this: GNSS and the future of rail.

The European Commission (EC) is currently specifying the long-term evolution of the EGNSS programme, including new services for Galileo and EGNOS. The use of an EGNSS receiver in combination with other sensors could provide an accurate and reliable position which would translate into the overall improvement of the rail system. 

Galileo is Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. Galileo has been operational since the Initial Service declaration at the end of 2016. Full Operational Capability is expected to be reached in 2020.

EGNOS is the European SBAS and augments GPS L1 C/A civilian signal by providing corrections and integrity information for positioning and navigation applications over Europe. EGNOS Version 3, set to enter into service in the near future, will augment both GPS and Galileo constellations in the L1 and L5 bands and will extend the service area to the entire landmasses of EU Member States.

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).

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for a planned call for a new service contract to assess the feasibility of an EGNSS-based safety service for the rail sector beyond 2022 which would enable the rationalisation of rail signalling infrastructure.

The main tasks of the study are the identification of user and service requirements, the development of an appropriate integrity concept and the definition of the service provision scheme. As part of the user level integrity concept, the contractor shall develop an algorithm to cope with the local environment of the rail sector.

When defining the service, the contractor shall produce the service concept and consolidate it through iteration with a Working Group of experts. The analysis will enable the EC to determine whether a European rail safety service based on EGNOS and Galileo needs to be created specifically to enable the rationalisation of the current rail signalling infrastructure. 

More information about the Invitation to Tender (ITT) can be found here.

European GNSS in ERTMS

Rail signalling systems are used to safely control railway traffic in order to prevent train collisions. There are currently more than 20 rail signalling systems in Europe, since each country has developed its own railway infrastructure, equipment and operational rules. This has led to increased costs and technical and operational complexity of the train sets. This is why the European rail industry, supported by the EU Institutions, is working on the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), with an aim to implement a common signalling system for Europe.

Read this: GNSS and the future of rail.

The European Commission (EC) is currently specifying the long-term evolution of the EGNSS programme, including new services for Galileo and EGNOS. The use of an EGNSS receiver in combination with other sensors could provide an accurate and reliable position which would translate into the overall improvement of the rail system. 

Galileo is Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. Galileo has been operational since the Initial Service declaration at the end of 2016. Full Operational Capability is expected to be reached in 2020.

EGNOS is the European SBAS and augments GPS L1 C/A civilian signal by providing corrections and integrity information for positioning and navigation applications over Europe. EGNOS Version 3, set to enter into service in the near future, will augment both GPS and Galileo constellations in the L1 and L5 bands and will extend the service area to the entire landmasses of EU Member States.

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).

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) has issued an Invitation To Tender (ITT) for a planned call for a new service contract to assess the feasibility of an EGNSS-based safety service for the rail sector beyond 2022 which would enable the rationalisation of rail signalling infrastructure.

The main tasks of the study are the identification of user and service requirements, the development of an appropriate integrity concept and the definition of the service provision scheme. As part of the user level integrity concept, the contractor shall develop an algorithm to cope with the local environment of the rail sector.

When defining the service, the contractor shall produce the service concept and consolidate it through iteration with a Working Group of experts. The analysis will enable the EC to determine whether a European rail safety service based on EGNOS and Galileo needs to be created specifically to enable the rationalisation of the current rail signalling infrastructure. 

More information about the Invitation to Tender (ITT) can be found here.

European GNSS in ERTMS

Rail signalling systems are used to safely control railway traffic in order to prevent train collisions. There are currently more than 20 rail signalling systems in Europe, since each country has developed its own railway infrastructure, equipment and operational rules. This has led to increased costs and technical and operational complexity of the train sets. This is why the European rail industry, supported by the EU Institutions, is working on the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), with an aim to implement a common signalling system for Europe.

Read this: GNSS and the future of rail.

The European Commission (EC) is currently specifying the long-term evolution of the EGNSS programme, including new services for Galileo and EGNOS. The use of an EGNSS receiver in combination with other sensors could provide an accurate and reliable position which would translate into the overall improvement of the rail system. 

Galileo is Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. Galileo has been operational since the Initial Service declaration at the end of 2016. Full Operational Capability is expected to be reached in 2020.

EGNOS is the European SBAS and augments GPS L1 C/A civilian signal by providing corrections and integrity information for positioning and navigation applications over Europe. EGNOS Version 3, set to enter into service in the near future, will augment both GPS and Galileo constellations in the L1 and L5 bands and will extend the service area to the entire landmasses of EU Member States.

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).

This has been a year of tremendous growth for the GSA, Galileo, EGNOS and the European Space Programme as a whole. We hit the ground running in 2019, buoyed by a wave of optimism following the successful European Space Week, held in in Marseille last December. 

At the end of 2018 we launched the Accuracy Matters campaign to raise awareness among end users and the public about the benefits of Galileo. This campaign continued to run throughout 2019 and has been very effective in raising the public profile of the European space programme in general and of Galileo in particular.

Throughout the year, we stayed true to our mission of putting users at the centre of Galileo service provision and work continued at full speed to prepare for the launch of Full Operational Capability next year. In February, we commissioned a batch of four Galileo satellites, bringing the number of launched satellites to 26. February also saw the launch of the world’s first Galileo-enabled personal location beacon (PLB), with the Return Link Service endorsed by COSPAS-SARSAT towards the end of the year, further consolidating Galileo’s contribution to global search and rescue. 

In aviation, the European space programme continued to make a significant contribution to increased safety and efficiency, and the GSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the deployment manager for the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) on future cooperation to modernise EU air traffic management by leveraging Galileo and EGNOS. 

EGNOS is continuing its evolution towards EGNOS V3, which will augment both GPS and Galileo in the L1 and L5 bands, supported by payload launched this year. Furthermore, following the successful testing of EGNOS corrections in the maritime domain at the end of last year, EGNOS has also been performing well for the maritime community.

There were major developments for the space sector in Europe in April, when the European Parliament endorsed a provisional agreement on the EU Space Programme for 2021-2027. This new EUR 16-billion programme will help maintain and further enhance the EU's leadership in space. The new programme also has major implications for the GSA, which will grow into the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) with an expanded mandate to manage the market uptake and communications of the Copernicus Earth observation programme, helping ensure that synergies between Galileo and Copernicus can be exploited to the benefit of European society and business. The Space Programme also introduces the new security-related space initiatives Space and Situational Awareness (SSA) and Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM), which will put Europe in a better position to react to ongoing changes in the international space sector.

The skies were not entirely cloud-free this year, however. In July a technical incident related to the Galileo ground infrastructure resulted in a temporary interruption of the Galileo initial navigation and timing services. Following the incident, we worked closely with all our partners to remedy the situation as quickly as possible and an Independent Inquiry Board was set up by the European Commission to identify the root causes of the incident. While this incident was a setback, valuable lessons were learned ahead of reaching Full Operational Capability and I believe that the GSA and the Galileo programme will be stronger as a result.

September was an exciting month. Galileo reached a major milestone, when the estimated number of Galileo-enabled smartphones in use reached 1 billion. At the same time, the GSA celebrated its 15th anniversary, as part of which we signed a cooperation agreement with the European Investment Bank to support investment in the European space-based service economy. This agreement will help ensure that the European space programme is leveraged to the fullest extent to allow Europeans reap the greatest possible benefits in terms of economic growth and job creation.

In October we launched the 6th issue of our GNSS Market Report. Providing comprehensive information on the dynamic global GNSS market along with in-depth analysis of the latest global trends and developments, this report was eagerly awaited by all market stakeholders and was downloaded over 1,000 times in the first 24 hours. The 1-billion smartphones milestone reached in the previous month, and the market uptake figures in the Market Report, particularly in new markets such as drones and New Space, are extremely encouraging and indicate a growing EU share of the market for downstream applications.

The year drew to a close with three successful demos stemming from GSA research and development projects (Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements), again clearly showing the tangible benefits and innovation delivered when EU funding, industry and SMEs come together. In the first of these the GSA and its partners successfully performed end-to-end tests on remote beacon activation using the Galileo Return Link Service (RLS), helping to validate the operational concept for a potential new use of Galileo to support fast response in distress situations. Then we had a live demo of the first autonomous vehicle powered by Galileo, during which an electric car was autonomously driven on a track and public roads, in a world first for Galileo. The PRoPART Galileo-based positioning solution for automated trucks and advanced driver assistance systems was also successfully tested at the end of the month.

These are exciting times for the space industry, 2020 will mark a turning point for Europe’s space programmes and for the GSA, with the Galileo programme getting closer to Full Operational Capability and the GSA to take up its expanded responsibilities within the European Agency for the Space Programme. In the 15 years since it was created, the GSA has put together a uniquely talented and interdisciplinary team with a diverse range of skills and expertise. As a result, the GSA has a stronger basis than ever and is ready to tackle the challenges ahead and turn Europe’s investment in space into opportunities for growth.

EUSPA will usher in a new era for the EU space programme. With its expanded mandate, our team will work to maintain our excellent performance in operations management, service delivery and security. We will also open up new markets and applications, create new funding opportunities and reach out to new stakeholders and user communities. Consolidation of the EU space programmes within one agency will make it possible to explore new horizons and create even stronger links between our satellites in space and the needs of users on the ground.

Our core aim will always be to strengthen the European space programme, while at the same time building an Agency that is future-proof, ready to learn and grow and quickly respond to change, because it is only in this way that we can consolidate the EU’s position as a global space power. 

As the year draws to a close, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the GSA staff for their hard work and commitment throughout the year, and to the European GNSS user community for their continued trust and support. It is thanks to this support that European GNSS continues to flourish.

Best wishes for 2020 to all of you!

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).

Even though the General Aviation (GA) community undertakes millions of flights on aircraft equipped with GNSS-receivers, it is not taking full advantage of the technology. It is a priority of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) to support GA by facilitating instrument procedures with EGNOS. As a first step the GSA has identified enablers and blocking points along with aviation stakeholders and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

There are currently 660 EGNOS procedures in Europe, most of which are at instrument runways. However, EGNOS can also support general and business aviation on non-instrument runways. The GSA has issued safety promotion material on GNSS-based Instrument Flight Procedures implementation for General Aviation, Uncontrolled Aerodromes and Non-Instrument Runways in an effort to address this and encourage a wider use of EGNOS in general aviation.

The materials draw together the current regulatory analysis supporting EGNOS operations, along with enablers and best practices to support implementation, open issues and, last but not least, use case examples to encourage national authorities to authorise these types of operations in their countries. This includes examples showcasing how these can be implemented at locations where there are currently visual flight rules only.

Read this: EGNSS enabling change in General Aviation

High engagement

This document is aligned with the EASA Roadmap for General Aviation, which identifies simpler, more proportional rules and operations that are cost efficient, flexible and based on existing best practices. It aims to provide a view on the current implementation enablers in different EU countries and highlights the results of EASA RMTs (Rule Making Tasks) which can be relevant for the implementation of IFR for General Aviation.

“The General Aviation community undertakes millions of flights with aircraft equipped with GNSS-receivers without using the full capabilities of this new technology. By developing IFR procedures for situations where the ground infrastructure may not be present at the aerodrome it would enable GA pilots to plan A-to-B flights with more confidence of being able to complete them safely in changing weather conditions, which would have a positive impact on safety. EASA is extremely grateful to EGA for this collaborative effort,” said Dominique Roland, Head of General Aviation & Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems at EASA.

The document will be of interest to General Aviation community, aerodromes, and air traffic control staff and national authorities alike. Publication of this document aims to start a discussion within the General aviation community, trigger future pilot cases and obtain feedback to identify the tools that should be developed to support the implementation of the IFR procedures for general aviation. 

“Engagement from the aviation community has been high - we received more than 320 comments from over 25 contributors, including civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers and others during preparation of the document. The GSA would like to thank all the contributors and supporters of this initiative, as this support was fundamental to the development of the document,” said GSA head of Market Development department Fiammetta Diani. “Special thanks go to EASA, ESSP, PPL IR, AOPA, EBAA, Austro Control, DFS, IDRF, FOCA Swiss, the Swedish Transport Agency, Europe Air Sports and the European Regional Aerodromes Community,” she said.

Just the beginning

The document will be published as a Safety Promotion material under EASA’s Together4Safety Safety Promotion initiative. This initiative is a key enabler towards reaching the ultimate objectives of the EU Aviation Safety Management Strategy and contributes to the continuous improvement of aviation safety in Europe and worldwide, together with regulations and oversight.

And this: Austro Control and EGNOS – a story of success

Publication of the materials is just the beginning. The GSA is launching a network of pilot cases in 2020 to collect lessons learned and best practices to promote and support future implementation. It is also proof that GNSS/SBAS is ready to support many different types of operations, extending beyond the traditional scope or initial objectives that the technology was designed for. If you would like to be among first to implement LPV at a non-instrument runway, you are more than welcome!

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).

When an emergency or a disaster hits a city or region, the priorities are to care for the wounded, restore infrastructure, provide logistics and basic services, and then to restore livelihoods and reconstruct communities. European GNSS – Galileo and EGNOS – supports applications and the delivery of critical services during the four key phases of the disaster management life cycle: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

When it comes to effectively preparing for and managing the consequences of a disaster, it is important to have access to precise and up-to-date information. GNSS-based applications make a significant contribution during the preparation and mitigation phases of disaster management, supporting GNSS monitoring and early warning systems for disasters such as landslide or tsunami. 

For the future, an EGNSS-based Emergency Warning Service is being considered as an additional service to support disaster management. The widespread use of Galileo receivers embedded in mobile phones means that the system can provide truly global early warnings and direct the civilian population in the event of an emergency. 

Response and recovery

During the response and recovery phases of disaster management, rescue teams need guidance to use the routes that are still available to reach the affected areas. This requires detailed mapping and high accuracy navigation and positioning capabilities. High accuracy is especially needed under difficult circumstances that reduce visibility, such as fires, smoke or fog. 

Watch this: EGNOS for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)

Here the upcoming Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) will make a difference, providing the accuracy needed to navigate drones and to enhance the navigation capability of search and rescue teams, while the Authenticated Open Service (OS-NMA) will provide additional robustness to the Galileo signals, foiling any attempt to disrupt rescue operations. EGNOS enabled PinS also increase access to helipads in poor visibility for Helicopter Emergency and Medical Services (HEMS).

Drones for disaster response

Responding to the need for an effective system for people location that can be used by disaster relief services in difficult terrain, the MOBNET project is designing a system to locate isolated victims in the event of natural or man-made disasters. The system also can help first responder services to find lost people in the mountains. 

Read this: Integrating GNSS in UAVs for faster SAR

The MOBNET solution takes advantage of the ubiquity of mobile phones and the cost and performance gains of using drones in search and rescue operations, while leveraging the high-quality timing synchronisation capabilities provided by Galileo. Taking advantage of these three features, MOBNET uses digital cellular technologies to detect the presence of people, by locating their mobiles, and help rescuers in their search.

Synergies in space

Earth observation such as Copernicus is invaluable to detect fires or to map the extent of a disaster. Depending on the type of emergency, timely meteorological data from satellites and ground monitoring stations are also very useful in coping with the response.

EGNSS works along with Copernicus remote sensing and Earth observation to provide a comprehensive space-based approach to disaster management. Copernicus applications include short and long-term flood forecasting and a fire risk index, early warning alerts, insurance and rapid mapping of disaster areas during an emergency. 

Communications links are also vital to coordinate and direct the rescue teams at a time when transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges, may be severely damaged or impassable. Satellite communication allows the transfer of data when the usual communication infrastructures are disabled by the disaster event. Working in synergy, Copernicus, EGNSS and satellite communications provide the spatial awareness, connectivity and highly accurate positioning and navigation needed for an effective response.

More success stories 

The GEO-VISION project (GNSS-driven EO and Verifiable Image and Sensor Integration for mission-critical Operational Networks) has developed the RAIDO and AGILE solutions to increase the situational awareness of emergency services and allow first responders to check the integrity of the GNSS signals they receive, increasing the efficiency of the emergency response and helping to save more lives. 

Likewise, the AIOSAT (Autonomous Indoor & Outdoor Safety Tracking System) project is developing a portable system that can be carried by first responders operating in a disaster zone. This system continuously transmits the position of the responders to a Mobile Coordination Centre, allowing them to effectively manage the situation and prevent rescue workers from taking risky actions.

In this way, the application counteracts some of the issues that arise with GNSS use in an emergency situation, such as a fire for example, where GNSS availability, reliability, and accuracy can be affected by the thick smoke, dense forests, rough terrain or the fact that responders are inside buildings.

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).

GNSS is a key enabler of precision agriculture, allowing farmers to drive their tractors along parallel lines, avoid overlaps and gaps in field cultivation, and reduce their fatigue thanks to satellite-enabled autopilot. GNSS also helps to reduce agriculture’s ecological footprint – a win-win situation for society as a whole. Thanks to Galileo´s dual frequency and authentication capability, it can also help farmers and authorities in the frame of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  

Speaking at the EGNSS4CAP Workshop, a part of the 25th JRC MARS Conference in Prague on 29 November, European GNSS Agency Executive Director Carlo des Dorides said that for 10 years already EGNOS had been providing farmers with an affordable precision agriculture entry solution, delivering metre-level accuracy over Europe free of charge.

He noted that equipment manufacturers had been quick to realize the benefits of EGNOS, and that over 90% of new tractors in Europe are currently equipped with EGNOS receivers. “Galileo also offers several services that the agriculture community can benefit from – the Open Service is already improving positioning and navigation, especially thanks to dual frequency. It will be complemented by the High Accuracy Service that will provide around 20-cm accuracy free of charge and the Authentication Service that will reduce risks associated with spoofing,” des Dorides said.

Space synergies

On its own, GNSS provides considerable benefits to farmers, but it is when it works in synergy with the EU Earth observation programme Copernicus that the EU space programmes really deliver. “EGNSS and Copernicus are two pillars that play a crucial role in achieving sustainable agriculture,” des Dorides said. “In particular, the satellite programmes play a crucial role in the Common Agricultural Policy, delivering significant added-value for farmers, the institutions involved and society at large,” he said.

Read this: EU Space Week 2019: Sustainability and Space

One application that exploits synergies between EGNSS and Earth observation is EGNSS4CAP. This is an Android smartphone app that enables EU farmers to digitalise procedures related to their reporting requirements under the current and post-2020 CAP. The application will enable farmers to provide geo-tagged photos to support and complement a Copernicus-based monitoring approach to CAP. It uses the Galileo differentiators, Open Service Authentication and dual frequency, and can help authorities and farmers to reduce bureaucratic burden and duplications, as well as improve performance and reliability.

Implementing CAP

“GNSS and Copernicus are the core components in the digital farming ecosystem (Agriculture 4.0) and the main contributors to the modernised CAP,” Fiammetta Diani, the GSA’s Head of Market Development said at the conference.

For example, satellite-based monitoring procedures can reduce the need for On-The-Spot Checks (OTSC) for area-based CAP payments (EU subsidies related to the area and type of crop). The Galileo-based geo-tagged photo application provides the location and timing of the photo, leveraging Galileo’s dual-frequency and authentication features to provide higher accuracy and authentication for reporting to the paying agencies. The application is freely and openly available for any institution or company that would like to integrate it in their own solutions.   

In this way, EGNSS is helping to support efficient operations in one of the key areas of the EU economy. The CAP impacts almost 10 million people working in agriculture and has a proposed budget of EUR 365 billion for 2021-2027, accounting for about one-third of the total EU budget.

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).

The drone market is booming and is set to outstrip any other GNSS user base in aviation and open up new business opportunities for application developers, according to a White Paper on European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) for drones operations, produced by the European GNSS Agency (GSA).

In light of the upswing on the drone market, European drone service revenues are expected to nearly double from EUR 32 million in 2018 to approximately EUR 60 million by 2020 and are eventually forecast to reach EUR 150 million by 2023. 

GNSS is not an option for drones anymore, but a necessary asset. GNSS is essential for the safe and reliable navigation of drones, and GNSS receivers are implemented on almost all new commercial drones as standard. With increasing demand for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations GNSS, possibly with various augmentations, is the most obvious choice of technology for navigation, although it is not the only one. 

EGNSS for added accuracy

Given the additional accuracy that Galileo offers, it is no surprise that Galileo is already present in more than 30% of the receivers used for drone applications, and many of them also implement EGNOS corrections to increase accuracy. The GSA White paper provides an overview of the added value of EGNOS and Galileo for current and emerging operations, as well as for future U-Space services. 

Read this: Targeting the development of a drone-borne Galileo receiver

The paper provides a market perspective of GNSS for drones, together with a summary of applications powered by EGNSS and the results of testing campaigns that show the benefits of EGNSS vs GPS in different operational contexts. With Galileo satellites in addition to GPS, drones can use signals from more satellites for position determination which improves their accuracy and also increases the availability of received signals. This is particularly important in urban canyons. 

Galileo also offers distinct and unique features that benefit drone operations. For example, Galileo’s authentication will provide additional trust in the position, which is more robust against intentional or unintentional interferences. EGNOS corrections also provide improved robustness over Europe and higher safety of navigation as well as improved accuracy, which is especially relevant in the vertical axis for drones operations. 

Seeking your input

The paper targets drone manufacturers and operators, but also entrepreneurs planning to offer new services with unmanned platforms. The document can serve as a basis to choose navigation solutions based on EGNOS/Galileo that will increase the robustness of their operations thanks to increased navigation performance. 

And this: Performance Cockpit takes overall prize at Galileo Masters 2019

The document is intended to be a living document and we welcome contributions from operators and users who would like to share their experience of using EGNOS and Galileo. Likewise, if you have additional needs that you would like to be met by future evolutions of the EGNSS services, then we would love to hear from you.

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).

The drone market is booming and is set to outstrip any other GNSS user base in aviation and open up new business opportunities for application developers, according to a White Paper on European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) for drones operations, produced by the European GNSS Agency (GSA).

In light of the upswing on the drone market, European drone service revenues are expected to nearly double from EUR 32 million in 2018 to approximately EUR 60 million by 2020 and are eventually forecast to reach EUR 150 million by 2023. 

GNSS is not an option for drones anymore, but a necessary asset. GNSS is essential for the safe and reliable navigation of drones, and GNSS receivers are implemented on almost all new commercial drones as standard. With increasing demand for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations GNSS, possibly with various augmentations, is the most obvious choice of technology for navigation, although it is not the only one. 

EGNSS for added accuracy

Given the additional accuracy that Galileo offers, it is no surprise that Galileo is already present in more than 30% of the receivers used for drone applications, and many of them also implement EGNOS corrections to increase accuracy. The GSA White paper provides an overview of the added value of EGNOS and Galileo for current and emerging operations, as well as for future U-Space services. 

Read this: Targeting the development of a drone-borne Galileo receiver

The paper provides a market perspective of GNSS for drones, together with a summary of applications powered by EGNSS and the results of testing campaigns that show the benefits of EGNSS vs GPS in different operational contexts. With Galileo satellites in addition to GPS, drones can use signals from more satellites for position determination which improves their accuracy and also increases the availability of received signals. This is particularly important in urban canyons. 

Galileo also offers distinct and unique features that benefit drone operations. For example, Galileo’s authentication will provide additional trust in the position, which is more robust against intentional or unintentional interferences. EGNOS corrections also provide improved robustness over Europe and higher safety of navigation as well as improved accuracy, which is especially relevant in the vertical axis for drones operations. 

Seeking your input

The paper targets drone manufacturers and operators, but also entrepreneurs planning to offer new services with unmanned platforms. The document can serve as a basis to choose navigation solutions based on EGNOS/Galileo that will increase the robustness of their operations thanks to increased navigation performance. 

And this: Performance Cockpit takes overall prize at Galileo Masters 2019

The document is intended to be a living document and we welcome contributions from operators and users who would like to share their experience of using EGNOS and Galileo. Likewise, if you have additional needs that you would like to be met by future evolutions of the EGNSS services, then we would love to hear from you.

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).

The drone market is booming and is set to outstrip any other GNSS user base in aviation and open up new business opportunities for application developers, according to a White Paper on European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) for drones operations, produced by the European GNSS Agency (GSA).

In light of the upswing on the drone market, European drone service revenues are expected to nearly double from EUR 32 million in 2018 to approximately EUR 60 million by 2020 and are eventually forecast to reach EUR 150 million by 2023. 

GNSS is not an option for drones anymore, but a necessary asset. GNSS is essential for the safe and reliable navigation of drones, and GNSS receivers are implemented on almost all new commercial drones as standard. With increasing demand for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations GNSS, possibly with various augmentations, is the most obvious choice of technology for navigation, although it is not the only one. 

EGNSS for added accuracy

Given the additional accuracy that Galileo offers, it is no surprise that Galileo is already present in more than 30% of the receivers used for drone applications, and many of them also implement EGNOS corrections to increase accuracy. The GSA White paper provides an overview of the added value of EGNOS and Galileo for current and emerging operations, as well as for future U-Space services. 

Read this: Targeting the development of a drone-borne Galileo receiver

The paper provides a market perspective of GNSS for drones, together with a summary of applications powered by EGNSS and the results of testing campaigns that show the benefits of EGNSS vs GPS in different operational contexts. With Galileo satellites in addition to GPS, drones can use signals from more satellites for position determination which improves their accuracy and also increases the availability of received signals. This is particularly important in urban canyons. 

Galileo also offers distinct and unique features that benefit drone operations. For example, Galileo’s authentication will provide additional trust in the position, which is more robust against intentional or unintentional interferences. EGNOS corrections also provide improved robustness over Europe and higher safety of navigation as well as improved accuracy, which is especially relevant in the vertical axis for drones operations. 

Seeking your input

The paper targets drone manufacturers and operators, but also entrepreneurs planning to offer new services with unmanned platforms. The document can serve as a basis to choose navigation solutions based on EGNOS/Galileo that will increase the robustness of their operations thanks to increased navigation performance. 

And this: Performance Cockpit takes overall prize at Galileo Masters 2019

The document is intended to be a living document and we welcome contributions from operators and users who would like to share their experience of using EGNOS and Galileo. Likewise, if you have additional needs that you would like to be met by future evolutions of the EGNSS services, then we would love to hear from you.

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).

Even though the General Aviation (GA) community undertakes millions of flights on aircraft equipped with GNSS-receivers, it is not taking full advantage of the technology. It is a priority of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) to support GA by facilitating instrument procedures with EGNOS. As a first step the GSA has identified enablers and blocking points along with aviation stakeholders and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

There are currently 660 EGNOS procedures in Europe, most of which are at instrument runways. However, EGNOS can also support general and business aviation on non-instrument runways. The GSA has issued safety promotion material on GNSS-based Instrument Flight Procedures implementation for General Aviation, Uncontrolled Aerodromes and Non-Instrument Runways in an effort to address this and encourage a wider use of EGNOS in general aviation.

The materials draw together the current regulatory analysis supporting EGNOS operations, along with enablers and best practices to support implementation, open issues and, last but not least, use case examples to encourage national authorities to authorise these types of operations in their countries. This includes examples showcasing how these can be implemented at locations where there are currently visual flight rules only.

Read this: EGNSS enabling change in General Aviation

High engagement

This document is aligned with the EASA Roadmap for General Aviation, which identifies simpler, more proportional rules and operations that are cost efficient, flexible and based on existing best practices. It aims to provide a view on the current implementation enablers in different EU countries and highlights the results of EASA RMTs (Rule Making Tasks) which can be relevant for the implementation of IFR for General Aviation.

“The General Aviation community undertakes millions of flights with aircraft equipped with GNSS-receivers without using the full capabilities of this new technology. By developing IFR procedures for situations where the ground infrastructure may not be present at the aerodrome it would enable GA pilots to plan A-to-B flights with more confidence of being able to complete them safely in changing weather conditions, which would have a positive impact on safety. EASA is extremely grateful to EGA for this collaborative effort,” said Dominique Roland, Head of General Aviation & Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems at EASA.

The document will be of interest to General Aviation community, aerodromes, and air traffic control staff and national authorities alike. Publication of this document aims to start a discussion within the General aviation community, trigger future pilot cases and obtain feedback to identify the tools that should be developed to support the implementation of the IFR procedures for general aviation. 

“Engagement from the aviation community has been high - we received more than 320 comments from over 25 contributors, including civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers and others during preparation of the document. The GSA would like to thank all the contributors and supporters of this initiative, as this support was fundamental to the development of the document,” said GSA head of Market Development department Fiammetta Diani. “Special thanks go to EASA, ESSP, PPL IR, AOPA, EBAA, Austro Control, DFS, IDRF, FOCA Swiss, the Swedish Transport Agency, Europe Air Sports and the European Regional Aerodromes Community,” she said.

Just the beginning

The document will be published as a Safety Promotion material under EASA’s Together4Safety Safety Promotion initiative. This initiative is a key enabler towards reaching the ultimate objectives of the EU Aviation Safety Management Strategy and contributes to the continuous improvement of aviation safety in Europe and worldwide, together with regulations and oversight.

And this: Austro Control and EGNOS – a story of success

Publication of the materials is just the beginning. The GSA is launching a network of pilot cases in 2020 to collect lessons learned and best practices to promote and support future implementation. It is also proof that GNSS/SBAS is ready to support many different types of operations, extending beyond the traditional scope or initial objectives that the technology was designed for. If you would like to be among first to implement LPV at a non-instrument runway, you are more than welcome!

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).

The second day of the EU Space Week event in Helsinki opened with an overview of the final tranche of project calls under the Horizon 2020 space programme. The final Horizon 2020 EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) calls are now open, with a closing date of 5 March 2020. The session covered research and innovation topics across Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo programmes and also took a look to the future with Horizon Europe.

The context of the calls, in terms of EGNSS market uptake, was described by Reinhard Blasi from the GSA. “European investments in EGNSS are already making profits, with some EUR 2.8 billion of benefits computed for 2018 alone,” he stated. Currently EGNSS market revenues represent 25% of global sales, with a target of 30% to be achieved by 2025.

Funding downstream research and innovation is an important component of the GSA’s integrated strategy to foster the adoption of EGNSS technologies and boost EU competitiveness.

The H2020-SPACE-EGNSS-2020 call is open until 5 March, has an overall indicative budget of EUR 21 million and covers four topics: EGNSS apps for green, smart transport, EGNSS for mass market digitisation, EGNSS apps for resilience and environmental protection, and EGNSS applications for public authority procurement of research. The last topic is the first attempt to use the Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) instrument under Horizon 2020 in the EGNSS domain.

Fundamental work

The GSA’s Fundamental Elements programme has also issued project calls with more to come. The published calls include development of an enhanced GNSS User terminal, emerging EGNSS receiver technologies, development of advanced interference systems, and the development of a drone-borne double frequency receiver. Three more calls to be published in December will cover receivers for rail applications, high precision in the mass market, and a shipborne double frequency, multi-constellation receiver.

Read this: GSA funding: Filling the gaps and emerging technologies

“There is still much to do in 2020 and beyond,” said Blasi. “The GSA has three main objectives: to complete the uptake of EGNSS in more long-term regulated markets, position Galileo as the leader with its differentiating characteristics including authentication and high accuracy, and continue to support the downstream industry.”

Eric Guyader from the European Commission outlined upcoming calls administered through the Commission’s EGNSS Mission and Services (MAS) actions. Two calls are to be published soon on R&D for EGNOS services for payment or liability critical applications in the road sector and EGNSS rail safety services.

And this: Targeting the development of a drone-borne Galileo receiver

In addition, up to eight calls may be published in 2020 under the European Space Agency administered Horizon 2020 Satellite Navigation programme (HSNAV) with some EUR 2 million earmarked for projects relating to EGNSS evolution projects.

STRIKE success

An EGNSS research success story was provided by Zahidul Bhuiyan of the Finnish National Land Survey who described the Strike-3 project funded under Horizon 2020 looking at standardisation of GNSS Interference Threat Monitoring and Receiver Testing. The project had set up an international network to monitor GNSS interference. “GNSS needs protection,” said Bhuiyan. “STRIKE-3 aimed to improve our understanding of the threat scene facing stakeholders in implementing GNSS safety and security.”

The project found that out of over half a million monitored interference events, both unintentional and malicious, only 5% had an impact on the receiver, with the vast majority not actually denying the use of GNSS. The project reinforced the recognition that improved interference detection and mitigation can help the robustness of PNT services, in particular for critical infrastructure, and its receiver testing standard document provides a good initial test standard to ensure that reports from different systems are compatible.

Horizon Europe

Although the budget for the next Framework R&D programme for 2021-2027, Horizon Europe, is still subject to negotiation Mats Ljungqvist of DG GROW gave an overview of the current state of play. The current budget for the EU Space Programme in Horizon Europe is EUR 16 billion with some EUR 9.7 billion allocated to EGNSS topics.

An orientation document on the first strategic plan and work programme for Horizon Europe published at the end of October contains two sections on space research and innovation: 4.8 ‘A globally competitive space sector reinforcing EU sovereignty’ and 4.11 ‘New services from Space for the EU society and economy’.

Within the three pillars of Horizon Europe, Pillar 2 on Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness is allocated around half the total budget and includes a cluster (Digital, Industry & Space) that directly addresses space topics. “Pillar 3 on Open Innovation will also be of interest to the space sector,” said Ljungqvist. “An Enhanced European Innovation Council will provide accelerator and pathfinder grants to help bring bright ideas to market.”

Higher innovation funding should also be made available via an enhanced InvestEU programme where a European Union guarantee of some EUR 40 billion is looking to mobilise up to EUR 700 billion of private investment for growth and scale-up.

Together with a new Commission Directorate-General for Defence and Space, starting work at the beginning of 2020, there is a clear focus for space-related strategy and activities in Europe that reflect the growing importance of the space sector.

The GSA and the Commission have also been consulting with GNSS user communities to take their input into consideration when defining EGNSS downstream funding priorities in the new financial perspective. A recent report from the GSA summarises the results of these consultations and outlines future R&I priorities.

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).

Concrete funding opportunities that are available to space tech start-ups were in focus at the MyGalileoApp competition, held at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) headquarters in Prague on 7 November. At an investors panel discussion held as part of the event, start-ups heard about some of the concrete funding opportunities that are available to them.

Kicking-off the panel discussion, Marta Krywanis-Brzostowska, Head of Downstream R&D in the GSA Market Development Department, noted that the Agency currently has a portfolio of over 60 projects worth a total of over EUR 120 million. She said that, through Horizon 2020, the GSA is supporting the development of applications, while the Fundamental Elements mechanism targets the development of hardware, such as chipsets and receivers.

Noting that funding is also made available through aviation grants and smaller initiatives like MyGalileoApp and other prizes such as the Galileo Masters and Farming by Satellite, Krywanis-Brzostowska said that start-ups stand to receive more dedicated support in the future.

Dedicated start-up programme

“We are aware that there is a need to support start-ups, this is why in the new financial framework after 2020 we are planning, along with the European Commission, to define a dedicated programme that will support start-ups,” she said.

Read this: EU space infrastructure guarantees leadership in security and defence

Thierry Chapuis, space applications expert at CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) in France spoke about some of the support available through his organisation, in particular the Connect by CNES initiative, which was set up to help private and public actors to develop their applications. CNES is also participating in and funding the ESA Business Incubation Centres at the French national level. CNES is also working at the aviation level and organising hackathons such as Act in Space, the next edition of which will be in April 2020, he said.

Like Krywanis-Brzostowska, Chapuis also noted that start-ups stood to benefit from some dedicated support. “The French government has decided to develop start-ups and a big budget of EUR 400 million has been approved. CNES is responsible for selecting start-ups related to space activities within this programme,” he said.

Advancing to the next stage

João Duarte, responsible for early stage venture capital at Lighthouse Ventures, a EUR 23-million fund based in Prague, said that his company supports early stage start-ups with between 50,000 to 700,000 euros per start-up, with EUR 300,000 being the most typical amount. “We also have an acceleration programme where we invest EUR 20,000 for a couple of months to help a start-up go from the idea stage to having a business plan and some early customers. If they successfully complete the acceleration, then they will be eligible for larger investment to take them to the next stage,” he said.

And this: GSA, EIB sign agreement on investment in space

Representing UP21, an incubator and seed fund based in Prague, Anna Efros informed the participants that, so far her company had carried out 16 investments in two strategies: incubation with up to EUR 30,000 for 3-6 months, and larger investments of up to EUR 500,000 euros. “We are currently setting up a venture capital fund called START21 which will hopefully amount to EUR 25 million, and also we are co-organiser of the Start-up World Cup and Summit, which will be held in April 2020,” she said.

Money to disperse

Unlike other similar agencies, the Italian Space Agency doesn’t have its own research labs. However, Anilkumar Dave, Head of Innovation and Transfer of Technologies at the Agency, said that it has a lot of government money to disburse. “We will launch the first venture capital fund on space in Italy at the end of this year, where we are the cornerstone investor - but we will not invest in early-stage and seed, but rather in SMEs,” he said. 

Marketa Filipenska, International Funding Specialist at the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC) noted that her centre had recently opened a European Space Agency BIC where it is helping people with ideas related to space upstream and downstream. “We are providing them with EUR 50,000 and business mentoring, in addition to connecting them to big players in the sector,” she said.

Wrapping up the discussion, Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at the GSA, spoke about a Memorandum of Understanding that the GSA signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in September this year, dealing with cooperation on supporting investment in the European space-based service economy. “The MoU aims to give space start-ups a greater portfolio of opportunities and tools to help them to grow,” she said.

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).

The MyGalileoApp competition has contributed to the creation of an ecosystem that helps start-ups and other innovators to build innovative applications and grow while enabling both private and public investors to find and invest in projects of interest to them. At the MyGalileoApp finals, which took place at the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Prague headquarters at the start of November, start-ups heard about some of the key elements that they will need to succeed in a highly-competitive marketplace.

Galileo has been available to users around the globe since the launch of initial services back in December 2016 and the challenge generally, and for the MyGalileoApp competition specifically, is to make use of the Galileo services to develop systems and applications and to drive innovation based on the technology that Galileo makes available. The competition took nine months in total, during which the competitors progressed from the idea stage to creating a working app with 100% functionality.

Engines of innovation

Francesco Perticarari from Silicon Roundabout, who was a mentor at this year’s competition, noted that the approach of the GSA has been to leverage start-ups as engines of innovation. “The GSA did not just set up a competition to award money to successful developers, it set out to create an ecosystem of tech innovators, from start-ups to mentors and investors and the GSA itself, which also provides support,” he said, adding that the power of the MyGalileoApp competition is the ecosystem it creates that enables start-ups to deliver. 

 “Whether or not you win a prize today, this is not the end of the story. The connections you have made with mentors, investors and other start-ups are what you should really treasure,” he told the finalists in this year’s competition. 

Watch this: Meet Argeo: #MyGalileoApp Competition Winner

Another mentor, Piotr Bucki from Bucki PRO, outlined some of the forces that can drive a start-up forward, including social demographics in the form of a trend that an app can follow. It is also possible to ride a regulatory wave. “If rules from the European Commission or some other authority call for improvements in a service, then companies have no choice but to up their game, he said.

Growth mind-set

“In addition to timing, financing, strategy and riding the aforementioned waves, one more thing that makes start-ups successful is having a growth mind-set. A growth mind-set is the opposite of a fixed mind-set, in which intelligence is static, while in a growth mind-set intelligence and skills can be developed and iterated,” Bucki said.

Maaike Dokter from Xablu noted that location services can improve our quality of life, and that this was true for all of the sectors addressed by the MyGalileoApp finalists’ apps. As a designer with a focus on healthcare, she outlined how location-based services can improve things in this industry by optimising processes and reducing admin, allowing providers to focus on healthcare provision and reducing the amount of time a person has to spend in hospital. 

“By increasing outdoor and indoor accuracy, we can take advantage of these opportunities. The MyGalileoApp competitors are finding solutions in which Galileo plays an important role, turning ideas into reality,” she said. 

Ensuring sustainability

At a panel discussion held later in the day, start-ups heard from investors about the key qualities that would ensure their sustainability. Marketa Filipenska, International Funding Specialist at the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC) said that, in addition to mentoring, complementary services are also important, closely linked to the ecosystem in the region. 

Read this: EGNOS service for payment and liability-critical road applications

 “We connect venture capital funds, business angels, universities, local stakeholders and corporates - all of these meet with our start-ups and clients to identify opportunities on the market. Investor matching is important, not only to make the business sustainable, but to scale up the company,” she said.

Marta Krywanis-Brzostowska, Head of Downstream R&D in the GSA Market Development Department, noted that when reviewing projects for funding, one thing at the forefront of the GSA’s mind is that it does not want another prototype to put on the shelf. 

“We always highlight that it is important to have a link between the proposed solution and needs on the market. Knowledge of the market is critical, so we ask applicants to include a business plan along with their proposals,” she said, adding that an important tool in understanding the market is the GSA’s GNSS Market Report. 

“To be sustainable, you have to follow trends, be creative, understand the technology, be enthusiastic about what you are doing and be open to any support,” she said.

Thanks to MyGalileoApp, the GSA has built a network where business partners, public players and investors can connect with start-ups and young innovators, thereby contributing to the development of innovative applications leveraging the advantages of Galileo.

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).

Once again, the Galileo Masters – and its sister award programme the Copernicus Masters – was the glittering highlight of EU Space Week 2019 that took place in Helsinki on 3 to 5 December. In its 15th year the Galileo Masters continues to attract the attention of some of the brightest and best minds. Topics submitted to the competition this year ranged through digitisation, big data, the sharing economy and artificial intelligence (AI), amongst others, but all with a common theme: the use of European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) Galileo and/or EGNOS to benefit society.

The 2019 Galileo Masters attracted some 203 participants reaching entrepreneurs from over 41 countries in Europe and around the world. Since its inception in 2004 the competition has seen a cumulative participation by just under 12,000 individuals submitting 4,587 individual business cases.

In addition to the overall Galileo Masters winner and regional awards, a range of special prizes are also given, including ‘Idea of the Year’ and ‘Start-up of the Year’ and a new prize for 2019 responding to an emerging trend: The Galileo-Copernicus Synergy Challenge.

Special prizes

The Gala event took place at the Helsinki Congress Paasitorni centre in central Helsinki on the evening of 4 December. In all, some 31 awards were handed out on the night under the Galileo Masters categories. Master of ceremonies, Bavarian broadcaster and celebrity Claus Kruesken, described the Masters awards ceremony as the “festive highlight of EU Space Week.” 

Read this: Performance Cockpit takes overall prize at Galileo Masters 2019

This year’s new prize, the GSA Galileo-Copernicus Synergy Challenge was presented by GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. Commenting on the event, he highlighted the links that the competition inspired between the GSA and the space applications community by “providing the GSA with a first-hand experience of emerging needs and solutions.” The first ever winner of the synergy prize was the Xylene concept from Giuseppe Benenati and his team. Read more here.

Other Galileo special prizes this year included the DLR Artificial Intelligence Navigation Challenge awarded to Pieter Bastiaan Ober of INTEGRICOM for a proposal to analyse the Galileo Signal in Space using AI. The BMVI PRS Applications Challenge was presented to Brandon Bradford of tissEU for his Odin’s Eye idea – a Galileo-enabled PRS tactical drone – that was also the winner of the Bavaria regional Challenge prize. 

The University Challenge was announced by Paul Bhatia from the University of Nottingham with the winner, Freewheel – a platform that allows people with reduced mobility to increase their accessibility and inclusion – awarded to Lotfi Massarweh, Deimos Engenharia and their Elecnor team. 

The SAWCER concept won the GNSS Living Lab Prize with an idea inspired by a move to a new city, Barcelona, for winner Adrienne Fanning. Her app makes local shops as easy to search as online stores by creating and sharing crowdsourced, geo-localised catalogues.

The internet of Things (IoT) is building to be one of Galileo’s largest markets for applications and the Galileo 5G IoT Challenge award was presented to another idea to help inclusivity by making outdoor sports more accessible to blind or partially sighted people: the WAIBRO belt developed by Katrina Sedlackova and her team at WAIBRO sports.

New ideas and accelerators

Fiammetta Diani, Deputy Head of Market Development at the GSA presented the Idea of the Year and Start-up of the Year prizes; both of which target entrepreneurship. Idea of the Year went to the CX-GEODRONE project and a joint team from the Universities of Vigo and Oviedo, who also won the Galicia regional prize, for a radar-based drone payload that promised the inspection of underground utilities infrastructure without the need to dig up the road.

And this: uMaze takes Accuracy Matters prize in Galileo Innovation Challenge

The Start-up of the Year is awarded to a project that is already being implemented in a start-up that is not older than three years and this year was awarded to PODIS - Post Distress Signal. The winning team led by Andreas Alamanos also won the Greek regional prize for this IoT solution-as-a-service concept for automatic crash notification system.

The prestigious EGNSS Accelerator Winners were announced by Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission. Three winners were announced for the valuable incubation prize. First up was MEDeus, aka the drone doctors, represented by Hammad Jeilani and his UK regional winning team that is looking to improve the efficiency of delivering healthcare supplies using drones. 

Another double winner was second: Dronetag also won the Czech regional prize for Lukaz Brchl. The Dronetag concept will provide real-time identification for UAVs by leveraging Galileo and IoT technologies.

The third Incubation winner was in fact a triple success for the German Tocsen GmbH team. Tocsen won the Baden-Wurttemberg regional prize, took this Incubation Accelerator win and was on stage again as the single winner of the EGNSS crowdfunding campaign accelerator! Tocsen is a smart crash detection and automatic emergency call system designed to be incorporated in cyclists’ crash helmets.

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).

Once again, the Galileo Masters – and its sister award programme the Copernicus Masters – was the glittering highlight of EU Space Week 2019 that took place in Helsinki on 3 to 5 December. In its 15th year the Galileo Masters continues to attract the attention of some of the brightest and best minds. Topics submitted to the competition this year ranged through digitisation, big data, the sharing economy and artificial intelligence (AI), amongst others, but all with a common theme: the use of European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (EGNSS) Galileo and/or EGNOS to benefit society.

The 2019 Galileo Masters attracted some 203 participants reaching entrepreneurs from over 41 countries in Europe and around the world. Since its inception in 2004 the competition has seen a cumulative participation by just under 12,000 individuals submitting 4,587 individual business cases.

In addition to the overall Galileo Masters winner and regional awards, a range of special prizes are also given, including ‘Idea of the Year’ and ‘Start-up of the Year’ and a new prize for 2019 responding to an emerging trend: The Galileo-Copernicus Synergy Challenge.

Special prizes

The Gala event took place at the Helsinki Congress Paasitorni centre in central Helsinki on the evening of 4 December. In all, some 31 awards were handed out on the night under the Galileo Masters categories. Master of ceremonies, Bavarian broadcaster and celebrity Claus Kruesken, described the Masters awards ceremony as the “festive highlight of EU Space Week.” 

Read this: Performance Cockpit takes overall prize at Galileo Masters 2019

This year’s new prize, the GSA Galileo-Copernicus Synergy Challenge was presented by GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. Commenting on the event, he highlighted the links that the competition inspired between the GSA and the space applications community by “providing the GSA with a first-hand experience of emerging needs and solutions.” The first ever winner of the synergy prize was the Xylene concept from Giuseppe Benenati and his team. Read more here.

Other Galileo special prizes this year included the DLR Artificial Intelligence Navigation Challenge awarded to Pieter Bastiaan Ober of INTEGRICOM for a proposal to analyse the Galileo Signal in Space using AI. The BMVI PRS Applications Challenge was presented to Brandon Bradford of tissEU for his Odin’s Eye idea – a Galileo-enabled PRS tactical drone – that was also the winner of the Bavaria regional Challenge prize. 

The University Challenge was announced by Paul Bhatia from the University of Nottingham with the winner, Freewheel – a platform that allows people with reduced mobility to increase their accessibility and inclusion – awarded to Lotfi Massarweh, Deimos Engenharia and their Elecnor team. 

The SAWCER concept won the GNSS Living Lab Prize with an idea inspired by a move to a new city, Barcelona, for winner Adrienne Fanning. Her app makes local shops as easy to search as online stores by creating and sharing crowdsourced, geo-localised catalogues.

The internet of Things (IoT) is building to be one of Galileo’s largest markets for applications and the Galileo 5G IoT Challenge award was presented to another idea to help inclusivity by making outdoor sports more accessible to blind or partially sighted people: the WAIBRO belt developed by Katrina Sedlackova and her team at WAIBRO sports.

New ideas and accelerators

Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market Development at the GSA presented the Idea of the Year and Start-up of the Year prizes; both of which target entrepreneurship. Idea of the Year went to the CX-GEODRONE project and a joint team from the Universities of Vigo and Oviedo, who also won the Galicia regional prize, for a radar-based drone payload that promised the inspection of underground utilities infrastructure without the need to dig up the road.

And this: uMaze takes Accuracy Matters prize in Galileo Innovation Challenge

The Start-up of the Year is awarded to a project that is already being implemented in a start-up that is not older than three years and this year was awarded to PODIS - Post Distress Signal. The winning team led by Andreas Alamanos also won the Greek regional prize for this IoT solution-as-a-service concept for automatic crash notification system.

The prestigious EGNSS Accelerator Winners were announced by Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission. Three winners were announced for the valuable incubation prize. First up was MEDeus, aka the drone doctors, represented by Hammad Jeilani and his UK regional winning team that is looking to improve the efficiency of delivering healthcare supplies using drones. 

Another double winner was second: Dronetag also won the Czech regional prize for Lukaz Brchl. The Dronetag concept will provide real-time identification for UAVs by leveraging Galileo and IoT technologies.

The third Incubation winner was in fact a triple success for the German Tocsen GmbH team. Tocsen won the Baden-Wurttemberg regional prize, took this Incubation Accelerator win and was on stage again as the single winner of the EGNSS crowdfunding campaign accelerator! Tocsen is a smart crash detection and automatic emergency call system designed to be incorporated in cyclists’ crash helmets.

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).

Thales Alenia Space has been awarded a grant under the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Fundamental Elements funding mechanism for the development of the GIANO (Galileo-based TIming Receiver for CriticAl INfrastructure Robustness) receiver, which aims to make critical infrastructure more robust against interference, jamming and spoofing.

In an increasingly complex GNSS environment in which there is both unintentional and deliberate disruption of satellite signals, the GSA is funding the development of a timing receiver for professional applications to address the needs of the critical infrastructure user community, mainly energy generation and distribution, telecommunications and financial operators. 

Improved resilience

The GIANO receiver will leverage Galileo and EGNOS-driven innovation to improve the resilience of the receiver against interference, jamming and spoofing and increase the accuracy and reliability of the time transfer service. The timing platform prototype to be developed and validated will integrate all the latest innovative technologies, including professional products from Thales Alenia Space, paving the way for future Galileo-based timing receivers that offer improved resilience and accuracy at a reasonable cost.

Read this: GSA funding opportunity: Enhanced GNSS Receiver/User Terminal

“Critical infrastructure operators use GNSS for timing and synchronisation and are an important target segment for GSA Market Development because Galileo can make a difference. By funding the development of the GIANO receiver, the GSA aims to provide technological solutions to this community for robust and reliable timing,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani.

Towards this goal, outreach activities have been conducted among potential final users in the main commercial target groups to collect and analyse their needs. Then, following the definition and consolidation of stakeholders’ needs and the platform specifications, the project conducted a Preliminary Design Review at the end of November 2019.  

Europe-wide cooperation

The two-year project, funded under a GSA grant related to the Development of a Galileo-based timing receiver for critical infrastructures (GSA/GRANT/05/2017), will be coordinated by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, in collaboration with four European partners: Business Integration Partners S.p.A (BIP, Italy), PIKTime Systems (Poland), Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science (SRC PAS, Poland) and DEIMOS (Portugal).

And this: Orolia selected for Galileo resilient time receiver initiative

The project will also benefit from the support of the European Commission’s in-house science service - the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Italian National Metrology Institute (INRIM), which will make available its test facilities for verification activities on the developed equipment.

Thales Alenia Space has been awarded a grant under the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Fundamental Elements funding mechanism for the development of the GIANO (Galileo-based TIming Receiver for CriticAl INfrastructure Robustness) receiver, which aims to make critical infrastructure more robust against interference, jamming and spoofing.

In an increasingly complex GNSS environment in which there is both unintentional and deliberate disruption of satellite signals, the GSA is funding the development of a timing receiver for professional applications to address the needs of the critical infrastructure user community, mainly energy generation and distribution, telecommunications and financial operators. 

Improved resilience

The GIANO receiver will leverage Galileo and EGNOS-driven innovation to improve the resilience of the receiver against interference, jamming and spoofing and increase the accuracy and reliability of the time transfer service. The timing platform prototype to be developed and validated will integrate all the latest innovative technologies, including professional products from Thales Alenia Space, paving the way for future Galileo-based timing receivers that offer improved resilience and accuracy at a reasonable cost.

Read this: GSA funding opportunity: Enhanced GNSS Receiver/User Terminal

“Critical infrastructure operators use GNSS for timing and synchronisation and are an important target segment for GSA Market Development because Galileo can make a difference. By funding the development of the GIANO receiver, the GSA aims to provide technological solutions to this community for robust and reliable timing,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani.

Towards this goal, outreach activities have been conducted among potential final users in the main commercial target groups to collect and analyse their needs. Then, following the definition and consolidation of stakeholders’ needs and the platform specifications, the project conducted a Preliminary Design Review at the end of November 2019.  

Europe-wide cooperation

The two-year project, funded under a GSA grant related to the Development of a Galileo-based timing receiver for critical infrastructures (GSA/GRANT/05/2017), will be coordinated by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, in collaboration with four European partners: Business Integration Partners S.p.A (BIP, Italy), PIKTime Systems (Poland), Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science (SRC PAS, Poland) and DEIMOS (Portugal).

And this: Orolia selected for Galileo resilient time receiver initiative

The project will also benefit from the support of the European Commission’s in-house science service - the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Italian National Metrology Institute (INRIM), which will make available its test facilities for verification activities on the developed equipment.

The upstream space market, with its rocket launches and high-tech satellite payloads, may seem at a first glance to be the most exciting segment of the space industry. But when it comes to innovation, job and revenue creation and the provision of services that change people’s lives for the better, the downstream market is where the action is. This was the key message delivered by European GNSS Agency (GSA) Executive Director Carlo des Dorides at the New Space Economy forum in Rome on December 12.

We are living in the Golden Age of GNSS. Space-based technology is driving innovation and supporting service delivery in almost all sectors of the global economy – from agriculture and transport to healthcare and telecoms. Satellites and the location-based services that they enable are transforming the way that we live and work. 

Downstream driving the space economy

Delivering a keynote address on GNSS markets, applications and data at the NSE forum, the GSA Executive Director noted that downstream users are directly benefitting from Galileo. “Over 50,000 jobs are supported annually in the downstream GNSS industry,” des Dorides said, adding that European companies account for 27% of the global GNSS market and that this share is set to grow.

“GNSS downstream is driving the space economy. Global revenue generated by the GNSS downstream market is forecast to reach EUR 150 billion in 2019 and increase to EUR 325 billion in 2029,” des Dorides said, citing the latest edition of the GSA GNSS Market Report. “Over 50% of this GNSS revenue comes from added-value services,” he said.

Read this: Europe’s economy is increasingly dependent on space

With the evolution of the GSA into the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) it will be possible to fully exploit synergies between the EU space programmes to deliver applications and services in a wide range of sectors, from security and emergency response, to urban planning, agriculture and energy and critical infrastructure, des Dorides said.

“With its expanded mandate, the GSA will continue to support entrepreneurship and stimulate the EU downstream market to deliver applications with tangible social benefits, such as improved environmental performance, better transport efficiency and more effective emergency response,” he said.

Driving innovation in transport

One sector in particular in which new possibilities are opening up is road transport, which is a huge GNSS market segment. The road segment is forecast to dominate all other market segments and account for 93.3% of cumulative revenue in 2019-2029. In her keynote at the NSE forum, the GSA’s Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani spoke about GNSS and the road sector and, in particular, the state of play in autonomous vehicles.

Noting that almost 97% of new vehicles are equipped with GNSS-enabled in-vehicle systems, which provide PNT for a wide range of in-vehicle applications, Diani said that these systems are currently able to support navigation, remote diagnostics and assisted driving. “In the future, IVS will support even more complex applications, including automated driving,” she said.

And this: First Galileo-enabled autonomous vehicle successfully demonstrated

In terms of the state of play with autonomous driving, the GSA’s Head of Market Development said that preparations are currently underway for Level 4. At this level, a highly automated vehicle performs all driving tasks and monitors the environment under limited conditions, but the driver may still be required to intervene. Level 4 is the penultimate stage before full automation at Level 5.

Diani also noted the recent live demonstration of a Galileo-enabled autonomous vehicle. As part of this demonstration, a Renault ZOE electric car fitted with an innovative positioning engine developed by the ESCAPE project was autonomously driven on tracks at the University of Technology and on public roads in Compiègne, France. The EGE leverages Galileo signals and services to provide a core positioning component in autonomous vehicles.

"This successful test of the ESCAPE positioning engine based on Galileo, at automation Level 4, means that we are getting closer to provide the high accurate and reliable absolute positioning that will be needed for full automation,” she said.

More generally, Galileo will support new road safety functions that will become mandatory from 2022, including accident data recording, intelligent speed assistance, lane keeping assistance and vulnerable road user detection. 

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).

Helsinki was the cool venue for European Space Week 2019. From 3 to 5 December Europe’s leading space event brought together business leaders, policymakers, international experts and the space application user community to gain first-hand insights into the EU’s Space Programmes Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. They discussed how space solutions can contribute to a more sustainable future for Europe and the world. 

This year’s European Space Week focused on four central themes: how space solutions can help to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action; the new space economy for sustainable growth; how to save space for future generations; and space solutions for a sustainable Arctic environment.

Opening the EU Space Week plenary under the banner ‘Sustainable Space, Sustainable Europe, Sustainable Future’ former Finnish President Tarja Halonen highlighted how “Space applications observe own blue planet, enable us to find our way, communicate and connect, more sustainably.”

Christophe Grudler, MEP stated: "Major investments by the EU have enabled progress that no Member State could have achieved on its own.” He highlighted the need to defend and grow the space allocation in the forthcoming European Union budget negotiations. “An ambitious budget will be the only way to ensure Europe's global leadership and strategic autonomy," he concluded.

Pierre Delsaux from the European Commission agreed saying: “We must continue to invest in space.” 

Space for climate action

The new European Commission will have a clear focus on climate action, but how can space solutions help? Pierre Delsaux highlighted a future Copernicus mission to monitor CO2 emissions, while GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides outlined the contributions of Galileo and EGNOS to improve resource and energy efficiency and sustainable agriculture through more accurate positioning by enabling the maxim: “Doing more with less.”

“At GSA’s core is the development of products and services,” he continued. “We are funding concrete projects delivering solutions to specific questions and organising events such as hackathons to inspire young developers. The limit to projects is human creativity.”

Sustainable space ecosystem

A new economic ecosystem has been created in Europe as more talent and investment see the space sector as a cool place to do business. Pekka Laurila of Iceye, a small satellite company in Finland building a new digital infrastructure to enable real time knowledge of where everything is at all times, acknowledged that their success has been enabled by others. “We are the product of an ecosystem; we are standing on the shoulders of giants including institutions funded by public money plus a high-quality education system,” Laurila said. 

Investor Uli Fricke, founder of Triangles, agreed that there was a viable and thriving commercial space market in Europe and “The funding ecosystem from start-up to IPO is the bottleneck for many companies.” The key factor for any young space business was to have a clear business model and value proposition. “Often you need to take the space angle out of the question, when talking to investors,” she added.

Pascal Claudel, Chief Operating Officer at the GSA highlighted the agency’s role in delivering services 24/7 to users and in fostering users across all market sectors. “We can support SMEs in this ecosystem across the whole EU,” he said. “And there is no need to have space experience to work in the space market nowadays.” But there was a need to work together and involve all EU Member States and public and private investors to grow and sustain the market.

Saving Space

Space – especially low Earth orbit – is becoming a congested space noted keynote speaker Professor Minna Palmroth of the University of Helsinki. And more satellites are being launched with a mega trend towards very large fleets of small commercial satellites. Space debris is becoming a priority issue and she also highlighted the lack of knowledge of space weather in the near-Earth environment. “We still do not fully understand the environment that we launch into,” she commented.

But how to clear the debris? Newer satellites will have limited lifetimes and include de-orbiting technology, while older satellites might require third party action. Could there be a market established for deorbiting space debris and is international legislation a way forward or is standardisation the right route? “The sustainable future in space requires every one of us to work together on this topic,” she concluded.

Sustainable Arctic

The final Space Week plenary examined how EU space solutions can protect the arctic environment and support sustainable growth as the climate changes. Jouni Pulliainen, Director of Space & EO, at the Finnish Meteorological Institute saw three main issues where space can help: gaps in monitoring the climatic changes that are happening, improved communications and more accurate navigation information. Session moderator Professor Heidi Kuusniemi of Vaasa University reinforced the growing importance of robust and reliable navigation services in the Arctic.

Improved synergies between space services could help boost their use in the Arctic said Dan Chirondojan, Director at the Commission’s Joint Research Centre that has conducted a study on space solutions and the region. Improved satellite navigation and communication would be needed to enable future remote control and autonomous vessels in the arctic said Karno Kenovuo, Co-founder and CEO of Awake.AI so evolution of EGNSS services in the region was important. Wider coverage of the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) service would be very useful due to its enhanced performance.

Mauro Facchini of the European Commission agreed and indicated that the EGNOS Safety of Life service was currently supported to 72 degrees North but may be extended to 75 degrees North soon and could be deployed over the entire arctic by 2030.

Concluding the plenary sessions Finnish Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Katri Kulmuni thanked all participants in EU Space Week 2019 and stated that: “Space activities must be pursued in a sustainable and responsible manner,” but that the week’s debates had shown that “Space is truly a channel for sustainable growth.”

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).

A Call for Proposals recently opened under the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Fundamental Elements funding mechanism is targeting the development of a drone-borne double-frequency Galileo receiver that leverages the differentiators of European GNSS (EGNOS and Galileo).

Drones bring innovation and new applications and business models to European citizens, becoming the 3rd GNSS market segment for device shipments according to the last GSA market report. The sector is booming and growth in drone use is set to outstrip any other user base in aviation. Drones generally integrate GNSS solutions in an effort to navigate efficiently and safely. EGNSS added value

European GNSS, EGNOS and Galileo, provides significant added value to drone navigation, positioning and related applications, and the use of their differentiators will be instrumental in opening up new business opportunities.

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Within this context, this Call for Proposals is targeting the development of a drone-borne low-cost double-frequency Galileo multi-constellation receiver, integrated with INS (inertial navigation system) and other sensors. The technology should be at a sufficient level of maturity (technology readiness level 7).

Robust solution

The call aims at delivery of a robust navigation solution, including integrity requirements for operations, that leverages Galileo differentiators such as OS Authentication and High Accuracy. The solution should be validated in a representative environment for the target operations. This includes conducting flight tests and analysing the performances obtained from a Galileo-only constellation and comparing these with those coming from multi-constellation mode.

For more information on this call, click here.

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).

A Call for Proposals recently opened under the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Fundamental Elements funding mechanism is targeting the development of a drone-borne double-frequency Galileo receiver that leverages the differentiators of European GNSS (EGNOS and Galileo).

Drones bring innovation and new applications and business models to European citizens, becoming the 3rd GNSS market segment for device shipments according to the last GSA market report. The sector is booming and growth in drone use is set to outstrip any other user base in aviation. Drones generally integrate GNSS solutions in an effort to navigate efficiently and safely. EGNSS added value

European GNSS, EGNOS and Galileo, provides significant added value to drone navigation, positioning and related applications, and the use of their differentiators will be instrumental in opening up new business opportunities.

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Within this context, this Call for Proposals is targeting the development of a drone-borne low-cost double-frequency Galileo multi-constellation receiver, integrated with INS (inertial navigation system) and other sensors. The technology should be at a sufficient level of maturity (technology readiness level 7).

Robust solution

The call aims at delivery of a robust navigation solution, including integrity requirements for operations, that leverages Galileo differentiators such as OS Authentication and High Accuracy. The solution should be validated in a representative environment for the target operations. This includes conducting flight tests and analysing the performances obtained from a Galileo-only constellation and comparing these with those coming from multi-constellation mode.

For more information on this call, click here.

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 support Search and Rescue services and provide general awareness on the related infrastructure, the GNSS Service Centre is publishing relevant SAR/Galileo information, such as the status of the Galileo satellites SAR payload, SAR reference beacons on ground and the availability of the SAR data server.

Search and Rescue (SAR) operations involve locating and helping people in distress. Launched as part of the Galileo Initial Services, Galileo is the first GNSS constellation to offer global SAR capability and is fully integrated in the COSPAS-SARSAT system, enabling quick detection of people in distress and subsequent rescue. Galileo not only provides a precise location for emitting beacons, but also a return channel which will inform users that help is on its way.

Aiming at a continuous upgrade of service provision from the GNSS Service Centre (GSC), new information has been published about the deployed SAR infrastructure, including the status of the service and the availability of the data provided by the GSC. This information is provided to professionals, academia and enthusiasts as a new effort on the part of the GSA to show transparency and a commitment to the Galileo community.

What SAR/Galileo information is available?

The following data is now provided on the GSC website:

• SAR/Galileo satellites information: a table with information about operating mode and current status of the forward- and return-link transponders per each Galileo satellite. 

• SAR payload characteristics: technical specifications of the SAR repeater instrument.

• SAR/Galileo reference beacons and their availability: these stations are geographically distributed across the service area and are used for continuous monitoring of the SAR/Galileo Service.  

• SAR/Galileo server status: the SAR/Galileo Server is a complementary Galileo infrastructure operated by the GSC that provides support to the SAR/Galileo Service and worldwide SAR community by providing information on the availability of Galileo constellation orbital products in a precise and timely manner. The SAR/Galileo server can be accessed worldwide through a secure FTP connection. This section informs the users about the working status of this infrastructure.

All this information is accessible through a new menu section called SAR Information under the “System & Service Status” heading. This section complements the general description of the SAR Service and the related market.

The SAR information will be updated whenever a new Galileo satellite is launched or whenever there is a maintenance event affecting the SAR/Galileo service. 

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 support Search and Rescue services and provide general awareness on the related infrastructure, the GNSS Service Centre is publishing relevant SAR/Galileo information, such as the status of the Galileo satellites SAR payload, SAR reference beacons on the ground and the availability of the SAR data server.

Search and Rescue (SAR) operations involve locating and helping people in distress. Launched as part of the Galileo Initial Services, Galileo is the first GNSS constellation to offer global SAR capability and is fully integrated in the COSPAS-SARSAT system, enabling quick detection of people in distress and subsequent rescue. Galileo not only provides a precise location for emitting beacons, but also a return channel which will inform users that help is on its way.

Aiming at a continuous upgrade of service provision from the GNSS Service Centre (GSC), new information has been published about the deployed SAR infrastructure, including the status of the service and the availability of the data provided by the GSC. This information is provided to professionals, academia and enthusiasts as a new effort on the part of the GSA to show transparency and a commitment to the Galileo community.

What SAR/Galileo information is available?

The following data is now provided on the GSC website:

• SAR/Galileo satellites information: a table with information about operating mode and current status of the forward- and return-link transponders per each Galileo satellite. 

• SAR payload characteristics: technical specifications of the SAR repeater instrument.

• SAR/Galileo reference beacons and their availability: these stations are geographically distributed across the service area and are used for continuous monitoring of the SAR/Galileo Service.  

• SAR/Galileo server status: the SAR/Galileo Server is a complementary Galileo infrastructure operated by the GSC that provides support to the SAR/Galileo Service and worldwide SAR community by providing information on the availability of Galileo constellation orbital products in a precise and timely manner. The SAR/Galileo server can be accessed worldwide through a secure FTP connection. This section informs the users about the working status of this infrastructure.

All this information is accessible through a new menu section called SAR Information under the “System & Service Status” heading. This section complements the general description of the SAR Service and the related market.

The SAR information will be updated whenever a new Galileo satellite is launched or whenever there is a maintenance event affecting the SAR/Galileo service. 

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has opened a call for proposals within its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism, targeting the development of close-to-market GNSS receivers and associated technologies (‘filling the gaps technologies’) not developed by other FE projects; and/or cutting-edge GNSS receiver technologies (‘emerging technologies’) that are at the forefront of current R&D and may or may not have immediate adoption in market-ready products. The deadline for submissions is 8 January 2020.

The Call for Proposals targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software/firmware algorithms that leverage Galileo differentiators and fill technology gaps for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas.

The proposals should be innovative and compliant with specific market constraints, ready to be integrated into a close-to-market device and meet the application requirements. The technology readiness level should be at least 7, which means that a system prototype should be demonstrated in an operational environment.

Looking to the future

Applicants may also be interested in submitting a proposal in the second stream in the call, which targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software based on disruptive, future-looking technologies for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas. As with the ‘filling the gaps’ solutions, this technology should also leverage Galileo differentiators. 

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Proposals in this section should focus on R&D excellence going beyond the current state-of-the-art and current market needs. However, the technology does not necessarily have to be focused on a specific application or segment. The technology readiness level should be at least 4, meaning that the technology should have been validated in a lab.

Informative webinar

The GSA is organising a webinar on 17 December 2019 at 10:00, on the Fundamental Elements Call “Filling the gaps and emerging E-GNSS receiver technologies”. This will be an opportunity for interested stakeholders and applicants to learn how to prepare a successful proposal. To register to the webinar, click here.

Things to keep in mind

The Fundamental Elements programme already covers a wide range of markets and key applications, so the developed technology should complement rather than overlap any of past, ongoing or planned projects funded by the GSA. The outcome of the grant should develop GNSS-relevant technologies in line with current market trends and needs in the short term (2020-2025). 

Analysis in the GNSS Market Report and User Technology Report shows that new requirements from existing and emerging applications will increase the demand for innovative PNT technologies. The technology developed in the call should be integrated and demonstrated in a GNSS device fitting one or more applications within the GNSS market.

For more details, please see the call documentation package.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has opened a call for proposals within its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism, targeting the development of close-to-market GNSS receivers and associated technologies (‘filling the gaps technologies’) not developed by other FE projects; and/or cutting-edge GNSS receiver technologies (‘emerging technologies’) that are at the forefront of current R&D and may or may not have immediate adoption in market-ready products. The deadline for submissions is 8 January 2020.

The Call for Proposals targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software/firmware algorithms that leverage Galileo differentiators and fill technology gaps for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas.

The proposals should be innovative and compliant with specific market constraints, ready to be integrated into a close-to-market device and meet the application requirements. The technology readiness level should be at least 7, which means that a system prototype should be demonstrated in an operational environment.

Looking to the future

Applicants may also be interested in submitting a proposal in the second stream in the call, which targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software based on disruptive, future-looking technologies for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas. As with the ‘filling the gaps’ solutions, this technology should also leverage Galileo differentiators. 

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Proposals in this section should focus on R&D excellence going beyond the current state-of-the-art and current market needs. However, the technology does not necessarily have to be focused on a specific application or segment. The technology readiness level should be at least 4, meaning that the technology should have been validated in a lab.

Informative webinar

The GSA is organising a webinar on 17 December 2019 at 10:00 CET, on the Fundamental Elements Call “Filling the gaps and emerging E-GNSS receiver technologies”. This will be an opportunity for interested stakeholders and applicants to learn how to prepare a successful proposal. To register to the webinar, click here.

Things to keep in mind

The Fundamental Elements programme already covers a wide range of markets and key applications, so the developed technology should complement rather than overlap any of past, ongoing or planned projects funded by the GSA. The outcome of the grant should develop GNSS-relevant technologies in line with current market trends and needs in the short term (2020-2025). 

Analysis in the GNSS Market Report and User Technology Report shows that new requirements from existing and emerging applications will increase the demand for innovative PNT technologies. The technology developed in the call should be integrated and demonstrated in a GNSS device fitting one or more applications within the GNSS market.

For more details, please see the call documentation package.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has opened a call for proposals within its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism, targeting the development of close-to-market GNSS receivers and associated technologies (‘filling the gaps technologies’) not developed by other FE projects; and/or cutting-edge GNSS receiver technologies (‘emerging technologies’) that are at the forefront of current R&D and may or may not have immediate adoption in market-ready products. The deadline for submissions is 8 January 2020.

The Call for Proposals targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software/firmware algorithms that leverage Galileo differentiators and fill technology gaps for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas.

The proposals should be innovative and compliant with specific market constraints, ready to be integrated into a close-to-market device and meet the application requirements. The technology readiness level should be at least 7, which means that a system prototype should be demonstrated in an operational environment.

Looking to the future

Applicants may also be interested in submitting a proposal in the second stream in the call, which targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software based on disruptive, future-looking technologies for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas. As with the ‘filling the gaps’ solutions, this technology should also leverage Galileo differentiators. 

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Proposals in this section should focus on R&D excellence going beyond the current state-of-the-art and current market needs. However, the technology does not necessarily have to be focused on a specific application or segment. The technology readiness level should be at least 4, meaning that the technology should have been validated in a lab.

Informative webinar

The GSA is organising a webinar on 17 December 2019 at 10:00, on the Fundamental Elements Call “Filling the gaps and emerging E-GNSS receiver technologies”. This will be an opportunity for interested stakeholders and applicants to learn how to prepare a successful proposal. To register to the webinar, click here.

Things to keep in mind

The Fundamental Elements programme already covers a wide range of markets and key applications, so the developed technology should complement rather than overlap any of past, ongoing or planned projects funded by the GSA. The outcome of the grant should develop GNSS-relevant technologies in line with current market trends and needs in the short term (2020-2025). 

Analysis in the GNSS Market Report and User Technology Report shows that new requirements from existing and emerging applications will increase the demand for innovative PNT technologies. The technology developed in the call should be integrated and demonstrated in a GNSS device fitting one or more applications within the GNSS market.

For more details, please see the call documentation package.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has opened a call for proposals within its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism, targeting the development of close-to-market GNSS receivers and associated technologies (‘filling the gaps technologies’) not developed by other FE projects; and/or cutting-edge GNSS receiver technologies (‘emerging technologies’) that are at the forefront of current R&D and may or may not have immediate adoption in market-ready products. The deadline for submissions is 8 January 2020.

The Call for Proposals targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software/firmware algorithms that leverage Galileo differentiators and fill technology gaps for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas.

The proposals should be innovative and compliant with specific market constraints, ready to be integrated into a close-to-market device and meet the application requirements. The technology readiness level should be at least 7, which means that a system prototype should be demonstrated in an operational environment.

Looking to the future

Applicants may also be interested in submitting a proposal in the second stream in the call, which targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software based on disruptive, future-looking technologies for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas. As with the ‘filling the gaps’ solutions, this technology should also leverage Galileo differentiators. 

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Proposals in this section should focus on R&D excellence going beyond the current state-of-the-art and current market needs. However, the technology does not necessarily have to be focused on a specific application or segment. The technology readiness level should be at least 4, meaning that the technology should have been validated in a lab.

Informative webinar

The GSA is organising a webinar on 17 December 2019 at 10:00, on the Fundamental Elements Call “Filling the gaps and emerging E-GNSS receiver technologies”. This will be an opportunity for interested stakeholders and applicants to learn how to prepare a successful proposal. To register to the webinar, click here.

Things to keep in mind

The Fundamental Elements programme already covers a wide range of markets and key applications, so the developed technology should complement rather than overlap any of past, ongoing or planned projects funded by the GSA. The outcome of the grant should develop GNSS-relevant technologies in line with current market trends and needs in the short term (2020-2025). 

Analysis in the GNSS Market Report and User Technology Report shows that new requirements from existing and emerging applications will increase the demand for innovative PNT technologies. The technology developed in the call should be integrated and demonstrated in a GNSS device fitting one or more applications within the GNSS market.

For more details, please see the call documentation package.

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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has opened a call for proposals within its Fundamental Elements funding mechanism, targeting the development of close-to-market GNSS receivers and associated technologies (‘filling the gaps technologies’) not developed by other FE projects; and/or cutting-edge GNSS receiver technologies (‘emerging technologies’) that are at the forefront of current R&D and may or may not have immediate adoption in market-ready products. The deadline for submissions is 8 January 2020.

The Call for Proposals targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software/firmware algorithms that leverage Galileo differentiators and fill technology gaps for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas.

The proposals should be innovative and compliant with specific market constraints, ready to be integrated into a close-to-market device and meet the application requirements. The technology readiness level should be at least 7, which means that a system prototype should be demonstrated in an operational environment.

Looking to the future

Applicants may also be interested in submitting a proposal in the second stream in the call, which targets the development, integration, testing and demonstration of hardware components and/or software based on disruptive, future-looking technologies for GNSS devices, receivers and/or antennas. As with the ‘filling the gaps’ solutions, this technology should also leverage Galileo differentiators. 

Read this: Shaping the future of EGNSS research and innovation

Proposals in this section should focus on R&D excellence going beyond the current state-of-the-art and current market needs. However, the technology does not necessarily have to be focused on a specific application or segment. The technology readiness level should be at least 4, meaning that the technology should have been validated in a lab.

Informative webinar

The GSA is organising a webinar on 17 December 2019 at 10:00, on the Fundamental Elements Call “Filling the gaps and emerging E-GNSS receiver technologies”. This will be an opportunity for interested stakeholders and applicants to learn how to prepare a successful proposal. To register to the webinar, click here.

Things to keep in mind

The Fundamental Elements programme already covers a wide range of markets and key applications, so the developed technology should complement rather than overlap any of past, ongoing or planned projects funded by the GSA. The outcome of the grant should develop GNSS-relevant technologies in line with current market trends and needs in the short term (2020-2025). 

Analysis in the GNSS Market Report and User Technology Report shows that new requirements from existing and emerging applications will increase the demand for innovative PNT technologies. The technology developed in the call should be integrated and demonstrated in a GNSS device fitting one or more applications within the GNSS market.

For more details, please see the call documentation package.

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).

Interested in presenting your solution at the world’s largest mobile event? Then read on! The European GNSS Agency (GSA) is looking for innovative solutions to showcase at the Galileo stand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 24-27 February 2020. Every year MWC brings together leading mobile technology developers, manufacturers, service providers and app developers from across the globe. With over 107,000 visitors expected in 2020, next year’s event will be a perfect opportunity to showcase the latest EGNSS-based innovations.

MWC Barcelona will host the latest cutting-edge technologies from more than 2,400 of the world’s leading mobile technology companies. With a programme featuring leading visionaries and investors, the Congress is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to present and promote innovative new ideas, technologies and applications and bring them to the attention of key decision-makers.

With the goal of exploring the hottest trends influencing the mobile industry, MWC Barcelona is an ideal platform to showcase and promote innovative EGNSS-based solutions and applications, such as those being developed within Horizon 2020. The congress also shows how European space research is enhancing EU industrial competitiveness and playing a pivotal role in tackling the various societal challenges facing Europe. 

Read this: The GSA and Galileo at MWC Barcelona

“MWC is an ideal chance to present your EGNSS-based solutions and bring your applications to the attention of a large audience of your peers, investors and the public at large. If you have an EGNSS-based solution with the potential to improve the lives of European citizens, then we would like to hear from you,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani.

Expression of Interest

With this in mind, ahead of next year’s MWC the GSA is launching a call for expressions of interest among its Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements partners and other EU companies. The idea is to provide a space at the GSA stand to showcase our partners’ Galileo-enabled mobile solutions. For this edition of the congress, the theme of the GSA stand will be: “Leisure, fitness and sports applications” so priority will be given to solutions that address these markets. If you have an EGNSS-based solution or product that you would like to demonstrate at MWC Barcelona, please submit your application to market@gsa.europa.eu by 3 January 2020. Put “Interested in showcasing our project at MWC 2020” in the subject line of your email. For more information on how to apply read the Rules and Conditions.

This will be an unmissable opportunity to present your solutions to a potential investors and beneficiaries. Join us in Barcelona in February 2020 at MWC, where innovation is celebrated, connections are made, insights are gained, products are launched and business gets done!

EGNSS-based innovation

By matching ideas with opportunities and talent with available resources, MWC Barcelona helps support the GSA in its mission of linking space to user needs. In fact, from dual frequency chipsets to new smartphones, EGNSS was behind many of the technology announcements made during the Mobile World Congress 2019. 

And this: Ubiscale: low-power GNSS processing for tracking devices

What’s more, at the MWC 2019, the GSA stand featured displays and presentations on a number of EU projects, including the GSA-managed Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements projects Flamingo and ESCAPE, along with solutions from Lycie, Ubiscale, GEO++, Navisoc and Galileo for Mobility. Among the showcased products there was a new solution developed by Ubiscale enabling low-power GNSS sensing and position determination for IoT and a high-accuracy positioning application developed by GEO++, leveraging RTK technology in the backend to apply generated GNSS corrections to smartphone measurements.

Places at the Galileo stand will be limited, so get in touch with us as soon as possible to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

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).

Interested in presenting your solution at the world’s largest mobile event? Then read on! The European GNSS Agency (GSA) is looking for innovative solutions to showcase at the Galileo stand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 24-27 February 2020. Every year MWC brings together leading mobile technology developers, manufacturers, service providers and app developers from across the globe. With over 107,000 visitors expected in 2020, next year’s event will be a perfect opportunity to showcase the latest EGNSS-based innovations.

MWC Barcelona will host the latest cutting-edge technologies from more than 2,400 of the world’s leading mobile technology companies. With a programme featuring leading visionaries and investors, the Congress is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to present and promote innovative new ideas, technologies and applications and bring them to the attention of key decision-makers.

With the goal of exploring the hottest trends influencing the mobile industry, MWC Barcelona is an ideal platform to showcase and promote innovative EGNSS-based solutions and applications, such as those being developed within Horizon 2020. The congress also shows how European space research is enhancing EU industrial competitiveness and playing a pivotal role in tackling the various societal challenges facing Europe. 

Read this: The GSA and Galileo at MWC Barcelona

“MWC is an ideal chance to present your EGNSS-based solutions and bring your applications to the attention of a large audience of your peers, investors and the public at large. If you have an EGNSS-based solution with the potential to improve the lives of European citizens, then we would like to hear from you,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani.

Expression of Interest

With this in mind, ahead of next year’s MWC the GSA is launching a call for expressions of interest among its Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements partners and other EU companies. The idea is to provide a space at the GSA stand to showcase our partners’ Galileo-enabled mobile solutions. For this edition of the congress, the theme of the GSA stand will be: “Leisure, fitness and sports applications” so priority will be given to solutions that address these markets. If you have an EGNSS-based solution or product that you would like to demonstrate at MWC Barcelona, please submit your application to market@gsa.europa.eu by 3 January 2020. Put “Interested in showcasing our project at MWC 2020” in the subject line of your email. For more information on how to apply read the Rules and Conditions.

This will be an unmissable opportunity to present your solutions to a potential investors and beneficiaries. Join us in Barcelona in February 2020 at MWC, where innovation is celebrated, connections are made, insights are gained, products are launched and business gets done!

EGNSS-based innovation

By matching ideas with opportunities and talent with available resources, MWC Barcelona helps support the GSA in its mission of linking space to user needs. In fact, from dual frequency chipsets to new smartphones, EGNSS was behind many of the technology announcements made during the Mobile World Congress 2019. 

And this: Ubiscale: low-power GNSS processing for tracking devices

What’s more, at the MWC 2019, the GSA stand featured displays and presentations on a number of EU projects, including the GSA-managed Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements projects Flamingo and ESCAPE, along with solutions from Lycie, Ubiscale, GEO++, Navisoc and Galileo for Mobility. Among the showcased products there was a new solution developed by Ubiscale enabling low-power GNSS sensing and position determination for IoT and a high-accuracy positioning application developed by GEO++, leveraging RTK technology in the backend to apply generated GNSS corrections to smartphone measurements.

Places at the Galileo stand will be limited, so get in touch with us as soon as possible to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

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).

A version of the NeQuick G algorithm using a new coding approach is now available for download on the GSC website. This version is the result of intensive recoding by engineers at the EU’s Joint Research Centre.

GNSS signals travelling through the ionosphere can be significantly delayed by the electrical charges in this atmospheric layer before reaching the users’ terminal. To compensate for this delay in the signal, Galileo receivers integrate a dynamic model of the ionosphere composition known as the NeQuick G model. Receiver manufacturers will now be able to benefit from a version of the NeQuick G correction algorithm that implements a new coding approach. 

Rigorous testing

The JRC concluded its work recently after successful rigorous testing in the framework of the gLAB tool (GNSS software suite from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya). This version of the code has been designed to be highly modular, rendering it more legible for a potential programmer with no specific knowledge about signal propagation in the ionosphere. A library has been also developed to enable its quick integration into existing applications.

Read this: Have your say on the future of Galileo and EGNOS

This software will be released as free and open source software under the terms of the European Union Public Licence (EUPL), version 1.2. The open-source code is now ready to be implemented on single-frequency platforms and can be used on a global scale without limitation under the EUPL. This freedom should contribute to a wider adoption of the NeQuick G model at user level.

This version of the NeQuick G code is available for download on the GSC website. You can register on the site here, and then download the software here. 

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).

A version of the NeQuick G algorithm using a new coding approach is now available for download on the GSC website. This version is the result of intensive recoding by engineers at the EU’s Joint Research Centre.

GNSS signals travelling through the ionosphere can be significantly delayed by the electrical charges in this atmospheric layer before reaching the users’ terminal. To compensate for this delay in the signal, Galileo receivers integrate a dynamic model of the ionosphere composition known as the NeQuick G model. Receiver manufacturers will now be able to benefit from a version of the NeQuick G correction algorithm that implements a new coding approach. 

Rigorous testing

The JRC concluded its work recently after successful rigorous testing in the framework of the gLAB tool (GNSS software suite from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya). This version of the code has been designed to be highly modular, rendering it more legible for a potential programmer with no specific knowledge about signal propagation in the ionosphere. A library has been also developed to enable its quick integration into existing applications.

Read this: Have your say on the future of Galileo and EGNOS

This software will be released as free and open source software under the terms of the European Union Public Licence (EUPL), version 1.2. The open-source code is now ready to be implemented on single-frequency platforms and can be used on a global scale without limitation under the EUPL. This freedom should contribute to a wider adoption of the NeQuick G model at user level.

This version of the NeQuick G code is available for download on the GSC website. You can register on the site here, and then download the software here. 

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).

The Horizon 2020-funded PRoPART project successfully tested a Galileo-based positioning solution enhanced with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technique for automated trucks and advanced driver assistance systems at the AstaZero Proving Ground in Sandhult, near Borås, Sweden, at the end of November. Combining Galileo’s differentiators with other positioning and sensor technologies, the solution offers reliable cm-level accuracy using correction data from reference stations.

Autonomous vehicles/trucks and advanced driver assistance systems need robust and precise positioning to enhance safety and efficiency and enable reliable operations. This is especially important in the early transition phase when not all vehicles will be automated. 

PRoPART has achieved this goal by exploiting the distinguishing features of Galileo in combination with other positioning sensors and technologies, which it shares using V2X technology. The innovative solution developed during the project has the potential to be a game changer for autonomous transport in the future.

A game changer

The solution was demonstrated in a recreated highway situation, with a connected autonomous truck and two unconnected manned cars. As part of the test, a Scania self-driving truck executed a safe and efficient lane change managed by the PRoPART system, relying on centimetre-level positioning combined with collaborative perception sensor data.

Watch this: PRoPART - Precise and Robust Positioning for Automated Road Transport

“Galileo is a key component of the PRoPART platform, and contributes to maintaining the integrity of the information which is essential,” said GSA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani.

PRoPART is an important project, in the sense that it delivers robust positioning and timing for future autonomous road transport that fulfils the various needs of vehicle OEMs. It uses object detection sensors as well as PVT information from the GNSS engine along with similar information from road side detection units. This allows it to remotely sense non-connected vehicles, offering a reliable solution for the transition period when both automated and non-automated vehicles will be using the roads.

A truly European venture

The project combines RTK positioning software from Waysure (Sweden) with satellite measurements, in particular advanced and wide band Galileo signals for improved accuracy and enabled with authentication, as developed by Fraunhofer IIS (Germany). The satellite positioning is augmented with an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) ranging solution from Spanish research institution Ceit-IK4. 

Read this: First Galileo-enabled autonomous vehicle successfully demonstrated

The self-driving truck was supplied by Scania, with Hungary-based V2X company Commsignia providing the C-ITS technology. Baselabs from Germany provided fusion of sensor data from on-board and road-side sensors and developed a situational assessment for the automated lane change manoeuvre. The project was coordinated by the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) and received funding from the GSA under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 innovation programme (grant agreement No 776307).

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).