European GNSS Agency

Significant advancements in satellite-based positioning have enabled GNSS receivers and services to play a large role in intelligent transport systems in recent years. According to the European GNSS Agency (GSA) new applications for smart mobility are utilising EGNOS and Galileo, and GNSS is becoming a key asset in designing new ITS infrastructures.

Navigation is one of the most common ways GNSS can be used in road applications. For example, satellites can help provide turn-by-turn information to drivers, cyclists, and even pedestrians. More so, they can also be used in fleet management on-board units and road traffic monitoring services.

The GSA recently highlighted these benefits at the European GNSS Village, part of the ITS World Congress 2015.

Better Public Transport

When it comes to using GNSS services in public transport, Kordis JMK, the operator of public transport in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, is a successful example. Encompassing national and regional passenger trains, regional buses, city trolleybuses and trams, the project tracks vehicles using GNSS to guarantee passenger connections for those changing between different transport modes.

Using GNSS surveillance, the positions and real-time routes of all vehicles can be monitored, and drivers can be instructed to wait at stops until the connecting vehicle reaches the destination. This also helps ease congestion, as the public transport controller can be advised to take a detour in cases of congested areas.

         Also Read: European GNSS Brings Added Value to ITS

Also working in public transport, Voxelia Simulate uses a multi-agent system model to simulate vehicles in order to evaluate practical situations. “Real-time simulations and studies of transportation systems are very important for us,” says Renan Zeo, Director General of Voxelia.

“For instance, a public transport operator needs to know precisely the reason for an irregular bus service. Without an accurate positioning system, the operator would ignore if a bus is stopped by a traffic light, for boarding passengers, or because of a traffic jam.”

Voxelia tracks buses using EGNOS in order to provide accurate answers for delays, preparing a solution for the autonomous vehicles of the future. “Unmanned cars need to communicate to avoid deadlock situations,” Zeo says.

Using research coordinated with the Technology University of Belfort-Montbeliard, Voxelia studied the positioning accuracy that vehicles could manage by themselves, as well as access to conflict zones like intersections. “Our simulation shows the feasibility of cooperative intersections according to the accuracy of positioning systems,” adds Zoe.

Geoimagine, another company using GNSS for transportation, is working to create smarter routes for taxis. Its network optimiser solution for fleet management uses mobile sensors to optimise itineraries to drive taxis towards areas with higher potential number of clients, depending on the time of the day, therefore saving time and lowering fuel consumption while increasing business. “We are understanding taxi driving behaviour in a rapid, demand-changing scenario,” says Isaac Pozo, the company’s CTO.

Important for the Future

With growing cities and increased public transport, it is clear that GNSS services will become more and more important. GNSS receivers and services have an estimated core revenue of EUR 36 billion by 2018, showing that EGNOS and Galileo-related road applications are in demand, and will assist in optimising mobility for years to come.

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).

Significant advancements in satellite-based positioning have enabled GNSS receivers and services to play a large role in intelligent transport systems (ITS) in recent years. New applications for smart mobility are utilising EGNOS and Galileo, and GNSS is becoming a key asset in designing new ITS infrastructures.

Navigation is one of the most common ways GNSS can be used in road applications. For example, satellites can help provide turn-by-turn information to drivers, cyclists, and even pedestrians. More so, they can also be used in fleet management on-board units and road traffic monitoring services.

The GSA recently highlighted these benefits at the European GNSS Village, part of the ITS World Congress 2015.

Better Public Transport

When it comes to using GNSS services in public transport, Kordis JMK, the operator of public transport in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, is a successful example. Encompassing national and regional passenger trains, regional buses, city trolleybuses and trams, the project tracks vehicles using GNSS to guarantee passenger connections for those changing between different transport modes.

Using GNSS surveillance, the positions and real-time routes of all vehicles can be monitored, and drivers can be instructed to wait at stops until the connecting vehicle reaches the destination. This also helps ease congestion, as the public transport controller can be advised to take a detour in cases of congested areas.

         Also Read: European GNSS Brings Added Value to ITS

Also working in public transport, Voxelia Simulate uses a multi-agent system model to simulate vehicles in order to evaluate practical situations. “Real-time simulations and studies of transportation systems are very important for us,” says Renan Zeo, Director General of Voxelia.

“For instance, a public transport operator needs to know precisely the reason for an irregular bus service. Without an accurate positioning system, the operator would ignore if a bus is stopped by a traffic light, for boarding passengers, or because of a traffic jam.”

Voxelia tracks buses using EGNOS in order to provide accurate answers for delays, preparing a solution for the autonomous vehicles of the future. “Unmanned cars need to communicate to avoid deadlock situations,” Zeo says.

Using research coordinated with the Technology University of Belfort-Montbeliard, Voxelia studied the positioning accuracy that vehicles could manage by themselves, as well as access to conflict zones like intersections. “Our simulation shows the feasibility of cooperative intersections according to the accuracy of positioning systems,” adds Zoe.

Geoimagine, another company using GNSS for transportation, is working to create smarter routes for taxis. Its network optimiser solution for fleet management uses mobile sensors to optimise itineraries to drive taxis towards areas with higher potential number of clients, depending on the time of the day, therefore saving time and lowering fuel consumption while increasing business. “We are understanding taxi driving behaviour in a rapid, demand-changing scenario,” says Isaac Pozo, the company’s CTO.

Important for the Future

With growing cities and increased public transport, it is clear that GNSS services will become more and more important. GNSS receivers and services have an estimated core revenue of EUR 36 billion by 2018, showing that EGNOS and Galileo-related road applications are in demand, and will assist in optimising mobility for years to come.

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 relatively new phenomenon, autonomous and connected vehicles are the way of the future. As this industry grows, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) says GNSS-enabled vehicles will help make life simpler and safer for drivers.

Automated vehicles are becoming a reality, with promises of safer and more efficient roads. Drivers often struggle with maintaining a smooth speed, and usually do not maintain the appropriate distance between vehicles. Computer control optimises traffic flow and energy efficiency, and also helps prevent accidents due to speed or distance.  In addition, autonomous vehicles could open greater transportation options for people with disabilities, and could allow drivers to work, sleep, read – or simply sit back and enjoy the ride.

GNSS plays a large role in providing accurate information for automated vehicles. In fact, Galileo is set to provide an even stronger service as it will be more resistant to multipath interference in urban canyons and will provide an authenticated signal allowing receivers to detect spoofing attacks. Galileo’s important role in automated vehicles was well-demonstrated at the European GNSS Village, part of the ITS World Congress 2015. 

         Also Read: European GNSS Brings Added Value to ITS

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is already taking advantage of GNSS to increase the flexibility and resilience of autonomous vehicles in the city environment as GNSS signals are currently used as a complement to LIDAR-based navigation systems in a trial project in Greenwich. If the trial is successful, it will increase potential applications for autonomous vehicles within the city environment and accelerate the uptake by the operators of business and leisure services, as well as increase the relevance of autonomous vehicles as part of the transport system for citizens.

Also using GNSS, Capturas is a vehicle connectivity platform from OTC Engineering addressed to the present and future of connected mobility. The solution takes the maximum benefit of the ICT integration inside vehicles and generates data for companies that rely on vehicles and mobility for business, such as fleet operators or renting companies. Operation times and costs can be reduced with better data, and productivity can increase.

The New Normal

As cities and companies see the benefits of autonomous and connected vehicles, they will become the norm. Major vehicle manufacturers are already delivering autonomous cars, and with connected services for drivers like weather reports and accident or traffic warnings, it is easy to see the appeal.

As autonomous vehicles enter the market, GNSS technologies such as EGNOS and Galileo are ready to deliver precise and trustable localisation, enhancing the safety and comfort of passengers.

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).

During the Satellite Masters Conference, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) held a special session dedicated to innovative E-GNSS applications and research and development results.

As part of the Satellite Masters Conference in Berlin, the GSA organised a full-day session on European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (E-GNSS) research and development results, as well as implementation activities. The innovative projects showcased during the event are all helping to accelerate the development of a European market for satellite navigation applications and create new opportunities for European industry. 

Projects from both the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) and the current Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (H2020), were on display.

“These GSA-funded programmes have done very exceptional work,” said the European Commission’s Christoph Kautz.  He noted two reasons for this success. First, applicants had to provide a business plan – a unique concept under FP7 that has now been adopted across all research areas for H2020. Second, the GSA has followed all the projects in a detailed, personal way.

Funding for E-GNSS research has been doubled for H2020, and with Galileo initial services on course for next year, Kautz said this should be a game changer. However, he noted two issues that need to be considered. The so-called ‘valley of death’ needs to be tackled to facilitate the movement of successful research ideas into products and services available on the market, and synergies between Galileo and Copernicus need to be identified and built on.

GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini gave an overview of FP7 results. He said the GSA’s mission is “to achieve the highest return on investment in terms of benefit to users and economic growth.” The GSA is building on a solid base of tangible results. Under the

FP7 programme, 13 patents were filed and 45 commercial products and services launched. Forty percent of GSA funding has gone to SMEs (compared to the average of 15% across the whole of FP7) and the GSA programme also provided valuable business coaching for many start-up companies and SMEs.

The Project Portfolio

According to Tim Just of Innovate UK, innovation can be defined as “invention x market.” He said there is a need for both elements to achieve true success – a belief that was substantiated by all the presented FP7 success stories.

For example, in the area of mobility, Jürgen Seybold from TeleConsult Austria described MODIS, a mobile safety and emergency response system. The augmented EGNOS/Galileo handheld device targets people with reduced mobility. The underlying IEGLO technology was adapted for emergency call applications under the SAWOS brand in 2012, and MODIS is being used extensively in India as an effective monitoring solution in large factories, hospitals and schools.

On the topic of professional applications and transport, Klaus-Herbert Rolf from 365 FarmNet presented GEOPAL. This successful field route optimisation application was integrated as an on-vehicle platform tool for farmers, and also as a planning tool. The product has been on the market for four years and has proven easy and reliable in delivering real benefits.

Another success story in the area of transportation is TAXISAT. Dr Oihana Otaegui from Vicomtech-IK4 outlined the work done to develop a driverless GNSS vehicle able to operate safely and with high-reliability within private sites. The TAXISAT concept is now being commercialised.

Otaegui said the hybrid sensors from TAXISAT could be used to enable cloud based enhancement of maps in real time, and this area of research represents a huge opportunity for GNSS.

Horizon 2020

Moving to the current Horizon 2020 funding programme, the GSA’s Marta Krywanis-Brzostowska outlined the GSA’s recent calls. The first two calls awarded funding of €65.2m for 40 successful projects.

The GHOST project, described by Srdjan Tadic of Bitgear Wireless, looks at how Galileo can enhance services in Smart Cities. The project combines Galileo signals and video images in an intelligent system mounted on public vehicles (buses, waste lorries etc.) to monitor services such as parking enforcement (including disabled badge detection) and pothole and lighting outage detection.

         Also Read: 13 H2020 projects focused on EGNSS applications development selected for funding

Another innovative project is COREGAL, which is developing a GNSS receiver that can be used to estimate biomass. Pedro Freire da Silva of Deimos Engenharia S.A. said that forest management requires accurate knowledge of the quantity of living, above-ground vegetation, and that knowledge has high economic and scientific value. COREGAL uses the Galileo E5 signal in an airborne receiver monitoring both direct and reflected signals to accurately estimate biomass.

The spyGLASS project also uses reflected signals in its Galileo-based Passive Radar System for Maritime Surveillance. Claudio Calisti from ASTER S.p.A. said the system uses fixed coastal receivers to analyse the reflected signal. The concept was low cost and preliminary trials have demonstrated the feasibility of project. Applications range from anti-piracy operations and environmental protection to maritime traffic safety.

Last but not least, the GEO VISION application demonstrated the opportunities that lie at the interface of Galileo and Copernicus. Dr Harald Skinnemoen from AnsuR Technologies said the project can provide visual situational awareness capability anywhere in the world, with the aim of enabling “observation to action” within one minute worldwide. There are two main markets: humanitarian and financial. The project is releasing products and applications to the market and they are already being used by the UN to map the effects of the earthquake in Nepal and help prioritise operations there. 

Just Do It!

The day concluded with an extended panel discussion on space entrepreneurship and finance. Gregor Novak from the European Commission’s Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) described the agency’s SME financing instrument as a perfect example of connecting and leveraging public and private investment. Reinhard Blasi of the GSA agreed on the importance of this instrument, highlighting the GSA’s interpretation of FP7 towards innovation that had helped some projects get to market, and said the key is to ensure projects have the momentum to continue to market.

“Now is the right time – there has never been a better time to invest in space,” said Blasi. “With so many means on the table, entrepreneurs should just do it!”

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) talks with Aerodays 2015 delegates on how the launch of LPV 200 brings precision landing to even more European airports and helipads and helps air traffic management.

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), combined with the precision and robustness offered by the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), will play a key role in the implementation of a European air traffic management (ATM) system. And the development of a harmonised European ATM is the central focus of the European Commission’s SESAR joint undertaking, which is now entering its deployment phase, as showcased at the Aerodays 2015 conference on innovation and research in aviation, held in London from 20-23 October.

“EGNOS and Galileo are involved in all three domains of ATM: communication, navigation and surveillance,” explained GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides, speaking at the conference, which is held once during every EU Framework Research programme. “The very accurate time measurement of Galileo will help to synchronise telecom networks, for example. In terms of navigation, Galileo will be central to the multi-constellation concept, which will greatly increase the availability, continuity and robustness of the signal. More so, SBAS (EGNOS) can also be used for surveillance as a positioning source for ADS-B, giving the same level of performance as for secondary radar, with 99.9 % availability.”

Precision Instrument Landing at Low Cost

EGNOS enables localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches without the need for costly ground-based infrastructure (e.g. ILS CAT I), usually mandatory for precision instrument landing systems. Since the end of September, the GSA has deployed its EGNOS LPV 200 service, which offers aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I, providing vertical and lateral guidance and with a decision height for a missed approach of just 200 feet. 

“This is particularly interesting for smaller and more remote airports,” explained GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. “Normally these airports don’t have enough traffic to justify the investment in ground-based infrastructure. With EGNOS and LPV 200, they can have the same performance, but at much lower cost, enabling them to remain open during bad weather and poor visibility conditions.” 

At present, 202 EGNOS approaches are operational serving 120 airports in 18 countries. The goal is to have 440 procedures operational by 2018.

Continuous Descent Approaches

EGNOS and LPV 200 make curved and continuous descent final approaches possible, which are also core features of a deployed European ATM.  Curved approaches mean that aircraft can avoid built-up areas during landing, reducing noise nuisance, while continuous descent saves fuel – and reduces CO2 emissions - as aircraft are less likely to need to stagger their approach. The expanded trajectory capabilities from take-off to landing offered by SESAR and underpinned by EGNOS will mean more efficient traffic management and flight predictability, with savings in terms of flight time and cost. 

According to Olivia Nunez, ATM expert at SESAR, the AMBER demonstration project at Riga airport showed that, by optimising the flight path, 15 nautical miles can be shaved off the flight path, saving 145 kg of CO2 emissions, as well as reducing noise levels.
The latest EGNOS services are also of great interest to the rotorcraft industry, making helipads more accessible, more of the time. Special Point in Space (PINS) have been developed especially for rotorcraft, interleaving visual segments and instrument segments in departures and approaches. With LPV 200, these can now be implemented down to 200 feet with EGNOS-enabled instruments.

While most modern aircraft are now built to include satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS, the GSA is working with the aviation industry to support the development of cost-effective avionics, to upgrade existing aircraft and perform LPV approaches. In June this year, the GSA launched its second EGNOS adoption avionics call for proposals, with a EUR 6 million budget. “So far it has been very well received,” said Aguilera. “We received applications that amounted to double the budget available and had to turn down some very high quality proposals.”

Towards a Multi-Constellation Environment

“The next EGNOS milestone, scheduled for the end of the decade, will be EGNOS version 3”, explained des Dorides. “This will offer two frequencies – L1 and L5 – meaning that it will be even more robust. It will also overlay not only GPS, as does the current version, but also Galileo, making the multi-constellation concept a reality.” The International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO) in its Global Air Navigation Plan, has recognised the advantages of multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS, both technically and in offering significant operational benefits.

One of the additional operational benefits for aviation that Galileo offers is the return link message service in aircraft emergency locator transmitters (ELTs), which confirms receipt of a distress message and greatly facilitates search and rescue operations.

Preparations for EGNOS v3 are now underway, not just in terms of infrastructure, but also the receivers. “At the moment there are no receivers able to process this future version of EGNOS,” explained Aguilera. “We recently launched a call for tenders to develop the prototype receivers that will work with this version, so we are supporting industry to get ready.”

Looking towards the future, beyond the next decade, des Dorides believes that transport will become increasingly intermodal and coordinated: “There will be a paradigm shift,” he said. “Mobility will be a service that is independent of the means - plane, boat or car etc. And here again, GNSS will have an important role to play.”

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).

There are many challenges facing road transport today, from safety to monitoring to traffic management. At this year’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, France, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) showed how European GNSS can benefit road applications.

EGNOS, Europe’s satellite-based augmentation system, plays a large role in ITS road applications, though often behind the scenes.

At the recent ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, the GSA put the spotlight on the role it plays in road transport by demonstrating the multiple uses of satellite navigation at the European GNSS Village stand. Organised with the Horizon 2020 project JUPITER, the stand showcased six topic areas where GNSS services play a role. One topic, Traffic Monitoring & Transport Management, focused on how EGNOS can create smart transport management systems for cities.

European GNSS in Action

The communauté d'agglomération du Grand Dax highlighted the use of EGNOS for public institutions. The organisation, which is an intercommunal cooperation of several municipalities in the area around Dax, France, works to create added value projects for the area. With a population of 60,000, Dax is one of the largest cities in the Landes department, but is still considered a small city. In recent years it has been struggling to find a modern transportation system to fit its size and budget. C.A. Grand Dax and its business innovation centre, Pulseo, have been working with EGNOS to develop intelligent transportation systems and use location based services to create a transportation network that works for Dax, with great success.

Another road application utilising GNSS services, GReD, presented its product GeoGuard. “This is our end-to-end service to measure displacements and deformations of structures or the ground, down to a millimetre level,” said Eugenio Realini, general manager of GReD. “It is completely based on cost-effective GNSS receivers and high-accuracy observation processing.”

GeoGuard continuously monitors critical infrastructure and natural hazards, helping to prevent catastrophic failures in infrastructure investments and reduce insurance costs. Since 2000, economic losses due to natural disasters have been around $2.5 trillion worldwide, according to Realini. With a monitoring system that predicts hazards and mitigates or eliminates risks, GeoGuard estimates that $400 billion could be potentially saved between now and 2030.

Also working on natural disasters and road applications, Planetek Italia presented its Preciso Landslide Risk Assessment for Railways, an application that provides periodical supply of a geographical database containing polygons of the landslide areas. Before building roads, municipalities can complete the assessment, which uses modern satellite sensors to evaluate the morphology of the area and the impact construction work will have, as well as potential future risks.

Proven to Increase Accuracy

Traffic Monitoring and Transport Management was just one of several topics highlighting the benefits space technology brings to intelligent transport systems and services. With a growing interest in optimising the use of roads in Europe, the GSA will continue to demonstrate how EGNOS has been proven to increase accuracy and robustness of the positioning.

More Information

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).

As the world population increases, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) says the agriculture industry is looking at satellite-enabled technologies to maximise yields and improve efficiency. 

By 2050, the world’s population is predicted to increase by 2 billion, reaching a total population of 9 billion people. To cope with this reality, the agriculture industry must maximise the use of available resources. Precision agriculture, which uses satellite navigation to help increase crop yields and improve efficiency, will play an important role in this effort – and an increasing number of precision agriculture professionals are already relying on EGNOS.

        Also Read: EGNOS for Agriculture

“Farmers are early adopters of precision agriculture, and the GSA is strongly committed to the farming community,” said GSA Head of Market Development Gian-Gherardo Calini, speaking at a conference entitled Risk Management and Climate Change: Tools to Support Farmers to Produce Food and Public Goods, held in connection with Expo Milan. “Their needs are becoming more sophisticated, leading to high productivity and farm profitability.”

While the technology has a variety of uses, the main application is tractor guidance. Positioning applications can be used to guide a tractor around a field and minimise the effort exerted by a farmer, thus increasing efficiency and reducing labour costs.

EGNOS can also be used to help farmers enhance crop management and improve position-based tasks like spraying insecticides and pesticides and harvesting crops. In turn, this increases yields and helps provide much-needed food supply around the world.

A Need for Advanced Applications

As precision agriculture technology becomes more widely available, farmers are demanding advanced applications of satellite technology and are looking for entire farm management solutions. Farmers want technology that allows them to make better decisions and have more predictable outcomes.

Unmanned drones, or UAVs, are aiding in this effort. When combined with remote sensors, UAVs can be used to determine crop progress as well as crop deficiencies and the presence of disease and water monitoring. This information could lower pesticide usage, thus decreasing the environmental footprint of agriculture.

One example of this is FieldCopter, an EU-funded project where UAVs fly a pre-determined pattern and collect data from agricultural land. Another is the Mistrale project, which seeks to provide soil moisture maps using GNSS Reflectometry, helping farmers maximise water efficiency. The Mistrale project was successfully tested in 2015 and is part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Take Notice

This cutting-edge work has gotten the attention of organisations around Europe and the world, as they can see the benefits that the technology can have on agriculture.

“Coldiretti (Italy’s national confederation of agriculture entrepreneurs) is extremely interested in innovation and the benefits that European GNSS can bring to agriculture,” said Calini. “From a farmer’s perspective, GNSS is only one satellite technology amongst others. For example, Copernicus complements positioning with remote sensing information.”

The crop insurance industry can also benefit from positioning and earth observation tools, as the technology creates better models to predict weather patterns and determine crop yields.  With that information, crop insurance companies can set predictable rates and manage profits.

“By harnessing new technologies and accessing more precise data, we are increasing production and improving the efficiency of our work for the benefit of consumers and society as a whole,” Calini concluded.

More Information

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 launch of LPV 200, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) says EGNOS is ready to benefit regional aviation in Europe.

Exhibiting and presenting at the annual European Regions Airline Association (ERA) General Assembly and ERA Operations Group, held October 13-15 in Berlin, the GSA showed more than 50 regional operators and airlines how they can benefit from EGNOS.
According to the GSA, the priority is to focus on small and regional airports where EGNOS can provide the biggest benefits for operators. According to the GSA Market Development Department, currently, many of these small and regional airports cannot afford the necessary ground infrastructure needed for instrument-based landing procedures.

LPV 200 for Regional Operators

The GSA recently declared the LPV 200 service, the latest iteration of an APV SBAS supported Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance service. This service will benefit operators even more as it provides the same level of operations as CAT I, meaning safer approaches and improved accessibility with no need to install or maintain conventional, ground-based navigation aids.

The new service level enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I, providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway.

         Also Read: GSA Talks EGNOS and Aviation at Annual Service Provision Workshop

Currently, there are 217 LPV serving 137 airports and 70 runway ends served by EGNOS-enabled APV Baro. By 2018, 440 LPV approaches are planned, with numerous LPV publications expected in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, the Slovak Republic, and Spain – and a significant increase in new plans in Belgium and Germany in the coming years. More so, many popular regional aircraft are also coming EGNOS-ready. For example, the latest editions to the ATR family of regional aircraft, the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600, as well as other turboprop aircraft, are LPV capable.

The GSA notes it is seeing a growing interest in LPV for commercial operators in Scandinavia. “EGNOS enhances the integrity and accuracy of GPS and gives us the possibility to fly approaches following a vertical glide path,” explains Richard Kongsteien, Vice President and COO of Widerøe. “This means improved safety at airports with only a non-precision approach in place, so we are really looking forward to getting APV I coverage in northern Norway.”

Other airlines and operators currently using EGNOS include Air Nostrum, Aurigny Air Services, Hop Airlines and Luxair, among others.

Another regional server benefiting from EGNOS is Aurigny Air Services. The company says EGNOS allows them to operate even in poor weather conditions. At the ERA Operations Group meeting, held during the ERA General Assembly, Captain David Rice of Aurigny presented the company’s use of EGNOS, stressing the stability of the service. He said LPV was more stable than even the ILS approach, and is not affected by deviations in the localizer or glide path caused by other aircraft. He further noted that EGNOS-based approaches reduce the pilot’s workload by removing the need to switch between autopilot modes. As the EGNOS service level increases, Rice said the savings from not having to make ILS maintenance or replacement investments will more than recover any initial investment made in LPV procedures. 

Rules and Regulations

The GSA is focused on assisting airspace users and airports in implementing LPV, offering guidance for the approval and implementation process and information on the status of upcoming applicable regulations. The Agency’s objective is to contribute to the harmonisation of PBN implementation at the European level, following ICAO safety global goals. Along this line, the GSA has promoted the development of guidelines intended for Airports/ANSPs and Airspace Users in order to help with the process of implementing LPV, including LPV 200 implementation. Also, technical instructions to obtain RNP APCH operational approval to LPV minima in Europe will be issued in the coming days – which aims to help Regional Operators during the operational approval process.

The EASA PBN IR is an important regulatory milestone at the European level, as it announces deadlines for some PBN specifications, including for APV and RNP1. The GSA is actively looking for an agreed and common position with other stakeholders, including Eurocontrol, CANSO and ESSP, proposing feasible dates for APV implementation mandate. This APV implementation mandate requires APV in all instrument runways where only non-precision approaches are available – benefiting Regional Operators by giving them safer alternatives to non-precision approaches.

The GSA is also funding projects aimed at upgrading the avionics of original operators, such as Air Baltic, Eastern Airways, and Hop Airlines. According to the Agency, the results of the first aviation grants will bring new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) or upgrade solutions, helping operators upgrade their current fleets. With this developed, it follows that other airlines can upgrade without developing new STC, thus reducing cost and helping to foster EGNOS adoption.

More Information

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 launch of LPV 200, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) says EGNOS is ready to benefit regional aviation in Europe.

Exhibiting and presenting at the annual European Regions Airline Association (ERA) General Assembly and ERA Operations Group, held October 13-15 in Berlin, the GSA showed more than 50 regional operators and airlines how they can benefit from EGNOS.
According to the GSA, the priority is to focus on small and regional airports where EGNOS can provide the biggest benefits for operators. According to the GSA Market Development Department, currently, many of these small and regional airports cannot afford the necessary ground infrastructure needed for instrument-based landing procedures.

LPV 200 for Regional Operators

The GSA recently declared the LPV 200 service, the latest iteration of an APV SBAS supported Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance service. This service will benefit operators even more as it provides the same level of operations as CAT I, meaning safer approaches and improved accessibility with no need to install or maintain conventional, ground-based navigation aids.

The new service level enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I, providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway.

         Also Read: GSA Talks EGNOS and Aviation at Annual Service Provision Workshop

Currently, there are 217 LPV serving 137 airports and 70 runway ends served by EGNOS-enabled APV Baro. By 2018, 440 LPV approaches are planned, with numerous LPV publications expected in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, the Slovak Republic, and Spain – and a significant increase in new plans in Belgium and Germany in the coming years. More so, many popular regional aircraft are also coming EGNOS-ready. For example, the latest editions to the ATR family of regional aircraft, the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600, as well as other turboprop aircraft, are LPV capable.

The GSA notes it is seeing a growing interest in LPV for commercial operators in Scandinavia. “EGNOS enhances the integrity and accuracy of GPS and gives us the possibility to fly approaches following a vertical glide path,” explains Richard Kongsteien, Vice President and COO of Widerøe. “This means improved safety at airports with only a non-precision approach in place, so we are really looking forward to getting APV I coverage in northern Norway.”

Other airlines and operators currently using EGNOS include Air Nostrum, Aurigny Air Services, Hop Airlines and Luxair, among others.

Another regional server benefiting from EGNOS is Aurigny Air Services. The company says EGNOS allows them to operate even in poor weather conditions. At the ERA Operations Group meeting, held during the ERA General Assembly, Captain David Rice of Aurigny presented the company’s use of EGNOS, stressing the stability of the service. He said LPV was more stable than even the ILS approach, and is not affected by deviations in the localizer or glide path caused by other aircraft. He further noted that EGNOS-based approaches reduce the pilot’s workload by removing the need to switch between autopilot modes. As the EGNOS service level increases, Rice said the savings from not having to make ILS maintenance or replacement investments will more than recover any initial investment made in LPV procedures. 

Rules and Regulations

The GSA is focused on assisting airspace users and airports in implementing LPV, offering guidance for the approval and implementation process and information on the status of upcoming applicable regulations. The Agency’s objective is to contribute to the harmonisation of PBN implementation at the European level, following ICAO safety global goals. Along this line, the GSA has promoted the development of guidelines intended for Airports/ANSPs and Airspace Users in order to help with the process of implementing LPV, including LPV 200 implementation. Also, technical instructions to obtain RNP APCH operational approval to LPV minima in Europe will be issued in the coming days – which aims to help Regional Operators during the operational approval process.

The EASA PBN IR is an important regulatory milestone at the European level, as it announces deadlines for some PBN specifications, including for APV and RNP1. The GSA is actively looking for an agreed and common position with other stakeholders, including Eurocontrol and ESSP, proposing feasible dates for APV implementation mandate. This APV implementation mandate requires APV in all instrument runways where only non-precision approaches are available – benefiting Regional Operators by giving them safer alternatives to non-precision approaches.

The GSA is also funding projects aimed at upgrading the avionics of original operators, such as Air Baltic, Eastern Airways, and Hop Airlines. According to the Agency, the results of the first aviation grants will bring new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) or upgrade solutions, helping operators upgrade their current fleets. With this developed, it follows that other airlines can upgrade without developing new STC, thus reducing cost and helping to foster EGNOS adoption.

More Information

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 announced the evaluation results of its second Horizon 2020 call for Galileo applications, with 13 projects making the main list to be funded, receiving a cumulative grant of EUR 24,894,169.

The GSA has announced the results of its second call for funding the EGNSS applications under the Horizon 2020 programme. The second call received 91 total submissions, all of which focused on innovation actions, per the request for proposals. After evaluations that took place between 27th May and 11th of June, funding consideration went to those 13 proposals that best showed a significant focus toward impacting global markets with strong innovation and the incorporation of new knowledge.

Of the 91 submissions, 45 fell under the topic of European GNSS applications, 31 under the topic of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Based European GNSS applications, and 15 under the topic of releasing the potential of European GNSS applications through international cooperation. Two submissions were found ineligible or were withdrawn, for a final total of 89 proposals qualifying for evaluation. Funding for the 13 successfully chosen projects will be awarded to 95 different participants.

Under the first topic of E-GNSS applications, funding was awarded to eight projects, covering transport, surveying, location based services (LBS), agriculture, emergency services and other professional applications. The total recommended EU contribution for this topic was EUR 20,357,180.

For the second topic of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) based E-GNSS applications, three projects were approved for funding, covering applications in niche markets and business models, mass market LBS products, market testing, etc. Recommended funding for this topic came to a total of EUR 2,918,619.

Under the third and final topic of releasing the potential of E-GNSS applications through international cooperation, two projects were awarded funding, covering the development of innovative international applications that will bring E-GNSS services to the forefront of global awareness.

The total recommended funding for this topic came to EUR 2,693,639.

In addition to those projects on the main list for funding, there are an additional 14 projects on the reserve list. The total recommended EU funding contribution for these reserve projects comes to EUR 30,740,370. 

More Information

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 year’s overall winner at the annual European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) is a remote-controlled multi-copter drone capable of supporting maritime search-and-rescue operations.

On October 20th, the global satellite navigation community gathered in Berlin to recognise the year's most brilliant innovations in commercial applications of satellite technology. The POSEIDRON project won over the international jury of experts with its remote-controlled multi-copter that supports maritime search-and-rescue operations. The Spanish start-up took home the grand prize ahead of the 29 other regional and special prize winners in the 2015 European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC).

Enrique Martínez Asensi and his winning team hope to soon see POSEIDRON saving lives far out at sea. The project is well-placed to help, for example, when fishing workers fall overboard or in locating the victims of the horrific shipwrecks that occur during illegal immigration.

        Also Read: GSA Special Prize Goes to the KYNEO Project

The robust drone vehicle was custom-developed by Sincratech Aeronautics based in Valencia and can be launched from ships or platforms under virtually any weather conditions. The multi-copter uses thermal cameras and EGNOS to quickly locate people in the water and transmit an alarm to rescue teams that includes vital precise location information.

The drone is capable of lifting a 70 kg payload, which means it can carry an inflatable life raft that can be deployed as soon as victims are found. This makes POSEIDRON both faster and more cost-effective than other rescue systems, which in turn significantly increases the chances of survival for victims – particularly in colder waters.

Grand Prize

In addition to winning the ESNC's € 20,000 grand prize, this innovative project will now have the chance to enter a 12-month incubation programme at one of five Science Parks in Valencia as part of the region's prize.

The ESNC set another new participation record this year, with 515 innovations entered by companies from more than 40 different countries around the world. The 2015 competition more than matched the successes of previous editions and increased its cumulative figures to 272 winners awarded, selected from 3,343 ideas received from over 10,000 participants throughout its 12 years in existence.

"Time synchronisation and reliable positioning information are essential to today's digital economy. Without corresponding satellite-based services, the development of these and other innovations - including the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communication, and Industry 4.0 - would not be possible," explains Thorsten Rudolph, ESNC organiser andCEO of Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen. Carlos des Dorides, Executive Director of the GSA, added: “The POSEIDRON project shows the huge potential for Galileo and EGNOS enabled applications in Search and Rescue operations. Using drones in combination with highly accurate European GNSS can get help to people in danger more quickly, effectively and efficiently while reducing the risk to first responders.”

Under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the ESNC presented prizes valued at approximately EUR one million in total at its annual Awards Ceremony. An overview of all of this year’s winners can be found here.

This annual event recognises the most outstanding applications for Copernicus and European GNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) in various categories. Since 2014, the awards ceremony has been associated with the Satellite Masters Conference, which takes place from 20-22 October 2015.

The conference features plenary sessions, workshops, and roundtable discussions centred around leveraging satellite-derived data and other space solutions for business and society. It is a unique marketplace for sharing ideas on space-based innovation and connecting with the world's leading network for downstream satellite business.

More Information

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) sponsored for the first time an award at the CLGE Annual Young Surveyors’ Prize.

In conjunction with INTERGEO 2015 – one of the leading international trade fairs in surveying and geo-information – the Council of Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE) awards its annual Young Surveyors’ prize for outstanding contributions to the field by students. This year, for the first time, the GSA sponsored a special topic prize dedicated to Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus.

The winning entry came from Laura Van de Vyvere from the Liège University and M3 Systems, Belgium, for her project “Cycle Slips Detection in Quad-Frequency Mode: Galileo’s Contribution to an Efficient Approach under High Ionospheric Activity”. Through an innovative technique developed by Van de Vyvere, the project uses Galileo’s high number of carrier frequencies to improve positioning compared to other GNSS programmes.

“More than ever, precise positioning is an obvious necessity that is no longer questioned and cycle slips are a major issue in this field. We thus need to be aware of their presence and how they can make positioning unreliable,” she said. “This innovative detection method opens new doors to numerous research and commercial applications, and every Galileo user will benefit from better positioning – especially in harsh ionospheric conditions.”

The GSA and the CLGE have been working together for several years now – a cooperation that is likely to grow as the Galileo constellation moves towards completion. “With the Galileo constellation we need to understand the users, and the CLGE is an ideal platform for doing this,” said GSA Market Development Officer Reinhard Blasi. “We also need to look at what Galileo can provide in comparison to other GNSS programmes, and Laura’s project is an excellent example of how we can translate some of Galileo’s key differentiators – such as its unique frequency plan – into benefits for the end users.”

A video of the ceremony and of Laura’s presentation can be found here.

More Information

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) sponsored for the first time an award at the CLGE Annual Young Surveyors’ Prize.

In conjunction with INTERGEO 2015 – one of the leading international trade fairs in surveying and geo-information – the Council of Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE) awards its annual Young Surveyors’ prize for outstanding contributions to the field by students. This year, for the first time, the GSA sponsored a special topic prize dedicated to Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus.

The winning entry came from Laura Van de Vyvere from the Liège University and M3 Systems, Belgium, for her project “Cycle Slips Detection in Quad-Frequency Mode: Galileo’s Contribution to an Efficient Approach under High Ionospheric Activity”. Through an innovative technique developed by Van de Vyvere, the project uses Galileo’s high number of carrier frequencies to improve positioning compared to other GNSS programmes.

“More than ever, precise positioning is an obvious necessity that is no longer questioned and cycle slips are a major issue in this field. We thus need to be aware of their presence and how they can make positioning unreliable,” she said. “This innovative detection method opens new doors to numerous research and commercial applications, and every Galileo user will benefit from better positioning – especially in harsh ionospheric conditions.”

The GSA and the CLGE have been working together for several years now – a cooperation that is likely to grow as the Galileo constellation moves towards completion. “With the Galileo constellation we need to understand the users, and the CLGE is an ideal platform for doing this,” said GSA Market Development Officer Reinhard Blasi. “We also need to look at what Galileo can provide in comparison to other GNSS programmes, and Laura’s project is an excellent example of how we can translate some of Galileo’s key differentiators – such as its unique frequency plan – into benefits for the end users.”

A video of the ceremony and of Laura’s presentation can be found here.

The presentation "Cycle Slips Detection in Quad-Frequency Mode: Galileo’s Contribution to an Efficient Approach under High Ionospheric Activity” by Laura Van de Vyvere can be found here.

More Information

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 2015 edition of the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) once again saw increased entries, and this year’s European GNSS Agency (GSA) Special Prize went to the KYNEO project, set to take on the Internet of Things.

From a crowded field of entries, this year’s GSA Special Prize went to a familiar face – Rafael Olmedo and his KYNEO project. This is the second time the Spanish tech entrepreneur has won the GSA Special Prize, he first won it in 2012 with his 3D SOUND NAVIGATION solution.

For 2015 edition, Rafael’s innovative concept involves the development of cheap, flexible Galileo and EGNOS enabled modules that allow ubiquitous positioning data for applications in the Internet of Things – a potentially massive global market.

The basis of the KYNEO concept is a perceived need to be able to fast prototype applications and devices in the rapidly developing field of the Internet of Things. According Rafael, KYNEO is best described as an “open innovation platform for the GNSS of Things.”

Having been involved with many previous GNSS research and innovation projects, Rafael was able to bring unique insight and experience to the table. In terms of the Internet of Things, what he saw was that many different products and services are looking for similar solutions for positioning that can be flexibly adapted in different contexts – something particularly true for developers.

Seeing an opportunity, he set to work. The result is KYNEO, an Arduino-compatible board that allows developers to rapidly and flexibly build their own solutions based on open–source software. Arduino is an open-source electronic prototyping platform for the creation of interactive electronic objects.

“There is a huge development community for digital electronic products out there and our aim with KYNEO is to provide a great positioning tool for this community,” says Rafael. “The first KYNEO products are already available to order via our website, but we will also sell via the many open hardware platforms that already serve the developer community.”

Although the KYNEO product is competitive in its own right, Rafael sees associated services as being the main money-spinner for his company. “There will be some profit in selling the products themselves, but these sales will open doors to services and consultancy,” he explains.

“The product will give visibility to KYNEO and the technology support and consultancy services we provide.”

Rafael highlights the flexibility of the KYNEO concept as being a key factor. “The KYNEO concept can easily provide a portfolio of functionalities in terms of positioning technologies, connection with other sensors, memory options, networking and communications,” he says.

“Application developers can use it as a ‘black box’ or get more involved to customise the unit.”

The GSA Special Topic Prize

The GSA Special Topic Prize was awarded during the annual ceremony for Europe's pre-eminent innovation competitions for space applications: the Copernicus Masters and the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC). This year’s ceremony took place 20 October in Berlin.

“The GSA Special Prize nicely complements the Agency’s focus – getting closer to the end user and helping them benefit from European space technology,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “Whether through competitions like this, or through such funding programmes as Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements, it’s by supporting innovative applications like KYNEO that the GSA will be able to succeed at its mission.”

The 2015 edition of the ESNC received a record number of entries. Rafael’s winning idea was competing against a total of 192 entries from 29 different countries, with 72 entries coming from individuals and 59 from start-up companies. In terms of topics, the majority of entries were submitted under the location based services (LBS) category, followed by Smart Mobility and Safety and Security.

This annual event recognises the most outstanding applications for Copernicus and European GNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) in various categories. Since 2014, the awards ceremony has been associated with the Satellite Masters Conference, taking place this year from 20-22 October.

The conference features plenary sessions, workshops, and roundtable discussions centred on leveraging satellite-derived data and other space solutions for business and society. It is a unique marketplace for sharing ideas on space-based innovation and connecting with the world's leading network for downstream satellite business. 

More Information

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).

Three years ago, the GSA moved its headquarters from Brussels to Prague. Since then, the Agency has been in acceleration mode – expanding both in terms of people and responsibilities. To celebrate the anniversary and highlight the many benefits the GSA is bringing to both Europe and, in particular, the Czech Republic, the Agency held its first Open Days 9 – 10 October.

“In celebration of our third year here in Prague, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to open our doors to our host city,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides, speaking during a ribbon cutting ceremony. “We are excited at the chance to show the public the work we are doing on EGNOS and Galileo.”

Des Dorides noted that although the GSA has been in existence for over a decade, it wasn’t until its relocation to Prague that it took on its current place at the centre for European GNSS programmes. Today, the GSA is charged with the service provision of EGNOS today and Galileo in 2017. It also ensures these services are secure. “Another core function of the GSA is market development, where we are committed to preparing the best return on investment for Europe in terms of both economics and benefits to European citizens,” he added.

Des Dorides was joined  by Head of the European Commission Representation in Prague, Jan Michal, and EU GNSS Security Accreditation Board Chair, Jeremy Blyth, Deputy Czech Transport Minister Kamil Rudolecký and Karel Dobeš, Czech Commissioner for Galileo, among others, who gave guests a comprehensive overview of the GSA, its work and its role in the Czech economy. 

A Bright Future

Despite all the success, there are still challenges ahead. One such challenge, noted by Dobeš, is finding the talent needed to maintain the European GNSS programmes’ momentum into the future. However, judging by the hundreds of excited local students who visited GSA headquarters during Open Days, perhaps this won’t be so much of a challenge after all.

Over 500 students visited the GSA on Friday as part of a classroom visit, where they were able to explore how space technology benefits them on a daily basis via interactive displays and presentations. “I never realised that satellites have such an impact on our lives,” said one local secondary student. “I now have a clear understanding of the European Union, its space programmes, and the GSA – and who knows, maybe one day I’ll be working in the space sector too.”

During the event, over 2000 people came through the GSA’s doors. Saturday included a range of workshops and activities, including the opportunity to see a model Galileo satellite and the first GSA Space Film Festival. Plans for a second edition next year are already in the works.

Benefiting the Czech Republic

Open Days was also an occasion to highlight how the GSA’s location in Prague is benefiting the Czech Republic. “From my perspective, we have seen a growing interest from Czech industry in the GNSS market,” said des Dorides. “We planted the seeds by relocating here and today we are seeing the results as more space applications and products are coming onto the market that originate from the Czech Republic.”

The Czech aerospace industry is also receiving support from the federal government. Rudolecký noted that the government is dedicated to ensuring the aerospace industry in the Czech Republic continues to expand. In support of this mission, the government recently approved 200 million Czech Koruna (EUR 7 million) to be invested in various space programmes. “I think we can invest more and do more, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together with the GSA in the years to come.”

According to a recent GSA study, the Agency’s move has impacted the Czech economy both directly and indirectly. For example, it has had a direct impact through its employment of Czech citizens (currently 18 permanent staff and 13 trainees) and an indirect impact via the Agency’s various procurement activities.

Czech companies are also benefiting from the GSA’s location in Prague. Since the relocation, an increasing number of companies and consortia of Czech companies and institutions have teamed up and applied for European R&D funding programme such as FP7 or Horizon 2020.

Organisation of R&D-focused workshops in Prague as the 2014 European Space Solutions conference or the H2020 workshops is raising awareness on the sectors and the European activities. The networking opportunities at such conferences also play a role in enabling SMEs that would not otherwise participate in such an event to test ideas and establish connections that could lead to successful applications.

The GSA in Prague is indeed changing horizons in the Czech Republic.

More Information

GSA Open Days - Image Gallery

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).

At this year’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, France, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) demonstrated the added value of European GNSS in intelligent transportation systems.

Although GNSS is a vital part of ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems), its role in applications often goes unseen. To help remedy this misperception, this year GNSS took centre stage at the annual ITS World Congress, with the GSA showcasing the many uses of satellite navigation at its European GNSS Village stand. The stand was organised in conjunction with the Joint EUropean Project for International ITS/EGNSS awareness Raising, also known as JUPITER, a Horizon 2020 supported project.

The village showcased 5 local authorities and 20 small and medium enterprises, all demonstrating the use of GNSS, and welcomed over 10 international delegations from across the globe. It also featured speakers from local authorities and transport operators. “The goal of the JUPITER project and the European GNSS Village is twofold,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “On the one hand, we aim to amplify the success of some of the most innovative European applications of GNSS for ITS. On the other hand, we aim to catalyse resources, investments and partnerships to scale up and really maximise the return on investment.”

It Takes a Village

Through project demonstrations and presentations, the GSA showed how public stakeholders and actors in the transportation industry stand to benefit from implementing innovative solutions based on GNSS.

“The European GNSS Village was a unique opportunity for the JUPITER Project to demonstrate the many benefits of GNSS to key decision makers, public authorities and representatives of the global ITS industry,” said Hanna-Kaisa Saari, a project manager on the JUPITER Project from Aerospace Valley. “Through these demonstrations and interactions, we were able to maximise the visibility and competitiveness of European GNSS to the ITS sector.”

One SME on display at the Village, Foster ITS, will be the first GNSS receiver for ITS applications that offers greater resilience against an increasing range of GNSS threats, taking advantage of the authentication of the signals in the Galileo Open Service. The company demonstrated how it can detect signal attack attempts, provide indicators to users about confidence of positioning, and provide proof of integrity and origin of PVT data through its soon-to-come product line.

Geoimagine, another company exhibiting at the Village, showed off its mobile sensors that optimise itineraries and avoid impulsive, irrational decisions. Using the example of a network of taxis, Geoimagine presented a network optimiser solution for fleet management. Meanwhile, ANGEO, another exhibiting SME, offers a reliable navigation aid to 200 million people suffering from spatial disorientation troubles by using a reliable positioning algorithm and specialised navigation software.

Among several projects on the municipality transport side, Kordis JMK showed how GNSS allows for real time positioning of public transport vehicles, which enables smooth management of transit and ensures passengers always make their bus or train connections. Similarly, the MOBILIS project from Toulouse Metropole works on improving the efficiency and reliability of urban public transportation services.

Moving Towards Intelligent Mobility

The theme of this year’s edition of the ITS World Congress was ‘Towards Intelligent Mobility: Better Use of Space’, which fits perfectly with the services and applications the GSA is developing in the area of road and intelligent transport systems.

“Space and satellite navigation are key enablers for the delivery of the next generation of mobility ,” said des Dorides. “European GNSS offers the precision, robustness and reliability needed for autonomous and connected vehicles, for transport management, and for payment critical systems, to name just a few of the applications we have seen coming onto the market in recent years.”

More Information

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) highlights the many benefits of EGNOS to the road, rail, agriculture and surveying sectors during the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, held 29 – 30 September in Copenhagen.

EGNOS may have been built for aviation, but it isn’t meant to be limited by it. A clear message coming out of last week’s EGNOS Service Provision Workshop in Copenhagen is that EGNOS’ benefits extend well beyond the aviation and maritime sectors – benefiting everything from road transportation to rail, agriculture, surveying and mapping.

EGNOS Increases Accuracy

As to the road sector, according to GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera, “There is a growing interest in optimising the use of roads in Europe, and it is proven that EGNOS can help this by increasing accuracy.”

Aguilera noted that across Europe there is increasing pressure for emergency location sharing. Simultaneously, she also said that navigation devices in smartphones have permeated the market, creating a case for EGNOS in road applications. For example, the eCall system, which will be implemented in all cars in Europe from April 2018, will send an emergency call to 112 in the case of an accident, including precise location, which will help provide faster assistance.

In another example, GNSS can support toll operators in charging levies in compliance with the European Electronic Tolling System Directive. Speaking on Slovakia’s SkyToll system, which earned 43.38 million Euros for the National Motorway Company in Q1 of 2015, GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini said it was an example of the multi-beneficial approach of EGNOS and Galileo. “We have achieved a lot of results, and now it is the time of the user,” he said. “We have to make sure they are satisfied and the system will constantly improve.”

Opportunities in Rail

Turning to rail applications, Aguilera said the sector was a difficult environment for EGNOS because of electromagnetic and visibility interference. Still, there are opportunities. Francesco Rispoli of Ansaldo STS presented his company’s ERSAT project, which focuses on adding European GNSS to ERTMS, the most commonly used and safest signal operating system in the world. “I am strongly convinced there is an important synergy between ERTMS and EGNOS and Galileo, and this synergy should help contribute to make us be more competitive in the market,” he said. “What ERSAT is targeting is to reduce the gap between the two, create a common platform for the benefit of all, and accelerate the process of introducing GNSS in real operations.”

From Farm to the Field

Aside from rail and road, EGNOS plays a large role in agriculture, surveying, and mapping. Aguilera said both farmers and public authorities can benefit from agriculture applications such as machine guidance, automatic steering, variable rate technology, asset management, harvest monitoring, and environmental management. For surveying and mapping applications, an array of users can benefit, including public and private surveyors, construction companies, marine operators, and municipalities.

More Information

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) highlights the many benefits of EGNOS to the road, rail, agriculture and surveying sectors during the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, held 29 – 30 September in Copenhagen.

EGNOS may have been built for aviation, but it isn’t meant to be limited by it. A clear message coming out of last week’s EGNOS Service Provision Workshop in Copenhagen is that EGNOS’ benefits extend well beyond the aviation and maritime sectors – benefiting everything from road transportation to rail, agriculture, surveying and mapping.

EGNOS Increases Accuracy

As to the road sector, according to GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera, “There is a growing interest in optimising the use of roads in Europe, and it is proven that EGNOS can help this by increasing accuracy.”

Aguilera noted that across Europe there is increasing pressure for emergency location sharing. Simultaneously, she also said that navigation devices in smartphones have permeated the market, creating a case for EGNOS in road applications. For example, the eCall system, which will be implemented in all cars in Europe from April 2018, will send an emergency call to 112 in the case of an accident, including precise location, which will help provide faster assistance.

In another example, GNSS can support toll operators in charging levies in compliance with the European Electronic Tolling System Directive. Speaking on Slovakia’s SkyToll system, which earned 43.38 million Euros for the National Motorway Company in Q1 of 2015, GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini said it was an example of the multi-beneficial approach of EGNOS and Galileo. “We have achieved a lot of results, and now it is the time of the user,” he said. “We have to make sure they are satisfied and the system will constantly improve.”

Opportunities in Rail

Turning to rail applications, Aguilera said the sector was a difficult environment for EGNOS because of electromagnetic and visibility interference. Still, there are opportunities. Francesco Rispoli of Ansaldo STS presented his company’s ERSAT project, which focuses on adding European GNSS to ERTMS, the most commonly used and safest signal operating system in the world. “I am strongly convinced there is an important synergy between ERTMS and EGNOS and Galileo, and this synergy should help contribute to make us be more competitive in the market,” he said. “What ERSAT is targeting is to reduce the gap between the two, create a common platform for the benefit of all, and accelerate the process of introducing GNSS in real operations.”

From Farm to the Field

Aside from rail and road, EGNOS plays a large role in agriculture, surveying, and mapping. Aguilera said both farmers and public authorities can benefit from agriculture applications such as machine guidance, automatic steering, variable rate technology, asset management, harvest monitoring, and environmental management. For surveying and mapping applications, an array of users can benefit, including public and private surveyors, construction companies, marine operators, and municipalities.

More Information

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 GSA recently showcased the many benefits that European GNSS – EGNOS and Galileo– bring to the mapping and surveying sector during INTERGEO 2015 – one of the leading international trade fairs in surveying and geo-information.

At this year’s edition, held in Stuttgart, Germany, the GSA shared a stand with the European Space Agency (ESA), COPERNICUS, and a number of innovative companies.

Speaking at a workshop during the congress, GSA Market Development Officer Reinhard Blasi emphasized the benefits of European GNSS (E-GNSS) in general, with particular emphasis on surveying applications. Referring to the GSA’s 2015 GNSS Market Report, which shows surveying accounting for 4.5% of the projected E-GNSS market from 2013-2023, he noted the sector represents a major opportunity for the GSA. For example, 50% of all GNSS receivers currently on the global market are Galileo-enabled, with 45% of receivers being equipped for all GNSS constellations.

The market will be heavily influenced by rapid urbanisation in emerging countries, and the need for construction and surveying activities across the globe. According GSA Market Development Innovation Officer Alina Hriscu, construction in Asia-Pacific and North America will drive E-GNSS growth. Moreover, the reduction of GNSS receiver prices and increases in accuracy are transforming mapping into more accessible activities – which also contributes to growth in the GNSS market.

Commitment to the End User

According to Blasi, it is a priority to maximise the return on the investment in E-GNSS by the European Union, understood in terms of benefits to users and industry competitiveness. “This means matching design and enabling services to users’ needs,” he said.

This commitment to user needs is particularly prevalent in the surveying sector, where the use of E-GNSS brings improvement in many parameters. Those needs are mostly covered and met by GALILEO Open Service (OS) and Commercial Service (CS).

Watch This: EGNOS for Mapping 

The Open Service, which will be free of charge for all users, will feature excellent positioning and timing performance. Benefits will include easier mitigation of multipath errors, higher signal-to-noise ratio, improved coverage at high latitudes, better results in such harsh environments as urban canyons and tree canopies and enhanced protection against spoofing attacks. 

The Commercial Service, on the other hand, is dedicated to high precision applications and will additionally provide the first ever GNSS spreading code encryption for purely civil purposes.  CS High Accuracy (CS-HA) will deliver corrections via Galileo E6 across the globe (PPP- precise point positioning) for cm-level positioning precision for applications across all segments, and is comparable to differential positioning techniques. Moreover, CS-HA will offer triple frequency, enabling faster convergence time for surveying applications and accuracy comparable to RTK.  Users can also benefit from CS Authentication service, which allows for an increase to the civil security of professional applications. This addition provides a level of trust to users, assuring them that they are tracking signals and data from actual satellites and not from any other source (anti-spoofing).

Blasi moreover underlined that the Galileo E6b signal will be unencrypted, which brings new opportunities for trilaning – or choice for a 3rd frequency – further improving positioning accuracy without augmentation and bringing greater reliability.

The GSA also highlighted that E-GNSS can be used in synergy with Copernicus data, as they are complementary for a wide range of applications across different segments. For example, measurements of Ground Control Points with GNSS equipment support the geo-referencing process of Copernicus data, resulting in more accurate maps. Another example can be found in agriculture, where Copernicus Earth Observation data can serve as input for VRT (Variable Rate Technology) ‘’application maps’’ for fertilisers and/or pesticides, and E-GNSS indicates locate the areas in the field where the applications needs to be used. Many other examples cover the road, maritime, energy and emergency and disaster risk management segments.

Around the Exhibition

INTERGEO serves as the ideal platform for networking and sharing knowledge with this important sector. “The event is the most important geospatial event in Europe, and maybe even worldwide,” said Hriscu. “It’s a global who’s who of geospatial, with key leading industries exhibiting and exchanging experiences in the many workshops.”

This is a sentiment shared by many exhibiting companies. “We are excited to return to INTERGEO and share our comprehensive portfolio of solutions with geospatial professionals from around the world,” said Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “This event offers a great platform to speak face-to-face and learn how we can best support the end-users, while also discussing current trends affecting the industry.”

Hexagon and its company Leica Geosystems were promoting several E-GNSS enabled products during the event.

Javad, another company exhibiting at INTERGEO, was displaying several versions of its Triumph receivers. “When located in difficult environments, all GNSS receivers are prone to give bad fixed solutions that may appear to be acceptable if they are not verified,” explains company representative Matt Johnson. “Existing methods to verify GNSS solutions include ‘dumping’ the receiver, turning it upside down to cause the RTK engines to reset, and re-observing the point at a later time. Our Triumph receivers, which track all satellite systems, including Galileo, automate these processes with its built-in software features of Verify and Validate.”

Javad Ashjaee, president and CEO of JAVAD, also shared his views with the GSA on the future of GNSS technology trends. His views will be reflected in the upcoming GSA GNSS Market Report, along with inputs from other leading GNSS receiver manufacturers.

In addition to the multitude of companies exhibiting at INTERGEO, numerous government organisations were also present, as well as members of the media and related services. As a central point of the 2015 edition of INTERGEO were Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) and their many applications for the surveying and mapping sector for data collection, analysis and applications. For example, the GSA-funded H2020 project mapKITE uses a UAS and a terrestrial vehicle to develop an end-to-end solution for 3-D high-resolution corridor mapping.

The GSA took advantage of the event to proactively approach end-users to fill in the questionnaire that will be used to help the GSA better understand user needs and E-GNSS readiness. The final results of this survey will be published soon on the GSA website – stay tuned!

More Information

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).

Last month, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) hosted a Workshop on RFI threats to GNSS in Aachen, Germany, gathering representatives from the National Frequency Agencies across Europe to get a first-hand look at the effects of radio interferences on GNSS receivers.

Through two half-day sessions, participants heard from experts on radio interferences detection and mitigation techniques, and saw field demonstrations on the effects of radio interferences on GNSS equipment (e.g. professional receivers and enabled phones).

On the first day of the workshop, European companies presented their work, covering such topics as the impact of threats to the GNSS receiver, hardware and software mitigation techniques, threat detection techniques, and test results. Several of the various effects of intentional and unintentional jamming has on the GNSS receiver were also demonstrated, including the impact on signal to noise ratio (SNR) and on timing and navigation data.

Possible implementation of active antennas, efficiency, limitations, and cost were also discussed, as well as algorithms for active antennas. Speakers presented real detections gathered during the last two years and showed off new state-of-the-art jammers and possible mitigation techniques.

Day two was all about live demonstrations of interferences to GNSS users. Spirent Technologies, Rheinish-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aaachen, NSL, and Astri Polska all demonstrated signal processing techniques.

The workshop was organized with support from the Automotive and Rail Innovation Centre and FDC. Participants included 40 representatives from 16 EU governments, and 20 representatives from 13 EU industries. 

The presentations can be found here.

More Information

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).

Last month, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) hosted a Workshop on RFI threats to GNSS in Aachen, Germany, gathering representatives from the National Frequency Agencies across Europe to get a first-hand look at the effects of radio interferences on GNSS receivers.

Through two half-day sessions, participants heard from experts on radio interferences detection and mitigation techniques, and saw field demonstrations on the effects of radio interferences on GNSS equipment (e.g. professional receivers and enabled phones).

On the first day of the workshop, European companies presented their work, covering such topics as the impact of threats to the GNSS receiver, hardware and software mitigation techniques, threat detection techniques, and test results. Several of the various effects of intentional and unintentional jamming has on the GNSS receiver were also demonstrated, including the impact on signal to noise ratio (SNR) and on timing and navigation data.

Possible implementation of active antennas, efficiency, limitations, and cost were also discussed, as well as algorithms for active antennas. Speakers presented real detections gathered during the last two years and showed off new state-of-the-art jammers and possible mitigation techniques.

Day two was all about live demonstrations of interferences to GNSS users. Spirent Technologies, Rheinish-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aaachen, NSL, and Astri Polska all demonstrated signal processing techniques.

The workshop was organized with support from the Automotive and Rail Innovation Centre and FDC. Participants included 40 representatives from 16 EU governments, and 20 representatives from 13 EU industries. 

More Information

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).

Last month, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) hosted a Workshop on RFI threats to GNSS in Aachen, Germany, gathering representatives from the National Frequency Agencies across Europe to get a first-hand look at the effects of radio interferences on GNSS receivers.

Through two half-day sessions, participants heard from experts on radio interferences detection and mitigation techniques, and saw field demonstrations on the effects of radio interferences on GNSS equipment (e.g. professional receivers and enabled phones).

On the first day of the workshop, European companies presented their work, covering such topics as the impact of threats to the GNSS receiver, hardware and software mitigation techniques, threat detection techniques, and test results. Several of the various effects of intentional and unintentional jamming has on the GNSS receiver were also demonstrated, including the impact on signal to noise ratio (SNR) and on timing and navigation data.

Possible implementation of active antennas, efficiency, limitations, and cost were also discussed, as well as algorithms for active antennas. Speakers presented real detections gathered during the last two years and showed off new state-of-the-art jammers and possible mitigation techniques.

Day two was all about live demonstrations of interferences to GNSS users. Spirent Technologies, Rheinish-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aaachen, NSL, and Astri Polska all demonstrated signal processing techniques.

The workshop was organized with support from the Automotive and Rail Innovation Centre and FDC. Participants included 40 representatives from 16 EU governments, and 20 representatives from 13 EU industries. 

More Information

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 aviation stakeholders have joined forces to bring EGNOS to users, a fact that was clearly demonstrated at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop in Copenhagen September 29-30, 2015.

A key topic at this year’s EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, which was held in Copenhagen from 29 – 30 September was aviation. Presentations focused on the many benefits that EGNOS brings to the sector, with an highlight being the launch of LPV-200 procedures.

“This year we have overcome challenges and achieved much success,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly using EGNOS, and the Airbus A350 is now EGNOS-capable. The number of LPV procedures keeps growing – with more than 200 procedures already published, the potential is huge.”

Launch of LPV-200

One of the biggest announcements from the event was the launch of LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance). Using GNSS positioning technology, LPV-200 provides accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway, resulting in lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until the aircraft is 200 feet above the runway. This means passengers can enjoy increased safer landings – particularly in bad weather conditions – thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. More so, LPV-200 is free of direct charge and requires no upgrade to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

GSA officials noted that LPV-200 represents a key milestone in the development of EGNOS. “The declaration of LPV 200 brings EGNOS to the same operational use standard as the US’s WAAS,” said EGNOS Exploitation Programme Manager Jean-Marc Pieplu. “Now, the GSA is committed to expanding the programme’s coverage area to include all EU 28 Member States – and beyond.”

“LPV 200 is a great achievement for EGNOS and we should be very proud”. added des Dorides“

Finding Flexibility

As LPV implementation continues to grow in Europe, the GSA is well aware that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. “We know our approach needs to be different for different users,” said des Dorides.

To ensure this flexibility, the GSA has been working with the General Aviation (GA) sector to support EASA approval of the avionics system most widely used by GA pilots: the Garmin GNS430 and GNS530. “General Aviation demands cost-effective avionics,” said des Dorides. “By approving these models for LPV capability, we’re helping to bring the cost from €10000 per aircraft registration to just €300 – making EGNOS a realistic option for GA operators.”

EGNOS is also the preferred option for business aviation operators. To support this important aviation sector, the GSA and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the wide use of EGNOS -based navigation procedures at regional and small airports across Europe. Ten priority airfields are undergoing implementation, with a fleet already equipped and ready to fly LPV.

EGNOS Expanding

To ensure adoption is accelerated and harmonised across Europe, the GSA works closely with ESSP, the EGNOS service provider. “We do not work in isolation,” said GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. “We have a key partnership with ESSP and also work closely with EUROCONTROL.” She noted that the GSA does not only focus on the implementation of procedures, but also on strategies that will include EGNOS in the future.

EUROCONTROL’s Frank Riquet agreed on the importance of working together to implement EGNOS across Europe. “There is a benefit for aviation to adopt PBN, and the keyword is safety,” he said. “At EUROCONTROL, we’re always trying to take it back to navigation, surveillance and its impact on traffic, which is why GNSS is a vital part of the network”

In addition to expansion in Europe, there are possibilities for EGNOS to expand beyond the European Union. “We want to extend both in Africa and to the east,” said Ugo Celestino of European Commission DG Grow. “EGNOS is a win-win occasion for non-European Union countries

as it allows them to get a technology that leverages existing public investments, and for the EU it opens new venues of technical cooperation, business, and long-term partnerships.” Celestino said that feedback from Ukraine has been very strong and there is work on-going on EGNOS procedures for airports in the south of Europe.

EGNOS is not only expanding geographically, but also in the types of aircraft it serves.  “EGNOS is more and more important for rotorcraft operations,” said Aguilera. “How can we implement operations powered by EGNOS that can be useful for rotorcraft users?  That’s our current question.” Rotorcraft brings different technological challenges to the equation, such as flying to airports that lack sophisticated – and expensive – ground infrastructure. The GSA is also exploring low-level RNAV routes so rotorcraft can fly safely even in bad weather.

Drones are another area where EGNOS will see growth. “We cannot forget about the use of GNSS in civil drones, and we have funded a lot of projects on this topic,” noted Aguilera. “This is not only to show that drones can do many things, but to show that EGNOS and Galileo can provide guidance.”

Benefiting Business

Several companies spoke in Copenhagen on their experiences using EGNOS, including Airbus, Skyguide, FlyingGroup and Air Baltic. “GNSS on Airbus aircraft is a core function in navigation, surveillance and communication,” said Airbus Navigation Systems Marketing Officer Frederic Belloir. He said it also provides increased airport accessibility, better efficiency with more direct routes, safety nets with ADS-B, TAWS, and enhanced passenger comfort.

More Information

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 aviation stakeholders have joined forces to bring EGNOS to users, a fact that was clearly demonstrated at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop in Copenhagen September 29-30, 2015.

A key topic at this year’s EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, which was held in Copenhagen from 29 – 30 September was aviation. Presentations focused on the many benefits that EGNOS brings to the sector, with an highlight being the launch of LPV-200 procedures.

“This year we have overcome challenges and achieved much success,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly using EGNOS, and the Airbus A350 is now EGNOS-capable. The number of LPV procedures keeps growing – with more than 200 procedures already published, the potential is huge.”

Launch of LPV-200

One of the biggest announcements from the event was the launch of LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance). Using GNSS positioning technology, LPV-200 provides accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway, resulting in lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until the aircraft is 200 feet above the runway. This means passengers can enjoy increased safer landings – particularly in bad weather conditions – thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. More so, LPV-200 is free of direct charge and requires no upgrade to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

GSA officials noted that LPV-200 represents a key milestone in the development of EGNOS. “The declaration of LPV 200 brings EGNOS to the same operational use standard as the US’s WAAS,” said EGNOS Exploitation Programme Manager Jean-Marc Pieplu. “Now, the GSA is committed to expanding the programme’s coverage area to include all EU 28 Member States – and beyond.”

“LPV 200 is a great achievement for EGNOS and we should be very proud”. added des Dorides“

Finding Flexibility

As LPV implementation continues to grow in Europe, the GSA is well aware that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. “We know our approach needs to be different for different users,” said des Dorides.

To ensure this flexibility, the GSA has been working with the General Aviation (GA) sector to support EASA approval of the avionics system most widely used by GA pilots: the Garmin GNS430 and GNS530. “General Aviation demands cost-effective avionics,” said des Dorides. “By approving these models for LPV capability, we’re helping to bring the cost from €10000 per aircraft registration to just €300 – making EGNOS a realistic option for GA operators.”

EGNOS is also the preferred option for business aviation operators. To support this important aviation sector, the GSA and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the wide use of EGNOS -based navigation procedures at regional and small airports across Europe. Ten priority airfields are undergoing implementation, with a fleet already equipped and ready to fly LPV.

EGNOS Expanding

To ensure adoption is accelerated and harmonised across Europe, the GSA works closely with ESSP, the EGNOS service provider. “We do not work in isolation,” said GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. “We have a key partnership with ESSP and also work closely with EUROCONTROL.” She noted that the GSA does not only focus on the implementation of procedures, but also on strategies that will include EGNOS in the future.

EUROCONTROL’s Frank Riquet agreed on the importance of working together to implement EGNOS across Europe. “There is a benefit for aviation to adopt PBN, and the keyword is safety,” he said. “At EUROCONTROL, we’re always trying to take it back to navigation, surveillance and its impact on traffic, which is why GNSS is a vital part of the network”

In addition to expansion in Europe, there are possibilities for EGNOS to expand beyond the European Union. “We want to extend both in Africa and to the east,” said Ugo Celestino of European Commission DG Grow. “EGNOS is a win-win occasion for non-European Union countries

as it allows them to get a technology that leverages existing public investments, and for the EU it opens new venues of technical cooperation, business, and long-term partnerships.” Celestino said that feedback from Ukraine has been very strong and there is work on-going on EGNOS procedures for airports in the south of Europe.

EGNOS is not only expanding geographically, but also in the types of aircraft it serves.  “EGNOS is more and more important for rotorcraft operations,” said Aguilera. “How can we implement operations powered by EGNOS that can be useful for rotorcraft users?  That’s our current question.” Rotorcraft brings different technological challenges to the equation, such as flying to airports that lack sophisticated – and expensive – ground infrastructure. The GSA is also exploring low-level RNAV routes so rotorcraft can fly safely even in bad weather.

Drones are another area where EGNOS will see growth. “We cannot forget about the use of GNSS in civil drones, and we have funded a lot of projects on this topic,” noted Aguilera. “This is not only to show that drones can do many things, but to show that EGNOS and Galileo can provide guidance.”

Benefiting Business

Several companies spoke in Copenhagen on their experiences using EGNOS, including Airbus, Skyguide, FlyingGroup and Air Baltic. “GNSS on Airbus aircraft is a core function in navigation, surveillance and communication,” said Airbus Navigation Systems Marketing Officer Frederic Belloir. He said it also provides increased airport accessibility, better efficiency with more direct routes, safety nets with ADS-B, TAWS, and enhanced passenger comfort.

More Information

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 aviation stakeholders have joined forces to bring EGNOS to users, a fact that was clearly demonstrated at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop in Copenhagen September 29-30, 2015.

A key topic at this year’s EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, which was held in Copenhagen from 29 – 30 September was aviation. Presentations focused on the many benefits that EGNOS brings to the sector, with an highlight being the launch of LPV-200 procedures.

“This year we have overcome challenges and achieved much success,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly using EGNOS, and the Airbus A350 is now EGNOS-capable. The number of LPV procedures keeps growing – with more than 200 procedures already published, the potential is huge.”

Launch of LPV-200

One of the biggest announcements from the event was the launch of LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance). Using GNSS positioning technology, LPV-200 provides accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway, resulting in lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until the aircraft is 200 feet above the runway. This means passengers can enjoy increased safer landings – particularly in bad weather conditions – thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. More so, LPV-200 is free of direct charge and requires no upgrade to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

GSA officials noted that LPV-200 represents a key milestone in the development of EGNOS. “The declaration of LPV 200 brings EGNOS to the same operational use standard as the US’s WAAS,” said EGNOS Exploitation Programme Manager Jean-Marc Pieplu. “Now, the GSA is committed to expanding the programme’s coverage area to include all EU 28 Member States – and beyond.”

“LPV 200 is a great achievement for EGNOS and we should be very proud”. added des Dorides“

Finding Flexibility

As LPV implementation continues to grow in Europe, the GSA is well aware that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. “We know our approach needs to be different for different users,” said des Dorides.

To ensure this flexibility, the GSA has been working with the General Aviation (GA) sector to support EASA approval of the avionics system most widely used by GA pilots: the Garmin GNS430 and GNS530. “General Aviation demands cost-effective avionics,” said des Dorides. “By approving these models for LPV capability, we’re helping to bring the cost from €10000 per aircraft registration to just €300 – making EGNOS a realistic option for GA operators.”

EGNOS is also the preferred option for business aviation operators. To support this important aviation sector, the GSA and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the wide use of EGNOS -based navigation procedures at regional and small airports across Europe. Ten priority airfields are undergoing implementation, with a fleet already equipped and ready to fly LPV.

EGNOS Expanding

To ensure adoption is accelerated and harmonised across Europe, the GSA works closely with ESSP, the EGNOS service provider. “We do not work in isolation,” said GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. “We have a key partnership with ESSP and also work closely with EUROCONTROL.” She noted that the GSA does not only focus on the implementation of procedures, but also on strategies that will include EGNOS in the future.

EUROCONTROL’s Frank Riquet agreed on the importance of working together to implement EGNOS across Europe. “There is a benefit for aviation to adopt PBN, and the keyword is safety,” he said. “At EUROCONTROL, we’re always trying to take it back to navigation, surveillance and its impact on traffic, which is why GNSS is a vital part of the network”

In addition to expansion in Europe, there are possibilities for EGNOS to expand beyond the European Union. “We want to extend both in Africa and to the east,” said Ugo Celestino of European Commission DG Grow. “EGNOS is a win-win occasion for non-European Union countries

as it allows them to get a technology that leverages existing public investments, and for the EU it opens new venues of technical cooperation, business, and long-term partnerships.” Celestino said that feedback from Ukraine has been very strong and there is work on-going on EGNOS procedures for airports in the south of Europe.

EGNOS is not only expanding geographically, but also in the types of aircraft it serves.  “EGNOS is more and more important for rotorcraft operations,” said Aguilera. “How can we implement operations powered by EGNOS that can be useful for rotorcraft users?  That’s our current question.” Rotorcraft brings different technological challenges to the equation, such as flying to airports that lack sophisticated – and expensive – ground infrastructure. The GSA is also exploring low-level RNAV routes so rotorcraft can fly safely even in bad weather.

Drones are another area where EGNOS will see growth. “We cannot forget about the use of GNSS in civil drones, and we have funded a lot of projects on this topic,” noted Aguilera. “This is not only to show that drones can do many things, but to show that EGNOS and Galileo can provide guidance.”

Benefiting Business

Several companies spoke in Copenhagen on their experiences using EGNOS, including Airbus, Skyguide, FlyingGroup and Air Baltic. “GNSS on Airbus aircraft is a core function in navigation, surveillance and communication,” said Airbus Navigation Systems Marketing Officer Frederic Belloir. He said it also provides increased airport accessibility, better efficiency with more direct routes, safety nets with ADS-B, TAWS, and enhanced passenger comfort.

More Information

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) supported SkyToll project received recognition at a recent IRF regional conference.

The Slovak Electronic Toll System continues to be recognized for its innovative use of European GNSS technology for road tolling. Recently, SkyToll won the Global Road Achievement Award at the inaugural International Road Federation (IRF) Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress.

The IRF is a US-based non-profit organization that promotes research, development and maintenance of infrastructure. The award recognizes public and private organizations that demonstrate significant achievements in making the most of existing infrastructure to accommodate present and future traffic by using advanced or original traffic management concepts, organizations and/or systems.

“This award confirms that the Slovak Electronic Toll system is setting the standard for satellite-based tolling throughout Europe and ushering in an era where the toll booth becomes a thing of the past,” says Miroslav Bobošík, Head of Strategy and Marketing at SkyToll.

“As a relatively young and small country in Europe, Slovakia is viewed as a pioneer in implementing European GNSS and satellite navigation applications and is serving as an example to other countries looking to develop similar systems,” added GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini.

SkyToll was one of 12 organizations to receive an award at the gala, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 18. The award was presented by IRF President and CEO C. Patrick Sankey.

At 17,741 kilometres, the Slovak Electronic Toll System, which is operated by SkyToll, is the longest tolled roadway systems in the EU. The system was started in 2010 and uses EGNOS and Galileo, together with an installed unit, to track a vehicle’s movements. When the vehicle crosses a specific point, the satellite tracks the movement and the unit in the vehicle records the transaction. As a result, tolling stations and the delays they cause are no longer needed.

    Also Read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Because the system is satellite based, SkyToll has successfully increased the number of roadways where tolls are collected. So far, 250,000 vehicles are registered to use the system, but only vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are required to pay the toll.

No investment was required by Slovakia to install the system. SkyToll was awarded a contract to design, build, finance and operate the tolling system. The company makes payments to the government from the money collected.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) seeks your input for its 2015 EGNOS User Satisfaction Survey.

The GSA, along with the European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP), is conducting the 2015 EGNOS User Satisfaction Survey. The survey takes only 10 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey is November 30th.

Access th survey here.

The results off the survey will allow the GSA and ESSP to better understand EGNOS’ value to users, improve the EGNOS technology and provide better customer service.

The survey covers all market segments and services, including the Open Service and Safety of Life signal. It also assesses the ESSP’s management of EGNOS User Support Services. All EGNOS users are strongly encouraged to participate, regardless of which market segment they operate in.

The results from last year’s survey were positive and showed a good level of satisfaction with EGNOS. Results from this year’s edition are expected to be made available early next year.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) seeks your input for its 2015 EGNOS User Satisfaction Survey.

The GSA, along with the European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP), is conducting the 2015 EGNOS User Satisfaction Survey. The survey takes only 10 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey is November 30th.

Access th survey here.

The results off the survey will allow the GSA and ESSP to better understand EGNOS’ value to users, improve the EGNOS technology and provide better customer service.

The survey covers all market segments and services, including the Open Service and Safety of Life signal. It also assesses the ESSP’s management of EGNOS User Support Services. All EGNOS users are strongly encouraged to participate, regardless of which market segment they operate in.

The results from last year’s survey were positive and showed a good level of satisfaction with EGNOS. Results from this year’s edition are expected to be made available early next year.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) says new EGNOS service will offer better access to airports and reduce delays, diversions and cancellations.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has launched new technology that provides pilots with enhanced instruments for safer aircraft landings, even in poor weather conditions. The announcement was made at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop being held this week in Copenhagen.

LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance) delivers accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway with the use of GNSS positioning technology. The result is lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until an aircraft is 200 feet above the runway.

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), which provides GPS augmentation in Europe. LPV-200 is free and requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers. 

       Watch This: EGNOS for the Aviation Sector

“EGNOS LPV-200 is now the most cost effective and safest solution for airports,” said GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides. “This is another big step forward for European satellite navigation and aviation.”

With LPV-200, passengers in Europe will see increased accessibility to airports. Pilots can land an aircraft more safely, especially in bad weather conditions, thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. The more efficient landings allowed for by LPV-200 will also cut costs and fuel consumption, reducing the overall cost of air travel.

The Details

The new EGNOS LPV-200 service level now enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I: providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway. These EGNOS-based approaches are considered ILS look-alike, but without the need for the expensive ground infrastructure required for ILS.

EGNOS LPV-200 based approaches, lowered from LPV-250, guarantee all the advantages provided by an ILS CAT I approach with the airspace design flexibility of a PBN approach. Benefits include:

•  Reduced risks associated with landing in bad weather conditions
• Increased accessibility to airports
• Reduced delays, diversions and cancellations (cutting costs)
• Increased airspace capacity and reduction of both ATC and pilot workload 
• Improved efficiency of operations, lowering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and decreasing aviation’s environmental impact

This new EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) service level is available free of charge to all European users within the service coverage area. EGNOS LPV-200 supports civil aviation operations during approaches to airports and helipads. The service requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

         Read This: EGNOS in Action – Aviation

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS, Europe’s SBAS, which has provided civil aviation-certified GPS augmentation over Europe since 2011. Today over 150 European Airports use EGNOS and it is estimated that by 2018 the number will increase to 440.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) says new EGNOS service will offer better access to airports and reduce delays, diversions and cancellations.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has launched new technology that provides pilots with enhanced instruments for safer aircraft landings, even in poor weather conditions. The announcement was made at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop being held this week in Copenhagen.

LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance) delivers accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway with the use of GNSS positioning technology. The result is lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until an aircraft is 200 feet above the runway.

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), which provides GPS augmentation in Europe. LPV-200 is free and requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers. 

       Watch This: EGNOS for the Aviation Sector

“EGNOS LPV-200 is now the most cost effective and safest solution for airports,” said GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides. “This is another big step forward for European satellite navigation and aviation.”

With LPV-200, passengers in Europe will see increased accessibility to airports. Pilots can land an aircraft more safely, especially in bad weather conditions, thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. The more efficient landings allowed for by LPV-200 will also cut costs and fuel consumption, reducing the overall cost of air travel.

The Details

The new EGNOS LPV-200 service level now enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I: providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway. These EGNOS-based approaches are considered ILS look-alike, but without the need for the expensive ground infrastructure required for ILS.

EGNOS LPV-200 based approaches, lowered from LPV-250, guarantee all the advantages provided by an ILS CAT I approach with the airspace design flexibility of a PBN approach. Benefits include:

•  Reduced risks associated with landing in bad weather conditions
• Increased accessibility to airports
• Reduced delays, diversions and cancellations (cutting costs)
• Increased airspace capacity and reduction of both ATC and pilot workload 
• Improved efficiency of operations, lowering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and decreasing aviation’s environmental impact

This new EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) service level is available free of charge to all European users within the service coverage area. EGNOS LPV-200 supports civil aviation operations during approaches to airports and helipads. The service requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

         Read This: EGNOS in Action – Aviation

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS, Europe’s SBAS, which has provided civil aviation-certified GPS augmentation over Europe since 2011. Today over 150 European Airports use EGNOS and it is estimated that by 2018 the number will increase to 440.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) says new EGNOS service will offer better access to airports and reduce delays, diversions and cancellations.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has launched new technology that provides pilots with enhanced instruments for safer aircraft landings, even in poor weather conditions. The announcement was made at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop being held this week in Copenhagen.

LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance) delivers accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway with the use of GNSS positioning technology. The result is lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until an aircraft is 200 feet above the runway.

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), which provides GPS augmentation in Europe. LPV-200 is free and requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers. 

       Watch This: EGNOS for the Aviation Sector

“EGNOS LPV-200 is now the most cost effective and safest solution for airports,” said GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides. “This is another big step forward for European satellite navigation and aviation.”

With LPV-200, passengers in Europe will see increased accessibility to airports. Pilots can land an aircraft more safely, especially in bad weather conditions, thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. The more efficient landings allowed for by LPV-200 will also cut costs and fuel consumption, reducing the overall cost of air travel.

The Details

The new EGNOS LPV-200 service level now enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I: providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway. These EGNOS-based approaches are considered ILS look-alike, but without the need for the expensive ground infrastructure required for ILS.

EGNOS LPV-200 based approaches, lowered from LPV-250, guarantee all the advantages provided by an ILS CAT I approach with the airspace design flexibility of a PBN approach. Benefits include:

•  Reduced risks associated with landing in bad weather conditions
• Increased accessibility to airports
• Reduced delays, diversions and cancellations (cutting costs)
• Increased airspace capacity and reduction of both ATC and pilot workload 
• Improved efficiency of operations, lowering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and decreasing aviation’s environmental impact

This new EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) service level is available free of charge to all European users within the service coverage area. EGNOS LPV-200 supports civil aviation operations during approaches to airports and helipads. The service requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

         Read This: EGNOS in Action – Aviation

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS, Europe’s SBAS, which has provided civil aviation-certified GPS augmentation over Europe since 2011. Today over 150 European Airports use EGNOS and it is estimated that by 2018 the number will increase to 440.

More Information

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) says new EGNOS service will offer better access to airports and reduce delays, diversions and cancellations.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) has launched new technology that provides pilots with enhanced instruments for safer aircraft landings, even in poor weather conditions. The announcement was made at the annual EGNOS Service Provision Workshop being held this week in Copenhagen.

LPV-200 (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance) delivers accurate information on an aircraft’s approach to a runway with the use of GNSS positioning technology. The result is lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until an aircraft is 200 feet above the runway.

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), which provides GPS augmentation in Europe. LPV-200 is free and requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers. 

       Watch This: EGNOS for the Aviation Sector

“EGNOS LPV-200 is now the most cost effective and safest solution for airports,” said GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides. “This is another big step forward for European satellite navigation and aviation.”

With LPV-200, passengers in Europe will see increased accessibility to airports. Pilots can land an aircraft more safely, especially in bad weather conditions, thus reducing delays, diversions and cancellations. The more efficient landings allowed for by LPV-200 will also cut costs and fuel consumption, reducing the overall cost of air travel.

The Details

The new EGNOS LPV-200 service level now enables aircraft approaches that are operationally equivalent to ILS CAT I: providing lateral and angular vertical guidance without the need for visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) of down to only 200 ft. above the runway. These EGNOS-based approaches are considered ILS look-alike, but without the need for the expensive ground infrastructure required for ILS.

EGNOS LPV-200 based approaches, lowered from LPV-250, guarantee all the advantages provided by an ILS CAT I approach with the airspace design flexibility of a PBN approach. Benefits include:

•  Reduced risks associated with landing in bad weather conditions
• Increased accessibility to airports
• Reduced delays, diversions and cancellations (cutting costs)
• Increased airspace capacity and reduction of both ATC and pilot workload 
• Improved efficiency of operations, lowering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and decreasing aviation’s environmental impact

This new EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) service level is available free of charge to all European users within the service coverage area. EGNOS LPV-200 supports civil aviation operations during approaches to airports and helipads. The service requires no upgrade to an airport’s ground infrastructure or to existing certified EGNOS receivers.

         Read This: EGNOS in Action – Aviation

LPV-200 is a key milestone in the development of European Satellite Navigation and EGNOS, Europe’s SBAS, which has provided civil aviation-certified GPS augmentation over Europe since 2011. Today over 150 European Airports use EGNOS and it is estimated that by 2018 the number will increase to 440.

More Information

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) helping Rx manufacturers to optimize Galileo integration in their products.

Since 2009, the GSA has been working with chipset and receiver manufacturers to ensure Galileo is used to its full potential. Through technology workshops, sharing Galileo updates, co-marketing efforts, and dedicated funding for receiver development projects and studies, the GSA has worked with manufacturers to create an even better navigation experience.

“The receiver is the key enabler for which all Galileo signals are translated into services,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “In support of this, the GSA has coordinated a comprehensive testing programme in cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).”

Also Read: The Fundamentals of European GNSS

In the last year, over 460 hours of tests and 91 hours of live testing in the field were conducted. These tests verify how different models integrate Galileo signals, allowing manufacturers to update their technology and get the most out of the system’s increased accuracy and reliability in multi-constellation environment.

Currently almost 40% of receiver models available on the market worldwide are Galileo-enabled, and more than 60% of available receivers integrate SBAS/EGNOS. Thanks to the testing campaign, these products will now be able to use Galileo in more optimized way.

“Over the past few years the GSA has been investing in open dialog with chipset manufactures, paving the way for Galileo to be fully integrated into new generation receivers and ensuring its signals provide a wide array of new applications and services that directly benefit European citizens,” adds des Dorides.

The video, which premiered at the recent Galileo satellite launch, gives viewers an inside look at the receiver testing process.

The GSA in cooperation with European Commission is continuing the exchanges with receiver manufacturers and will be sharing latest updates on the programme in the annual Rx Workshop planned for November.

More Information

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) helping Rx manufacturers to optimize Galileo integration in their products.

Since 2009, the GSA has been working with chipset and receiver manufacturers to ensure Galileo is used to its full potential. Through technology workshops, sharing Galileo updates, co-marketing efforts, and dedicated funding for receiver development projects and studies, the GSA has worked with manufacturers to create an even better navigation experience.

“The receiver is the key enabler for which all Galileo signals are translated into services,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “In support of this, the GSA has coordinated a comprehensive testing programme in cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).”

Also Read: The Fundamentals of European GNSS

In the last year, over 460 hours of tests and 91 hours of live testing in the field were conducted. These tests verify how different models integrate Galileo signals, allowing manufacturers to update their technology and get the most out of the system’s increased accuracy and reliability in multi-constellation environment.

Currently almost 40% of receiver models available on the market worldwide are Galileo-enabled, and more than 60% of available receivers integrate SBAS/EGNOS. Thanks to the testing campaign, these products will now be able to use Galileo in more optimized way.

“Over the past few years the GSA has been investing in open dialog with chipset manufactures, paving the way for Galileo to be fully integrated into new generation receivers and ensuring its signals provide a wide array of new applications and services that directly benefit European citizens,” adds des Dorides.

The video, which premiered at the recent Galileo satellite launch, gives viewers an inside look at the receiver testing process.

Watch the latest video here.

The GSA in cooperation with European Commission is continuing the exchanges with receiver manufacturers and will be sharing latest updates on the programme in the annual Rx Workshop planned for November.

More Information

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 EU-funded HANDHELD project produced an important new prototype device for the surveying and mapping sector, while building crucial know-how among companies that are keeping Europe competitive in the global GNSS marketplace.

EU-funded GNSS research can deliver benefits on multiple levels, including the development of immediately marketable products and services. But while not every research initiative ends in direct market success, the experience and know-how gained by project partners, especially in the private sector, can be equally impactful.

        Watch This: EGNOS for Mapping

The HANDHELD prototype is a portable, stand-alone system with an innovative GNSS antenna, says project coordinator Alain Suskind of Septentrio. But it is only one of a number of solutions developed in recent years in the fast-moving and highly innovative surveying sector. Completed in 2013, the HANDHELD device immediately found itself in competition with other new devices carrying out the same functions, such as ‘ruggedised’ tablets.

“A working prototype was developed during the project,” says Suskind. “The research and subsequent know-how that we obtained can and is being used in our further product developments.”

Research Objectives Met

The central objective of the HANDHELD project was to develop a multi-frequency surveying device that can be held in one hand, leaving the other hand free to carry out other tasks. This included developing a small GNSS L1-E5 antenna suitable for integration in the device. The project team also developed and test an RF integrated passive device in order to reduce the footprint and cost of the antenna front-end.

“A multi-frequency, handheld device was successfully developed,” Suskind says. “The main innovation is the small-size, dual-frequency GNSS antenna, which has proven to work well.”

In the project’s final report, the HANDHELD team concluded that the GNSS antenna is “on the large and heavy side for an integrated solution” and urged that other integration solutions be investigated, such as a standalone housing of the antenna and GNSS receiver that communicates with the mobile device, preferably wirelessly.

“The project and our partners learned a lot about the market and user aspects of handheld devices, especially the ergonomic aspects of such products,” says Suskind. Partners included IMEC, IPDiA and Blackroc Technology, all companies that are helping Europe make its mark in the fast-moving world of GNSS mobile devices.

Taking the Work Forward

HANDHELD pointed towards some specific areas for further research. For example, the final report suggested that the development of an independent hardware platform along with html-based application software could be very useful in the drive towards more portable GNSS-based surveying tools. Further research and development could focus on stand-alone housing shape and interfaces, wireless communication means, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and application software.

According to the GSA’s 2015 GNSS Market Report, surveying represents the most demanding market segment in terms of accuracy. Furthermore, thanks to high purchasing power, it is an early adopter of technological innovation. Once new equipment costs decrease, other sectors tend to follow in adopting new features already tested in the surveying sector.

Projects such as HANDHELD demonstrate the ability of European companies to carry out successful, high-level GNSS research in this cutting-edge sector, building valuable experience and pointing the way towards new and potentially lucrative areas for further work.

More Information

 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).

New Galileo Open Service Signal-In-Space Operational Status Definition Document Now Available

The European Commission has just published the first version of the Galileo Open Service Signal-In-Space Operational Status Definition (OS SIS OSD) Document. The processing of Galileo Open Service signals and the use of Galileo Open Service relies on the publication of four Galileo documents. The first two documents are already published and consist of the Galileo OS Signal-In-Space Interface Control Document [OS SIS ICD, Issue 1.1] and the Galileo Ionospheric Correction Algorithm for Galileo Single Frequency Users [Ionospheric Correction Algorithm for Galileo Single Frequency Users, Issue 1.1, June 2015]. The third document is the Galileo OS Signal-In-Space Operational Status Definition. A public consultation for this document will be launched next week. The fourth document, to be published in the coming months, will be the Galileo OS Service Definition Document (OS SDD).

The OS SIS OSD document is available for download here.

Document Overview

The document is divided into three main sections:

• A comprehensive guide explaining how the status of the Galileo SIS is disseminated by the signal itself through specific data within the Navigation Message.
• Important considerations about the use of navigation parameters, recalling the reference for the ionospheric model used by Galileo.
• Additional considerations on the validity of navigation parameters.

Additional Information

The European Commission and the GSA are holding an open public consultation for the first version of the Galileo Open Service Signal-In-Space Operational Status Definition (OS SIS OSD) Document The public consultation will be accessible next week.

More Information

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).

Following the successful launch of two additional Galileo satellites, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) discusses how Galileo will deliver space-based services to European citizens.

On September 10th two additional Galileo satellites (FOC-M3 and SAT 9-10) were successfully launched into orbit from the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Speaking at the launch, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides discussed how the GSA will help ensure these new satellites translate into valuable services for the end user.

“While this launch is an impressive accomplishment, in the end Galileo is about more than designing, manufacturing and launching satellites,” he said. “The ultimate objective is to translate satellite signals into valuable, reliable services for European citizens.”

Keeping the Focus on the User

The GSA was delegated the responsibility for the Galileo service provision by the European Commission. Within this role, the Agency is tasked with ensuring that the end user remains at the centre of Galileo. To achieve this, the GSA is in constant dialogue with user communities via a wide range of activities.

The Agency also works closely with chipset and receiver manufacturers to ensure all products are Galileo-capable and ready in time when Galileo is deployed. In terms of R&D, the Agency has and continues to support numerous GNSS projects via the Horizon 2020 and, previously, the FP7 funding programmes. Speaking of R&D, des Dorides noted the recently launched Fundamental Elements, which dedicates approximately EUR 100 million to R&D aimed at advancing European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.   Des Dorides noted that the service provision task will not be easy. “Other systems are already operational and, in particular GPS is a de facto  standard,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are committed to making Galileo the world’s second GNSS reference system by 2020, this is our goal.”

The GSA approaches this challenge with a strong track record and experience from its work with EGNOS, where it has been responsible for the programme’s service provision for the past two years. During this time, the Agency has supported the uptake of EGNOS to benefits a wide range of users. Today over 150 airports have EGNOS-based approaches, EGNOS-based precision farming benefits over two-thirds of  European tractors and EGNOS is the standard for mapping and surveying in Europe. In addition interest in EGNOS from areas such as maritime and rail is growing steadily which is a positive trend for EGNOS service provision.

Ensuring a Secure System

Along with Galileo service provision, the GSA is also charged with providing a secure system. In this role, the GSA supports the EU GNSS Security Accreditation Board as an independent body within the Agency. It also provides security oversight and requirements for the GSA infrastructure, coordinates the development, adoption and trials of the Public Regulated Services (PRS) by the Member States, and advises the European Commission on matters of security in relation to EU
GNSS programme contracts and related security risks.

Via the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC), the GSA will also provide around-the-clock monitoring and security response to all EU GNSS programmes. In this role, it will also provide instructions to the Member States regarding the control and management of their PRS user segments.

A Big Step Forward

According to des Dorides, the September 10th launch represents another big step forward for space-based services in Europe. “Tonight the entire European space community takes pride in the successful addition of two more Galileo satellites to the constellation,” he said. “For the GSA, this launch brings us one step closer to providing valuable, highly-accurate, reliable and secure European satellite navigations services to the world.”

More Information

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).

<p><strong><img src="/sites/default/files/C.%20des%20Dorides%20at%20Galileo%20launch.jpg" alt="Speaking at the launch, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides discussed how the GSA will help ensure these new satellites translate into valuable services for the end user." title="Speaking at the launch, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides discussed how the GSA will help ensure these new satellites translate into valuable services for the end user." width="250" height="188" style="float: right;" class="image-right" />Following the successful launch of two additional Galileo satellites, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) discusses how Galileo will deliver space-based services to European citizens. </strong></p>
<p>On September 10th two additional Galileo satellites (FOC-M3 and SAT 9-10) were successfully launched into orbit from the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Speaking at the launch, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides discussed how the GSA will help ensure these new satellites translate into valuable services for the end user.<br /><br />“While this launch is an impressive accomplishment, in the end Galileo is about more than designing, manufacturing and launching satellites,” he said. “The ultimate objective is to translate satellite signals into valuable, reliable services for European citizens.”</p>
<h3>Keeping the Focus on the User</h3>
<p>The GSA was delegated the responsibility for the Galileo service provision by the European Commission. Within this role, the Agency is tasked with ensuring that the end user remains at the centre of Galileo. To achieve this, the GSA is in constant dialogue with user communities via a wide range of activities. <br /><br />The Agency also works closely with chipset and receiver manufacturers to ensure all products are Galileo-capable and ready in time when Galileo is deployed. In terms of R&amp;D, the Agency has and continues to support numerous GNSS projects via the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/r-d/h2020" target="_blank">Horizon 2020</a></span> and, previously, the <a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/r-d/gnss-project-portfolio/fp7" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FP7</span></a> funding programmes. Speaking of R&amp;D, des Dorides noted the recently launched <a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/news/fundamentals-european-gnss" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fundamental Elements</span></a>, which dedicates approximately EUR 100 million to R&amp;D aimed at advancing European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp; Des Dorides noted that the service provision task will not be easy. “Other systems are already operational and, in particular GPS is a de facto&nbsp; standard,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are committed to making Galileo the world’s second GNSS reference system by 2020, this is our goal.” <br /><br />The GSA approaches this challenge with a strong track record and experience from its work with <a href="http://egnos-portal.gsa.europa.eu/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">EGNOS</span></a>, where it has been responsible for the programme’s service provision for the past two years. During this time, the Agency has supported the uptake of EGNOS to benefits a wide range of users. Today over 150 airports have EGNOS-based approaches, EGNOS-based precision farming benefits over two-thirds of&nbsp; European tractors and EGNOS is the standard for mapping and surveying in Europe. In addition interest in EGNOS from areas such as maritime and rail is growing steadily which is a positive trend for EGNOS service provision.</p>
<h3><strong>Ensuring a Secure System</strong></h3>
<p>Along with Galileo service provision, the GSA is also charged with providing a secure system. In this role, the GSA supports the <a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/security/accreditation" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">EU GNSS Security Accreditation Board</span></a> as an independent body within the Agency. It also provides security oversight and requirements for the GSA infrastructure, coordinates the development, adoption and trials of the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/security/prs" target="_blank">Public Regulated Services</a></span> (PRS) by the Member States, and advises the European Commission on matters of security in relation to EU <br />GNSS programme contracts and related security risks. <br /><br />Via the <a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/security/gsmc" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Galileo Security Monitoring Centre</span></a> (GSMC), the GSA will also provide around-the-clock monitoring and security response to all EU GNSS programmes. In this role, it will also provide instructions to the Member States regarding the control and management of their PRS user segments.</p>
<h3>A Big Step Forward</h3>
<p>According to des Dorides, the September 10th launch represents another big step forward for space-based services in Europe. “Tonight the entire European space community takes pride in the successful addition of two more Galileo satellites to the constellation,” he said. “For the GSA, this launch brings us one step closer to providing valuable, highly-accurate, reliable and secure European satellite navigation services to the world.”</p>
<h3>More Information</h3>
<p><strong><em>Media note:</em></strong><em> 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 (<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.gsa.europa.eu/" target="_blank">http://www.gsa.europa.eu</a></span>)</em>.<br /><br /></p>

On September 10th two additional Galileo satellites (FOC-M3 and SAT 9-10) were successfully launched into orbit from the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Speaking at the launch, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides discussed how the GSA will help ensure these new satellites translate into valuable services for the end user.

“While this launch is an impressive accomplishment, in the end Galileo is about more than designing, manufacturing and launching satellites,” he said. “The ultimate objective is to translate satellite signals into valuable, reliable services for European citizens.”

Keeping the Focus on the User

The GSA was delegated the responsibility for the Galileo service provision by the European Commission. Within this role, the Agency is tasked with ensuring that the end user remains at the centre of Galileo. To achieve this, the GSA is in constant dialogue with user communities via a wide range of activities.

The Agency also works closely with chipset and receiver manufacturers to ensure all products are Galileo-capable and ready in time when Galileo is deployed. In terms of R&D, the Agency has and continues to support numerous GNSS projects via the Horizon 2020 and, previously, the FP7 funding programmes. Speaking of R&D, des Dorides noted the recently launched Fundamental Elements, which dedicates approximately EUR 100 million to R&D aimed at advancing European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.   Des Dorides noted that the service provision task will not be easy. “Other systems are already operational and, in particular GPS is a de facto  standard,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are committed to making Galileo the world’s second GNSS reference system by 2020, this is our goal.”

The GSA approaches this challenge with a strong track record and experience from its work with EGNOS, where it has been responsible for the programme’s service provision for the past two years. During this time, the Agency has supported the uptake of EGNOS to benefits a wide range of users. Today over 150 airports have EGNOS-based approaches, EGNOS-based precision farming benefits over two-thirds of  European tractors and EGNOS is the standard for mapping and surveying in Europe. In addition interest in EGNOS from areas such as maritime and rail is growing steadily which is a positive trend for EGNOS service provision.

Ensuring a Secure System

Along with Galileo service provision, the GSA is also charged with providing a secure system. In this role, the GSA supports the EU GNSS Security Accreditation Board as an independent body within the Agency. It also provides security oversight and requirements for the GSA infrastructure, coordinates the development, adoption and trials of the Public Regulated Services (PRS) by the Member States, and advises the European Commission on matters of security in relation to EU
GNSS programme contracts and related security risks.

Via the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC), the GSA will also provide around-the-clock monitoring and security response to all EU GNSS programmes. In this role, it will also provide instructions to the Member States regarding the control and management of their PRS user segments.

A Big Step Forward

According to des Dorides, the September 10th launch represents another big step forward for space-based services in Europe. “Tonight the entire European space community takes pride in the successful addition of two more Galileo satellites to the constellation,” he said. “For the GSA, this launch brings us one step closer to providing valuable, highly-accurate, reliable and secure European satellite navigation services to the world.”

More Information

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).

Europe’s travelling space show sets up at EXPO 2015 to show how space technology affects everyday life.

Milan is set to host the European Space Expo from September 18 through October 4, in conjunction with the ongoing World EXPO 2015. The travelling exhibition aims to illustrate how space and space activities have a direct impact on the daily lives of European citizens.

EXPO 2015 revolves around the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” – a topic at the forefront of GSA applications. Today, more than 30,000 applications are based on space technologies. These apps include everything from maps to protecting the environment, optimizing agriculture, and more. GSA aims to create sustainable, resource-efficient solutions from space applications, particularly in the areas of energy and agriculture, where they will have a large impact on European’s daily lives.

First-hand Demonstrations

Throughout the duration of the exhibit, visitors will be able to watch presentations and interact with the wide range of space technologies such as Galileo and EGNOS. Through entertaining, interactive displays and hands-on project demos, visitors will be exposed to the various contributions space makes to “feeding the planet” and providing “energy for life”.

For example, at the CNH/VanHolland demo, visitors can see how a tractor uses EGNOs and Galileo to optimize agriculture outputs, illustrated with toy tractors and an educational video make the exhibit fun for all participants.

G-Motit is using EGNOS and Galileo to improve mobility in urban environments and is showcasing its E-GNSS based electric scooter sharing service to Milan. Also on display is the E-Track project, which reveals the behaviour of wildlife and farm animals in order to assist in conservation work in natural parks and monitoring on farms. And visitors can learn about mapping areas with difficult access at the mapKITE demo, along with seeing a static drone demo at MISTRALE.

The Details

The European Space Expo, organized by the European Space DG Growth, the European GNSS Agency, and the European Space Agency, will be held at the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens. The show comes to Milan in partnership with the City of Milan, EXPO 2015, the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Air Force and Thales Alenia Space.

A ceremony will be held on September 18 at 10:30 AM to mark the opening of the exhibit, and organizers are excited to announce the attendance of ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

The exhibit provides information in several languages, with a focus on EU flagship programs Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus. Through these programs, European citizens benefit from numerous services and applications, not only enhancing daily life, but also creating opportunities on world markets and contributing to job creation and economic 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).

Europe’s travelling space show sets up at EXPO 2015 to show how space technology improves everyday life.

Milan is set to host the European Space Expo from September 18 through October 4, in conjunction with the ongoing World EXPO 2015. The traveling exhibition aims to illustrate how space and space activities have a direct impact on the daily lives of European citizens.

EXPO 2015 revolves around the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” – a topic at the forefront of GSA applications. Today, more than 30,000 applications are based on space technologies. These apps include everything from maps to protecting the environment, optimizing agriculture, and more. GSA aims to create sustainable, resource-efficient solutions from space applications, particularly in the areas of energy and agriculture, where they will have a large impact on European’s daily lives.

First-hand Demonstrations

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, visitors will be able to watch concrete examples of space technologies such as Galileo and EGNOS: entertaining, interactive displays and hands-on project demos, as well as presentations, illustrate the contributions that space technologies make to “feeding the planet” and providing “energy for life”.

For example, the E-Track project, reveals the behaviour of wildlife and farm animals in order to assist in conservation work in natural parks and monitoring on farms.

G-Motit is using EGNOS and Galileo to improve mobility in urban environments and is showcasing its E-GNSS based electric scooter sharing service to Milan.

The MISTRALE unmanned areal vehicle (UAV) hanging inside the dome explains how to monitor the soil moisture by using the satellite signal.  And visitors can learn about mapping areas with difficult access at the mapKITE demo.. At the CNH/VanHolland demo, a playful demonstration with toy-tractors illustrate how high-tech tractors use EGNOs and Galileo to optimize agriculture outputs. 

The Details

The European Space Expo, organized by the European Space DG Growth, the European GNSS Agency, and the European Space Agency, will be held at the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens. The show comes to Milan in partnership with the City of Milan, EXPO 2015, the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Air Force and Thales Alenia Space.

A ceremony will be held on September 18 at 10:30 AM to mark the opening of the exhibit, and organizers are excited to announce the attendance of ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

The exhibit provides information in several  languages, with a focus on EU flagship programs Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus. Through these programs, European citizens benefit from numerous services and applications, not only enhancing daily life, but also creating opportunities on world markets and contributing to job creation and economic 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).

Europe’s travelling space show sets up at EXPO 2015 to show how space technology improves everyday life.

Milan is set to host the European Space Expo from September 18 through October 4, in conjunction with the ongoing World EXPO 2015. The traveling exhibition aims to illustrate how space and space activities have a direct impact on the daily lives of European citizens.

EXPO 2015 revolves around the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” – a topic at the forefront of GSA applications. Today, more than 30,000 applications are based on space technologies. These apps include everything from maps to protecting the environment, optimizing agriculture, and more. GSA aims to create sustainable, resource-efficient solutions from space applications, particularly in the areas of energy and agriculture, where they will have a large impact on European’s daily lives.

First-hand Demonstrations

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, visitors will be able to watch concrete examples of space technologies such as Galileo and EGNOS: entertaining, interactive displays and hands-on project demos, as well as presentations, illustrate the contributions that space technologies make to “feeding the planet” and providing “energy for life”.

For example, the E-Track project, reveals the behaviour of wildlife and farm animals in order to assist in conservation work in natural parks and monitoring on farms.

G-Motit is using EGNOS and Galileo to improve mobility in urban environments and is showcasing its E-GNSS based electric scooter sharing service to Milan.

The MISTRALE unmanned areal vehicle (UAV) hanging inside the dome explains how to monitor the soil moisture by using the satellite signal.  And visitors can learn about mapping areas with difficult access at the mapKITE demo. At the CNH/VanHolland demo, a playful demonstration with toy-tractors illustrate how high-tech tractors use EGNOs and Galileo to optimize agriculture outputs. 

The Details

The European Space Expo, organized by the European Space DG Growth, the European GNSS Agency, and the European Space Agency, will be held at the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens. The show comes to Milan in partnership with the City of Milan, EXPO 2015, the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Air Force and Thales Alenia Space.

A ceremony will be held on September 18 at 10:30 AM to mark the opening of the exhibit, and organizers are excited to announce the attendance of ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

The exhibit provides information in several  languages, with a focus on EU flagship programs Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus. Through these programs, European citizens benefit from numerous services and applications, not only enhancing daily life, but also creating opportunities on world markets and contributing to job creation and economic 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).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the French Space Agency (CNES) sign a partnership agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring.

The GSA and the French Space Agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) recently signed a Framework Partnership Agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring. The agreement was confirmed at CNES Headquarters in Paris on 8 September.

Under the agreement, a Member States EGNOS service performance monitoring network will be established (SPMS). The network will enable Member States to support the GSA’s work on EGNOS – a key component to the development of European GNSS-based services. The SPMS network ensures access to a wide range of expertise and competence in GNSS by pulling from the existing capacities found in the Member States.

“This is the first time we leverage the competence of the European Member States through a co-financing tool specifically provided for by EU Regulation,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This will be a powerful tool for the EGNOS programme.”

To form the building blocks of the SPMS network, CNES will act as the SPMS coordinator and will work with a range of relevant  institutions across Europe, including:

• INRIM (Italy) Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica
• Lantmäteriet (Sweden): Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority
• NMA (Norway): Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket)
• PECNY (Czech Republic): Geodetic Observatory Pecny from the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography
• ROB (Belgium): Royal Observatory of Belgium
• SRC-PAS (Poland): Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science
• SYRTE (France): Time/space reference systems laboratory of Observatoire de Paris

CNES, a pioneer in satellite navigation and one of the initial contributors to the establishment of an SBAS system in Europe, will lead the consortium of expertise from across Europe.

All SPMS network organisations possess and/or operate assets that will contribute to the EGNOS service performance monitoring activities. Specifically, the agreement focuses on such activities as:

• Monitoring of SBAS Service and Signal Performance
• Ad-hoc investigation of EGNOS abnormal events
• Technical support to EGNOS programme working groups

The GSA, CNES and its partners share a common objective in supporting the European GNSS programmes to their success and achievements. 

French version 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) and the French Space Agency (CNES) sign a partnership agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring.

The GSA and the French Space Agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) recently signed a Framework Partnership Agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring. The agreement was confirmed at CNES Headquarters in Paris on 8 September.

Under the agreement, a Member States EGNOS service performance monitoring network will be established (SPMS). The network will enable Member States to support the GSA’s work on EGNOS – a key component to the development of European GNSS-based services. The SPMS network ensures access to a wide range of expertise and competence in GNSS by pulling from the existing capacities found in the Member States.

“This is the first time we leverage the competence of the European Member States through a co-financing tool specifically provided for by EU Regulation,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This will be a powerful tool for the EGNOS programme.”

To form the building blocks of the SPMS network, CNES will act as the SPMS coordinator and will work with a range of relevant  institutions across Europe, including:

• INRIM (Italy) Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica
• Lantmäteriet (Sweden): Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority
• NMA (Norway): Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket)
• PECNY (Czech Republic): Geodetic Observatory Pecny from the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography
• ROB (Belgium): Royal Observatory of Belgium
• SRC-PAS (Poland): Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science
• SYRTE (France): Time/space reference systems laboratory of Observatoire de Paris

CNES, a pioneer in satellite navigation and one of the initial contributors to the establishment of an SBAS system in Europe, will lead the consortium of expertise from across Europe.

All SPMS network organisations possess and/or operate assets that will contribute to the EGNOS service performance monitoring activities. Specifically, the agreement focuses on such activities as:

• Monitoring of SBAS Service and Signal Performance
• Ad-hoc investigation of EGNOS abnormal events
• Technical support to EGNOS programme working groups

The GSA, CNES and its partners share a common objective in supporting the European GNSS programmes to their success and achievements. 

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).

Members of the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Market Development Team will highlight FP7 success stories and discuss funding opportunities available under the Horizon 2020 programme.

The second Satellite Masters Conference is set to take place on October 20 – 22 at the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in Berlin. The conference focuses on satellite navigation and Earth observation and offers insights into new applications and technological development from experts, as well as innovative start-ups.

A key part of the conference is the European GNSS R&D Day, scheduled for October 22nd. The 7th Framework Programme was the EU’s main funding source and has supported research, development and innovation in global satellite technology. The day-long event will feature success stories on research applications and instruments that are enhancing Europe’s GNSS programmes.

         View the Full Programme Here

GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, will start the programme with a discussion entitled “From Research Applications to Market – FP7 Results”. The morning includes three separate sessions, including one on Mass Market, Professional and Transportation. Another part of the event will be dedicated to Horizon 2020 and several examples of projects that have received funding from this programme will be presented.

The afternoon session will include a roundtable session entitled “Space Entrepreneurship Programmes and Finance” the Q&A session will follow.

European Satellite Navigation Competition

The Satellite Masters Conference will also host the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) award ceremony. With the Galileo satellite constellation continually expanding, there is an increasing need for corresponding applications. The ESNC recognizes creative GNSS-based applications that address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues. The winner, who is selected from the winners of 30 regional and special prizes, will be awarded the grand prize of EUR 20,000 and a six-month incubation programme in their region of choice, with the possibility of another six-month extension.

    Also Read: Do You Have the Next Best Idea for Satellite Navigation?

This year the GSA is again sponsoring a Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS, which aims to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo and provide social and economic benefits.

Last year, the competition received more than 600 business cases from about 50 companies.

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 ERSAT EAV project will demonstrate how EGNSS can work with future European train management systems, boosting safety and reducing costs.

There is widespread agreement between policy-makers and rail industry stakeholders in Europe that cost effective synergies between the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and satellite technologies, such as Galileo and EGNOS, can help make rail transport more efficient, more reliable and further improve safety.

“The ERSAT EAV project represents the missing link between ERTMS and Galileo, both major European industrial projects of strategic relevance,” says Francesco Rispoli, Manager of satellite technologies of Ansaldo STS. “EGNOS and Galileo are key enabling technologies for a market driven step change in the rail sector.”

Harmonised System

ERTMS is the harmonised train control and command system for Europe that will enable the creation of a seamless European railway system, increasing European railways’ competitiveness. It has two components: the European Train Control System (ETCS), an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, and GSM-R, a radio system for providing voice and data communication between track and train.

The ERSAT EAV (ERTMS on Satellite – Enabling Application and Validation) project aims to assist EGNSS (EGNOS and Galileo) uptake in the rail sector in Europe and beyond, fostering competition and innovation in the European space and rail industry and research community. The project can enable ERTMS to take advantage of the “competitivity-dividend” that EGNOS and Galileo satellite technologies promise.

“The main ERSAT EAV objective is to exploit EGNSS for supporting ERTMS deployment,” explains Francesco. “In particular the project focuses on regional lines, for which a safe and reliable positioning or localisation of the trains, based on EGNOS and supplemented by local augmentation means, will be defined and developed, as a contribution  for harmonisation with the European ERTMS standard.”

The solution will be implemented on a pilot line as reference.

Regional opportunity for ERTMS deployment

Regional and local railways lines are a particular target application. Use of EGNSS could provide an economically sustainable ERTMS solution for the modernisation of these lines that are often older and more costly to operate. They also represent an enormous opportunity, as local and regional rail lines represent about 50% of the total railway track length in Europe of around 348 000 kilometres. A study by Bocconi University, one of the project partners, shows very large net benefits in the order of tens of billions of Euros for the implementation of EGNSS based ERTMS on European local rail lines.

The project will provide the first European platform for developing and validating EGNSS applications that are compatible with ERTMS. “Verification and testing will take place in a real operational environment,” says Francesco. “This will contribute to implementing EGNSS positioning under the challenging requirements of railways. Demonstrating the system solution on a real pilot line with the supervision of ANSF (the Italian Safety Agency for Rail) will act as a clear reference for the future standardisation and certification processes.”

The ERSAT EAV demonstrator unit will be deployed and tested in Sardinia on the Cagliari – San Gavino railways line.

The project held its kick-off meeting on 31 March in Genoa and is a two-year Horizon 2020 project with 12 partners (including RFI, Trenitalia and DB Netz - the leading European rail stakeholders). The project is funded by the GSA and co-ordinated by Ansaldo STS. Ansaldo STS SpA is an Italian global transportation company in the field of signalling and integrated transport systems especially in mass transit and rail applications.

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 European Space Agency (ESA) met to formally launch activities related to a recently signed working agreement for EGNOS, creating a strong foundation for the navigation system to further develop.

Following the signing of a working agreement for EGNOS in July, the GSA and ESA met last week to coordinate on a roadmap for the system’s future. The working agreement created a strong base for the navigation system to develop further, and the meeting in Toulouse provided an opportunity for the two parties to set specific goals for organisation, procurement processes, standardisation, and planning.

“This working agreement ensures that the future versions of EGNOS deliver major technical improvements, leveraging ESA’s expertise in EGNOS system evolutions,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “These evolutions will enable GSA to ensure that Europe’s space technology continues to meet users’ evolving performance requirements.”

As Europe’s first concrete venture into satellite navigation, EGNOS uses geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations to receive, analyse and augment GPS. EGNOS increases accuracy of existing satellite positioning signals, provides for an integrity message and transmits an accurate universal time signal.

The working agreement sets general conditions for implementation of tasks related to the design of new versions of EGNOS. It outlines procurement, technical and programme management elements between GSA and ESA. Under the agreement, ESA will be responsible for the development and procurement of future EGNOS evolutions, such as the forthcoming release of V2.4.2, and a new generation of the EGNOS system (V3). ESA will report regularly to the GSA on its progress through the duration of the contract, which runs until March 2021, with a comprehensive review set for early 2017.

“I have many expectations,” adds des Dorides. ”And I fully believe this renewed cooperation will be the foundation of the EU GNSS Programmes’ success.”

The agreement is in line with the governance scheme established by EU Regulation 1285/2013 and EGNOS tasks delegated to the GSA by the European Commission.

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

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).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

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 GSA’s 2015 GNSS Market Report, which provides an in-depth look at market opportunities and technology trends across eight market segments, has surpassed 20,000 downloads since its launch in March.

         Download Your Copy Now!

The GSA is pleased with the high number of downloads and overwhelmingly positive response, demonstrating both the report’s usefulness and the growth of the sector. Covering Location Based Services (LBS), Road Transportation, Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Agriculture, Survey and Timing & Synchronisation, the report serves a wide variety of industries, private businesses, institutions and public stakeholders around the world.

An Essential Tool for Business

“I find the report very useful in my presentations,” says Greg Turetzky, Strategic Business Developer for Wireless Connectivity Solutions, a branch of Intel. “It’s a great service for the whole navigation industry worldwide.”
Turtezky regularly uses the report to set the stage in his presentations, noting that he appreciates how it lays out how big the total market is and that there is still plenty of room for growth. Depending on the presentation and audience, he uses the report in different ways. “I really like how it breaks data down by geography as well as application,” he says. “Most other reports aren’t nearly that flexible.”

         Also Read: GNSS Brings Benefits to Europe

The report looks at data from market angles as well as regions, providing multiple options for finding and presenting information. 

“The nice thing is that you can look at previous versions and see changes and get an idea that the numbers are stable,” says Turetzky. 

Looking Ahead

As satellite navigation becomes more and more integrated with applications in daily life, the GNSS market reports will continue to work as a valuable tool for looking back on trends as well as determining future developments.

To ensure the ongoing success of future editions of the GNSS Market Report, the GSA is launching a brief user survey. The feedback will not only help shape the next Market Report, but also improve the service and technical expertise that the GSA provides to the GNSS user community.

The survey can be found 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) is pleased to announce that after extensive ground and space testing, the SES-5 GEO satellite has entered the EGNOS operational platform broadcasting EGNOS Signal-In-Space (SIS).

A new SES-55 GEO satellite has entered into European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), ensuring long-term service and enabling a range of performance improvements. The satellite, which replaces the Inmarsat 4F2, will ensure reliable EGNOS services until 2026.

The satellite will enable a range of performance improvements, including even greater stability during periods of high ionospheric activity.

“SES-5 is the first step of the complete renewal of the EGNOS Space Segment, securing EGNOS services for the next decade and the future transition to dual-frequency, multi-constellation services,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “It will be completed by the introduction of the ASTRA-5B signals and the procurement of a new EGNOS payload, both planned for 2016.”

Launched in 2009, EGNOS has provided both correction and integrity information on the GPS system, delivering opportunities for Europeans to use the more accurate positioning for improving existing services and developing a wide range of new applications. For example, the EGNOS safety-of-life service enables safer and more flexible landings, including under bad weather conditions and at less well-equipped airports. Services like this will be further enhanced by the entry into service of the SES-55 GEO satellite. 

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).

JOHAN, a new sports tracker and app supported by the European GNSS Agency (GSA), can help improve teams by monitoring on-field performance.

JOHAN, the global tracking system for field sports, has delivered its first systems to two clients. The small, lightweight trackers GNSS technology such as EGNOS, to ensure reliability and precision while measuring position, speed, distance and three axes of accelerations and orientations of players.

After winning the European Satellite Navigation Competition in 2013, JOHAN’s founders Jelle Reichert and Robin Van Kappel began to work on production. A live demonstration during the 2014 European Space Solutions conference and promotion in conjunction with the World Cup at the European Space Expo in Prague helped build momentum. Johan is currently in the final testing stage, with a commercial launch slated for December 2015.

“We are very excited about moving into this phase,” says Reichert. “We now have our full focus on user-based development, meaning we can bring more value to our users based on their demands.”

Ensuring Precise Information

JOHAN trackers are small and lightweight, fitting into vests worn by players of a variety of field sports, though early adopters have all been football teams. The trackers measure location, speed, distance, acceleration and orientation statistics, which are then visualized in an online data platform for coaches and players.  Through GNSS technology, each tracker ensures precise and reliable information.

After each use, players and coaches can monitor workload, performance, tactical information and event analysis, allowing players to spot weaknesses and improve their game over time, and coaches to utilize certain players’ strengths to the team’s advantage.

“You can see who is training too hard and who has a higher chance of injury, as well as who is strong in which performance aspects, such as endurance, sprint, agility or recovery,” adds Reichert.

Attracting Attention

So far, the Dutch company has garnered the attention of three clients: De Graafschap, FC Volendaman and FC Enidhoven, all leading soccer teams in Holland.

In the final testing phase, interested clients are welcome to request a free trial of JOHAN, where the founders will come to track a team, upload the data and demonstrate how to analyse performance.

Winners of the 2015 edition of the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) will be announced on 20 October during an award ceremony in Berlin. You can learn more past winners of the GSA Special Prize 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 participated in the Space Policy Industry Dialogue, sponsored by NERUS, on 24 July 2015, taking the opportunity to stress the importance of the end user.

Recently, the GSA joined the European Space community at the NERUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) sponsored Space Policy Industry Dialogue, held in Augsburg (Germany). The Agency took advantage of the event to stress the importance of the end user. 

At the event, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides joined EOMAP CEO Thomas Heege, Planetek/Apulian Aerospace District’s Paolo Manunta and MEP Monika Hohlmeier for a panel discussion. “Service means giving the user something he or she needs,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This is exactly where space based services should start from, the user. Only when we understand the users´ needs are we able to create the best value.”

          Also Read: Promoting the value of space to the Regions

Des Dorides went on to say that the GSA is working to place the user at the centre of a complex stage that includes many players, including the European Commission, European Parliament, Member States, ESA, and more.

His comments were fitting with the theme of the event, which was to learn about expectations, barriers, and the future roadmap of space in Europe – as well as connect the space industry with politics and agencies for an open discussion on the future of the sector.

The Role of Research and Infrastructure

According to des Dorides, in order to create a culture of placing the user first, there should be a switch from an infrastructure-driven approach to a user-driven one. To achieve this, the GSA is working to connect industry with politics and space infrastructure.

One example of how the GSA is accomplishing this is the Horizon 2020 research programme, which aims to foster innovation. Each project in the programme requires a business plan, which des Dorides said helps ensure market success. “As SMEs are especially important for innovation, there is one topic within H2020 targeting these. This funding scheme has been designed specifically for single or groups of highly innovative SMEs with international ambitions, determined to turn strong, innovative business ideas into winners on the market,” he said. “The aim is to cover full-cycle business innovation support from conception and planning to business plan execution and demonstration, preparing the way towards commercialisation.”

Moving to products, des Dorides emphasised the need for infrastructure as a basis for services. As an example, he noted how EGNOS is already fully operational and Galileo Initial Services will be declared in 2016.

This need for infrastructure and innovation is a sentiment shared by Monika Hohlmeier, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Sky and Space Intergroup, who noted that innovation and growth comes from research and not just infrastructure. “Research also means high-risk funding for start-ups and entrepreneurship,” she said. “In order for Europe to remain a competitive aerospace sector, our European budgets will have to accommodate risks. The same is true for the various downstream application segments.”

Des Dorides agreed, saying that Europe’s policy makers should balance the market with regulatory needs. “Where strategic European values are at stake, the European Commission needs to foster these with regulatory aid,” he said.

To achieve market stimulation, des Dorides called on Member States to act and introduced an initiative called Getting Closer to the Member States to help the GSA work more closely with partners. The initiative involves a survey to understand specific Member State interests, a bilateral workshop to mutually understand both parties’ needs, and an action plan to multiply national measures by European GSA tasks.

In conclusion, des Dorides noted that there are challenges going forward, including funding, awareness and partnership. “Especially for smaller companies, it is important to know who can provide experience, know-how and market access,” he said.

Bavaria is one of the GSA’s most important partners. ASPHALT, PUMA, STON, and SX5 were FP7 projects enjoying great success, while E-KnoT, COREGAL, ERSAT EAV, FOSTERITS, GNSS.asia2, LARA, PARADISE, POSITION, and e-Airport are Bavarian participants successfully working under the H2020 initiative.

ASPHALT – An advanced Galileo navigation system for asphalt fleet machines

• Asphalt Truck Terminal
• Paver Steering (algorithms and concept for integration in paver)
• Levelling System (includes thickness and evenness measurement)
• Paver Terminal, Fleet Data Server and communication concept
• Compactor Pass Counting System

PUMA – Authenticates the GNSS signal in the road user charging domain

• Solution for road toll applications, without the need of expensive infrastructure
• Detection of GNSS jamming, spoofing
• Navigation Aiding and GNSS Spoofing Detection using Dead-reckoning
• Interfacing of In-Vehicle Sensors for Dead-Reckoning via automotive interface

STON – Galileo Commercial Service authentication feature with the current four IOV satellites

• A GNSS front end: a front end module in the Galileo E6 frequency with an additional OS GNSS chipset for user PVT estimation and data synchronization
• A GNSS receiver post processing software
• An innovative GNSS authentication scheme
• A GNSS authentication demonstrator

SX5—Scientific Service Support based on Galileo E5 receivers

• Software application for processing of single-frequency data with particular emphasis on the Galileo E5 AltBOC signal.
• E5 receiver adaptation based on existing receiver technology leading to an FPGA-based reference receiver as well as a software-based receiver that uses a special tracking technique (synthesis of E5a and E5b signal)
• A patent was registered and five successful trials were conducted by SX5 Consortium

E-KnoT–E-GNSS Knowledge Triangle

• Project to strengthen the interaction between the areas of education-research-industry in Europe
• Create a solid network for the creation of a critical mass involving the relevant actors in these areas with the objective of supporting the European economy development
• Focus on the creation of innovative downstream applications

COREGAL–Combined Positioning-Reflectometry Galileo Code Receiver for Forest Management

• Development of an innovative Galileo-based positioning platform enabling low-cost, high-accuracy and unprecedented use of airborne GNSS-Reflectometry for biomass retrieval and related and relevant applications as carbon mapping and land management
• Combine different types of data related with biomass to improve current biomass estimation algorithms with environmental and social applications
• Galileo enables the project through providing accurate positioning and supporting georeferencing and remote sensing

ERSAT EAV–ERTMS on SATELLITE–Enabling Application Validation

• Aims to verify the suitability of EGNSS as the enabler of cost-efficient and economically sustainable ERTMS signalling solutions for safety railway applications
• The solution will exploit all the advantages of the multi-constellation approach and of EGNOS and Galileo services, providing an optimized augmentation service to trains

FOSTER ITS–First Operational, Secured and Trusted Galileo Receiver for ITS

• Design and develop the first secured GNSS module available on the market for ITS application
• Products will be Galileo, EGNOS, GPS and GLONASS enabled
• Products will offer resilience against a range of GNSS threats by detecting signal attack attempts, providing indicators on confidence of positioning, and providing proof of the integrity and origin of PVT data

GNSS.asia.2–Industrial Cooperation Across Continents

• Aims to develop and implement GNSS industrial cooperation activities between the GNSS Industry in Europe and Asia-Pacific
• Focus on the downstream sector
• Activities include workshops, seminars, thematic events and round tables in Asia and the EU

LARA–Augmented Reality System for Utilities Infrastructure Management Through Galileo and EGNOS

• Design, develop and exploit an entirely practical mobile device for utility field workers
• Make use and integrate mobile Augmented Reality interfaces
• Improve on-site interaction and navigation application

PARADISE–Precise and Robust Navigation Enabling Applications in Disturbed Signal Environments

• Developing a solution that makes survey-grade GNSS-based positioning available in situations where to date GNSS could not be adopted due to bad signal conditions
• Focus on surveying inside and near forests, harvesting wood and augmented reality of construction works in urban canyons
• Targets the development and demonstration of a GPS/Galileo based navigation and attitude determination system that provides improved accuracy of positioning in a cost efficient way under degraded signal conditions

POSITION – Polish Support to Innovation and Technology Incubation

• Aimed at decisively supporting the GNSS uptake in Poland
• Works to create a network for the Polish GNSS sector, deepening the market and industrial capacity intelligence and providing business and financing support to start-ups
• Foster the commercialisation of EGNSS ideas and the multiplication of EGNSS success stories

e-Airport–Increase airport capacity, safety and security using European GNSS

• Development of an integrated airport operations monitor application based on the European GNSS to increase the efficiency, safety and security of the cargo and aircraft service processes
• Works in two European airports using EGNOS and Galileo Early services
• Will allow airport operators, ground handlers and Air Traffic Control to plan, monitor and manage the aircraft services process with supports the aircrafts during turn around; plan, monitor and manage airfreight cargo process; measure and distribute Key Performance Indicators

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 participated in the Space Policy Industry Dialogue, sponsored by NEREUS, on 24 July 2015, taking the opportunity to stress the importance of the end user.

Recently, the GSA joined the European Space community at the NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) sponsored Space Policy Industry Dialogue, held in Augsburg (Germany). The Agency took advantage of the event to stress the importance of the end user. 

At the event, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides joined EOMAP CEO Thomas Heege, Planetek/Apulian Aerospace District’s Paolo Manunta and MEP Monika Hohlmeier for a panel discussion. “Service means giving the user something he or she needs,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This is exactly where space based services should start from, the user. Only when we understand the users´ needs are we able to create the best value.”

          Also Read: Promoting the value of space to the Regions

Des Dorides went on to say that the GSA is working to place the user at the centre of a complex stage that includes many players, including the European Commission, European Parliament, Member States, ESA, and more.

His comments were fitting with the theme of the event, which was to learn about expectations, barriers, and the future roadmap of space in Europe – as well as connect the space industry with politics and agencies for an open discussion on the future of the sector.

The Role of Research and Infrastructure

According to des Dorides, in order to create a culture of placing the user first, there should be a switch from an infrastructure-driven approach to a user-driven one. To achieve this, the GSA is working to connect industry with politics and space infrastructure.

One example of how the GSA is accomplishing this is the Horizon 2020 research programme, which aims to foster innovation. Each project in the programme requires a business plan, which des Dorides said helps ensure market success. “As SMEs are especially important for innovation, there is one topic within H2020 targeting these. This funding scheme has been designed specifically for single or groups of highly innovative SMEs with international ambitions, determined to turn strong, innovative business ideas into winners on the market,” he said. “The aim is to cover full-cycle business innovation support from conception and planning to business plan execution and demonstration, preparing the way towards commercialisation.”

Moving to products, des Dorides emphasised the need for infrastructure as a basis for services. As an example, he noted how EGNOS is already fully operational and Galileo Initial Services will be declared in 2016.

This need for infrastructure and innovation is a sentiment shared by Monika Hohlmeier, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Sky and Space Intergroup, who noted that innovation and growth comes from research and not just infrastructure. “Research also means high-risk funding for start-ups and entrepreneurship,” she said. “In order for Europe to remain a competitive aerospace sector, our European budgets will have to accommodate risks. The same is true for the various downstream application segments.”

Des Dorides agreed, saying that Europe’s policy makers should balance the market with regulatory needs. “Where strategic European values are at stake, the European Commission needs to foster these with regulatory aid,” he said.

To achieve market stimulation, des Dorides called on Member States to act and introduced an initiative called Getting Closer to the Member States to help the GSA work more closely with partners. The initiative involves a survey to understand specific Member State interests, a bilateral workshop to mutually understand both parties’ needs, and an action plan to multiply national measures by European GSA tasks.

In conclusion, des Dorides noted that there are challenges going forward, including funding, awareness and partnership. “Especially for smaller companies, it is important to know who can provide experience, know-how and market access,” he said.

Bavaria is one of the GSA’s most important partners. ASPHALT, PUMA, STON, and SX5 were FP7 projects enjoying great success, while E-KnoT, COREGAL, ERSAT EAV, FOSTERITS, GNSS.asia2, LARA, PARADISE, POSITION, and e-Airport are Bavarian participants successfully working under the H2020 initiative.

ASPHALT – An advanced Galileo navigation system for asphalt fleet machines

• Asphalt Truck Terminal
• Paver Steering (algorithms and concept for integration in paver)
• Levelling System (includes thickness and evenness measurement)
• Paver Terminal, Fleet Data Server and communication concept
• Compactor Pass Counting System

PUMA – Authenticates the GNSS signal in the road user charging domain

• Solution for road toll applications, without the need of expensive infrastructure
• Detection of GNSS jamming, spoofing
• Navigation Aiding and GNSS Spoofing Detection using Dead-reckoning
• Interfacing of In-Vehicle Sensors for Dead-Reckoning via automotive interface

STON – Galileo Commercial Service authentication feature with the current four IOV satellites

• A GNSS front end: a front end module in the Galileo E6 frequency with an additional OS GNSS chipset for user PVT estimation and data synchronization
• A GNSS receiver post processing software
• An innovative GNSS authentication scheme
• A GNSS authentication demonstrator

SX5—Scientific Service Support based on Galileo E5 receivers

• Software application for processing of single-frequency data with particular emphasis on the Galileo E5 AltBOC signal.
• E5 receiver adaptation based on existing receiver technology leading to an FPGA-based reference receiver as well as a software-based receiver that uses a special tracking technique (synthesis of E5a and E5b signal)
• A patent was registered and five successful trials were conducted by SX5 Consortium

E-KnoT–E-GNSS Knowledge Triangle

• Project to strengthen the interaction between the areas of education-research-industry in Europe
• Create a solid network for the creation of a critical mass involving the relevant actors in these areas with the objective of supporting the European economy development
• Focus on the creation of innovative downstream applications

COREGAL–Combined Positioning-Reflectometry Galileo Code Receiver for Forest Management

• Development of an innovative Galileo-based positioning platform enabling low-cost, high-accuracy and unprecedented use of airborne GNSS-Reflectometry for biomass retrieval and related and relevant applications as carbon mapping and land management
• Combine different types of data related with biomass to improve current biomass estimation algorithms with environmental and social applications
• Galileo enables the project through providing accurate positioning and supporting georeferencing and remote sensing

ERSAT EAV–ERTMS on SATELLITE–Enabling Application Validation

• Aims to verify the suitability of EGNSS as the enabler of cost-efficient and economically sustainable ERTMS signalling solutions for safety railway applications
• The solution will exploit all the advantages of the multi-constellation approach and of EGNOS and Galileo services, providing an optimized augmentation service to trains

FOSTER ITS–First Operational, Secured and Trusted Galileo Receiver for ITS

• Design and develop the first secured GNSS module available on the market for ITS application
• Products will be Galileo, EGNOS, GPS and GLONASS enabled
• Products will offer resilience against a range of GNSS threats by detecting signal attack attempts, providing indicators on confidence of positioning, and providing proof of the integrity and origin of PVT data

GNSS.asia.2–Industrial Cooperation Across Continents

• Aims to develop and implement GNSS industrial cooperation activities between the GNSS Industry in Europe and Asia-Pacific
• Focus on the downstream sector
• Activities include workshops, seminars, thematic events and round tables in Asia and the EU

LARA–Augmented Reality System for Utilities Infrastructure Management Through Galileo and EGNOS

• Design, develop and exploit an entirely practical mobile device for utility field workers
• Make use and integrate mobile Augmented Reality interfaces
• Improve on-site interaction and navigation application

PARADISE–Precise and Robust Navigation Enabling Applications in Disturbed Signal Environments

• Developing a solution that makes survey-grade GNSS-based positioning available in situations where to date GNSS could not be adopted due to bad signal conditions
• Focus on surveying inside and near forests, harvesting wood and augmented reality of construction works in urban canyons
• Targets the development and demonstration of a GPS/Galileo based navigation and attitude determination system that provides improved accuracy of positioning in a cost efficient way under degraded signal conditions

POSITION – Polish Support to Innovation and Technology Incubation

• Aimed at decisively supporting the GNSS uptake in Poland
• Works to create a network for the Polish GNSS sector, deepening the market and industrial capacity intelligence and providing business and financing support to start-ups
• Foster the commercialisation of EGNSS ideas and the multiplication of EGNSS success stories

e-Airport–Increase airport capacity, safety and security using European GNSS

• Development of an integrated airport operations monitor application based on the European GNSS to increase the efficiency, safety and security of the cargo and aircraft service processes
• Works in two European airports using EGNOS and Galileo Early services
• Will allow airport operators, ground handlers and Air Traffic Control to plan, monitor and manage the aircraft services process with supports the aircrafts during turn around; plan, monitor and manage airfreight cargo process; measure and distribute Key Performance Indicators

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).

Location Based Services (LBS) covers a range of applications that depend on the location of the user. Mapping, finding products or services, learning about a new area, or finding stolen property or lost pets are just a few examples of where LBS applications are highly useful.

According to the latest edition of the GSA GNSS Market Report, 70-percent of all mobile phones worldwide will have GNSS capability by 2020. Galileo enables receivers in phones and other mobile devices to have improved location accuracy and reliability, even in challenging environments like urban canyons or rural areas.

Do you know how much LBS has an effect on your daily life?

Here are a few examples:

• Accurate positioning: In cities, everything is mapped. From streetlights to oil drilling to lines on the road, everything is mapped out and accuracy is extremely important. In municipalities, environmental organizations and oil and gas companies, mapping is especially crucial, and these industries impact the daily lives of millions of citizens. Accurate positioning helps to make intelligent decisions, and also keeps things running smoothly in urban areas. Watch the video!
• Emergency situations: Knowing your location in an emergency can save your life. With LBS, even if you don’t know your exact location, Galileo can send it to first responders. Emergency workers rely on LBS for precise positioning in order to respond to calls as quickly as possible. This can be crucial if you’re a victim of a crime and cannot speak on the phone, but can call an emergency number where your location will be sent and help will be on the way within seconds. Watch the video!
• Tracking: Tracking devices utilize LBS, providing the exact position of pets, children, vehicles and other items. Accurate tracking devices mean you’ll never lose anything again, and additional satellites from Galileo provide even faster and more accurate positioning. Watch the video!
• Advertising: Location based services allow advertisers to target users based on location, providing the most helpful recommendations and services to individual users. For example, if you’re visiting a new city, you can open an app while you’re walking down the street and see restaurants in the area targeted to your preferences. Watch the video!

These are just a few examples of how location based services permeate your daily life. The increased satellites that Galileo provides enable accurate positioning in challenging environments. From remote landscapes like mountain hiking trails to dense city streets, the accuracy of location based services will be improved – keeping users safe and on track no matter where they are.

More Information

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).

StickNTrack is using European GNSS powered Location Based Services to help pet owners quickly find a roaming pet.

“We designed StickNTrack to locate objects that are remote, outdoor and do not have their own power supply,” says Kristoff Van Rattinghe, Partner at Sensolus, a Belgium-based offline analytics company working on existing Internet of Things technologies.

Using GPS, Sensolus developed StickNTrack, a low-power tracking device that can be stuck on almost any asset. The device is compact and provides the hourly position of objects for up to three years. Using the cloud-based web platform that comes with the device, users can manage settings and track location, trajectory, utilization, and even temperature of non-powered assets.

Ready for Galileo

StickNTrack has a plan for utilizing Galileo as soon as possible, something that Rattinghe says he is excited about. “Galileo will help improve positioning in challenging environments such as urban canyons,” he says. “In positioning, you need to get your line of site with satellites as quickly as possible, so the more satellites the better for accuracy purposes.”

         Read this: Location Based Services Market Report

He says with four satellites Sensolus was able to develop a workable device, but with seven they will be able to improve and create an even more accurate and reliable product. “As Galileo adds more satellites to existing constellations, it reduces the time needed to determine an asset’s exact location,” he says.

The device can be used for businesses to track assets, such as vehicles, boats, and more. Rattinghe says companies can save money by knowing exactly where their materials are and how they’re being used. It can also be used in agriculture to track behavior of livestock over time.

An Extended Leash

One of the trackers most popular uses though is with personal assets. Pet owners can stick the device to their dogs’ collars, for example, and Rattinghe says it can even be used to keep track of children or elderly people. He says the cloud-based application is what makes it so easy to use across different assets.

        Watch this: Location Based Services Videos

“A lot of devices existing today are on a smartphone, but I don’t see dogs traveling with smartphones, so we actually build the application into the collar where it can track the position and send it automatically to the Internet.”  The device can then be located by satellite and users can check the status on their phone, computer, or have results emailed to them. “You have direct access to the positioning,” Rattinghe says.

More Information

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).

Members of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) Market Development team sit down for a Q&A on the latest GNSS market trends and inside look at the GSA Market Report.

As part of a recent GPS World webinar, members of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) Market Development team sit down for a Q&A on the latest GNSS market trends and inside look at the GSA Market Report.

Who will be the winners in multi-GNSS use in consumer-grade devices? Will it be GPS alone, GPS/Galileo, or some other pair or set?

The benefits of multi-constellation are clear and have been recognized by consumer chipset manufacturers. Currently, more than 20% of all chipsets support four constellations. Due to the advantage of interoperability, GPS/Galileo could be the winner in the long-term. However, regulatory measures ensure that Glonass and Beidou have a large consumer base and market role as well.

What do you see as the most significant GNSS market trends for the next three years?

1. Integration of various technologies and constellations for better performance.
2. An increased role of smartphones in both the consumer and professional markets.
3. An increased role of the Asia-Pacific region in global GNSS demand and supply.

What will the Commercial Service (CS) look like and how will it be integrated into the already existing competitive market of GNSS Services for High/Very High Accuracy (HA) positioning?

CS-HA will be based on Precise Point Positioning (PPP), a technique that provides accurate positioning using detailed physical models and corrections, as well as precise orbit and clocks. It will deliver corrections in real-time across the globe through GALILEO E6. It will also offer triple frequency with a much faster convergence time for surveying applications with achievable accuracy in comparison to Real-Time Kinematic (RTK).

         Also read: GPS World Webinar Talks GSA’s Market Report

Users will benefit from the CS authentication service (CS-Auth), which utilises signal and data from actual satellites and not from any other source. This anti-spoofing technique provides a higher level of trust for users. 

CS High Accuracy and Authentication will both be provided to the private sector, and are currently being developed with industry players in mind. They will be launched in a transparent way under equal conditions for all interested market participants.

When, if ever, do you foresee low-cost, chip-scale multi-frequency GNSS receivers, and what effect will this have on the 'professional' Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) board business (e.g. Novatel etc…)?

We expect low-cost, multi-frequency chipset/receivers to appear on the market in the next few years. The driving market segment for this technology will be automotive and other machine-to-machine applications where the power consumption is less of an issue than that of consumer devices. 

This trend, driven by the need for accuracy and availability of position and timing with emerging connected and automated vehicle applications, will be accelerated by the availability of L5/E, GPS and Galileo’s second civil frequency.  Availability on both constellations will permit a virtual second frequency constellation in the very near future. This technology will also be available for professional applications where the OEM board business is currently positioned.

That being said, we expect the high precision/professional segment to continue to innovate and reach even higher performances, maintaining a market position that answers to more demanding professional users not completely covered by low-cost, multi-frequency GNSS receivers.

How will the Galileo initial services impact the development of the GNSS industry?

The industry is prepared. Almost 40% of all receiver models are Galileo enabled. Accuracy and availability will be improved, especially in urban canyons. Tests have shown that Galileo adds value in difficult environments, and this will increase with a higher number of satellites.

What are prognoses about the integration of the future GNSS receivers with Enhanced Loran (eLORAN)?

The “multisystem performance standards for shipborne receivers”, finalized last March by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), looks at the integration of the different available and future satellite navigation systems (e.g. BeiDou and Galileo), as well as terrestrial systems (e.g. e-Loran) and augmentation systems (e.g DGPS or SBAS) in the maritime market segment.

         Read the Report: GSA GNSS Market Report 2015

The inclusion of at least one terrestrial radio navigation system as a mandatory requirement may cause difficulty for manufacturers, as there is currently no terrestrial radio navigation system available worldwide. If it is not mandatory, then it depends on each receiver manufacturer to include eLoran as a back-up to GNSS based on a market strategy.

What is the impact of wearables on the GNSS market?

The wearable band market exploded in the first half of 2014, recording a 700% year-to-year increase. High end smart watches feature assisted, multi-constellation GNSS capabilities combined with 3G or better connectivity. North America and Europe are the leading regions in terms of shipments. Shipments of wearables, including GNSS fitness devices, smart watches and glasses, will further increase to 14 mln units by 2023.

How will Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, impact regular GNSS receiver business?

As stated in the report, the market for UAVs is not quantified in this edition, but other sources estimate it at about $7 bln, with forecasts predicting a steady increase of annual revenues over the next decade.

We have not observed any cannibalization with other GNSS devices. On the contrary, UAVs can support market growth, allowing new applications to emerge in different markets: surveying, mapping, scientific research, film and photography, agriculture, communication, etc.

Further development of UAV applications is conditioned by the need of new regulations and technical improvements.

What are the main challenges for the widespread adoption of the higher performance GNSS receivers in the Road market? Which region will see the adoption first?

Higher performance receivers in the road segment will be linked to safety critical applications, or those that possess the potential to directly or indirectly cause harm to humans, destruct the system, or damage the environment. Connected vehicles and autonomous driving are included in this group.

These applications represent a disruptive and revolutionary innovation, which needs to surpass a number of regulatory, economical, technological and social challenges. For instance:

• Software still requires further development and testing in real case scenarios
• Security is still an issue and requires further technology development
• Liability models must be defined to identify responsibility in accidents
• Public opinion still shows concern, especially in security and reliability
• Consumers show interest, but do not seem willing to spend a premium price for self-driving technology
• Governments need to define new regulations and liability policies

Based on these uncertainties, it is not easy to guess which region will be the first to adopt. U.S. looks to be the most straightforward scenario for the following reasons:

• More flexible than Europe in regards to policy and regulations related to road transportation
• World leader in automotive sales
• Automotive usage is more popular than in Europe/Asia

In the European context, the UK government is making an impressive investment in pilot projects for driverless cars.

More Information

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 more than 4 billion GNSS devices on the global market today, Location Based Services (LBS) devices make up the majority of that number – a number that is expected to grow in coming years. The European GNSS Agency (GSA) takes an inside look at the LBS market, the latest trends and the challenges ahead.

Smartphones, tablets, tracking devices, digital cameras, portable computers, fitness gear, and more all use GNSS positioning for navigation, mapping, and determining consumer preferences. More so, safety applications benefit from accurate emergency caller location tracking, and LBS also assists in enterprise by providing mobile workforce management and tracking solutions. In social applications, LBS provides friend locators, and GNSS helps entertain users through gaming and augmented reality.

No End in Sight

According the GSA’s latest GNSS Market Report, the LBS market continues to grow, with high-end devices now commonly making use of multi-constellation and hybrid positioning. There are currently 3.1 billion GNSS-enabled devices, a number that is expected to increase to 5.2 billion by 2017.

Smartphones represent the majority of these devices, with tablets coming in second, and other GNSS-enabled devices accounting for about 100 million devices in 2013. Growth of the smartphone market is attributed to versatility and a growing affordability, and to a robust second-hand market, which carries over more than 50 million devices per year from North America to developing countries.

In 2013, smartphone shipments saw a tenfold increase from 2007.  Tablets saw a 640-percent increase between 2010 and 2013, and the wearable band market also saw a large surge in the first half of 2014, increasing 700-percent from the year before. The market for smartphones is forecast to grow by 6.2-percent per year through 2023, with 2.5 billion units shipped each year by that time. By 2023, the installed base of GNSS devices will reach almost 9 billion units.

Apps for Everything

Behind the growth of the smartphone market is a mass development of successful apps. On average, users download more than 70 apps per device. Downloads of apps that rely on positioning data will reach 7.5 billion by 2019, an increase from 2.8 billion in 2014. Almost half of the current apps on the market today are context-aware applications leveraging on local information, with games and entertainment representing the largest category. The GPS treasure hunt game Geocaching was one of the first location-based games on the market, and today it is played by 6 million users. This is just one example of the many games that integrates positioning, augmented reality, maps, and real environments. 

    Read this: GSA’s LBS News Stream

Now, app developers are showing an interest in using location data as an enabler for enterprise, consumer and public safety services. For example, location data can support fraud management and secure authentication services, and can be used for advertising and analytic applications.

In addition, EGNOS improves GPS accuracy by reducing the negative impact of ionosphere on the calculated position, which could benefit consumer applications that make use of more accurate location information in remote areas where network-based methods are not as effective.
Galileo Set to Improve Availability 

Difficult environments like urban canyons or indoors can pose significant challenges in regards to location accuracy, due to multipath obstructed views of satellites. Because people often use LBS within these types of environments, it is important that accuracy be improved.

Galileo satellites will further improve signal availability, enhancing continuity of service for BLS in these environments. Galileo, through contributing to multi-constellation solutions, can help satisfy the need for higher accuracy in demanding applications such as personal tracking.

Europe Strong in Apps

The LBS segment is currently dominated by non-EU players, with Asian companies leading handset revenues and North American companies holding the majority of the chipset market. The Asia-Pacific region is the largest regional LBS market in terms of devices, with a total of 480 million shipments in 2013 compared to 285 million in North America and 195 million in Europe. This is attributed to fast-paced economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Also see: LBS Case Studies and Success Stories

European players are strong in applications development. The European “App Economy” generated EUR 17.5 billion in revenues and employed 1.8 million people in 2013. By 2018, it is expected to contribute EUR 63 billion to the EU economy and employ 4.8 million people.

Beyond national borders, EU policy measures on roaming tariffs are fostering the usage of smartphones and apps, and price reductions of more than 80-percent since 2007 resulted in a 630-percent increase in the roaming market.

Overall, it is a time of expansion and innovation for LBS, one that will be helped even further by the introduction of Galileo. 

More Information

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) is taking on a new project in Italy, demonstrating the added value of EGNOS for helicopters.

Italy’s Ente Nazionale Assistenza al Volo (ENAV) is making things easier for Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS) operators with newly published EGNOS landing procedures. “New European satellite navigation technologies, and the services and applications that rely on these technologies, are key when it comes to aviation and flying in remote areas not served by costly ground infrastructure,” said an ENAV spokesperson at a recent event held in Turin. “ENAV’s newly published procedures will allow HEMS to take off and land in difficult weather conditions and at night, delivering a round-the-clock emergency service covering all the entire Piedmont region.” 

        Read this: EGNOS for Helicopters

EGNOS does not depend on any local ground navigation infrastructure, so it can deliver an affordable solution to small heliports or hospital helipads. It also enhances vertical precision and integrity to improve safety, accessibility and efficiency across Europe. It leads to a substantial reduction in the decision height for a pilot, making helipads accessible in poor weather conditions – of particular importance to medical and emergency operations. PINS down to Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance, for example, allows access to heliports using vertical guidance to lead the flight to a specific point in space, from which the crew performs visual manoeuvring to the landing site.

ENAV plans to continue expanding EGNOS for operators. “The publication of these procedures and those that will follow will allow 118 (emergency number) responses to intervene quickly and in a more efficient and safe manner, securing a fast and widespread medical service in emergency or critical conditions,” the spokesperson said. “In the Piedmont region, where snow and rain in the winter can make visibility difficult, this will be especially useful.”

Expanding Capacity

The EU FP7 funded HEDGE-NEXT project last year implemented the first PinS LPV procedure in Europe, at Bern’s Insel Hospital. More recently, Barcelona Airport tested EGNOS for helicopters. New procedures, known as Simultaneous Non-Interfering (SNI) operations, will expand airspace capacity at the airport and allow helicopters to take passengers to and from the airport.

       Read this: Helicopter Industry Goes for the EGNOS Advantage

With PinS LPV procedures, approach and departures from civil airports will be at low levels and at 90° to the runway(s) in use – as long as the Runway Visual Range is within stipulated limits – thus precluding conflict with fixed-wing aircraft.

However, to take advantage of these procedures, helicopters must be EGNOS equipped. New AgustaWestland AW139, AW 109 SP, AW169 and AW189, along with all in-development Airbus Helicopters models, are all EGNOS ready.

More Information

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 GSA supports entrepreneurs and businesses using European GNSS technology by providing key insights and analysis into the GNSS market across all market segments.

According to the GSA, entrepreneurship plays a key role in the development of innovative satellite applications.

Speaking at the 2015 GLIC Conference in June, GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini noted how entrepreneurship and R&D will allow European companies to seize market opportunities. “Thanks to a strong dialogue and engagement with the GNSS community, the GSA is in a unique position to leverage research outcomes, seize market opportunities and drive innovation for the benefit of both European businesses and European citizens,” he said.

According to the most recent version of the GSA’s GNSS Market Report, GNSS is a rapidly developing market. For example, the report indicates that there are currently 3.6 billion GNSS devices globally, and that this number is set to double by 2020. “In such a dynamic market, innovation is critical, and the GSA remains committed to supporting the entrepreneurship that will drive this innovation,” said Calini.

The GSA supports entrepreneurs and businesses using European GNSS technology by providing key insights and analysis into the GNSS market across all market segments through its GNSS Market Report, industry days, user forums and one-on-one consultations. Furthermore, the GSA directly supports GNSS R&D activities via the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.   

This information and support is essential to policy makers, industry players and application developers, as it allows them to better optimize their investment and business decisions. For example, with the recent eCall regulation, as of 2018 all cars sold in Europe are required to be European GNSS equipped. This is a huge opportunity for application developers, who benefited from the regular updates on the policy’s development and market insights provided by the GSA.

Consumer Knowledge

Although such satellite-powered devices play a huge part in our daily lives, the majority of people fail to make the connection between the GNSS equipment/application in their car or on their phone with the satellite in the sky. This raises a challenge for the space sector as consumer demand is essential to driving future innovation – and consumers can’t make demands when they don’t know what satellites are capable of doing.

    Read This: European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

For instance, shoppers do not realize that the infinite channels they watch on the television and almost universal Internet access is delivered by satellite systems. “Users need to know what satellites can do before they can demand new services,” says Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat’s CEO, speaking at the recent Global Space Innovation Conference (GLIC 2015) held in Munich. “The challenge for us is ensure the user understands how space solutions are influencing their everyday existence.” 

More Information

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).

New GSA video profiles how European GNSS powered Location Based Services help users better explore the great outdoors.

Navigation systems have long been popular in cars and on mobile phones, helping people find their way from point A to point B. But outside of well-travelled roads, these systems are lacking. In hard to reach areas like nature trails and mountain passes, GPS signals simply aren’t strong enough for accurate navigation.

Now, with the introduction of Galileo and a new app made specifically for outdoor navigation, all of this is changing.

A New Way to Get Outdoors

Komoot is an outdoor app for activity and exploration, guiding users even in untraveled terrain. The innovative app will use precise positioning provided by Galileo to give users turn-by-turn offline navigation and direct routes. “Even if you’re mountain biking in the forest, you can get directions,” says Markus Hallermann, Komoot’s Co-Founder and CEO.

The app, which was founded in 2010, also offers hikers and cyclists topographic maps and recommendations based on user-generated content.       

        Read This: Location Based Services Market Report

This recommendation feature allows users to highlight their favourite sights, single tracks, peaks, or other locations on a trail and flag them for other users. “People discover their home surroundings in a new way,” says Hallermann, noting that most people follow the same paths over and over, but with Komoot are empowered to discover new trails without worrying about getting lost. “For our users, it’s really important to have robust and accurate positioning when they’re out in the forest in order to stay safe,” he says.

Galileo Enhanced

This is where Galileo will come in. With the addition of more satellites to the existing constellation, receivers like those in mobile phones will be able to benefit from improved accuracy and reliability, even in fjords, mountains, and other remote areas. Hallermann says the increased number of satellites mean users will always know where they’re going – giving them more freedom to be adventurous.

Galileo will also help with other features, like learning more about your surroundings. With Komoot, users can point their phone at a specific mountain peak and learn its name, elevation, and distance within seconds.

Through providing a safe, reliable navigation app with interactive features like highlights and photo and tip sharing, Komoot hopes to change the way people explore the outdoors. “Our vision is to enable everyone to have outdoor experiences in their life, everywhere, with just one tap,” says Hallermann.

Komoot is just one example of the many apps sets to benefit from Galileo. To learn more about these Galileo-enabled Location Based Services, be sure to check out the new GSA video here.

More Information

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 international maritime community at TransNav 2015 to discuss the use of GNSS within the maritime sector.

GNSS has revolutionised maritime navigation, including in such restricted maritime waters as port approaches and harbours, where traffic is densest and the risk of collision and grounding is greatest. Indeed, the shift to satellite-based positioning systems has been so far-reaching that, in 2010, the US Coastguard started dismantling its Loran-C ground-based navigation system.

But with the increased reliance on GNSS comes a correspondingly heightened potential risk if anything should go wrong with the signal - one of the reasons the US has since reversed its decision and is now investing in an upgraded eLORAN system as a backup for GPS. It is challenges like this that drove the discussion at the recent TransNav 2015 conference.

A Need for Resilency

The problem is that the low-power GNSS signal is relatively susceptible to interference, whether from natural sources, such as solar storms and ionospheric activity, or reflections (multipath interference) from buildings and local infrastructure. “Large steel structures like cranes can block and reflect the GNSS signals and introduce error,” explains William Roberts, Applications Manager at Nottingham Scientific Ltd (NSL), which specialises in mitigating GNSS interference. “In other words, positioning within a port is very similar to positioning in a downtown city.”

        Read This: EGNOS for Maritime Market Report

With the increasing availability of low-cost jamming devices, it is also relatively easy to maliciously jam GNSS receivers. Less easy to do, but an equally serious threat, is ‘spoofing’, or the deliberate distortion of the GNSS signal to give false readings.

It is not surprising that the need for resilient position, navigation and timing (PNT) is at the core of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) recent strategy for e-Navigation, which recommends integrating a range of different sources of PNT information in ship-borne receivers. These systems can then complement each other should any one system fail. More so, they can also provide a means of cross checking position information, for example in the event of a spoofing attempt.

“The most important issue is to measure and analyse the extent of the problem with GNSS in the area concerned and see if there is a real risk to operations,” says Roberts. “GNSS receivers may then need to be made more robust and resilient, with interference mitigation techniques.”

Complementary PNT Systems

There are already several different and complementary sources of PNT information. GNSS provides a three-dimensional position, velocity and time solution when at least four satellites are in view for a given system, such as those belonging to GPS, Glonass, Beidou and Galileo (as from next year). If constellations are combined, such as GPS and Galileo, an extra (fifth) satellite is needed  three for the position, one for the GPS time correction and one for the Galileo time correction. Meanwhile, land-based radio-navigation systems can provide a two-dimensional position using at least three stations. These systems include e-LORAN, which is upgrading and replacing LORAN-C, using solid-state transmitters, precise timing (using atomic clocks) and a data channel to provide correction and integrity messages. 

Various augmentation systems already provide integrity data and corrections to improve PNT accuracy. Some, such as D-GNSS and real-time kinematic carrier-phase enhancement (RTK), use ground based reference transmitters. The Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is mandatory on all passenger ships and on cargo vessels over a certain tonnage, integrates a VHF transceiver with a positioning system like GNSS or LORAN-C.  There are also satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) like EGNOS, which incorporates an ionospheric model, is a valuable tool to correct for most natural sources of error.

        Watch This: EGNOS for Maritime Video

Meanwhile, more traditional ship-borne instruments are still valuable, such as Inertia Measurement Units, the gyro-compass, echo-sounder and radar, as well as signals of opportunity (SoOP), which use VHF communications signals in the vicinity to help estimate position by triangulation.

Some resilience may also already be built into the GNSS system. “The Galileo authentication service will provide an added value for general navigation, but especially in restricted waters where the traffic is more intense,” says GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini.

“This service will inform the mariner about the origin of the signals. In other words, if signals come from the Galileo satellites or not, thus representing a protection for the mariner against spoofing.”

An Integrated Solution

The use of multiple-system receivers that can handle navigational signals from two or more GNSS, with or without augmentation, is already one way to achieve more resilient PNT data. But as they all use essentially the same (L1) signal, they are all equally susceptible to jamming.       

         Also Read: EGNOS Set to Improve Maritime Navigation Safety

To achieve greater resilience, especially to intentional or unintentional interference, it is necessary to use two or more independent, or frequency-diverse radio-navigation systems. This kind of combined approach provides the redundancy to mitigate the loss of a single system and underlies the eNavigation strategy being implemented by IMO.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee is finalising a resolution on performance standards for multi-system ship-borne navigation receivers, with support from IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) and CIRM (the International Maritime Radio Committee). At the same time, new IMO guidelines for resilient PNT are under development and will include both EGNOS and Galileo.

Heads Up

For Roberts, purely technical solutions to a more resilient navigation in demanding maritime environments may still not be enough. Radio-navigation signals like eLORAN, for example, are also susceptible to jamming, though they use different frequencies to GNSS.

“There is a degree of overreliance on what the GNSS receiver tells you,” he says. “It’s becoming treated as a black box navigation tool, with little appreciation of what’s going on behind the screen. You need to understand the navigation system and use your better judgement to identify when there may be errors. This can also mean better awareness of what’s happening around you, so you don’t necessarily believe what’s being plotted on your map.”

More Information

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 international maritime community at TransNav 2015 to discuss the use of GNSS within the maritime sector.

GNSS has revolutionised maritime navigation, including in such restricted maritime waters as port approaches and harbours, where traffic is densest and the risk of collision and grounding is greatest. Indeed, the shift to satellite-based positioning systems has been so far-reaching that, in 2010, the US Coastguard started dismantling its Loran-C ground-based navigation system.

But with the increased reliance on GNSS comes a correspondingly heightened potential risk if anything should go wrong with the signal - one of the reasons the US has since reversed its decision and is now investing in an upgraded eLORAN system as a backup for GPS. It is challenges like this that drove the discussion at the recent TransNav 2015 conference.

A Need for Resilency

The problem is that the low-power GNSS signal is relatively susceptible to interference, whether from natural sources, such as solar storms and ionospheric activity, or reflections (multipath interference) from buildings and local infrastructure. “Large steel structures like cranes can block and reflect the GNSS signals and introduce error,” explains William Roberts, Applications Manager at Nottingham Scientific Ltd (NSL), which specialises in mitigating GNSS interference. “In other words, positioning within a port is very similar to positioning in a downtown city.”

        Read This: EGNOS for Maritime Market Report

With the increasing availability of low-cost jamming devices, it is also relatively easy to maliciously jam GNSS receivers. Less easy to do, but an equally serious threat, is ‘spoofing’, or the deliberate distortion of the GNSS signal to give false readings.

It is not surprising that the need for resilient position, navigation and timing (PNT) is at the core of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) recent strategy for e-Navigation, which recommends integrating a range of different sources of PNT information in ship-borne receivers. These systems can then complement each other should any one system fail. More so, they can also provide a means of cross checking position information, for example in the event of a spoofing attempt.

“The most important issue is to measure and analyse the extent of the problem with GNSS in the area concerned and see if there is a real risk to operations,” says Roberts. “GNSS receivers may then need to be made more robust and resilient, with interference mitigation techniques.”

Complementary PNT Systems

There are already several different and complementary sources of PNT information. GNSS provides a three-dimensional position, velocity and time solution when at least four satellites are in view for a given system, such as those belonging to GPS, Glonass, Beidou and Galileo (as from next year). If constellations are combined, such as GPS and Galileo, an extra (fifth) satellite is needed - three for the position, one for the GPS time correction and one for the Galileo time correction. Meanwhile, land-based radio-navigation systems can provide a two-dimensional position using at least three stations. These systems include e-LORAN, which is upgrading and replacing LORAN-C, using solid-state transmitters, precise timing (using atomic clocks) and a data channel to provide correction and integrity messages. 

Various augmentation systems already provide integrity data and corrections to improve PNT accuracy. Some, such as D-GNSS and real-time kinematic carrier-phase enhancement (RTK), use ground based reference transmitters. The Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is mandatory on all passenger ships and on cargo vessels over a certain tonnage, integrates a VHF transceiver with a positioning system like GNSS or LORAN-C.  There are also satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) like EGNOS, which incorporates an ionospheric model, is a valuable tool to correct for most natural sources of error.

        Watch This: EGNOS for Maritime Video

Meanwhile, more traditional ship-borne instruments are still valuable, such as Inertia Measurement Units, the gyro-compass, echo-sounder and radar, as well as signals of opportunity (SoOP), which use VHF communications signals in the vicinity to help estimate position by triangulation.

Some resilience may also already be built into the GNSS system. “The Galileo authentication service will provide an added value for general navigation, but especially in restricted waters where the traffic is more intense,” says GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini.

“This service will inform the mariner about the origin of the signals. In other words, if signals come from the Galileo satellites or not, thus representing a protection for the mariner against spoofing.”

An Integrated Solution

The use of multiple-system receivers that can handle navigational signals from two or more GNSS, with or without augmentation, is already one way to achieve more resilient PNT data. But as they all use essentially the same (L1) signal, they are all equally susceptible to jamming.       

         Also Read: EGNOS Set to Improve Maritime Navigation Safety

To achieve greater resilience, especially to intentional or unintentional interference, it is necessary to use two or more independent, or frequency-diverse radio-navigation systems. This kind of combined approach provides the redundancy to mitigate the loss of a single system and underlies the eNavigation strategy being implemented by IMO.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee is finalising a resolution on performance standards for multi-system ship-borne navigation receivers, with support from IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) and CIRM (the International Maritime Radio Committee). At the same time, new IMO guidelines for resilient PNT are under development and will include both EGNOS and Galileo.

Heads Up

For Roberts, purely technical solutions to a more resilient navigation in demanding maritime environments may still not be enough. Radio-navigation signals like eLORAN, for example, are also susceptible to jamming, though they use different frequencies to GNSS.

“There is a degree of overreliance on what the GNSS receiver tells you,” he says. “It’s becoming treated as a black box navigation tool, with little appreciation of what’s going on behind the screen. You need to understand the navigation system and use your better judgement to identify when there may be errors. This can also mean better awareness of what’s happening around you, so you don’t necessarily believe what’s being plotted on your map.”

More Information

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 three-month series of events in different European cities, held as part of the Space and Society project, came to a close on June 29 with a conference in Brussels entitled “Towards a European Space Community”. The meeting coincided with the opening of an exhibition of photographs called “Space girls, space women”, a selection of which was on display at the conference. 

The Space and Society project was organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), with support from GSA and other leading European space organisations.

Raising Awareness

“Space systems and technologies play an important part in the everyday lives of European citizens, but they may not be aware of it,” explains Alice Tétu, Administrator of the Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT) section at EESC. “The idea behind the Space and Society initiative was to help raise awareness of the advantages and services that these technologies bring them.” 

Another important objective of the project was to generate interest by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in what satellite technologies like Copernicus and Galileo can offer. “In addition, we also wanted to use the project as a way of generating and maintaining political support for current and future space programmes at EU and national levels,” adds Tétu.

A Behind the Scenes Look

Speaking at the conference in Brussels, GSA Head of Market Development Gian-Gherardo Calini reminded participants how ubiquitous satellite-based location technology has become, often behind the scenes. “There are 3.6 billion GNSS devices in operation today and there are expected to be 7 billion by 2019– that’s one device per person on Earth,” he said, “This is the only market that is growing today, along with radio-frequency identification (RFID) and the internet.”

He noted that the European Union has already invested EUR 12 billion in Galileo, with the expectation that it will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

Satellite positioning can have a considerable social and regional impact, with applications such as tracking vehicles carrying dangerous goods - for example delivering inflammable fuel to a small town. As an example, Calini cited the value-added SCUTUM project, which can lower the time to intervention in the case of an incident. Other emerging applications include navigating driverless cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as the remote seeding, watering and harvesting of farm crops.

All Around Europe

In total, six Space and Society events were organised, each in a different Member State and according to the experience and interests of members.

On May 20, a conference in Kaunas (Lithuania) aimed to boost the space industry in the Baltic region, focusing on SMEs, the integration of satellite data, nanosatellites, regional cooperation, and funding opportunities at EU and national level. Shortly afterwards, on May 29, participants were able to visit the French national space research centre (CNES) and the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse to meet with SMEs and discuss new job opportunities in the space sector.

On June 3, Space and Society moved on to Rome, bringing together representatives from industry, SMEs and national and European authorities to discuss current and future legislation in the space sector. On June 25, participants were able to visit a school laboratory in the German aerospace centre (DLR) in Cologne, with the aim of promoting space in schools and universities. Also in June, a meeting held at NSO headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands) focused on the needs of the space industry, the role of business incubators and private-public collaboration, to get more SMEs into the space market.

The full programme of events in the Space and Society project, with the list of members and supporting agencies is available online here.

More Information

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).

For some users of location based and T&S services, the loss or corruption of a satellite signal can have critical consequences. For sensitive applications that require a high level of service continuity, Public Regulated Services (PRS) may represent the answer.

In 2014, there were an estimated 3.6 billion GNSS devices globally. This number is forecasted to increase to 7 billion by 2019. Smartphones are by far the most popular platform to access location-based services (LBS), with about 2 billion smartphone users anticipated by 2016. Most of these users are the general public, who agree to trade their privacy and data ownership for the convenience and functionality of “always on” location services – regardless of the risk of a maliciously corrupted GNSS signal.

But for some users - including governments, the police, military, fire-fighters, paramedics, and even financial institutions - loss or corruption of the GNSS signal can have immediate and critical consequences.

This is why the Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) has been designed to provide a robust and secure signal that continues to be available to authorised users when access to other navigation services is lost or corrupted.

“It is clearly an advantage to have a GNSS signal that is robust when managing a crisis,” says Jorge Andreau Garcia of the Directorate of Space Defence at GMV, a technology group. “The PRS signal continues to be available even when other forms of communication are failing.”

Key to PRS is the use of a dual band signal (Galileo’s E1 and E6 signals), with high bandwidth, which makes it much more resistant to interference.  Access to PRS, which is decided by individual Member States, is controlled through encryption of the signals and restricting access through key management systems. Users who have not been granted access to the secure features of the PRS signal will not be able to determine any information from it. Galileo PRS therefore offers the robustness of a military GNSS signal with the potential of civilian-controlled GNSS.

Garcia also notes that another advantage is that the PRS signal is authenticated, so you can rely on what you’re getting in your receiver.

With a potential 3 million civilian service personnel in Europe, the potential market for PRS is substantial. One of the main challenges now is to develop low-cost handheld receivers capable of using the PRS signal. As the signal is comparable to the GPS signal, manufacturers are already designing devices that use Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) networks like TETRA and TETRAPOL, integrating the navigational algorithms and position information of both the PRS and GPS systems.

Critical Communications World

Some of the potential end users of PRS, as well as manufacturers of current critical communications receivers and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), gathered at the 17th annual Critical Communications World congress (CCW 2015) in Barcelona (Spain) at the end of May.

A whole range of hardware was on display during the event, everything from pocket-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can enter dangerous buildings ahead of fire-fighters or soldiers to increase their situation awareness, to handheld radio receivers with robust satellite positioning that can operate in hostile, dangerous and noisy environments. 

Less obviously dangerous, but equally critical security applications for PRS and T&S services are in the finance and banking sector, where accurate timing of transactions is fundamental, as well as for the security and management of transport infrastructure, including the control of traffic flow in cities and rail networks.

Initial operational capability for Galileo with initial services is set to come on stream in 2016.

More Information

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).

For some users of location based and T&S services, the loss or corruption of a satellite signal can have critical consequences. For sensitive applications that require a high level of service continuity, Public Regulated Services (PRS) may represent the answer.

In 2014, there were an estimated 3.6 billion GNSS devices globally. This number is forecasted to increase to 7 billion by 2019. Smartphones are by far the most popular platform to access location-based services (LBS), with about 2 billion smartphone users anticipated by 2016. Most of these users are the general public, who agree to trade their privacy and data ownership for the convenience and functionality of “always on” location services – regardless of the risk of a maliciously corrupted GNSS signal.

But for some users - including governments, the police, military, fire-fighters, paramedics, and even financial institutions - loss or corruption of the GNSS signal can have immediate and critical consequences.

This is why the Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) has been designed to provide a robust and secure signal that continues to be available to authorised users when access to other navigation services is lost or corrupted.

“It is clearly an advantage to have a GNSS signal that is robust when managing a crisis,” says Jorge Andreau Garcia of the Directorate of Space Defence at GMV, a technology group. “The PRS signal continues to be available even when other forms of communication are failing.”

Key to PRS is the use of a dual band signal (Galileo’s E1 and E6 signals), with high bandwidth, which makes it much more resistant to interference.  Access to PRS, which is decided by individual Member States, is controlled through encryption of the signals and restricting access through key management systems. Users who have not been granted access to the secure features of the PRS signal will not be able to determine any information from it. Galileo PRS therefore offers the robustness of a military GNSS signal with the potential of civilian-controlled GNSS.

Garcia also notes that another advantage is that the PRS signal is authenticated, so you can rely on what you’re getting in your receiver.

With a potential 3 million civilian service personnel in Europe, the potential market for PRS is substantial. One of the main challenges now is to develop low-cost handheld receivers capable of using the PRS signal. As the signal is comparable to the GPS signal, manufacturers are already designing devices that use Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) networks like TETRA and TETRAPOL, integrating the navigational algorithms and position information of both the PRS and GPS systems.

Critical Communications World

Some of the potential end users of PRS, as well as manufacturers of current critical communications receivers and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), gathered at the 17th annual Critical Communications World congress (CCW 2015) in Barcelona (Spain) at the end of May.

A whole range of hardware was on display during the event, everything from pocket-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can enter dangerous buildings ahead of fire-fighters or soldiers to increase their situation awareness, to handheld radio receivers with robust satellite positioning that can operate in hostile, dangerous and noisy environments. 

Less obviously dangerous, but equally critical security applications for PRS and T&S services are in the finance and banking sector, where accurate timing of transactions is fundamental, as well as for the security and management of transport infrastructure, including the control of traffic flow in cities and rail networks.

Initial operational capability for Galileo with initial services is set to come on stream in 2016.

Download the Galileo PRS flyer.

More Information

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).

Through the Horizon 2020 funded Building European Links towards Southeast Asia (BELS) project, the GSA is helping to facilitate the introduction of E-GNSS into Southeast Asia (SEA).

    See Also: European GNSS – Now there’s an App for That!

Operating between 2015 and 2018, BELS brings together 12 European, Asian and Australia partners, including European companies with a presence in the region, as well as leading universities. The project is based at NAVIS, a technology centre located in Hanoi, Vietnam.
BELS concentrates on three areas:

1. Opening new markets to EU companies
2. Increasing awareness of E-GNSS technology through workshops
3. Increasing the technical expertise of people in the region

Southeast Asia already enjoys a large population of people (more than 600 million) and many technically skilled experts in satellite technology. The GSA is working to attract more young researchers into E-GNSS technology and expanding the reach of the GSA in Southeast Asia. As part of this effort, the Agency is collaborating with leading universities in the region and facilitating the mobility of PhD students.

To launch the collaboration, the project recently held a workshop in Vietnam that brought together leading European E-GNSS experts and their Vietnamese counterparts. Both parties stressed the need for innovation in satellite navigation as being the key to greater adoption of the technology.

Vietnamese delegation, gathering Prof. Mai Ha, Chief of Office of Vietnam Space Committee,  Prof. Ta Hai Tung, Director of the NAVIS Centre, and leaders of the project consortium met  the GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides  in Prague at the beginning of June this year. The meeting among others contributed to the high level goal of the BELS project: strengthen ties with the SEA region in the field of Global Navigation Satellite System.

More Information

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).

Through the Horizon 2020 project - Building European Links towards Southeast Asia (BELS) -  the GSA is helping to facilitate the introduction of E-GNSS into Southeast Asia (SEA).

    See Also: European GNSS – Now there’s an App for That!

Operating between 2015 and 2018, BELS brings together 12 European, Asian and Australia partners, including European companies with a presence in the region, as well as leading universities. The project is based at NAVIS, a technology centre located in Hanoi, Vietnam.
BELS concentrates on three areas:

1. Opening new markets to EU companies
2. Increasing awareness of E-GNSS technology through workshops
3. Increasing the technical expertise of people in the region

Southeast Asia already enjoys a large population of people (more than 600 million) and many technically skilled experts in satellite technology. The GSA is working to attract more young researchers into E-GNSS technology and expanding the reach of the GSA in Southeast Asia. As part of this effort, the Agency is collaborating with leading universities in the region and facilitating the mobility of PhD students.

To launch the collaboration, the project recently held a workshop in Vietnam that brought together leading European E-GNSS experts and their Vietnamese counterparts. Both parties stressed the need for innovation in satellite navigation as being the key to greater adoption of the technology.

Vietnamese delegation, gathering Prof. Mai Ha, Chief of Office of Vietnam Space Committee,  Prof. Ta Hai Tung, Director of the NAVIS Centre, and leaders of the project consortium met  the GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides  in Prague at the beginning of June this year. The meeting among others contributed to the high level goal of the BELS project: strengthen ties with the SEA region in the field of Global Navigation Satellite System.

More Information

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).

At the Connected Cars World conference in Amsterdam, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) joined carmakers, automotive suppliers and public authorities to discuss how GNSS- and internet- enabled vehicles are making life easier for drivers, and the actions to be undertaken in the industry for a continuous integration of more accurate and robust GNSS in the coming years.

Major vehicle manufacturers are already delivering motor vehicles with connected services for drivers, such as real time traffic and weather reports, and accident and road works warnings. Coupled with embedded GNSS technologies for precise localisation, and the connected car becomes a veritable mobility management system on wheels.

Speaking at the Connected Cars World conference, GSA Deputy Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani stressed the crucial role of precise and reliable GNSS in connected vehicles: “With Galileo, we will have greater resistance to multipath interference, for example in urban canyons,” she continued. “And it will be a multi frequency service, so it will be more resistant to intentional interferences.” Finally, she explained, Galileo will also feature an authentication signal, to protect against spoofing attacks.

Research for a Single Road ‘GNSS Engine’

The GSA’s Alberto Fernandez-Wyttenbach took advantage of the first “European GNSS User Forum for Automotive Stakeholders” to announce more support for road-related satellite navigation research. Looking at the wider picture, he said, the GSA is now focusing on a number of key areas for research, including:

• Safety-critical applications, including connected cars and autonomous vehicles
• Liability and payment applications, such as road tolling and insurance apps

The GSA is making funding available for work in support of all of these areas through the EU’s Fundamental Elements Grant Plan on GNSS Receivers.

“We want OEMs to participate as well as auto suppliers and receiver makers,” said Wyttenbach. “Our objective is to see a single embedded ‘GNSS engine’ on board all vehicles, to cover all the necessary functionalities for all of the key road application areas, all in one technology package.”

Get the App: European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

“We want to see a real prototype,” he concluded. “We want something that is near market-ready.”

Potential research participants should look for a new round of calls for proposals in July. Proposals will be evaluated quickly, with a deadline for submissions on September 30th and selections and contract negotiations to be completed before the end of the year.

The Corporate Perspective

Talking from the automotive manufacturer’s point-of-view, SEAT’s Roger Giralt talked about his company’s new ‘desktop’ for drivers. This ‘desktop’ comes with a variety of apps, such as one that can record trips, and a ‘me’ app giving direct access to social media – facebook, twitter, e-mails and the like. “With a voice-control system, you no longer have to miss messages while you’re driving,” said Giralt. “With smartphone integration, you can access Google maps to find your car in the parking lot, then get in your car, plug in your smartphone and you have all your apps and your multimedia with you.”

Giralt stressed that many of SEAT’s desktop functions are blocked while you are actually driving, thus minimising any driver distraction.

In the case of disruptive technologies such as automated and driverless cars, distraction will be just the thing former drivers are looking for. In a panel discussion on automation, Nissan Europe’s Richard Candler reminded participants of the goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, a goal now nearer than many believed possible just a few short years ago. The fact that 90% of road accidents are the result of human error remains a strong argument in favour of further automation, Candler said.

Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Nissan is taking a step-by-step approach towards more autonomous road vehicles, starting with a ‘traffic jam pilot’, and next introducing a ‘motorway pilot’ and, by 2020, a ‘city pilot’. At each step, the vehicle will take on more of the responsibility for actually driving the car, but in a way that allows drivers to get used the concept gradually.

Jan-Maarten de Vries of TomTom contrasted the approach being taken by established manufacturers such as Nissan with the one being taken in Silicon Valley, where ‘newcomers’ such as Google are going straight to the end-goal of completely autonomous, driverless cars. “Neither approach is right or wrong,” de Vries said. “But the traditional OEMs do have the advantage of knowing their customers.”

Show Me the Data!

A new and very exciting area opened up by connected cars is the generation of new kinds of ‘big data’. With more and more such cars out there not only using services, but also sending information about where they are, how fast they are going, what they are accessing online, and more, the potential for public good and private profit is enormous.

In a joint presentation on big data, Ford’s John Ellis and Greg Krueger of the US Department of Transport said the global market for road-related data – e.g. traffic conditions, travel time and road surface conditions – is worth five to six billion USD. “That’s how much governments are spending to collect this kind of data,” Ellis said.

Indeed, the kinds of information cited by Ellis are absolutely crucial to road operators and mobility authorities as they endeavour to create a more efficient, safer and greener transport system.

Traditionally, collecting such information has meant setting up roadside infrastructure – cameras, sensors and the like. But connected cars can provide that information effortlessly, if only the data they generate can be collected and accessed. As Roger Giralt pointed out, many carmakers are still getting their heads around digital concepts, being much more used to selling machines.

Privacy issues will also come into play here. Public opinion on this sticky subject varies from country to country around Europe, let alone around the world. On the question of privacy and who owns the data generated by internet- and GNSS-connected cars, BMW’s Michael Gruffke said, “Younger people are already used to giving up information about themselves and their activities, because they know they will get something back in return.”

More Information

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).

At the Connected Cars World conference in Amsterdam, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) joined carmakers, automotive suppliers and public authorities to discuss how GNSS- and internet- enabled vehicles are making life easier for drivers, and the actions to be undertaken in the industry for a continuous integration of more accurate and robust GNSS in the coming years.

Major vehicle manufacturers are already delivering motor vehicles with connected services for drivers, such as real time traffic and weather reports, and accident and road works warnings. Coupled with embedded GNSS technologies for precise localisation, and the connected car becomes a veritable mobility management system on wheels.

Speaking at the Connected Cars World conference, GSA Deputy Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani stressed the crucial role of precise and reliable GNSS in connected vehicles: “With Galileo, we will have greater resistance to multipath interference, for example in urban canyons,” she continued. “And it will be a multi frequency service, so it will be more resistant to intentional interferences.” Finally, she explained, Galileo will also feature an authentication signal, to protect against spoofing attacks.

Research for a Single Road ‘GNSS Engine’

The GSA’s Alberto Fernandez-Wyttenbach took advantage of the first “European GNSS User Forum for Automotive Stakeholders” to announce more support for road-related satellite navigation research. Looking at the wider picture, he said, the GSA is now focusing on a number of key areas for research, including:

• Safety-critical applications, including connected cars and autonomous vehicles
• Liability and payment applications, such as road tolling and insurance apps

The GSA is making funding available for work in support of all of these areas through the EU’s Fundamental Elements Grant Plan on GNSS Receivers.

“We want OEMs to participate as well as auto suppliers and receiver makers,” said Wyttenbach. “Our objective is to see a single embedded ‘GNSS engine’ on board all vehicles, to cover all the necessary functionalities for all of the key road application areas, all in one technology package.”

Get the App: European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

“We want to see a real prototype,” he concluded. “We want something that is near market-ready.”

Potential research participants should look for a new round of calls for proposals in July. Proposals will be evaluated quickly, with a deadline for submissions on September 30th and selections and contract negotiations to be completed before the end of the year.

The Corporate Perspective

Talking from the automotive manufacturer’s point-of-view, SEAT’s Roger Giralt talked about his company’s new ‘desktop’ for drivers. This ‘desktop’ comes with a variety of apps, such as one that can record trips, and a ‘me’ app giving direct access to social media – facebook, twitter, e-mails and the like. “With a voice-control system, you no longer have to miss messages while you’re driving,” said Giralt. “With smartphone integration, you can access Google maps to find your car in the parking lot, then get in your car, plug in your smartphone and you have all your apps and your multimedia with you.”

Giralt stressed that many of SEAT’s desktop functions are blocked while you are actually driving, thus minimising any driver distraction.

In the case of disruptive technologies such as automated and driverless cars, distraction will be just the thing former drivers are looking for. In a panel discussion on automation, Nissan Europe’s Richard Candler reminded participants of the goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, a goal now nearer than many believed possible just a few short years ago. The fact that 90% of road accidents are the result of human error remains a strong argument in favour of further automation, Candler said.

Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Nissan is taking a step-by-step approach towards more autonomous road vehicles, starting with a ‘traffic jam pilot’, and next introducing a ‘motorway pilot’ and, by 2020, a ‘city pilot’. At each step, the vehicle will take on more of the responsibility for actually driving the car, but in a way that allows drivers to get used the concept gradually.

Jan-Maarten de Vries of TomTom contrasted the approach being taken by established manufacturers such as Nissan with the one being taken in Silicon Valley, where ‘newcomers’ such as Google are going straight to the end-goal of completely autonomous, driverless cars. “Neither approach is right or wrong,” de Vries said. “But the traditional OEMs do have the advantage of knowing their customers.”

Show Me the Data!

A new and very exciting area opened up by connected cars is the generation of new kinds of ‘big data’. With more and more such cars out there not only using services, but also sending information about where they are, how fast they are going, what they are accessing online, and more, the potential for public good and private profit is enormous.

In a joint presentation on big data, Ford’s John Ellis and Greg Krueger of the US Department of Transport said the global market for road-related data – e.g. traffic conditions, travel time and road surface conditions – is worth five to six billion USD. “That’s how much governments are spending to collect this kind of data,” Ellis said.

Indeed, the kinds of information cited by Ellis are absolutely crucial to road operators and mobility authorities as they endeavour to create a more efficient, safer and greener transport system.

Traditionally, collecting such information has meant setting up roadside infrastructure – cameras, sensors and the like. But connected cars can provide that information effortlessly, if only the data they generate can be collected and accessed. As Roger Giralt pointed out, many carmakers are still getting their heads around digital concepts, being much more used to selling machines.

Privacy issues will also come into play here. Public opinion on this sticky subject varies from country to country around Europe, let alone around the world. On the question of privacy and who owns the data generated by internet- and GNSS-connected cars, BMW’s Michael Gruffke said, “Younger people are already used to giving up information about themselves and their activities, because they know they will get something back in return.”

More Information

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).

Read more

At the Connected Cars World conference in Amsterdam, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) joined carmakers, automotive suppliers and public authorities to discuss how GNSS- and internet- enabled vehicles are making life easier for drivers, and the actions to be undertaken in the industry for a continuous integration of more accurate and robust GNSS in the coming years.

Major vehicle manufacturers are already delivering motor vehicles with connected services for drivers, such as real time traffic and weather reports, and accident and road works warnings. Coupled with embedded GNSS technologies for precise localisation, and the connected car becomes a veritable mobility management system on wheels.

Speaking at the Connected Cars World conference, GSA Deputy Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani stressed the crucial role of precise and reliable GNSS in connected vehicles: “With Galileo, we will have greater resistance to multipath interference, for example in urban canyons,” she continued. “And it will be a multi frequency service, so it will be more resistant to intentional interferences.” Finally, she explained, Galileo will also feature an authentication signal, to protect against spoofing attacks.

Research for a Single Road ‘GNSS Engine’

The GSA’s Alberto Fernandez-Wyttenbach took advantage of the first “European GNSS User Forum for Automotive Stakeholders” to announce more support for road-related satellite navigation research. Looking at the wider picture, he said, the GSA is now focusing on a number of key areas for research, including:

• Safety-critical applications, including connected cars and autonomous vehicles
• Liability and payment applications, such as road tolling and insurance apps

The GSA is making funding available for work in support of all of these areas through the EU’s Fundamental Elements Grant Plan on GNSS Receivers.

“We want OEMs to participate as well as auto suppliers and receiver makers,” said Wyttenbach. “Our objective is to see a single embedded ‘GNSS engine’ on board all vehicles, to cover all the necessary functionalities for all of the key road application areas, all in one technology package.”

Get the App: European GNSS R&D – Not there’s an App for That!

“We want to see a real prototype,” he concluded. “We want something that is near market-ready.”

Potential research participants should look for a new round of calls for proposals in July. Proposals will be evaluated quickly, with a deadline for submissions on September 30th and selections and contract negotiations to be completed before the end of the year.

The Corporate Perspective

Talking from the automotive manufacturer’s point-of-view, SEAT’s Roger Giralt talked about his company’s new ‘desktop’ for drivers. This ‘desktop’ comes with a variety of apps, such as one that can record trips, and a ‘me’ app giving direct access to social media – facebook, twitter, e-mails and the like. “With a voice-control system, you no longer have to miss messages while you’re driving,” said Giralt. “With smartphone integration, you can access Google maps to find your car in the parking lot, then get in your car, plug in your smartphone and you have all your apps and your multimedia with you.”

Giralt stressed that many of SEAT’s desktop functions are blocked while you are actually driving, thus minimising any driver distraction.

In the case of disruptive technologies such as automated and driverless cars, distraction will be just the thing former drivers are looking for. In a panel discussion on automation, Nissan Europe’s Richard Candler reminded participants of the goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, a goal now nearer than many believed possible just a few short years ago. The fact that 90% of road accidents are the result of human error remains a strong argument in favour of further automation, Candler said.

Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Nissan is taking a step-by-step approach towards more autonomous road vehicles, starting with a ‘traffic jam pilot’, and next introducing a ‘motorway pilot’ and, by 2020, a ‘city pilot’. At each step, the vehicle will take on more of the responsibility for actually driving the car, but in a way that allows drivers to get used the concept gradually.

Jan-Maarten de Vries of TomTom contrasted the approach being taken by established manufacturers such as Nissan with the one being taken in Silicon Valley, where ‘newcomers’ such as Google are going straight to the end-goal of completely autonomous, driverless cars. “Neither approach is right or wrong,” de Vries said. “But the traditional OEMs do have the advantage of knowing their customers.”

Show Me the Data!

A new and very exciting area opened up by connected cars is the generation of new kinds of ‘big data’. With more and more such cars out there not only using services, but also sending information about where they are, how fast they are going, what they are accessing online, and more, the potential for public good and private profit is enormous.

In a joint presentation on big data, Ford’s John Ellis and Greg Krueger of the US Department of Transport said the global market for road-related data – e.g. traffic conditions, travel time and road surface conditions – is worth five to six billion USD. “That’s how much governments are spending to collect this kind of data,” Ellis said.

Indeed, the kinds of information cited by Ellis are absolutely crucial to road operators and mobility authorities as they endeavour to create a more efficient, safer and greener transport system.

Traditionally, collecting such information has meant setting up roadside infrastructure – cameras, sensors and the like. But connected cars can provide that information effortlessly, if only the data they generate can be collected and accessed. As Roger Giralt pointed out, many carmakers are still getting their heads around digital concepts, being much more used to selling machines.

Privacy issues will also come into play here. Public opinion on this sticky subject varies from country to country around Europe, let alone around the world. On the question of privacy and who owns the data generated by internet- and GNSS-connected cars, BMW’s Michael Gruffke said, “Younger people are already used to giving up information about themselves and their activities, because they know they will get something back in return.”

More Information

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).

At the Connected Cars World conference in Amsterdam, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) joined carmakers, automotive suppliers and public authorities to discuss how GNSS- and internet- enabled vehicles are making life easier for drivers, and the actions to be undertaken in the industry for a continuous integration of more accurate and robust GNSS in the coming years.

Major vehicle manufacturers are already delivering motor vehicles with connected services for drivers, such as real time traffic and weather reports, and accident and road works warnings. Coupled with embedded GNSS technologies for precise localisation, and the connected car becomes a veritable mobility management system on wheels.

Speaking at the Connected Cars World conference, GSA Deputy Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani stressed the crucial role of precise and reliable GNSS in connected vehicles: “With Galileo, we will have greater resistance to multipath interference, for example in urban canyons,” she continued. “And it will be a multi frequency service, so it will be more resistant to intentional interferences.” Finally, she explained, Galileo will also feature an authentication signal, to protect against spoofing attacks.

Research for a Single Road ‘GNSS Engine’

The GSA’s Alberto Fernandez-Wyttenbach took advantage of the first “European GNSS User Forum for Automotive Stakeholders” to announce more support for road-related satellite navigation research. Looking at the wider picture, he said, the GSA is now focusing on a number of key areas for research, including:

• Safety-critical applications, including connected cars and autonomous vehicles
• Liability and payment applications, such as road tolling and insurance apps

The GSA is making funding available for work in support of all of these areas through the EU’s Fundamental Elements Grant Plan on GNSS Receivers.

“We want OEMs to participate as well as auto suppliers and receiver makers,” said Wyttenbach. “Our objective is to see a single embedded ‘GNSS engine’ on board all vehicles, to cover all the necessary functionalities for all of the key road application areas, all in one technology package.”

Get the App: European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

“We want to see a real prototype,” he concluded. “We want something that is near market-ready.”

Potential research participants should look for a new round of calls for proposals in July. Proposals will be evaluated quickly, with a deadline for submissions on September 30th and selections and contract negotiations to be completed before the end of the year.

The Corporate Perspective

Talking from the automotive manufacturer’s point-of-view, SEAT’s Roger Giralt talked about his company’s new ‘desktop’ for drivers. This ‘desktop’ comes with a variety of apps, such as one that can record trips, and a ‘me’ app giving direct access to social media – facebook, twitter, e-mails and the like. “With a voice-control system, you no longer have to miss messages while you’re driving,” said Giralt. “With smartphone integration, you can access Google maps to find your car in the parking lot, then get in your car, plug in your smartphone and you have all your apps and your multimedia with you.”

Giralt stressed that many of SEAT’s desktop functions are blocked while you are actually driving, thus minimising any driver distraction.

In the case of disruptive technologies such as automated and driverless cars, distraction will be just the thing former drivers are looking for. In a panel discussion on automation, Nissan Europe’s Richard Candler reminded participants of the goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, a goal now nearer than many believed possible just a few short years ago. The fact that 90% of road accidents are the result of human error remains a strong argument in favour of further automation, Candler said.

Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Nissan is taking a step-by-step approach towards more autonomous road vehicles, starting with a ‘traffic jam pilot’, and next introducing a ‘motorway pilot’ and, by 2020, a ‘city pilot’. At each step, the vehicle will take on more of the responsibility for actually driving the car, but in a way that allows drivers to get used the concept gradually.

Jan-Maarten de Vries of TomTom contrasted the approach being taken by established manufacturers such as Nissan with the one being taken in Silicon Valley, where ‘newcomers’ such as Google are going straight to the end-goal of completely autonomous, driverless cars. “Neither approach is right or wrong,” de Vries said. “But the traditional OEMs do have the advantage of knowing their customers.”

Show Me the Data!

A new and very exciting area opened up by connected cars is the generation of new kinds of ‘big data’. With more and more such cars out there not only using services, but also sending information about where they are, how fast they are going, what they are accessing online, and more, the potential for public good and private profit is enormous.

In a joint presentation on big data, Ford’s John Ellis and Greg Krueger of the US Department of Transport said the global market for road-related data – e.g. traffic conditions, travel time and road surface conditions – is worth five to six billion USD. “That’s how much governments are spending to collect this kind of data,” Ellis said.

Indeed, the kinds of information cited by Ellis are absolutely crucial to road operators and mobility authorities as they endeavour to create a more efficient, safer and greener transport system.

Traditionally, collecting such information has meant setting up roadside infrastructure – cameras, sensors and the like. But connected cars can provide that information effortlessly, if only the data they generate can be collected and accessed. As Roger Giralt pointed out, many carmakers are still getting their heads around digital concepts, being much more used to selling machines.

Privacy issues will also come into play here. Public opinion on this sticky subject varies from country to country around Europe, let alone around the world. On the question of privacy and who owns the data generated by internet- and GNSS-connected cars, BMW’s Michael Gruffke said, “Younger people are already used to giving up information about themselves and their activities, because they know they will get something back in return.”

More Information

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).

Early registration for the 2015 EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, scheduled for 29 – 30 September, is now open.

The EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, which serves as the annual meeting for EGNOS stakeholders, users and application developers, is scheduled for 29 - 30 September in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Organised by the ESSP and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the event will include service status, debates, showcases and success stories from partners currently using EGNOS in real applications. The 2015 workshop will include a dedicated session on aviation as in past years but also sessions on maritime and land applications.

A draft agenda is available here.

More information and early registration is available here.

More Information

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).

Early registration for the 2015 EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, scheduled for 29 – 30 September, is now open.

The EGNOS Service Provision Workshop, which serves as the annual meeting for EGNOS stakeholders, users and application developers, is scheduled for 29 - 30 September in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Organised by the ESSP and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the event will include service status, debates, showcases and success stories from partners currently using EGNOS in real applications. The 2015 workshop will include a dedicated session on aviation as in past years but also sessions on maritime and land applications.

A draft agenda is available here.

More information and early registration are available at egnos-workshop@essp-sas.eu.

More Information

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 accommodate a high-level of interest in the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) and Copernicus Masters, organisers have extended the deadline for submissions to 11:59 CET 6 July. 

To enter your submission and a chance to receive a share of prizes totalling EUR 1 million to help launch your satellite navigation ideas into reality, APPLY HERE.

About the ESNC

The Galileo satellite constellation is continually expanding, and with it the need for corresponding applications. The ESNC is looking for creative GNSS-based applications that address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues.

Winners of 30 regional and special prizes will all be in the running to win the grand prize of EUR 20,000 and a six-month incubation programme in their region of choice, with the possibility of another six-month extension.

    Also Read: Do You Have the Next Best Idea for Satellite Navigation?

In addition, this year the GSA is again sponsoring a Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS, which aims to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo and provide social and economic benefits.

Last year, the competition received more than 600 business cases from about 50 companies.

More Information

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).

Most recently, 83,606 visit the European Space Expo in Zagreb’s Trg Bana Josipa Jelacia Square.

The numbers continue to grow for the European Space Expo, as over 800,000 people have now visited the traveling exhibit. From June 12 through June 21, the iconic dome was set up in Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica Square in Zagreb, Croatia. During that time, 83,606 came into the dome to learn about the importance of space in Europe – placing the event second only to Athens for overall attendance.

The large number of attendees demonstrates the huge interest in space and space applications across Europe. Besides the large attendance numbers, the Expo also garnered significant media attention, and a considerable number of school groups visited the Expo, educating a younger generation about space exploration.

One highlight was 15 year old Marko Bermanec, who studies micrometeorites and talked about his passion for the topic during the event. His enthusiasm paid off as he was named the winner of the national astronomical competition for his age category.

Next Stop: Oslo

The European Space Expo is an initiative of the European Commission, with support of the European GNSS Agency (GSA). It illustrates the many benefits, services and applications derived from such European space programmes as Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus in a fun, interactive and accessible way.

The Expo is one of the most successful public exhibitions ever run by the EU. It continues its tour around Europe, educating people about the benefits of investing in space and the value of space-powered applications.

Next up is Oslo, Norway, where the ESE will be open 28 August – 6 September.

More Information

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) partners with ESA and Sipa Press to promote the role of women in the space sector.

Women have always been involved in space and space exploration. In fact, in 1963 Valentina Terechkova became the first woman to fly into space. However, since then the number of women entering the field has been slim.

To help change this, Sipa Press and ESA, with the participation of the GSA, recently set out to document women’s contribution to the space industry, with the goal of inspiring a new generation of women in space. The result is a multi-media photo exhibition depicting three generations of women from around the world all involved in space exploration.

It Starts with a Dream

Many girls dream of becoming astronomers, designing rockets or being the first to land on Mars. The photo exhibition starts with the dream, highlighting girls participating in space related activities, including girls attending Space Camp in the US launching homemade rockets in Biscarosse, France. It then captures these dreams becoming a reality by portraying women currently working in the space sector.

One of the women featured in the project is the GSA’s Deputy Head of Market Development, Fiammetta Diani. Since 2009, Fiammetta has been working to promote the adoption of European satellite navigation programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, by a wide range of business segments.

Opening in Paris, Showing in Brussels and More to Come!

The “Space Girls, Space Women” inaugural exhibition will take place in Paris today, 29 June at 15h in the ‘Musée Arts & Métiers’. It will include a panel discussion with several of the featured women and other notables from the space sector.

The exhibition will then be on display in Paris at the ‘Musée Arts & Métiers’ and on the gates to the garden at the Paris Observatory from 18 June – 1 November 2015

In addition, also today, 29 June in Brussels, an excerpt from the full photo exhibition will be on display as part of the ‘Space and Society Conference: Towards a European Space Community’, at the European Economic and Social Committee.

A special showing of the exhibition will also take place in October in Prague during the first ‘GSA Open Days’. Stay tuned for more details!

More Information

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) partners with ESA and Sipa Press to promote the role of women in the space sector.

Women have always been involved in space and space exploration. In fact, in 1963 Valentina Terechkova became the first woman to fly into space. However, since then the number of women entering the field has been slim.

To help change this, Sipa Press and ESA, with the participation of the GSA, recently set out to document women’s contribution to the space industry, with the goal of inspiring a new generation of women in space. The result is a multi-media photo exhibition depicting three generations of women from around the world all involved in space exploration.

It Starts with a Dream

Many girls dream of becoming astronomers, designing rockets or being the first to land on Mars. The photo exhibition starts with the dream, highlighting girls participating in space related activities, including girls attending Space Camp in the US launching homemade rockets in Biscarosse, France. It then captures these dreams becoming a reality by portraying women currently working in the space sector.

One of the women featured in the project is the GSA’s Deputy Head of Market Development, Fiammetta Diani. Since 2009, Fiammetta has been working to promote the adoption of European satellite navigation programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, by a wide range of business segments.

Opening in Paris, Showing in Brussels and More to Come!

The “Space Girls, Space Women” inaugural exhibition will take place in Paris today, 29 June at 15h in the ‘Musée Arts & Métiers’. It will include a panel discussion with several of the featured women and other notables from the space sector.

The exhibition will then be on display in Paris at the ‘Musée Arts & Métiers’ and on the gates to the garden at the Paris Observatory from 18 June – 1 November 2015

In addition, also today, 29 June in Brussels, an excerpt from the full photo exhibition will be on display as part of the ‘Space and Society Conference: Towards a European Space Community’, at the European Economic and Social Committee.

A special showing of the exhibition will also take place in October in Prague during the first ‘GSA Open Days’. Stay tuned for more details!

More Information

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 June 30th deadline for the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) and Copernicus Masters is quickly approaching, and winners could receive a share of prizes totalling EUR 1 million to launch their satellite navigation ideas into reality.

APPLY HERE

The Galileo satellite constellation is continually expanding, and with it the need for corresponding applications. The ESNC is looking for creative GNSS-based applications that address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues.

Winners of 30 regional and special prizes will all be in the running to win the grand prize of EUR 20,000 and a six-month incubation programme in their region of choice, with the possibility of another six-month extension.

    Also Read: Do You Have the Next Best Idea for Satellite Navigation?

In addition, this year the GSA is again sponsoring a Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS, which aims to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo and provide social and economic benefits.

Last year, the competition received more than 600 business cases from about 50 companies.

The June 30th deadline for the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) and Copernicus Masters is quickly approaching, and winners could receive a share of prizes totalling EUR 1 million to launch their satellite navigation ideas into reality.

APPLY HERE

The Galileo satellite constellation is continually expanding, and with it the need for corresponding applications. The ESNC is looking for creative GNSS-based applications that address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues.

Winners of 30 regional and special prizes will all be in the running to win the grand prize of EUR 20,000 and a six-month incubation programme in their region of choice, with the possibility of another six-month extension.

    Also Read: Do You Have the Next Best Idea for Satellite Navigation?

In addition, this year the GSA is again sponsoring a Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS, which aims to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo and provide social and economic benefits.

Last year, the competition received more than 600 business cases from about 50 companies.

More Information

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 GSA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the replenishment of EGNOS geostationary satellites navigation payloads. The purpose of the replenishment is to ensure continuous EGNOS Signal In Space availability and to support future transition from EGNOS V2 to EGNOS V3.

Through this RFI, the GSA looks to collect information about the market in terms of availability of future navigation payloads, as well as seek opinions regarding certain aspects of the envisaged procurement, in particular in terms of feasibility of preliminary requirements.

The GSA plans to replenish the EGNOS navigation payloads starting in 2019 for a duration of 15 years. Currently, EGNOS message is broadcast to the users through navigation payloads on board 2 GEO satellites in Operation (for redundancy purpose) covering each an area which comprises latitudes from 20°N to 70°N and longitudes from 40°W to 40°E. Nominally, a third GEO navigation payload is used for test purpose and can be used in operation in case one of the two GEO navigation payloads used in operation needs to be replaced or moved to test. The payloads in operation relay the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) signals generated on ground, allowing the users to benefit from the augmented positioning accuracy and integrity (Open Service and Safety of Life Service).

Answers to the RFI should be addressed electronically to tenders@gsa.europa.eu by 31 July 2015.

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 GSA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the replenishment of EGNOS geostationary satellites navigation payloads. The purpose of the replenishment is to ensure continuous EGNOS Signal In Space availability and to support future transition from EGNOS V2 to EGNOS V3.

Through this RFI, the GSA looks to collect information about the market in terms of availability of future navigation payloads, as well as seek opinions regarding certain aspects of the envisaged procurement, in particular in terms of feasibility of preliminary requirements.

The GSA plans to replenish the EGNOS navigation payloads starting in 2019 for a duration of 15 years. Currently, EGNOS message is broadcast to the users through navigation payloads on board 2 GEO satellites in Operation (for redundancy purpose) covering each an area which comprises latitudes from 20°N to 70°N and longitudes from 40°W to 40°E. Nominally, a third GEO navigation payload is used for test purpose and can be used in operation in case one of the two GEO navigation payloads used in operation needs to be replaced or moved to test. The payloads in operation relay the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) signals generated on ground, allowing the users to benefit from the augmented positioning accuracy and integrity (Open Service and Safety of Life Service).

Answers to the RFI should be addressed electronically to tenders@gsa.europa.eu by 31 July 2015.

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).

Today the GSA launches its Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for Proposals. Building on the momentum generated from the great results of its Aviation Call for Grants 2014 , the new call will further boost EGNOS adoption in aviation. From regional to commercial, business and general aviation and even rotorcraft – all airspace users will benefit from the Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for proposals.

Scope of the Grant

The objective of the second Call is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to support projects that enable users to equip and use their aircraft/rotorcraft fleet with GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics. On the other hand, it looks to allow Air Navigation Service Providers and aerodromes/heliports to implement EGNOS based operations in Europe.

Specifically, the call aims to:

1. Foster the design, development and operational implementation of EGNOS based operations, including approach procedures at different European aerodromes and EGNOS based routes, including LPV 200
2. Develop and install GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics and granting of airworthiness certification for RNP APCH procedures down to LPV minima and PinS
3. Develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) or Service Bulletins (SB)
4. Achieve the approval of Air Operator Certificates for LPV operations of aircraft already equipped with SBAS capabilities
5. Develop enablers to accelerate EGNOS adoption, including simulators, and prepare for future EGNOS capabilities in navigation, surveillance and communication.

To accomplish this, proposals are expected to address activities in one or more of the following areas:

• RNP APCH Procedures to LPV Minima
• PinS Procedures to LPV Minima
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Forward Fit
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Retrofit
• Development of Service Bulletin and/or Supplemental Type Certificate
• Development of enablers and other EGNOS based operations adoption

The Details

Application documents and additional information can be found here. The deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 CET 30 September 2015.

Applications will be assessed in terms of relevance of the proposal and credibility of the proposed approach, social and economic impact, and coherence and effectiveness of the work plan.

The total budget of the call is EUR 6 million and maximum EU financing of eligible direct costs is 60%. Applicants will be notified about the outcome of the evaluation in December 2015.

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).

Today the GSA launches its Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for Proposals. Building on the momentum generated from the great results of its Aviation Call for Grants 2014 , the new call will further boost EGNOS adoption in aviation. From regional to commercial, business and general aviation and even rotorcraft – all airspace users will benefit from the Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for proposals.

Scope of the Grant

The objective of the second Call is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to support projects that enable users to equip and use their aircraft/rotorcraft fleet with GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics. On the other hand, it looks to allow Air Navigation Service Providers and aerodromes/heliports to implement EGNOS based operations in Europe.

Specifically, the call aims to:

1. Foster the design, development and operational implementation of EGNOS based operations, including approach procedures at different European aerodromes and EGNOS based routes, including LPV 200
2. Develop and install GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics and granting of airworthiness certification for RNP APCH procedures down to LPV minima and PinS
3. Develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) or Service Bulletins (SB)
4. Achieve the approval of Air Operator Certificates for LPV operations of aircraft already equipped with SBAS capabilities
5. Develop enablers to accelerate EGNOS adoption, including simulators, and prepare for future EGNOS capabilities in navigation, surveillance and communication.

To accomplish this, proposals are expected to address activities in one or more of the following areas:

• RNP APCH Procedures to LPV Minima
• PinS Procedures to LPV Minima
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Forward Fit
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Retrofit
• Development of Service Bulletin and/or Supplemental Type Certificate
• Development of enablers and other EGNOS based operations adoption

The Details

Application documents and additional information can be found here. The deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 CET 30 September 2015.

Applications will be assessed in terms of relevance of the proposal and credibility of the proposed approach, social and economic impact, and coherence and effectiveness of the work plan.

The total budget of the call is EUR 6 million and maximum EU financing of eligible direct costs is 60%. Applicants will be notified about the outcome of the evaluation in December 2015.

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).

Today the GSA launches its Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for Proposals. Building on the momentum generated from the great results of its Aviation Call for Grants 2014 , the new call will further boost EGNOS adoption in aviation. From regional to commercial, business and general aviation and even rotorcraft – all airspace users will benefit from the Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for proposals.

Scope of the Grant

The objective of the second Call is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to support projects that enable users to equip and use their aircraft/rotorcraft fleet with GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics. On the other hand, it looks to allow Air Navigation Service Providers and aerodromes/heliports to implement EGNOS based operations in Europe.

Specifically, the call aims to:

1. Foster the design, development and operational implementation of EGNOS based operations, including approach procedures at different European aerodromes and EGNOS based routes, including LPV 200
2. Develop and install GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics and granting of airworthiness certification for RNP APCH procedures down to LPV minima and PinS
3. Develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) or Service Bulletins (SB)
4. Achieve the approval of Air Operator Certificates for LPV operations of aircraft already equipped with SBAS capabilities
5. Develop enablers to accelerate EGNOS adoption, including simulators, and prepare for future EGNOS capabilities in navigation, surveillance and communication.

To accomplish this, proposals are expected to address activities in one or more of the following areas:

• RNP APCH Procedures to LPV Minima
• PinS Procedures to LPV Minima
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Forward Fit
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Retrofit
• Development of Service Bulletin and/or Supplemental Type Certificate
• Development of enablers and other EGNOS based operations adoption

The Details

Application documents and additional information can be found here. The deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 CET 30 September 2015.

Applications will be assessed in terms of relevance of the proposal and credibility of the proposed approach, social and economic impact, and coherence and effectiveness of the work plan.

The total budget of the call is EUR 6 million and maximum EU financing of eligible direct costs is 60%. Applicants will be notified about the outcome of the evaluation in December 2015.

More Information

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).

Today the GSA launches its Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for Proposals. Building on the momentum generated from the great results of its Aviation Call for Grants 2014 , the new call will further boost EGNOS adoption in aviation. From regional to commercial, business and general aviation and even rotorcraft – all airspace users will benefit from the Second EGNOS Adoption Aviation Call for proposals.

Scope of the Grant

The objective of the second Call is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to support projects that enable users to equip and use their aircraft/rotorcraft fleet with GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics. On the other hand, it looks to allow Air Navigation Service Providers and aerodromes/heliports to implement EGNOS based operations in Europe.

Specifically, the call aims to:

1. Foster the design, development and operational implementation of EGNOS based operations, including approach procedures at different European aerodromes and EGNOS based routes, including LPV 200
2. Develop and install GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics and granting of airworthiness certification for RNP APCH procedures down to LPV minima and PinS
3. Develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) or Service Bulletins (SB)
4. Achieve the approval of Air Operator Certificates for LPV operations of aircraft already equipped with SBAS capabilities
5. Develop enablers to accelerate EGNOS adoption, including simulators, and prepare for future EGNOS capabilities in navigation, surveillance and communication.

To accomplish this, proposals are expected to address activities in one or more of the following areas:

• RNP APCH Procedures to LPV Minima
• PinS Procedures to LPV Minima
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Forward Fit
• Aircraft or Rotorcraft Retrofit
• Development of Service Bulletin and/or Supplemental Type Certificate
• Development of enablers and other EGNOS based operations adoption

The Details

Application documents and additional information can be found here. The deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 CET 30 September 2015.

Applications will be assessed in terms of relevance of the proposal and credibility of the proposed approach, social and economic impact, and coherence and effectiveness of the work plan.

The total budget of the call is EUR 6 million and maximum EU financing of eligible direct costs is 60%. Applicants will be notified about the outcome of the evaluation in December 2015.

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).

Most people associate flying with going on holiday or crossing oceans and continents for business. This typically involves large commercial aircraft flying between major hubs using expensive instrument landing systems (ILS) that allow for landing in all types of weather – and hence the management of high volumes of traffic, seven days a week.

In parallel to this there is the significant - and growing - sector of business aviation and the traffic it generates. Instead of flying “gate-to-gate”, business aviation flies “door-to-door”, often using smaller airports that are close to the client’s destination and point of departure.  Unfortunately, many of these airports are not equipped with instrument landing systems, limiting their access in bad weather.

         Also Read: EGNOS Moves Closer to Dual Frequency

This is where satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), such as the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), come in. EGNOS LPV (localiser performance with vertical guidance) approaches using SBAS require no ground infrastructure and can bring near-precision approach minima (currently 250 feet) performance to any kind of airport. All that is needed is a certified EGNOS receiver in the aircraft, a crew trained to fly LPV, a published LPV procedure at the airport and operational approval for operators.

“Maintaining access to primary, secondary and tertiary airports in all weather conditions is vital for business aviation,” says Belarmino Paradela, Senior Manager of Economic and Operational Activities at the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). “With this in mind, business aviation holds a strong preference for SBAS for area navigation LPV. This system does not rely on airport-specific technology and can therefore be deployed at any airport in Europe – even for helicopter operations.”  

A cost-effective solution for smaller airports

“The benefits of EGNOS are particularly noticeable for small airports struggling with costs,” says Jean-Philippe Ramu, a pilot with NetJets Europe, a leading business aviation company. “While the uptake of this technology has been slower in Europe compared to the US, both airports and aircraft are increasingly using EGNOS. For example, NetJets Europe’s new Signature Series fleet of aircraft will be equipped with LPV functionality.”

         Also Read: Come Fly with EGNOS!

“The costs of retrofitting an aircraft with EGNOS-enabled LPV precision approaches is higher than for operating GPS-enabled lateral navigation (LNAV), non-precision approaches,” adds Ramu. “Nevertheless, LPV functionality is likely to be standard equipment in all new aircraft.”
With the additional enhancement of EGNOS, enabling a decision height as low as 200 feet, LPV precision approaches have a great future in the European airport network. Indeed, an independent cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the GSA estimated that the benefits for Europe’s aviation sector could total EUR 2.4 billion by 2030.

Boosting EGNOS precision-based navigation in regional airports

In July 2014, the GSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EBAA to promote the wider use of EGNOS precision-based navigation (PBN) at regional airports in Europe. “This has provided a unique opportunity, where an EU Agency and an Airspace User are collaborating to pursue a common goal,” says Paradela. “We are extremely happy with the working relationship that we have established with the GSA. Considering the complexity and the size of the task, given the resources engaged by both parties, and thanks to the involvement of our operators, the uptake accomplished so far is impressive.”

         Watch This: EGNOS Flight Event

“From the ground-side perspective, the first thing was to assess the situation of the different airports in the EBAA’s ‘wish list’ for EGNOS implementation,” he adds. “We refined the initial list of 100 airports by concentrating on the more mature projects, considering the needs and priorities of our operators and taking into account the realities on the ground. We helped unblock some challenging bottlenecks and speed up processes, and are proud to announce that at least one airport has finalised its LPV deployment thanks to our joint actions. Others are in the pipeline today and we hope that, by the end of the year, two additional airports will be announced.”

Removing regulatory bottlenecks

Some of the main challenges the sector is facing today are the heaviness and complexity of the LPV airport implementation procedure and the absence of clear guidelines for visual flight rules (VFR) airports. “Another big challenge is the design of the LPV procedure itself, which currently follows the pattern of instrument landing systems (ILS), so there is no incentive for operators to use LPV instead of the traditional ILS,” explains Paradela. “Considering the capabilities and the gains offered by the LPV technology, such as curved approaches and double glide slope etc., it is a pity we cannot benefit from them today.”

        See Also: EGNOS in Aviation

EBAA and GSA will also soon be publishing guidelines to help operators obtain their operational approval from their respective national authorities. “This will be a big step forward as, at the moment, the behaviour of national authorities and the complexity of this procedure varies from country to country, and from operator to operator,” says Paradela.

Benefits for all

Belarmino Paradela thinks the future of business aviation will probably involve both SBAS and GBAS. “In terms of efficiency, SBAS is more versatile,” he says, “but it only allows CAT 1 operations (which is more than sufficient in the vast majority of airports), while GBAS offers auto-land capability, which is a must if you are a big hub needing to guarantee 24/7 IFR access in all-weather conditions.”

        Read the Report: EGNOS and Aviation Market Report

According to Paradela, from a commercial standpoint, SBAS is more cost-effective than GBAS since it does not require ground equipment weighing in at EUR 1M. In the end, it is a question of cost-benefit analysis for the airport, which needs to trade precision against cost.

“We believe the big benefit lies in the reduction of business aviation’s environmental and noise footprint,” he concludes. “This will allow for better cohabitation of air transport and local citizens – and of course the safety improvement cannot be ignored as a great benefit!”

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 GSA recently announced the projects selected for funding under its 2014 Aviation Call for Grants. The first Call brought great results, with 13 out of the submitted 38 proposals being awarded funding. The grant will foster EGNOS operational implementation for all aviation sectors, including commercial, regional, business, general and rotorcraft.

             Read This: EGNOS Aviation Market Report

The selected projects are expected to play a significant role in both expanding the implementation of EGNOS based procedures at airports and in the installation of GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics.

Specifically, the following results are expected:

• Sixty-nine new RNP approaches based on EGNOS at 36 aerodromes
• The launch of the first LPV-200 procedures in Europe, allowing for a CAT I level of performance
• The implementation of two procedures in a non-instrument runway, allowing these procedures to be used to improve safety in aerodromes that lack complex ground infrastructure
• Eight Point in Space (PinS) procedures in 7 helipads
• Four Air Operators will retrofit 65 aircraft
• Three upgrades to rotorcraft avionics
• Three flight simulators will be upgrade with EGNOS avionics and
• Service Bulletins will be developed to allow more simulators to provide EGNOS training

“The number of new procedures implemented thanks to the GSA Aviation Grant will have a huge impact in respect to the current EGNOS enabled network,” says GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. 

Aguilera also notes the grants will not only extend the EGNOS enabled network, but also help fill the gaps of where EGNOS procedures are available in Europe, allowing more operators to benefit from it. “These projects are a good opportunity for airports, airspace users and operators to work together to explore all the synergies coming from this joint effort,” she says. “With more of Europe being able to take advantage of EGNOS procedures, the aviation sector will benefit from increased safety and more accessibility – a win-win for everyone involved.”

The total budget for the call was EUR 6 million. The Second Call is expected to launch later this month – stay tuned for more details.

SB: Service Bulletin, STC: Supplemental Type Certificate, VFR: Visual Flight Rules, ATC: Air Traffic Control

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 GSA recently announced the projects selected for funding under its 2014 Aviation Call for Grants. The first Call brought great results, with 13 out of the submitted 38 proposals being awarded funding. The grant will foster EGNOS operational implementation for all aviation sectors, including commercial, regional, business, general and rotorcraft.

             Read This: EGNOS Aviation Market Report

The selected projects are expected to play a significant role in both expanding the implementation of EGNOS based procedures at airports and in the installation of GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics.

Specifically, the following results are expected:

• Sixty-nine new RNP approaches based on EGNOS at 36 aerodromes
• The launch of the first LPV-200 procedures in Europe, allowing for a CAT I level of performance
• The implementation of two procedures in a non-instrument runway, allowing these procedures to be used to improve safety in aerodromes that lack complex ground infrastructure
• Eight Point in Space (PinS) procedures in 7 helipads
• Four Air Operators will retrofit 65 aircraft
• Three upgrades to rotorcraft avionics
• Three flight simulators will be upgrade with EGNOS avionics and
• Service Bulletins will be developed to allow more simulators to provide EGNOS training

“The number of new procedures implemented thanks to the GSA Aviation Grant will have a huge impact in respect to the current EGNOS enabled network,” says GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. 

Aguilera also notes the grants will not only extend the EGNOS enabled network, but also help fill the gaps of where EGNOS procedures are available in Europe, allowing more operators to benefit from it. “These projects are a good opportunity for airports, airspace users and operators to work together to explore all the synergies coming from this joint effort,” she says. “With more of Europe being able to take advantage of EGNOS procedures, the aviation sector will benefit from increased safety and more accessibility – a win-win for everyone involved.”

The total budget for the call was EUR 6 million. The Second Call is expected to launch later this month – stay tuned for more details.

SB: Service Bulletin, STC: Supplemental Type Certificate, VFR: Visual Flight Rules, ATC: Air Traffic Control

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 Airbus A350 XWB recently became the first wide-body jet to achieve certification for its installed EGNOS-based landing system – a significant step in the uptake of the service within the commercial aviation sector.

EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches similar to an Instrument Landing System (ILS) with geometrical vertical guidance down to the same minimum decision height as for CAT I operations. This new navigation system provides Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without compromising on safety.

The EGNOS-enabled Airbus 350 XWB was recently on display during the EGNOS Flight Demonstration, held in Toulouse, Airbus’ home base. “As a test pilot, I had the opportunity very early on to perform Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance, or LPV, approaches based on the EGNOS constellation on the A350 XWB,” says Airbus Test Pilot Jean-Christophe Lair. “Overall, my experience on using an LPV EGNOS approach system is fully satisfying!”

Growing Demand

Today, 150 airports in 18 countries across Europe have EGNOS approaches implemented. Besides three geostationary satellites, the network uses 40 ground stations, allowing for precision guidance and safety. More so, there are currently 256 EGNOS-based approach procedures (LPV and EGNOS enabled Baro) and, by 2020, this number is expected to double.

         See This: EGNOS Availability Map

Having met the performance standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, EGNOS is a proven, cost-effective way for both large and small airports to expand their navigation infrastructure and increase aircraft safety.

 

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 the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) agree, with airport access being a key factor to the viability of the industry, EGNOS is clearly an enabler. 

Designed for aviation, EGNOS is bringing many benefits to the business aviation industry. For example, business aviation operators base their work on efficiency, which often requires landing at small airports where other navigation aids are not available, or economically not feasible. EGNOS-based procedures can be implemented at these “door-to-door” airports, significantly improving accessibility. As a result, many business aviation manufacturers are already fitting EGNOS capabilities into their aircraft’s avionics.

Recently, the GSA promoted these EGNOS advantages during the annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. During the event, GSA representatives spoke with manufacturers, operators, pilots and associations to raise interest and inform them about the latest EGNOS initiatives.

The main message of interest to attendees was the fact that new business aviation units are LPV-capable, and many operators agreed that they want to be able to fly with EGNOS. The Agency was also able to confirm or update forward-fit records from Bombardier, Dassault, Boeing, Daher, AugstaWestland, Hondajet, Textron, and Piaggio, along with gaining essential data from Nextant, Quest, and LET.

Access and Safety

During EBACE, the GSA participated in a panel discussion on Airport Access, where they joined representatives from the European Commission, EBAA, NetJets Europe, Universal Weather & Aviation and the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini said that because of tight time schedules and the need to land at smaller airports, the accessibility that EGNOS provides in all weather conditions is extremely important in business aviation. “This is another area where EGNOS provides huge benefits, as RNP approaches down to LPV enable all weather near-precision approaches without the need for expensive ground equipment,” he said. “EGNOS currently allows 250 feet minima, with the goal of reaching 200 feet minima by the end of the year, which will increase operators’ real operational capabilities and overall safety.” 

In addition to the panel discussion, GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera presented EGNOS based approaches during an EBACE Safety Workshop. In particular, she highlighted the relevance of increased situational awareness and vertical guidance brought by EGNOS, especially when flying to airports with limited ground navaids.

    Also Read: EGNOS and Aviation Market Report 2015

“Maintaining access to primary, secondary and tertiary airports in all weather conditions is vital for business aviation,” added Belarmino Paradela, Senior Manager of Economic and Operational Activities at the EBAA. “With this in mind, business aviation holds a strong preference for SBAS for area navigation LPV.

SBAS systems, like EGNOS, do not rely on airport-specific technology and can therefore be deployed at almost any airport in Europe – even for helicopter operations.” 

“The benefits of EGNOS are particularly relevant for small airports struggling with costs,” said Jean-Philippe Ramu, a pilot with NetJets Europe, a leading business aviation company. “While the uptake of this technology has been slower in Europe compared to the US, both airports and aircrafts are increasingly using EGNOS. For example, NetJets Europe’s recently purchased  ‘Signature Series’ fleet  will be equipped with LPV functionality.”

“The costs of retrofitting an aircraft with EGNOS-enabled avionics is higher than for operating GPS-enabled lateral navigation (LNAV), non-precision approaches,” added Ramu. “Nevertheless, LPV functionality is likely to be standard equipment in all new aircraft.”

Calini acknowledged that small airports often struggle with costs, but noted EGNOS could ease the financial burdens. “An independent cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the GSA estimated that the benefits for Europe’s aviation sector could total EUR 2.4 billion by 2030,” he said.

Removing Regulatory Bottlenecks

Some of the main challenges the sector is facing today is the possibility to implement LPV to non-instrumental runways, and GSA is working together with ESSP and Eurocontrol towards harmonised implementation throughout Europe.

    Watch This: EGNOS and Aviation

EBAA and GSA will also soon be publishing guidelines to help operators obtain their operational approval from their respective national authorities. “This will be a big step forward as, at the moment, the behaviour of national authorities and the complexity of this procedure varies from country to country, and from operator to operator,” said Paradela.

Benefits for All

Belarmino Paradela thinks the future of business aviation will probably involve both SBAS and GBAS. “In terms of efficiency, SBAS is more versatile,” he said, “but it only allows CAT 1 operations (which is more than sufficient in the vast majority of airports), while GBAS offers auto-land capability, which is a must if you are a big hub needing to guarantee 24/7 IFR access in all-weather conditions.”

    Also Read: Come Fly with EGNOS!

According to Paradela, from a commercial standpoint, SBAS is more cost-effective than GBAS since it does not require ground equipment weighing in at EUR 1M. In the end, it is a question of cost-benefit analysis for the airport, which needs to trade precision against cost.

“We believe the big benefit lies in the reduction of business aviation’s environmental and noise footprint,” he concluded. “This will allow for better cohabitation of air transport and local citizens – and of course the safety improvement cannot be ignored as a great benefit!”

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).

Looking for an image of a European citizen using their sat nav-enabled Smartphone to navigate through a city for a presentation? Need a high resolution photo of an aircraft taking advantage of an EGNOS-based landing procedure for your publication or website?

Look no further!

With the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) new Image Gallery, you now have a one-stop-shop for all your European GNSS application image needs. 

SatNav in Action: The GNSS Image Gallery was specifically built to illustrate the many everyday uses and benefits that European GNSS programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, provide. Images show GNSS in action across such market segments as aviation, road transport, location based services, agriculture, mapping, surveying, maritime, rail – and more.

Images can be browsed using a simple keyword-based search function.

All images in the gallery are available for download free of charge. Images can be used for commercial purposes so long as the GSA is credited (© GSA) and use is in compliance with the stated Terms and Conditions. 

Be sure to check back often as we will be regularly updating the Image Gallery with exciting new images of European GNSS in action!

More Information

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).

Looking for an image of a European citizen using their sat nav-enabled Smartphone to navigate through a city for a presentation? Need a high resolution photo of an aircraft taking advantage of an EGNOS-based landing procedure for your publication or website?

Look no further!

With the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) new Image Gallery, you now have a one-stop-shop for all your European GNSS application image needs. 

SatNav in Action: The GNSS Image Gallery was specifically built to illustrate the many everyday uses and benefits that European GNSS programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, provide. Images show GNSS in action across such market segments as aviation, road transport, location based services, agriculture, mapping, surveying, maritime, rail – and more.

Images can be browsed using a simple keyword-based search function.

All images in the gallery are available for download free of charge. Images can be used for commercial purposes so long as the GSA is credited (© GSA) and use is in compliance with the stated Terms and Conditions. 

Be sure to check back often as we will be regularly updating the Image Gallery with exciting new images of European GNSS in action!

More Information

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).

Participants at the ASECAP conference in Lisbon explored the role of road charging within a greener, more sustainable and safer road transport system. They also heard good news from the GSA about how GNSS-based schemes, utilizing Galileo and EGNOS, can help.

The GSA believes GNSS receivers, now standard equipment in cars and other vehicles, can deliver new and better services for road mobility – from energy-saving route guidance to ensuring the security of hazardous materials and enabling cheaper, fairer and more flexible electronic toll charging.

Speaking at ASECAP, the GSA’s Alberto Fernandez Wyttenbach told participants that GNSS technologies allow operators to easily and quickly modify which road segments are covered, thus increasing the volume and efficiency of freight transport and virtually instantaneously enlarging charging schemes when and if required. In Germany TollCollect now operates the largest on-board vehicle units (OBUs) fleet,” he said. “They understand the importance of innovation and thus the next OBU generation will be Galileo-enabled.”

    Also read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Wyttenbach says that this is good news for Galileo, for businesses that rely on road transport and for the driving public. “The fact is that with multi-constellation GNSS, we don’t realise whether we are using Galileo satellites or GPS satellites,” he said. “Full interoperability means the more satellites the better. Drivers and toll operators who can use both systems will benefit in terms of better accuracy, reliability and robustness, including in difficult situations such as in urban canyons.”

Following the Singapore case, Wyttenbach also noted a number of European cities now evaluating GNSS-based solutions for urban congestion charging, including Brussels, Copenhagen and Budapest.

GNSS-based road charging entails lower costs for operators, so they can in turn charge less, get more traffic onto their toll roads and/or increase revenues to put towards new road projects.

Moving Together

For the GSA’s Fiametta Diani, interoperability among the various European road-charging schemes will be a key to success. Current systems encompass a wide array of often incompatible technologies, from manual toll collection and conventional plaza arrangements to all-electronic toll collection, multi-lane free-flow with DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, roadside gantry-based systems with cameras that take pictures of license plates, and many others.

Diani reported on the progress being made by the ASECAP-GSA Task Force, which is addressing, among other things, the question of interoperability. “We are not there yet, but a new generation of OBUs is coming that can combine functions, allowing us to foresee a day when cross-EU lorries won’t need two, three or six different units stacked up on their dashboards,” she said.

    Also Read: EGNOS for Road Market Report 2015

The GSA is also working to help the increasing the number of countries and regions that are just now entering the road-tolling arena. These parties, essentially starting from scratch, have no ‘legacy’ systems to replace, so they can chose the kind of tolling system that makes sense today.

The GSA says it makes sense for everyone to choose the same technology, thus arriving at an interoperable European standard that allows drivers to seamlessly switch from one road-pricing scheme to another as easily as they now ‘roam’ across EU borders on mobile phone networks.

The GSA is also working with established operators, for whom adopting a GNSS-based approach is not a question of simply ‘switching over’, but instead means deconstructing existing and deeply rooted systems – many of which have been built up progressively over years and decades.

Work Goes On

ASECAP, the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroute et d’Ouvrages à Péages, includes 16 member countries and five associate member countries, with concessionaires overseeing more than 48,000 km of tolled roads and earning almost €28 million in total revenues per year. ASECAP road operators share a long-term vision for ever-increasing safety and efficiency and the highest possible quality of service for all road users.

The GSA is working closely with ASECAP, specifically under the ASECAP-GSA Task Force and the Regional EETS project, to understand how GNSS technology can bring added value to road infrastructure operators. For the GSA, as well as for a growing community of road transport stakeholders, European satellite navigation systems such as Galileo and EGNOS represent powerful new tools in the drive to meet global economic and social challenges, including the demand for mobility.

    Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Even with increasing road traffic causing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution, there is also good news coming from the road sector. For instance, the sector remains one of the largest and most dynamic markets, representing a major business opportunity for GNSS technology applications.

Road charging is one area where Galileo and EGNOS can make a real difference, ensuring fair, flexible and equitable schemes for road project financing, reducing congestion and pollution, and saving lives.

More Information

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).

Read more

EGNOS and Road Applications

Participants at the ASECAP conference in Lisbon explored the role of road charging within a greener, more sustainable and safer road transport system. They also heard good news from the GSA about how GNSS-based schemes, utilizing Galileo and EGNOS, can help.

The GSA believes GNSS receivers, now standard equipment in cars and other vehicles, can deliver new and better services for road mobility – from energy-saving route guidance to ensuring the security of hazardous materials and enabling cheaper, fairer and more flexible electronic toll charging.

Speaking at ASECAP, the GSA’s Alberto Fernandez Wyttenbach told participants that GNSS technologies allow operators to easily and quickly modify which road segments are covered, thus increasing the volume and efficiency of freight transport and virtually instantaneously enlarging charging schemes when and if required. In Germany TollCollect now operates the largest on-board vehicle units (OBUs) fleet,” he said. “They understand the importance of innovation and thus the next OBU generation will be Galileo-enabled.”

    Also read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Wyttenbach says that this is good news for Galileo, for businesses that rely on road transport and for the driving public. “The fact is that with multi-constellation GNSS, we don’t realise whether we are using Galileo satellites or GPS satellites,” he said. “Full interoperability means the more satellites the better. Drivers and toll operators who can use both systems will benefit in terms of better accuracy, reliability and robustness, including in difficult situations such as in urban canyons.”

Following the Singapore case, Wyttenbach also noted a number of European cities now evaluating GNSS-based solutions for urban congestion charging, including Brussels, Copenhagen and Budapest.

GNSS-based road charging entails lower costs for operators, so they can in turn charge less, get more traffic onto their toll roads and/or increase revenues to put towards new road projects.

Moving Together

For the GSA’s Fiametta Diani, interoperability among the various European road-charging schemes will be a key to success. Current systems encompass a wide array of often incompatible technologies, from manual toll collection and conventional plaza arrangements to all-electronic toll collection, multi-lane free-flow with DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, roadside gantry-based systems with cameras that take pictures of license plates, and many others.

Diani reported on the progress being made by the ASECAP-GSA Task Force, which is addressing, among other things, the question of interoperability. “We are not there yet, but a new generation of OBUs is coming that can combine functions, allowing us to foresee a day when cross-EU lorries won’t need two, three or six different units stacked up on their dashboards,” she said.

    Also Read: EGNOS for Road Market Report 2015

The GSA is also working to help the increasing the number of countries and regions that are just now entering the road-tolling arena. These parties, essentially starting from scratch, have no ‘legacy’ systems to replace, so they can chose the kind of tolling system that makes sense today.

The GSA says it makes sense for everyone to choose the same technology, thus arriving at an interoperable European standard that allows drivers to seamlessly switch from one road-pricing scheme to another as easily as they now ‘roam’ across EU borders on mobile phone networks.

The GSA is also working with established operators, for whom adopting a GNSS-based approach is not a question of simply ‘switching over’, but instead means deconstructing existing and deeply rooted systems – many of which have been built up progressively over years and decades.

Work Goes On

ASECAP, the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroute et d’Ouvrages à Péages, includes 16 member countries and five associate member countries, with concessionaires overseeing more than 48,000 km of tolled roads and earning almost €28 million in total revenues per year. ASECAP road operators share a long-term vision for ever-increasing safety and efficiency and the highest possible quality of service for all road users.

The GSA is working closely with ASECAP, specifically under the ASECAP-GSA Task Force and the Regional EETS project, to understand how GNSS technology can bring added value to road infrastructure operators. For the GSA, as well as for a growing community of road transport stakeholders, European satellite navigation systems such as Galileo and EGNOS represent powerful new tools in the drive to meet global economic and social challenges, including the demand for mobility.

    Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Even with increasing road traffic causing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution, there is also good news coming from the road sector. For instance, the sector remains one of the largest and most dynamic markets, representing a major business opportunity for GNSS technology applications.

Road charging is one area where Galileo and EGNOS can make a real difference, ensuring fair, flexible and equitable schemes for road project financing, reducing congestion and pollution, and saving lives.

More Information

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).

Read more

EGNOS and Road Applications

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

Participants at the ASECAP conference in Lisbon explored the role of road charging within a greener, more sustainable and safer road transport system. They also heard good news from the GSA about how GNSS-based schemes, utilizing Galileo and EGNOS, can help.

The GSA believes GNSS receivers, now standard equipment in cars and other vehicles, can deliver new and better services for road mobility – from energy-saving route guidance to ensuring the security of hazardous materials and enabling cheaper, fairer and more flexible electronic toll charging.

Speaking at ASECAP, the GSA’s Alberto Fernandez Wyttenbach told participants that GNSS technologies allow operators to easily and quickly modify which road segments are covered, thus increasing the volume and efficiency of freight transport and virtually instantaneously enlarging charging schemes when and if required. In Germany TollCollect now operates the largest on-board vehicle units (OBUs) fleet,” he said. “They understand the importance of innovation and thus   the next OBU generation s will be Galileo-enabled.”

    Also read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Wyttenbach says that this is good news for Galileo, for businesses that rely on road transport and for the driving public. “The fact is that with multi-constellation GNSS, we don’t realise whether we are using Galileo satellites or GPS satellites,” he said. “Full interoperability means the more satellites the better. Drivers and toll operators who can use both systems will benefit in terms of better accuracy, reliability and robustness, including in difficult situations such as in urban canyons.”

Following the Singapore case, Wyttenbach also noted a number of European cities now evaluating GNSS-based solutions for urban congestion charging, including Brussels, Copenhagen and Budapest.

GNSS-based road charging entails lower costs for operators, so they can in turn charge less, get more traffic onto their toll roads and/or increase revenues to put towards new road projects.

Moving Together

For the GSA’s Fiametta Diani, interoperability among the various European road-charging schemes will be a key to success. Current systems encompass a wide array of often incompatible technologies, from manual toll collection and conventional plaza arrangements to all-electronic toll collection, multi-lane free-flow with DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, roadside gantry-based systems with cameras that take pictures of license plates, and many others.

Diani reported on the progress being made by the ASECAP-GSA Task Force, which is addressing, among other things, the question of interoperability. “We are not there yet, but a new generation of OBUs is coming that can combine functions, allowing us to foresee a day when cross-EU lorries won’t need two, three or six different units stacked up on their dashboards,” she said.

    Also Read: EGNOS for Road Market Report 2015

The GSA is also working to help the increasing the number of countries and regions that are just now entering the road-tolling arena. These parties, essentially starting from scratch, have no ‘legacy’ systems to replace, so they can chose the kind of tolling system that makes sense today.

The GSA says it makes sense for everyone to choose the same technology, thus arriving at an interoperable European standard that allows drivers to seamlessly switch from one road-pricing scheme to another as easily as they now ‘roam’ across EU borders on mobile phone networks.

The GSA is also working with established operators, for whom adopting a GNSS-based approach is not a question of simply ‘switching over’, but instead means deconstructing existing and deeply rooted systems – many of which have been built up progressively over years and decades.

Work Goes On

ASECAP, the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroute et d’Ouvrages à Péages, includes 16 member countries and five associate member countries, with concessionaires overseeing more than 48,000 km of tolled roads and earning almost €28 million in total revenues per year. ASECAP road operators share a long-term vision for ever-increasing safety and efficiency and the highest possible quality of service for all road users.

The GSA is working closely with ASECAP, specifically under the ASECAP-GSA Task Force and the Regional EETS project, to understand how GNSS technology can bring added value to road infrastructure operators. For the GSA, as well as for a growing community of road transport stakeholders, European satellite navigation systems such as Galileo and EGNOS represent powerful new tools in the drive to meet global economic and social challenges, including the demand for mobility.

    Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Even with increasing road traffic causing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution, there is also good news coming from the road sector. For instance, the sector remainsone of the largest and most dynamic markets, representing a major business opportunity for GNSS technology applications.

Road charging is one area where Galileo and EGNOS can make a real difference, ensuring fair, flexible and equitable schemes for road project financing, reducing congestion and pollution, and saving lives.

More Information

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).

Read more

EGNOS and Road Applications

Participants at the ASECAP conference in Lisbon explored the role of road charging within a greener, more sustainable and safer road transport system. They also heard good news from the GSA about how GNSS-based schemes, utilizing Galileo and EGNOS, can help.

The GSA believes GNSS receivers, now standard equipment in cars and other vehicles, can deliver new and better services for road mobility – from energy-saving route guidance to ensuring the security of hazardous materials and enabling cheaper, fairer and more flexible electronic toll charging.

Speaking at ASECAP, the GSA’s Alberto Fernandez Wyttenbach told participants that GNSS technologies allow operators to easily and quickly modify which road segments are covered, thus increasing the volume and efficiency of freight transport and virtually instantaneously enlarging charging schemes when and if required. In Germany TollCollect now operates the largest on-board vehicle units (OBUs) fleet,” he said. “They understand the importance of innovation and thus   the next OBU generation s will be Galileo-enabled.”

    Also read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Wyttenbach says that this is good news for Galileo, for businesses that rely on road transport and for the driving public. “The fact is that with multi-constellation GNSS, we don’t realise whether we are using Galileo satellites or GPS satellites,” he said. “Full interoperability means the more satellites the better. Drivers and toll operators who can use both systems will benefit in terms of better accuracy, reliability and robustness, including in difficult situations such as in urban canyons.”

Following the Singapore case, Wyttenbach also noted a number of European cities now evaluating GNSS-based solutions for urban congestion charging, including Brussels, Copenhagen and Budapest.

GNSS-based road charging entails lower costs for operators, so they can in turn charge less, get more traffic onto their toll roads and/or increase revenues to put towards new road projects.

Moving Together

For the GSA’s Fiametta Diani, interoperability among the various European road-charging schemes will be a key to success. Current systems encompass a wide array of often incompatible technologies, from manual toll collection and conventional plaza arrangements to all-electronic toll collection, multi-lane free-flow with DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, roadside gantry-based systems with cameras that take pictures of license plates, and many others.

Diani reported on the progress being made by the ASECAP-GSA Task Force, which is addressing, among other things, the question of interoperability. “We are not there yet, but a new generation of OBUs is coming that can combine functions, allowing us to foresee a day when cross-EU lorries won’t need two, three or six different units stacked up on their dashboards,” she said.

    Also Read: EGNOS for Road Market Report 2015

The GSA is also working to help the increasing the number of countries and regions that are just now entering the road-tolling arena. These parties, essentially starting from scratch, have no ‘legacy’ systems to replace, so they can chose the kind of tolling system that makes sense today.

The GSA says it makes sense for everyone to choose the same technology, thus arriving at an interoperable European standard that allows drivers to seamlessly switch from one road-pricing scheme to another as easily as they now ‘roam’ across EU borders on mobile phone networks.

The GSA is also working with established operators, for whom adopting a GNSS-based approach is not a question of simply ‘switching over’, but instead means deconstructing existing and deeply rooted systems – many of which have been built up progressively over years and decades.

Work Goes On

ASECAP, the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroute et d’Ouvrages à Péages, includes 16 member countries and five associate member countries, with concessionaires overseeing more than 48,000 km of tolled roads and earning almost €28 million in total revenues per year. ASECAP road operators share a long-term vision for ever-increasing safety and efficiency and the highest possible quality of service for all road users.

The GSA is working closely with ASECAP, specifically under the ASECAP-GSA Task Force and the Regional EETS project, to understand how GNSS technology can bring added value to road infrastructure operators. For the GSA, as well as for a growing community of road transport stakeholders, European satellite navigation systems such as Galileo and EGNOS represent powerful new tools in the drive to meet global economic and social challenges, including the demand for mobility.

    Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Even with increasing road traffic causing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution, there is also good news coming from the road sector. For instance, the sector remainsone of the largest and most dynamic markets, representing a major business opportunity for GNSS technology applications.

Road charging is one area where Galileo and EGNOS can make a real difference, ensuring fair, flexible and equitable schemes for road project financing, reducing congestion and pollution, and saving lives.

More Information

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).

Read more

EGNOS and Road Applications

Participants at the ASECAP conference in Lisbon explored the role of road charging within a greener, more sustainable and safer road transport system. They also heard good news from the GSA about how GNSS-based schemes, utilizing Galileo and EGNOS, can help.

The GSA believes GNSS receivers, now standard equipment in cars and other vehicles, can deliver new and better services for road mobility – from energy-saving route guidance to ensuring the security of hazardous materials and enabling cheaper, fairer and more flexible electronic toll charging.

Speaking at ASECAP, the GSA’s Alberto Fernandez Wyttenbach told participants that GNSS technologies allow operators to easily and quickly modify which road segments are covered, thus increasing the volume and efficiency of freight transport and virtually instantaneously enlarging charging schemes when and if required. In Germany TollCollect now operates the largest on-board vehicle units (OBUs) fleet,” he said. “They understand the importance of innovation and thus the next OBU generation will be Galileo-enabled.”

    Also read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Wyttenbach says that this is good news for Galileo, for businesses that rely on road transport and for the driving public. “The fact is that with multi-constellation GNSS, we don’t realise whether we are using Galileo satellites or GPS satellites,” he said. “Full interoperability means the more satellites the better. Drivers and toll operators who can use both systems will benefit in terms of better accuracy, reliability and robustness, including in difficult situations such as in urban canyons.”

Following the Singapore case, Wyttenbach also noted a number of European cities now evaluating GNSS-based solutions for urban congestion charging, including Brussels, Copenhagen and Budapest.

GNSS-based road charging entails lower costs for operators, so they can in turn charge less, get more traffic onto their toll roads and/or increase revenues to put towards new road projects.

Moving Together

For the GSA’s Fiametta Diani, interoperability among the various European road-charging schemes will be a key to success. Current systems encompass a wide array of often incompatible technologies, from manual toll collection and conventional plaza arrangements to all-electronic toll collection, multi-lane free-flow with DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, roadside gantry-based systems with cameras that take pictures of license plates, and many others.

Diani reported on the progress being made by the ASECAP-GSA Task Force, which is addressing, among other things, the question of interoperability. “We are not there yet, but a new generation of OBUs is coming that can combine functions, allowing us to foresee a day when cross-EU lorries won’t need two, three or six different units stacked up on their dashboards,” she said.

    Also Read: EGNOS for Road Market Report 2015

The GSA is also working to help the increasing the number of countries and regions that are just now entering the road-tolling arena. These parties, essentially starting from scratch, have no ‘legacy’ systems to replace, so they can chose the kind of tolling system that makes sense today.

The GSA says it makes sense for everyone to choose the same technology, thus arriving at an interoperable European standard that allows drivers to seamlessly switch from one road-pricing scheme to another as easily as they now ‘roam’ across EU borders on mobile phone networks.

The GSA is also working with established operators, for whom adopting a GNSS-based approach is not a question of simply ‘switching over’, but instead means deconstructing existing and deeply rooted systems – many of which have been built up progressively over years and decades.

Work Goes On

ASECAP, the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroute et d’Ouvrages à Péages, includes 16 member countries and five associate member countries, with concessionaires overseeing more than 48,000 km of tolled roads and earning almost €28 million in total revenues per year. ASECAP road operators share a long-term vision for ever-increasing safety and efficiency and the highest possible quality of service for all road users.

The GSA is working closely with ASECAP, specifically under the ASECAP-GSA Task Force and the Regional EETS project, to understand how GNSS technology can bring added value to road infrastructure operators. For the GSA, as well as for a growing community of road transport stakeholders, European satellite navigation systems such as Galileo and EGNOS represent powerful new tools in the drive to meet global economic and social challenges, including the demand for mobility.

    Watch This: EGNOS for Road

Even with increasing road traffic causing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution, there is also good news coming from the road sector. For instance, the sector remains one of the largest and most dynamic markets, representing a major business opportunity for GNSS technology applications.

Road charging is one area where Galileo and EGNOS can make a real difference, ensuring fair, flexible and equitable schemes for road project financing, reducing congestion and pollution, and saving lives.

More Information

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).

Read more

EGNOS and Road Applications

Looking for an image of a European citizen using their sat nav-enabled Smartphone to navigate through a city for a presentation? Need a high resolution photo of an aircraft taking advantage of an EGNOS-based landing procedure for your publication or website?

Look no further!

With the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) new Image Gallery, you now have a one-stop-shop for all your European GNSS application image needs. 

SatNav in Action: The GNSS Image Gallery was specifically built to illustrate the many everyday uses and benefits that European GNSS programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, provide. Images show GNSS in action across such market segments as aviation, road transport, location based services, agriculture, mapping, surveying, maritime, rail – and more.

Images can be browsed using a simple keyword-based search function.

All images in the gallery are available for download free of charge. Images can be used for commercial purposes so long as the GSA is credited (© GSA) and use is in compliance with the stated Terms and Conditions. 

Be sure to check back often as we will be regularly updating the Image Gallery with exciting new images of European GNSS in action!

Find your European GNSS images here.

More Information

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).

From June 9-11, members of the aviation equipment manufacturing industry gathered to move forward on standardising aircraft equipment for European GNSS. The meeting was part of Working Group 62 of the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), the organisation responsible for developing aviation standards.

Currently, EGNOS and other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems provide messages to augment GPS in one frequency, called L1. The next generation of EGNOS will be able to provide messages in two frequencies, L1 and L5, augmenting both GPS and Galileo.  L5 is part of the aeronautical safety navigation band, which is a protected band of the radiofrequency spectrum for use by aviation safety systems. The Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation capability is the guiding principle in the evolution of SBAS systems and provides advantages over a single frequency.

The Advantage of Dual Frequency

With Dual-Frequency, users will not be affected by the loss of performance currently experienced in periods of high ionosphere perturbations. Instead, receiving two frequencies gives the receiver enough data to calculate its position and time, resulting in greater precision and better accuracy.

The ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere with a high concentration of charged particles (ions), is affected by (among others) the solar wind, especially in periods of high solar activity. Turbulent space weather causes unpredictable changes in the behaviour of the ionosphere, which renders the current models of propagation of radiofrequency wave obsolete.

For the past couple of years, GNSS experts from around the world have been working to show what exactly will be in the augmentation messages using the new L5 frequency. GNSS experts from the SBAS International Working Group prepared an Interface Control Document (ICD) and Definition Document to describe the types of messages L5 frequency delivers.

The group, made up of current and future SBAS Systems Owners and Service Providers from around the world, determined that the draft documents were ready for distribution, and they were unveiled during the EUROCAE meeting. With these documents, aviation receiver manufacturers can now begin prototyping user terminals.

What’s Next?

Next, EUROCAE and RTCA (its US equivalent), will use the ICD to write the Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). These standards define the technical specifications of SBAS receivers, including algorithms and technical specifications of the tests that must be performed to guarantee compliance.

MOPS are developed with receiver manufacturers who develop prototypes, and their publication is the next milestone in standardising DFMC receivers.

The GSA will begin activities to support the development of receiver prototypes, for the next generation of EGNOS, in 2015 and will also encourage progress in producing MOPS.

More Information

DFMC SBAS Receiver Development - Présentation

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).

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

From June 9-11, members of the aviation equipment manufacturing industry gathered to move forward on standardising aircraft equipment for European GNSS. The meeting was part of Working Group 62 of the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), the organisation responsible for developing aviation standards.

Currently, EGNOS and other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems provide messages to augment GPS in one frequency, called L1. The next generation of EGNOS will be able to provide messages in two frequencies, L1 and L5, augmenting both GPS and Galileo.  L5 is part of the aeronautical safety navigation band, which is a protected band of the radiofrequency spectrum for use by aviation safety systems. The Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation capability is the guiding principle in the evolution of SBAS systems and provides advantages over a single frequency.

The Advantage of Dual Frequency

With Dual-Frequency, users will not be affected by the loss of performance currently experienced in periods of high ionosphere perturbations. Instead, receiving two frequencies gives the receiver enough data to calculate its position and time, resulting in greater precision and better accuracy.

The ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere with a high concentration of charged particles (ions), is affected by (among others) the solar wind, especially in periods of high solar activity. Turbulent space weather causes unpredictable changes in the behaviour of the ionosphere, which renders the current models of propagation of radiofrequency wave obsolete.

For the past couple of years, GNSS experts from around the world have been working to show what exactly will be in the augmentation messages using the new L5 frequency. GNSS experts from the SBAS International Working Group prepared an Interface Control Document (ICD) and Definition Document to describe the types of messages L5 frequency delivers.

The group, made up of current and future SBAS Systems Owners and Service Providers from around the world, determined that the draft documents were ready for distribution, and they were unveiled during the EUROCAE meeting. With these documents, aviation receiver manufacturers can now begin prototyping user terminals.

What’s Next?

Next, EUROCAE and RTCA (its US equivalent), will use the ICD to write the Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). These standards define the technical specifications of SBAS receivers, including algorithms and technical specifications of the tests that must be performed to guarantee compliance.

MOPS are developed with receiver manufacturers who develop prototypes, and their publication is the next milestone in standardising DFMC receivers.

The GSA will begin activities to support the development of receiver prototypes, for the next generation of EGNOS, in 2015 and will also encourage progress in producing MOPS.

More Information

DFMC SBAS Receiver Development - Présentation

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).

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

From June 9-11, members of the aviation equipment manufacturing industry gathered to move forward on standardising aircraft equipment for European GNSS. The meeting was part of Working Group 62 of the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), the organisation responsible for developing aviation standards.

Currently, EGNOS and other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems provide messages to augment GPS in one frequency, called L1. The next generation of EGNOS will be able to provide messages in two frequencies, L1 and L5, augmenting both GPS and Galileo.  L5 is part of the aeronautical safety navigation band, which is a protected band of the radiofrequency spectrum for use by aviation safety systems. The Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation capability is the guiding principle in the evolution of SBAS systems and provides advantages over a single frequency.

The Advantage of Dual Frequency

With Dual-Frequency, users will not be affected by the loss of performance currently experienced in periods of high ionosphere perturbations. Instead, receiving two frequencies gives the receiver enough data to calculate its position and time, resulting in greater precision and better accuracy.

The ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere with a high concentration of charged particles (ions), is affected by (among others) the solar wind, especially in periods of high solar activity. Turbulent space weather causes unpredictable changes in the behaviour of the ionosphere, which renders the current models of propagation of radiofrequency wave obsolete.

For the past couple of years, GNSS experts from around the world have been working to show what exactly will be in the augmentation messages using the new L5 frequency. GNSS experts from the SBAS International Working Group prepared an Interface Control Document (ICD) and Definition Document to describe the types of messages L5 frequency delivers.

The group, made up of current and future SBAS Systems Owners and Service Providers from around the world, determined that the draft documents were ready for distribution, and they were unveiled during the EUROCAE meeting. With these documents, aviation receiver manufacturers can now begin prototyping user terminals.

What’s Next?

Next, EUROCAE and RTCA (its US equivalent), will use the ICD to write the Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). These standards define the technical specifications of SBAS receivers, including algorithms and technical specifications of the tests that must be performed to guarantee compliance.

MOPS are developed with receiver manufacturers who develop prototypes, and their publication is the next milestone in standardising DFMC receivers.

The GSA will begin activities to support the development of receiver prototypes, for the next generation of EGNOS, in 2015 and will also encourage progress in producing MOPS.

More Information

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).

From June 9-11, members of the aviation equipment manufacturing industry gathered to move forward on standardising aircraft equipment for European GNSS. The meeting was part of Working Group 62 of the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), the organisation responsible for developing aviation standards.

Currently, EGNOS and other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems provide messages to augment GPS in one frequency, called L1. The next generation of EGNOS will be able to provide messages in two frequencies, L1 and L5, augmenting both GPS and Galileo.  L5 is part of the aeronautical safety navigation band, which is a protected band of the radiofrequency spectrum for use by aviation safety systems. The Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation capability is the guiding principle in the evolution of SBAS systems and provides advantages over a single frequency.

The Advantage of Dual Frequency

With Dual-Frequency, users will not be affected by the loss of performance currently experienced in periods of high ionosphere perturbations. Instead, receiving two frequencies gives the receiver enough data to calculate its position and time, resulting in greater precision and better accuracy.

The ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere with a high concentration of charged particles (ions), is affected by (among others) the solar wind, especially in periods of high solar activity. Turbulent space weather causes unpredictable changes in the behaviour of the ionosphere, which renders the current models of propagation of radiofrequency wave obsolete.

For the past couple of years, GNSS experts from around the world have been working to show what exactly will be in the augmentation messages using the new L5 frequency. GNSS experts from the SBAS International Working Group prepared an Interface Control Document (ICD) and Definition Document to describe the types of messages L5 frequency delivers.

The group, made up of current and future SBAS Systems Owners and Service Providers from around the world, determined that the draft documents were ready for distribution, and they were unveiled during the EUROCAE meeting. With these documents, aviation receiver manufacturers can now begin prototyping user terminals.

What’s Next?

Next, EUROCAE and RTCA (its US equivalent), will use the ICD to write the Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). These standards define the technical specifications of SBAS receivers, including algorithms and technical specifications of the tests that must be performed to guarantee compliance.

MOPS are developed with receiver manufacturers who develop prototypes, and their publication is the next milestone in standardising DFMC receivers.

The GSA will begin activities to support the development of receiver prototypes, for the next generation of EGNOS, in 2015 and will also encourage progress in producing MOPS.

More Information

DFMC SBAS Receiver Development - Présentation

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).

On May 19 at the EXPO Milano 2015, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) took part in an event hosted by CEMA and the European Commission’s Directorate General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs titled “The Role & Contribution of Europe’s Agricultural Machinery Industry in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.”

The event brought together EU decision-makers, business leaders, industry experts and stakeholders to explore such topics as:

• How smart machines and precision farming make agriculture more productive and sustainable
• How the EU can support the innovative power and competitiveness of Europe’s agricultural machinery industry
• How mechanization efforts can advance food security and rural development in Africa.

“Precision agriculture, higher degrees of automation – such as robotic machines – and digital integration are becoming key drivers in the growth of sustainable productivity in agriculture,” said CEMA President Richard Markwell.

An Affordable Solution in EGNOS

EGNOS provides an affordable solution for precision agriculture as it increases the accuracy of GPS positioning and supports machinery guidance solutions. More so, it enables farmers to optimize yields, increase labour productivity and reduce driver fatigue. It also makes such activities as spreading, spraying and harvesting more efficient. This optimized use of seeds and fertilizers, combined with the reduction of fuel and driving time, results in increased productivity.

         Watch This: EGNOS in Agriculture

EGNOS not only provides advantages to farmers through higher profit margins, but also to society as a whole through increased food supply and more environmentally friendly agriculture.

“The uptake of precision agriculture in Europe and worldwide continues to grow,” said GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini. “The return on investment in terms of increased productivity, cost-effectiveness and sustainability clearly makes the business case for the development of more applications, which rely on the precise positioning provided by GNSS.”

When Galileo becomes operational, it will further improve the performance of GNSS-assisted agriculture, as it will provide even greater availability and accuracy and better results in such harsh environments as being under dense tree canopies.

Market Trends

Tractor guidance and automatic steering are currently the most widespread GNSS-based application in agriculture. The latter which requires a higher level of accuracy, grew significantly over the past few years due to adoption in developed countries. Variable rate technologies were also increasingly adopted by farmers, and farm management solutions are beginning to complement purely in-field solutions.

          Also Read: EGNOS and Agriculture Market Report 2015

“Besides tractor guidance and automatic steering, we are assisting in the development of more applications such as the adoption of Variable Rate Technologies (VRTs), asset management and overall agri-logistic applications,” noted Calini. “This goes hand-in-hand with a more integrated approach leveraging Farm

Management Information Systems that consolidates data and information from the whole farm to the fingertips of the farmer.”

“To progress on sustainability in agricultural production and global food security we will need to produce more food more efficiently while at the same time respecting the environment and protecting natural resources and biodiversity,” concluded Markwell. “In other words, we will need to produce more with less, which is where modern agricultural machine technology comes into the game and can make a huge difference – both within Europe and worldwide.”

More Information

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).

On May 19 at the EXPO Milano 2015, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) took part in an event hosted by CEMA and the European Commission’s Directorate General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs titled “The Role & Contribution of Europe’s Agricultural Machinery Industry in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.”

The event brought together EU decision-makers, business leaders, industry experts and stakeholders to explore such topics as:

• How smart machines and precision farming make agriculture more productive and sustainable
• How the EU can support the innovative power and competitiveness of Europe’s agricultural machinery industry
• How mechanization efforts can advance food security and rural development in Africa.

“Precision agriculture, higher degrees of automation – such as robotic machines – and digital integration are becoming key drivers in the growth of sustainable productivity in agriculture,” said CEMA President Richard Markwell.

An Affordable Solution in EGNOS

EGNOS provides an affordable solution for precision agriculture as it increases the accuracy of GPS positioning and supports machinery guidance solutions. More so, it enables farmers to optimize yields, increase labour productivity and reduce driver fatigue. It also makes such activities as spreading, spraying and harvesting more efficient. This optimized use of seeds and fertilizers, combined with the reduction of fuel and driving time, results in increased productivity.

         Watch This: EGNOS in Agriculture

EGNOS not only provides advantages to farmers through higher profit margins, but also to society as a whole through increased food supply and more environmentally friendly agriculture.

“The uptake of precision agriculture in Europe and worldwide continues to grow,” said GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini. “The return on investment in terms of increased productivity, cost-effectiveness and sustainability clearly makes the business case for the development of more applications, which rely on the precise positioning provided by GNSS.”

When Galileo becomes operational, it will further improve the performance of GNSS-assisted agriculture, as it will provide even greater availability and accuracy and better results in such harsh environments as being under dense tree canopies.

Market Trends

Tractor guidance and automatic steering are currently the most widespread GNSS-based application in agriculture. The latter which requires a higher level of accuracy, grew significantly over the past few years due to adoption in developed countries. Variable rate technologies were also increasingly adopted by farmers, and farm management solutions are beginning to complement purely in-field solutions.

          Also Read: EGNOS and Agriculture Market Report 2015

“Besides tractor guidance and automatic steering, we are assisting in the development of more applications such as the adoption of Variable Rate Technologies (VRTs), asset management and overall agri-logistic applications,” noted Calini. “This goes hand-in-hand with a more integrated approach leveraging Farm

Management Information Systems that consolidates data and information from the whole farm to the fingertips of the farmer.”

“To progress on sustainability in agricultural production and global food security we will need to produce more food more efficiently while at the same time respecting the environment and protecting natural resources and biodiversity,” concluded Markwell. “In other words, we will need to produce more with less, which is where modern agricultural machine technology comes into the game and can make a huge difference – both within Europe and worldwide.”

More Information

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 UKRAINE project, an EU funded project under Horizon 2020 managed by the European GNSS Agency (GSA), seeks to create broad implementation of E-GNSS in Ukraine. The goal is to better understand the potential market for satellite navigation systems like Galileo and EGNOS across various Ukrainian sectors.

The UKRAINE project, an EU funded project under Horizon 2020 managed by the GSA, seeks to create broad implementation of E-GNSS in Ukraine. The goal is to better understand the potential market for satellite navigation systems like Galileo and EGNOS across various Ukrainian sectors.

In support of the project, a four-day conference was recently held in Minsk (Belarus). Representatives from many countries attended, including Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, France, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Turkmenistan.

The conference served as a platform to launch a new contest, which aims to encourage innovative ideas for EGNSS applications for the Ukrainian market. The first-prize winner will receive a UKRAINE project grant to participate in next year’s European Space Solutions Conference. More so, all finalists judged to have viable proposals will be invited to the Sikorsky Challenge 2015 Festival of Innovation Projects.

The goal of the contest is to engage the local scientific and R&D community in E-GNSS and to help bring the most promising concepts in science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship within the field of satellite navigation systems to market. Through the contest, the GSA wants to stimulate innovative entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of scientific research in the Ukraine, along with accelerate its integration into similar research happening across Europe.

The deadline to submit entries is 1 July 2015. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts based on technical specifications, innovation and commercial aspects. Finalists will be announced on the UKRAINE project’s website on 7 August 2015.

More Information

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 UKRAINE project, an EU funded project under Horizon 2020 managed by the European GNSS Agency (GSA), seeks to create broad implementation of E-GNSS in Ukraine. The goal is to better understand the potential market for satellite navigation systems like Galileo and EGNOS across various Ukrainian sectors.

The UKRAINE project, an EU funded project under Horizon 2020 managed by the GSA, seeks to create broad implementation of E-GNSS in Ukraine. The goal is to better understand the potential market for satellite navigation systems like Galileo and EGNOS across various Ukrainian sectors.

In support of the project, a four-day conference was recently held in Minsk (Belarus). Representatives from many countries attended, including Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, France, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Turkmenistan.

The conference served as a platform to launch a new contest, which aims to encourage innovative ideas for EGNSS applications for the Ukrainian market. The first-prize winner will receive a UKRAINE project grant to participate in next year’s European Space Solutions Conference. More so, all finalists judged to have viable proposals will be invited to the Sikorsky Challenge 2015 Festival of Innovation Projects.

The goal of the contest is to engage the local scientific and R&D community in E-GNSS and to help bring the most promising concepts in science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship within the field of satellite navigation systems to market. Through the contest, the GSA wants to stimulate innovative entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of scientific research in the Ukraine, along with accelerate its integration into similar research happening across Europe.

The deadline to submit entries is 1 July 2015. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts based on technical specifications, innovation and commercial aspects. Finalists will be announced on the UKRAINE project’s website on 7 August 2015.

More Information

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).

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

The SPACE4Growth and Jobs event brought together NEREUS representatives, European Institutions, the European GNSS Agency (GSA), national space agencies, industry and academia to highlight the fundamental role space plays in fostering new business and economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs and addressing societal and economic challenges for the benefit of European regions and their citizens.

The GSA recently joined SPACE4Growth and Jobs, an event organised by the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies (NEREUS) and the EU Committee of the Regions and attended by representatives of European institutions, national space agencies, industry and academia.

The event focused on the fundamental role that space plays in fostering new business and economic growth, creating high skilled jobs and addressing societal and economic challenges for the benefit of European regions and their citizens.

A Tangible Return on Investment

The fourth edition of the GSA’s GNSS Market Report serves as a key reference for all organisations, public and private, building their GNSS market strategies. During the event, GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini outlined the GSA’s focus on supporting downstream applications of European GNSS technologies and generating a tangible return on investment for Galileo and EGNOS.

“Europe’s GNSS investment is starting to deliver results now – and it will deliver more despite obstacles and complexities,” he said. “In particular, the Market Report shows the very high impact that GNSS has and will have on the economy and society in sectors ranging from agriculture to aviation.”

The EU currently has more than 25% of the global GNSS industry market share. In addition, nearly 70% of GNSS receivers sold around the world are EGNOS-enabled, and 38% of receivers in the global market are already enabled for the Galileo system. “The market is waiting for us,” said Calini. “With more than four billion GNSS enabled devices already in the world, this is a potential goldmine for business.”

Supporting Innovation

This was a message echoed by other speakers, including the ESA’s Michel Praet, who noted that Europe’s regions were key players in the EU’s space policy. He noted that both Galileo and Copernicus have been reintegrated into the EU’s current Multiannual Financial Framework and that the EU has allocated roughly €5 billion a year to its space programmes.

To further support the market, various programmes and funding opportunities are in place. For example, the annual European Satellite Navigation Competition and the Horizon 2020 funding programme both aim to encourage innovation in space technologies across Europe’s regions. 

More Information

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’s (GSA) GNSS Market Report was featured during a recent Market Insight Webinar organised by GPS World. It presented the relevant findings and shared insights and opinions on the evolution of the GNSS market.

A recent GPS World Market Insight Webinar presented the fourth edition of the GSA’s Market Report. Organized by GPS World Magazine, the webinar acquainted participants with the top-line results and findings from the Market Monitoring and Forecasting Process carried out by GSA.
GPS World Managing Director Tracy Cozzens moderated the discussion, and the GSA’s Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini and Market Development Officer Justyna Redelkiewicz presented the report. Thales Alenia Space Belgium CEO and Director Peter Grognard, who was the guest speaker, discussed the most important findings in the report and reiterated the valuable contribution that the study provides to organisations that operate within the GNSS market.

         Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015: Exciting Times for European GNSS

More than 200 people from around the globe tuned in to listen.

A Very Attractive Market

The discussion focused on the global GNSS market, paying particular attention to shipments, revenues and installed base of receivers, along with providing a forecast through 2023.

According to the report, the GNSS device market is experiencing a phase of rapid growth and is expected to increase 12.7% year-over-year between 2013 and 2023. Participants agreed that this presents a very attractive market, with volumes and revenues driven by mass-market segments, and in particular for location-based services (LBS) and transport applications.

As to the benefits of multi-constellation GNSS, the report says that more than 60% of all GNSS receivers support a minimum of two constellations, and more than 20% are able to receive navigation signals from all four available constellations. Moreover, the report highlights how the trend towards multi-GNSS receivers is expected to be further intensified in the coming years when a new generation of low-cost, multi-frequency receivers appear on the market. The driving market segment for this technology will be automotive and other machine-to-machine applications, where the issue of power consumption is not as critical as in other personal, portable consumer devices.

          Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

Answering questions from the audience, the GSA noted that the most significant GNSS market trends over the next three years will involve further integration of various technologies and constellations for better performance, an even more dominant position of smartphone devices, and an increased role for the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussion made it very clear that we are facing a very dynamic industry driven by innovation. As stated in the report, the four macro-trends driving the development GNSS industry (smart cities, multimodal logistics, big data and the Internet of things) are hot topics – verified by the feedback received and the over 10,000 downloads of the report since its launch.

Growing Interest in UAV’s and Wearables

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were a particular topic of interest for the audience, specifically as they relate to the development of the GNSS industry. Although the UAV market was not quantified in this edition of the Market Report, other sources estimate it to be around $7 billion – with forecasts predicting a steady increase of annual revenues over the next decade.

Panellists agreed that UAVs can support market growth, allowing new applications to emerge in different markets, including: surveying, mapping, scientific research, film and photography, agriculture, communication, and more.

Another interesting question was the impact of wearables on the GNSS market. This is a very dynamic market segment with a 700% year-on-year increase during the first half of 2014 for devices such as high-end smart watches, fitness wristbands and glasses. North America and Europe are the leading regions in terms of shipments, with 7.5 million units sold in 2014 – a number expected to increase to 14 million units by 2023.

More Information

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).

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

The European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) GNSS Market Report was featured during a recent Market Insight Webinar organised by GPS World. It presented the relevant findings and shared insights and opinions on the evolution of the GNSS market.

A recent GPS World Market Insight Webinar presented the fourth edition of the GSA’s Market Report. Organized by GPS World Magazine, the webinar acquainted participants with the top-line results and findings from the Market Monitoring and Forecasting Process carried out by GSA.
GPS World Managing Director Tracy Cozzens moderated the discussion, and the GSA’s Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini and Market Development Officer Justyna Redelkiewicz presented the report. Thales Alenia Space Belgium CEO and Director Peter Grognard, who was the guest speaker, discussed the most important findings in the report and reiterated the valuable contribution that the study provides to organisations that operate within the GNSS market.

         Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015: Exciting Times for European GNSS

More than 200 people from around the globe tuned in to listen.

A Very Attractive Market

The discussion focused on the global GNSS market, paying particular attention to shipments, revenues and installed base of receivers, along with providing a forecast through 2023.

According to the report, the GNSS device market is experiencing a phase of rapid growth and is expected to increase 12.7% year-over-year between 2013 and 2023. Participants agreed that this presents a very attractive market, with volumes and revenues driven by mass-market segments, and in particular for location-based services (LBS) and transport applications.

As to the benefits of multi-constellation GNSS, the report says that more than 60% of all GNSS receivers support a minimum of two constellations, and more than 20% are able to receive navigation signals from all four available constellations. Moreover, the report highlights how the trend towards multi-GNSS receivers is expected to be further intensified in the coming years when a new generation of low-cost, multi-frequency receivers appear on the market. The driving market segment for this technology will be automotive and other machine-to-machine applications, where the issue of power consumption is not as critical as in other personal, portable consumer devices.

          Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

Answering questions from the audience, the GSA noted that the most significant GNSS market trends over the next three years will involve further integration of various technologies and constellations for better performance, an even more dominant position of smartphone devices, and an increased role for the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussion made it very clear that we are facing a very dynamic industry driven by innovation. As stated in the report, the four macro-trends driving the development GNSS industry (smart cities, multimodal logistics, big data and the Internet of things) are hot topics – verified by the feedback received and the over 10,000 downloads of the report since its launch.

Growing Interest in UAV’s and Wearables

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were a particular topic of interest for the audience, specifically as they relate to the development of the GNSS industry. Although the UAV market was not quantified in this edition of the Market Report, other sources estimate it to be around $7 billion – with forecasts predicting a steady increase of annual revenues over the next decade.

Panellists agreed that UAVs can support market growth, allowing new applications to emerge in different markets, including: surveying, mapping, scientific research, film and photography, agriculture, communication, and more.

Another interesting question was the impact of wearables on the GNSS market. This is a very dynamic market segment with a 700% year-on-year increase during the first half of 2014 for devices such as high-end smart watches, fitness wristbands and glasses. North America and Europe are the leading regions in terms of shipments, with 7.5 million units sold in 2014 – a number expected to increase to 14 million units by 2023.

More Information

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).

Read More

European GNSS R&D – Now there’s an App for That!

The European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) GNSS Market Report was featured during a recent Market Insight Webinar organised by GPS World. It presented the relevant findings and shared insights and opinions on the evolution of the GNSS market.

A recent GPS World Market Insight Webinar presented the fourth edition of the GSA’s Market Report. Organized by GPS World Magazine, the webinar acquainted participants with the top-line results and findings from the Market Monitoring and Forecasting Process carried out by GSA.
GPS World Managing Director Tracy Cozzens moderated the discussion, and the GSA’s Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini and Market Development Officer Justyna Redelkiewicz presented the report. Thales Alenia Space Belgium CEO and Director Peter Grognard, who was the guest speaker, discussed the most important findings in the report and reiterated the valuable contribution that the study provides to organisations that operate within the GNSS market.

         Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015: Exciting Times for European GNSS

More than 200 people from around the globe tuned in to listen.

A Very Attractive Market

The discussion focused on the global GNSS market, paying particular attention to shipments, revenues and installed base of receivers, along with providing a forecast through 2023.

According to the report, the GNSS device market is experiencing a phase of rapid growth and is expected to increase 12.7% year-over-year between 2013 and 2023. Participants agreed that this presents a very attractive market, with volumes and revenues driven by mass-market segments, and in particular for location-based services (LBS) and transport applications.

As to the benefits of multi-constellation GNSS, the report says that more than 60% of all GNSS receivers support a minimum of two constellations, and more than 20% are able to receive navigation signals from all four available constellations. Moreover, the report highlights how the trend towards multi-GNSS receivers is expected to be further intensified in the coming years when a new generation of low-cost, multi-frequency receivers appear on the market. The driving market segment for this technology will be automotive and other machine-to-machine applications, where the issue of power consumption is not as critical as in other personal, portable consumer devices.

          Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

Answering questions from the audience, the GSA noted that the most significant GNSS market trends over the next three years will involve further integration of various technologies and constellations for better performance, an even more dominant position of smartphone devices, and an increased role for the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussion made it very clear that we are facing a very dynamic industry driven by innovation. As stated in the report, the four macro-trends driving the development GNSS industry (smart cities, multimodal logistics, big data and the Internet of things) are hot topics – verified by the feedback received and the over 10,000 downloads of the report since its launch.

Growing Interest in UAV’s and Wearables

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were a particular topic of interest for the audience, specifically as they relate to the development of the GNSS industry. Although the UAV market was not quantified in this edition of the Market Report, other sources estimate it to be around $7 billion – with forecasts predicting a steady increase of annual revenues over the next decade.

Panellists agreed that UAVs can support market growth, allowing new applications to emerge in different markets, including: surveying, mapping, scientific research, film and photography, agriculture, communication, and more.

Another interesting question was the impact of wearables on the GNSS market. This is a very dynamic market segment with a 700% year-on-year increase during the first half of 2014 for devices such as high-end smart watches, fitness wristbands and glasses. North America and Europe are the leading regions in terms of shipments, with 7.5 million units sold in 2014 – a number expected to increase to 14 million units by 2023.

More Information

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’s (GSA) GNSS Market Report was featured during a recent Market Insight Webinar organised by GPS World. It presented the relevant findings and shared insights and opinions on the evolution of the GNSS market.

A recent GPS World Market Insight Webinar presented the fourth edition of the GSA’s Market Report. Organized by GPS World Magazine, the webinar acquainted participants with the top-line results and findings from the Market Monitoring and Forecasting Process carried out by GSA.
GPS World Managing Director Tracy Cozzens moderated the discussion, and the GSA’s Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini and Market Development Officer Justyna Redelkiewicz presented the report. Thales Alenia Space Belgium CEO and Director Peter Grognard, who was the guest speaker, discussed the most important findings in the report and reiterated the valuable contribution that the study provides to organisations that operate within the GNSS market.

         Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015: Exciting Times for European GNSS

More than 200 people from around the globe tuned in to listen.

A Very Attractive Market

The discussion focused on the global GNSS market, paying particular attention to shipments, revenues and installed base of receivers, along with providing a forecast through 2023.

According to the report, the GNSS device market is experiencing a phase of rapid growth and is expected to increase 12.7% year-over-year between 2013 and 2023. Participants agreed that this presents a very attractive market, with volumes and revenues driven by mass-market segments, and in particular for location-based services (LBS) and transport applications.

As to the benefits of multi-constellation GNSS, the report says that more than 60% of all GNSS receivers support a minimum of two constellations, and more than 20% are able to receive navigation signals from all four available constellations. Moreover, the report highlights how the trend towards multi-GNSS receivers is expected to be further intensified in the coming years when a new generation of low-cost, multi-frequency receivers appear on the market. The driving market segment for this technology will be automotive and other machine-to-machine applications, where the issue of power consumption is not as critical as in other personal, portable consumer devices.

          Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

Answering questions from the audience, the GSA noted that the most significant GNSS market trends over the next three years will involve further integration of various technologies and constellations for better performance, an even more dominant position of smartphone devices, and an increased role for the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussion made it very clear that we are facing a very dynamic industry driven by innovation. As stated in the report, the four macro-trends driving the development GNSS industry (smart cities, multimodal logistics, big data and the Internet of things) are hot topics – verified by the feedback received and the over 10,000 downloads of the report since its launch.

Growing Interest in UAV’s and Wearables

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were a particular topic of interest for the audience, specifically as they relate to the development of the GNSS industry. Although the UAV market was not quantified in this edition of the Market Report, other sources estimate it to be around $7 billion – with forecasts predicting a steady increase of annual revenues over the next decade.

Panellists agreed that UAVs can support market growth, allowing new applications to emerge in different markets, including: surveying, mapping, scientific research, film and photography, agriculture, communication, and more.

Another interesting question was the impact of wearables on the GNSS market. This is a very dynamic market segment with a 700% year-on-year increase during the first half of 2014 for devices such as high-end smart watches, fitness wristbands and glasses. North America and Europe are the leading regions in terms of shipments, with 7.5 million units sold in 2014 – a number expected to increase to 14 million units by 2023.

More Information

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) discusses how EGNOS is benefiting the General Aviation sector at Aero Friedrichshafen.

Speaking recently at Aero Friedrichshafen, one of the world’s largest General Aviation events, the GSA discussed how EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, is benefiting the General Aviation sector.
 
Specifically designed to improve the accuracy of position measurements by sending out signals that correct GPS data and provide information on its reliability, EGNOS continues to bring new benefits to this important sector.

For example, EGNOS is improving safety across all phases of a flight. It allows for easier approaches to small airports – even during bad weather – without the need for expensive ground infrastructure. “We have received great feedback from pilots who say that landing with EGNOS is more comfortable, easy to follow and often more stable than with conventional ILS approaches,” says GSA Market Development Officer Katerina Strelcova. 

Since EGNOS was certified for aviation in March 2011, almost 250 EGNOS enabled procedures have been implemented at 141 airports, and more than 440 LPV EGNOS enabled procedures are expected by 2018. The largest number of operational airports in Europe is in France, with 63 in place and a further 51 planned. Next is Germany, with a further 12 countries, including Italy, Switzerland, the UK and Austria, having at least one approved airport. In addition, six APV Baro-VNAV procedures are allowed to be flown using EGNOS vertical guidance in France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

As the number of approved airports grows, an updated list is available at the EGNOS Portal and the EGNOS Service Provider site, which also includes an “EGNOS based procedures map” with a detailed table listing currently implemented and planed LPV/LP/BARO approaches. As second source, users can find the ‘PBN Approach Map Tool’ developed by Eurocontrol, which provides information on current implementation and plans of PBN Approaches.

Growing Enthusiasm

As a direct result of this increasing number of EGNOS enabled airports throughout Europe, there is growing enthusiasm among the European general aviation community for the use of satellite based approach systems (SBAS), and many general aviation aircraft are now SBAS capable.

Information provided by the GSA shows that all current generation Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Pilatus and Piper aircraft are SBAS-capable, and other types such as the Piaggio Avanti, Daher TBM900 and Aquila all have EGNOS solutions available. This includes the Garmin GNS430W/530W, GTN6XX/GTN7XX TS and the G1000, G2000, G3000, G5000 systems. EASA certification for the Bendix-King KSN765/770 TS is in progress, and approval for Avidyne systems is expected in 2015.

“The GSA has sponsored the Approved Model List - Supplemental Type Certificate for the Garmin GNS430W and GNS530W avionics, which are the most widely used systems by general aviation,” says Strelcova. “As a result, general aviation pilots with this equipment will soon be able to take full advantage of EGNOS without significant financial investment.”

Creating Airport Access

EGNOS allows aircraft to land at many smaller and regional airports that have, until now, been inaccessible for IFR traffic, playing a significant role in solving the problem of many large commercial airports being denied to general aviation aircraft due to high pricing and slot availability.

Progress with new airport approvals is essential, particularly as GNSS procedures in the US have been advancing at a very rapid rate.  Speaking at the Aero exhibition, Paul Sherry, Chairman of PPL/IR Europe, pointed out that there are now 3,534 WAAS LPV approach procedures in the US at 1,725 airports, indicating that Europe faces some pressure to catch up. Unfortunately, according to Sherry, the cost to airports of establishing compliance is around €35,000, but he hopes this can be reduced to close to €10,000. 

Achieving worldwide adoption of GNSS systems is also desirable. As EGNOS operates to the same equipment standards as other GNSS systems, aircraft equipped for the US can land in Europe using the EGNOS signal.

“Besides the safety advantages, EGNOS enables aircraft operators to use more efficient routes to save fuel and to take advantage of curved approaches and other efficiency features,” says Sherry. “Hopefully, a wider adoption will also reduce the incidence of CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) accidents to aircraft approaching VFR airports in IMC.”

Growth in the Scheduled Sector

A good number of scheduled airline operators are also adopting EGNOS systems. Typical is CityJet, which has fitted out eight of their 13 Fokker 50 turboprops.  CityJet, with headquarters near Dublin, is a subsidiary of Air France-KLM and, according to Christine Ourmières, CityJet’s CEO: “We are jumping to EGNOS for reasons of cost and improved navigation. We did some analysis and found fuel savings and comfort for our crew – they feel better, safer, and it is a modern tool.”

Ourmières also points out the technology benefits of EGNOS, which allows older aircraft to remain in service longer. “Even with a 25-year old aircraft, you know that the technology is good,” she says.

Another notable adopter is Air Nostrum, the largest Spanish regional airline, which has upgraded its current fleet to use the service. EGNOS systems have been installed on ten ATR 72s and 30 Bombardier CRJ1000s. The airline has highlighted that this gives them much more efficient routes, and makes it more environmentally friendly as the new approach procedures burn less fuel and save time.

 Also read: Groningen Airport Eelde First for LPV in the Netherlands
 
Among other practical successes of adoption is the experience of Aurigny Air Services, which runs scheduled services from and between the Channel Islands. Following a project established with Eurocontrol and NATS (National Air Traffic Services) in 2010/2011, Aurigny became the first regional airline to make use of EGNOS during all their approach and landing operations. They are now conducting more than 3,500 LPV approaches annually.

Also in the UK, Exeter Airport-based training school Aviation Southwest, which published its LPV procedures in August 2014, has upgraded its Beech Duchess and Piper PA-28 aircraft and integrated LPV into its Instrument Rating courses. Exeter Airport has now stated that, since LPV is available, they may withdraw non-precision approaches when their fixed navaids reach the end of their useful life.

“General aviation is a key market for EGNOS and users can really take advantage of this efficient navigation solution that increases both accessibility and safety,” concludes Strelcova. “In summary, EGNOS is a win–win solution for general aviation pilots and small airports.”

More Information

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) discusses how EGNOS is benefiting the General Aviation sector at Aero Friedrichshafen.

Speaking recently at Aero Friedrichshafen, one of the world’s largest General Aviation events, the GSA discussed how EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, is benefiting the General Aviation sector.
 
Specifically designed to improve the accuracy of position measurements by sending out signals that correct GPS data and provide information on its reliability, EGNOS continues to bring new benefits to this important sector.

For example, EGNOS is improving safety across all phases of a flight. It allows for easier approaches to small airports – even during bad weather – without the need for expensive ground infrastructure. “We have received great feedback from pilots who say that landing with EGNOS is more comfortable, easy to follow and often more stable than with conventional ILS approaches,” says GSA Market Development Officer Katerina Strelcova. 

Since EGNOS was certified for aviation in March 2011, almost 250 EGNOS enabled procedures have been implemented at 141 airports, and more than 440 LPV EGNOS enabled procedures are expected by 2018. The largest number of operational airports in Europe is in France, with 63 in place and a further 51 planned. Next is Germany, with a further 12 countries, including Italy, Switzerland, the UK and Austria, having at least one approved airport. In addition, six APV Baro-VNAV procedures are allowed to be flown using EGNOS vertical guidance in France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

As the number of approved airports grows, an updated list is available at the EGNOS Portal and the EGNOS Service Provider site, which also includes an “EGNOS based procedures map” with a detailed table listing currently implemented and planed LPV/LP/BARO approaches. As second source, users can find the ‘PBN Approach Map Tool’ developed by Eurocontrol, which provides information on current implementation and plans of PBN Approaches.

Growing Enthusiasm

As a direct result of this increasing number of EGNOS enabled airports throughout Europe, there is growing enthusiasm among the European general aviation community for the use of satellite based approach systems (SBAS), and many general aviation aircraft are now SBAS capable.

Information provided by the GSA shows that all current generation Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Pilatus and Piper aircraft are SBAS-capable, and other types such as the Piaggio Avanti, Daher TBM900 and Aquila all have EGNOS solutions available. This includes the Garmin GNS430W/530W, GTN6XX/GTN7XX TS and the G1000, G2000, G3000, G5000 systems. EASA certification for the Bendix-King KSN765/770 TS is in progress, and approval for Avidyne systems is expected in 2015.

“The GSA has sponsored the Approved Model List - Supplemental Type Certificate for the Garmin GNS430W and GNS530W avionics, which are the most widely used systems by general aviation,” says Strelcova. “As a result, general aviation pilots with this equipment will soon be able to take full advantage of EGNOS without significant financial investment.”

Creating Airport Access

EGNOS allows aircraft to land at many smaller and regional airports that have, until now, been inaccessible for IFR traffic, playing a significant role in solving the problem of many large commercial airports being denied to general aviation aircraft due to high pricing and slot availability.

Progress with new airport approvals is essential, particularly as GNSS procedures in the US have been advancing at a very rapid rate.  Speaking at the Aero exhibition, Paul Sherry, Chairman of PPL/IR Europe, pointed out that there are now 3,534 WAAS LPV approach procedures in the US at 1,725 airports, indicating that Europe faces some pressure to catch up. Unfortunately, according to Sherry, the cost to airports of establishing compliance is around €35,000, but he hopes this can be reduced to close to €10,000. 

Achieving worldwide adoption of GNSS systems is also desirable. As EGNOS operates to the same equipment standards as other GNSS systems, aircraft equipped for the US can land in Europe using the EGNOS signal.

“Besides the safety advantages, EGNOS enables aircraft operators to use more efficient routes to save fuel and to take advantage of curved approaches and other efficiency features,” says Sherry. “Hopefully, a wider adoption will also reduce the incidence of CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) accidents to aircraft approaching VFR airports in IMC.”

Growth in the Scheduled Sector

A good number of scheduled airline operators are also adopting EGNOS systems. Typical is CityJet, which has fitted out eight of their 13 Fokker 50 turboprops.  CityJet, with headquarters near Dublin, is a subsidiary of Air France-KLM and, according to Christine Ourmières, CityJet’s CEO: “We are jumping to EGNOS for reasons of cost and improved navigation. We did some analysis and found fuel savings and comfort for our crew – they feel better, safer, and it is a modern tool.”

Ourmières also points out the technology benefits of EGNOS, which allows older aircraft to remain in service longer. “Even with a 25-year old aircraft, you know that the technology is good,” she says.

Another notable adopter is Air Nostrum, the largest Spanish regional airline, which has upgraded its current fleet to use the service. EGNOS systems have been installed on ten ATR 72s and 30 Bombardier CRJ1000s. The airline has highlighted that this gives them much more efficient routes, and makes it more environmentally friendly as the new approach procedures burn less fuel and save time.

 Also read: Groningen Airport Eelde First for LPV in the Netherlands
 
Among other practical successes of adoption is the experience of Aurigny Air Services, which runs scheduled services from and between the Channel Islands. Following a project established with Eurocontrol and NATS (National Air Traffic Services) in 2010/2011, Aurigny became the first regional airline to make use of EGNOS during all their approach and landing operations. They are now conducting more than 3,500 LPV approaches annually.

Also in the UK, Exeter Airport-based training school Aviation Southwest, which published its LPV procedures in August 2014, has upgraded its Beech Duchess and Piper PA-28 aircraft and integrated LPV into its Instrument Rating courses. Exeter Airport has now stated that, since LPV is available, they may withdraw non-precision approaches when their fixed navaids reach the end of their useful life.

“General aviation is a key market for EGNOS and users can really take advantage of this efficient navigation solution that increases both accessibility and safety,” concludes Strelcova. “In summary, EGNOS is a win–win solution for general aviation pilots and small airports.”

More Information

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).

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, ESSP, ATR and Airbus, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Flight Event - video

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

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).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, ESSP, ATR and Airbus, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Flight Event - video

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

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).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, ESSP, ATR and Airbus, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Flight Event - video

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

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).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, ESSP, ATR and Airbus, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Flight Event - video

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

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).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, Airbus and ATR, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

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).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports