GPS World

Out in Front: The Fire Next Time

Alan Cameron — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:28:30 -0600

We have turned back the LightSquared effort to establish a threatening beachhead adjacent to GPS spectrum bands. Having expended many millions, we can now return to our business, secure in having demonstrated both our rights and our rightness. No. We cannot afford to do that.

Sygic GPS App Reaches 5 Million Android Downloads

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:45:51 -0600

Sygic GPS Navigation reached more than 5 million downloads on Android Market in February. It is ahead of all third party navigation apps on the Android Market, the company said. The application, which is available as a seven-day free trial and covers regions on four continents, is ranking in the Top 10 Free Travel and Local apps in 39 countries.

March 9 Is Deadline for ION GNSS Abstract Submissions

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:24:44 -0600

The last day to submit an abstract for ION GNSS 2012 is Friday, March 9. ION GNSS 2012 will take place September 17-21, 2012 (Tutorials: September 17-18) at the Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Fifth Beidou/Compass Satellite Launched

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:54:09 -0600

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has announced the successful launch of its latest BeiDou-2 satellite. Launch time was 16:12 UTC.

Epson Enters Electronic Sporting Goods Market with GPS Running Monitor

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:33:46 -0600

Seiko Epson Corporation has developed a GPS-enabled running monitor with a thin design. Designed to be worn on the wrist, the monitor uses GPS to provide runners with accurate distance, pace and other data. Epson plans to release a commercial version of the monitor in Japan in 2012 as the company's first entry in the electronic sporting goods market.

Topcon Introduces PN-A5 GNSS Antenna

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:07:36 -0600

Topcon Positioning Systems announces its new PN-A5 GNSS antenna. It combines the company’s TA-5 full spectrum GNSS antenna element with a newly designed semi-hemispherical convex impedance ground plane.

Gakstatter to Discuss LightSquared on America's Web Radio February 27

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:13:17 -0600

Eric Gakstatter, Survey Scene and GIS editor, along with Gavin Schrock and Laurence Socci will be guests on America's Web Radio on Monday, February 27, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the latest developments in the LightSquared/GPS interference debate as well as other GPS/GNSS issues.

GIS Taking a Bite out of Crime

Eric Gakstatter — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:30:15 -0600

Information is power. Geographic information is information, turbocharged. While privacy is certainly a major issue we need to deal with as geographic information becomes mainstream, geographic information is a fantastic tool for fighting crime.

Geneq Introduces Affordable, Rugged Handheld Computer

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:21:03 -0600

Geneq Inc. is pleased to announce the SXPad, a full-featured, affordable, rugged handheld computer for GPS/GIS data collection that is built for mobile GIS users in applications ranging from Federal/State/Local government, water/electric/gas utilities, and transportation to mining, agriculture, and forestry.

URISA Invites Comments on the Geospatial Management Competency Model

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:57:06 -0600

URISA invites experienced geospatial professionals of all kinds – particularly those with management experience – to review and comment on a draft Geospatial Management Competency Model (GMCM).

Two More GLONASS Birds to Fly in 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:55:46 -0600

Russia will launch two GLONASS satellites in 2012, Ria Novosti reports, citing the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos.

Never Again? Oh, Again and Again.

Alan Cameron — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:54:15 -0600

When the last English inhabitant of Virginia’s Lost Colony succumbed to hunger or swamp fever or local assimilation in 1588, Chesapeake chief Powhatan may have turned to his council and said, “Well, that’s the last of that. No more will we be troubled by outsiders infringing on our territory. Let’s get back to doing what we do best.”

TomTom Announces the Availability of MultiNet Data in Esri’s Geodatabase Format

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:37:23 -0600

TomTom Announces the Availability of MultiNet Data in Esri’s Geodatabase Format. As GIS datasets increase in size, TomTom is offering enterprise customers a data solution that improves versatility, optimizes performance and allows for customizable storage configuration. Large TomTom datasets may now be consumed directly by Esri applications in a file geodatabase format that is configurable within the customer’s environment, saving time and effort for GIS professionals.

CCI Software Upgrades Matix to Boost GIS Data Visualization

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:27:02 -0600

CCI announced enhancements to Matix, an integrated GIS solution built to leverage the power and flexibility of ESRI’s ArcGIS Server. Matix offers the latest in web mapping services as well as a wide array of user-centered features.

Witness Confident Launches Web Mapping Service for Reporting Violent Crimes

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:44:39 -0600

The charity Witness Confident launched Streetviolence.org, a new website to help cut violent crime. The site allows victims of street robberies and attacks to report to the police online, post witness appeals and warn their local community by pinpointing the crime on a Google map. People who witnessed the incident and are able to help can then get in touch with the correct police team at the click of a button.

GIS Expert Contracted to Defend Town against GIS Expert

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:57:58 -0600

West Milford, New Jersey, is looking to a GIS expert to aid the township in its defense against a legal challenge filed by its former in-house GIS specialist, Robert Sparkes, reports NorthJersey.com.

GPS-Wireless Locates LBS Profits in Four-Year Growth Spurt

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:53:05 -0600

Analysts predict a four-year growth leap in Internet-connected vehicles, but only some companies, products, and services are poised to turn a profit on this new jumping-the-chasm development. Who are they, and what is their strategy? This topic is a key focus of the GPS-Wireless 2012 conference. Early registration, saving $100, ends this Friday, February 24.

BeiDou-2/Compass Satellite Launch Imminent

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:45:00 -0600

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by Chinese authorities for a satellite launch on Thursday, February 24, at about 16:20 UTC. According to web reports, the launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center will orbit the fifth geostationary satellite in the BeiDou-2/Compass constellation.

IFEN and WORK Microwave Introduce Enhanced NavX-NCS Professional GNSS Simulator

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:39:28 -0600

IFEN, working in partnership with WORK Microwave, a European manufacturer of advanced satellite communications and navigation equipment, today announced an enhanced version of its NavX-NCS Professional, a multi-frequency simulator, which is optimized for research and development of GNSS safety and professional applications.

Topcon Announces CR-G5 Full Wave Geodetic Antenna

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:48:46 -0600

Topcon Positioning Systems announces the new CR-G5, a high-performance choke ring antenna based on the company’s TA-5 full spectrum GNSS antenna element. The new TA-5 technology uses an array of vertical convex dipoles to provide “full wave” tracking for all existing and future GNSS signals.

CMTINC.com Announces iPad App Competition

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:01:33 -0600

CMTINC.com announced that to help promote a better understanding of the usefulness of GIS, cmtinc.com welcomes iCMTGIS users to submit a presentation demonstrating how they are using the application to achieve their goals and increase work efficiency. iCMTGIS is a free app for the iPAD that can be downloaded via iTunes.

LightSquared Snuffed by NITA, FCC

Eric Gakstatter — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:37:50 -0600

The more than year-long battle between wireless start-up LightSquared and the GPS industry peaked earlier this week when the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), tasked by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study the potential interference problem between LightSquared's mobile wireless proposal and GPS receivers, issued a statement and report that concluded...

Hemisphere GPS and Carlson Software Establish Strategic Alliance

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:20:06 -0600

Today, Hemisphere GPS and Carlson Software announced a strategic alliance. This alliance will provide a roadmap for new, integrated solutions for land survey, mapping, construction, mining and other key machine control markets. Hemisphere GPS said. Carlson Software is a developer of field and office-based land development software.

NTIA Thumbs Down LightSquared; FCC Concurs

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:36:44 -0600

"We conclude that LightSquared's proposed mobile broadband network will impact GPS services and that there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time." These words from Lawrence Strickling, U.S. assistant secretary for communications and information and head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, appear to signal the end of LightSquared's run.

Privacy and the Devil Pact

Janice Partyka — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:30:30 -0600

In the public dialogue about mobile privacy concerns, I’ve yet to hear a plea to turn back the clock to when mobile apps were supported by subscription fees. Surprisingly, many consumers don’t understand the devil pact that free services come with a loss of privacy. With the exception of enterprise offerings, subscription fees have shrunk or disappeared for most location-based services. At the Institute for Communication Technology Management at the University of Southern California, Allison Cera of Lucent-Alcatel talked about the intersection of technology and identity. More than half of the people in her study felt they shouldn’t have to provide information about themselves just to get the most out of online services. Among the most connected technology users, the expectation of privacy was lower.

The World of GNSS: What's Next?

Tony Murfin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:30:19 -0600

As the world of GNSS moves forward and begins to absorb the new signals which are coming on line, it might be helpful to consider where we are going with all this. Maybe its time to ask ourselves to hold on a second — where is this all leading and what do we actually need? Let’s take a quick look at where we’ve been with GPS and GLONASS and what’s in store for these systems and what the impact might be for us users. Then if we consider the changes coming with Galileo, COMPASS, QZSS and the augmentation and regional system around the world, how can we as consumers cope with what’s coming and what impact will these things have on us? And what direction should manufacturers take to accommodate and lead consumers?

Descartes Acquires GeoMicro

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:24:39 -0600

Descartes Systems Group, a provider of global leader in logistics technology, has acquired GeoMicro, a California-based provider of advanced geographic information systems (GIS) and commercial turn-by-turn navigation.

DMEautomotive Releases Driver Connect

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:20:15 -0600

DMEautomotive has unveiled Driver Connect, a dealer-branded mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Driver Connect provides consumers with a suite of automotive tools. The offering allows customers to browse new and used inventory, schedule service appointments, manage vehicles' service histories, and receive targeted dealership alerts and offers.

Persistent Systems Acquires Openwave’s Location Business

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:14:34 -0600

Software product development services firm Persistent Systems has acquired Openwave Systems' location business. Terms were undisclosed. Openwave established many of the foundational patents that allow mobile devices to connect to the Internet. Over the years, the company has built a patent portfolio of approximately 200 patents spanning smart devices, cloud technologies and unified messaging.

Esri Announces Major Upgrade to Educational Site License Program

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:20:10 -0600

Esri announced it is rolling out a number of significant, free upgrades to its popular Educational Site License Program.