Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless all of you and your family this Thanksgiving!
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Sapcorda Plans Centimeter-Scale GPS for Europe (August 15, 2017)
Germany’s Bosch and Geo++, U-blox of Switzerland, and Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric announced the establishment of Sapcorda Services last Tuesday, a joint venture to provide global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning services of centimeter-level accuracy via satellite transmission, mobile cellular technology, and the Internet.
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This expedition is trying to find out if the tallest mountain in the world shrank (January 26, 2017)
This week, India’s surveyor general announced that the government is going to re-measure Mount Everest, in a bid to determine whether the world’s tallest peak shrank (or grew) following a devastating earthquake in 2015.
A team of 30 scientists will use two methods to measure the mountain. The first involves placing a GPS transistor at its summit to measure the distance from sea level; the second involves more traditional on-the-ground triangulation, whereby researchers would determine the distance to the summit based on its angle relative to two baseline points.
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Implications of BeiDou explored in US congressional report (January 25, 2017)
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a staff report titled “China’s Alternative to GPS and Its Implications for the United States.”
The report examines the objectives behind Beijing’s decision to develop the system as an alternative to GPS, its efforts to build an industry around the system, and the effects this might have in security, economic and diplomatic terms for the U.S.
Source: http://gpsworld.com/implications-of-beidou-explored-in-us-congressional-report/
Additional info on BeiDou: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeiDou_Navigation_Satellite_System
Additional info on the different GPS systems: https://www.liveviewgps.com/blog/gps-main-competitors-galileo-beidou-glonass/
As you know, we’re always scouring the Web for interesting GPS tracking news. Here’s what we’re reporting for June 2016:
Indiana Detention Center Considering Reduction in Jail Overcrowding with GPS Trackers for Inmates
Vanderburgh County, Indiana is looking at GPS tracking options, and the transfer of some inmates to other jails to reduce over crowding in its own facilities. Eligibility for the GPS tracking program will be determined by a judge if implemented.
GPS Tracking Reveals San Andreas Fault Activity
GPS technology has recently revealed some activity along the San Andreas Fault in California. The earth on each side of the fault has been found to be moving a few millimeters a year. While this movement was something scientists had predicted for some time, they had been unable to detect a particular pattern due to “noise” or interference in the feedback they were receiving. A new GPS technology has helped eliminate the “noise” for a more clear understanding of tectonic movement, particularly the vertical movement around the San Andreas Fault.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/GPS-data-suggests-considerable-movement-along-8316050.php
China Moving Toward Its Own GPS Tracking
On June 12, 2016, China launched the 23rd GPS tracking satellite in the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System–China’s network of its own GPS tracking satellites. The BeiDou Satellite System has been regionally available for some time, but the Chinese government has recently been ramping up efforts toward a globally operational system similar to the global systems in place within the United States and Russia. India and Japan are in progress on similar efforts.
Source: http://www.wired.com/2016/06/rocket-launch-brings-china-one-step-closer-gps/
