Andrew Yee
May 16th 06, 08:20 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
16 May 2006
Highly precise geo-information may help predict tsunamis, earthquakes
Over 140 geoscience and navigation experts from around the world met at ESOC
for the 2006 IGS Workshop. Scientists presented fascinating results from
research in geodesy, geophysics, orbital measurement, navigation and
coordinate system design, which are leading to better tools for measuring
sea-level and atmospheric changes -- and may one day help predict tsunamis
and earthquakes.
Many workshops and conferences hosted by ESA delve into highly technical and
scientific topics, but few offer as much scope for improving the lives and
livelihood of millions of people as last week's IGS (International GNSS
Service) Workshop. The week-long event saw some 140 experts from more than
25 countries working in the area of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite
Systems) gather to present results and chart a course for future research
and service provision activities.
The IGS, a non-governmental organisation, has grown from informal academic
beginnings some 15 years ago into the world's foremost interdisciplinary
service providing orbit data and clock corrections for navigation satellites
and ground receivers, highly accurate location information and models of the
Earth's atmosphere, as well as a host of special products and services.
Many participants work with the current satellite navigation systems,
including the 29 satellites of the USA's GPS (Global Positioning System) and
the 14 satellites of GLONASS (Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System),
both primarily military systems. In the near future, Europe's
next-generation, 30-satellite civilian system, Galileo, is scheduled to
enter into operation.
ESA's Galileo project is opening up a new era in global satellite
navigation. One test satellite, GIOVE-A, is already in orbit as the first
element in the system's in-orbit validation, and further validation missions
are scheduled for launch in 2008. Galileo was a lively topic at the IGS
workshop with multiple presentations from the Galileo Project Team at ESTEC.
There were also presentations from two major Galileo industrial
participants.
IGS comprises 200 agencies worldwide and 350 ground stations
In March 2005, the IGS adopted its current name, dropping the former
'International GPS Service' title, to better reflect the organisation's
increasing interest in the new navigation satellite systems, in particular
Galileo, and its role as a research organisation and service provider for
applications related to air, sea and land navigation, weather forecasting,
mapping, geo-research, geodesy and education. The IGS comprises over 200
agencies, universities, and research institutions in more than 80 countries
and provides GPS satellite data at an accuracy of better than 5 cm, the
highest precision in the world. IGS members also operate some 350 ground
stations that receive and process satellite navigation and other data.
IGS products support scientific activities such as improving and extending
the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), monitoring
deformations of the solid Earth and variations in the fluid Earth (such as
sea levels, ice sheets, etc.) and in Earth rotation, determining orbits of
scientific satellites and monitoring the ionosphere.
Creating a 'system of systems' to boost climate change research,
understanding
One of the key topics discussed last week was the ongoing development of the
Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), which will use highly accurate
satellite data and integrate diverse geodetic techniques and models to
achieve long-term consistency, reliability and understanding of geodetic,
geodynamic and global change processes. The GGOS could also use esoteric yet
highly reliable location data such as the position of quasars in deep space.
The GGOS would provide a solid scientific and infrastructural basis for most
global change research on Earth; some 60 countries are interested in
developing such a system.
Prof. Dow: An essential step in predicting tsunamis and earthquakes
"When oceanographers wish to observe sea level variations due to climate
change, they must have a well-defined and very accurate global reference
frame," explained ESA's Prof. John Dow, a leading expert on navigation
systems and host of the workshop. "The Earth is a dynamic system and, for
example, being able to measure movement due to tsunamis and earthquakes
helps us know how these phenomena work and is an essential step in knowing
how to predict them," he added.
The GGOS -- a fundamental part of the new Global Earth Observing System of
Systems (GEOSS) -- would bring current and future Earth-watching systems
into one overall system to avoid duplication and boost accuracy and
timeliness. GGOS contributes to GEOSS not only by providing an accurate
reference frame but also with observations related to the global
hydrological cycle, the dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans, and natural
hazards and disasters. The system is used by external customers such as
United Nations offices and national governments.
"Geo-information has direct applications in navigation, weather prediction
and monitoring and understanding environmental change. These data and
services can help improve the lives of millions of people who use
information from national governments to plant crops, react to climate
change and respond to natural disasters. It is an area of tremendous
significance for the future," says Dow.
Related links
* IGS Workshop 2006
http://www.esa.int/igs2006
* IGS
http://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
* GGOS
http://www.ggos.org
* Galileo
http://www.esa.int/esaNA/galileo.html
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7259ATME_index_1.html]
Presentation at IGS 2006, ESOC
Credits: ESA/ESOC
[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7259ATME_index_1.html#subhead3]
Galileo constellation
Europe has decided to implement a satellite-based navigation system in a
two-step approach. The first step will lead to a European overlay navigation
system (EGNOS) using the two existing navigation satellite constellations
(GPS and Glonass); this system is already contracted to industry and test
operations have started. The second step (Galileo) is intended to enable
Europe to become a major partner in the setting up of a civilian satellite
service around 2008. This service will meet worldwide the multimodal
navigation requirements and can operate either autonomously or together with
other systems. Aeronautical, maritime and land mobile users will greatly
benefit from the service.
Credits: ESA-J. Huart
http://www.esa.int
16 May 2006
Highly precise geo-information may help predict tsunamis, earthquakes
Over 140 geoscience and navigation experts from around the world met at ESOC
for the 2006 IGS Workshop. Scientists presented fascinating results from
research in geodesy, geophysics, orbital measurement, navigation and
coordinate system design, which are leading to better tools for measuring
sea-level and atmospheric changes -- and may one day help predict tsunamis
and earthquakes.
Many workshops and conferences hosted by ESA delve into highly technical and
scientific topics, but few offer as much scope for improving the lives and
livelihood of millions of people as last week's IGS (International GNSS
Service) Workshop. The week-long event saw some 140 experts from more than
25 countries working in the area of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite
Systems) gather to present results and chart a course for future research
and service provision activities.
The IGS, a non-governmental organisation, has grown from informal academic
beginnings some 15 years ago into the world's foremost interdisciplinary
service providing orbit data and clock corrections for navigation satellites
and ground receivers, highly accurate location information and models of the
Earth's atmosphere, as well as a host of special products and services.
Many participants work with the current satellite navigation systems,
including the 29 satellites of the USA's GPS (Global Positioning System) and
the 14 satellites of GLONASS (Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System),
both primarily military systems. In the near future, Europe's
next-generation, 30-satellite civilian system, Galileo, is scheduled to
enter into operation.
ESA's Galileo project is opening up a new era in global satellite
navigation. One test satellite, GIOVE-A, is already in orbit as the first
element in the system's in-orbit validation, and further validation missions
are scheduled for launch in 2008. Galileo was a lively topic at the IGS
workshop with multiple presentations from the Galileo Project Team at ESTEC.
There were also presentations from two major Galileo industrial
participants.
IGS comprises 200 agencies worldwide and 350 ground stations
In March 2005, the IGS adopted its current name, dropping the former
'International GPS Service' title, to better reflect the organisation's
increasing interest in the new navigation satellite systems, in particular
Galileo, and its role as a research organisation and service provider for
applications related to air, sea and land navigation, weather forecasting,
mapping, geo-research, geodesy and education. The IGS comprises over 200
agencies, universities, and research institutions in more than 80 countries
and provides GPS satellite data at an accuracy of better than 5 cm, the
highest precision in the world. IGS members also operate some 350 ground
stations that receive and process satellite navigation and other data.
IGS products support scientific activities such as improving and extending
the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), monitoring
deformations of the solid Earth and variations in the fluid Earth (such as
sea levels, ice sheets, etc.) and in Earth rotation, determining orbits of
scientific satellites and monitoring the ionosphere.
Creating a 'system of systems' to boost climate change research,
understanding
One of the key topics discussed last week was the ongoing development of the
Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), which will use highly accurate
satellite data and integrate diverse geodetic techniques and models to
achieve long-term consistency, reliability and understanding of geodetic,
geodynamic and global change processes. The GGOS could also use esoteric yet
highly reliable location data such as the position of quasars in deep space.
The GGOS would provide a solid scientific and infrastructural basis for most
global change research on Earth; some 60 countries are interested in
developing such a system.
Prof. Dow: An essential step in predicting tsunamis and earthquakes
"When oceanographers wish to observe sea level variations due to climate
change, they must have a well-defined and very accurate global reference
frame," explained ESA's Prof. John Dow, a leading expert on navigation
systems and host of the workshop. "The Earth is a dynamic system and, for
example, being able to measure movement due to tsunamis and earthquakes
helps us know how these phenomena work and is an essential step in knowing
how to predict them," he added.
The GGOS -- a fundamental part of the new Global Earth Observing System of
Systems (GEOSS) -- would bring current and future Earth-watching systems
into one overall system to avoid duplication and boost accuracy and
timeliness. GGOS contributes to GEOSS not only by providing an accurate
reference frame but also with observations related to the global
hydrological cycle, the dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans, and natural
hazards and disasters. The system is used by external customers such as
United Nations offices and national governments.
"Geo-information has direct applications in navigation, weather prediction
and monitoring and understanding environmental change. These data and
services can help improve the lives of millions of people who use
information from national governments to plant crops, react to climate
change and respond to natural disasters. It is an area of tremendous
significance for the future," says Dow.
Related links
* IGS Workshop 2006
http://www.esa.int/igs2006
* IGS
http://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
* GGOS
http://www.ggos.org
* Galileo
http://www.esa.int/esaNA/galileo.html
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7259ATME_index_1.html]
Presentation at IGS 2006, ESOC
Credits: ESA/ESOC
[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7259ATME_index_1.html#subhead3]
Galileo constellation
Europe has decided to implement a satellite-based navigation system in a
two-step approach. The first step will lead to a European overlay navigation
system (EGNOS) using the two existing navigation satellite constellations
(GPS and Glonass); this system is already contracted to industry and test
operations have started. The second step (Galileo) is intended to enable
Europe to become a major partner in the setting up of a civilian satellite
service around 2008. This service will meet worldwide the multimodal
navigation requirements and can operate either autonomously or together with
other systems. Aeronautical, maritime and land mobile users will greatly
benefit from the service.
Credits: ESA-J. Huart