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Volume XVI, Issue 7, July 2020 THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE ON POSITIONING, NAVIGATION AND BEYOND
Clipper Adventurer Grounding

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COLOPHON AND CONTENTS
In this issue
Coordinates Volume 16, Issue 7, July 2020
Articles
Transforming the old map series to the modern geodetic reference system Georgios Moschopoulos,
Nikolaos Demirtzoglou, Antonios Mouratidis, Dionysia-Georgia Perperidou and Dimitrios Ampatzidis 6 Clipper Adventurer
Grounding Bruce Calderbank 12 Covid-19 and the Surveying Profession: A New Zealand Perspective
John Hannah 27 AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW: A match made in heaven Volker Janssen and Simon McElroy 29
Columns
My Coordinates Editorial 5 News GIS 18 Imaging 35 UAV 37 Tracking COVID-19 39 GNSS 40 Industry 41
This issue has been made possible by the support and good wishes of the following individuals and companies
Antonios Mouratidis, Bruce Calderbank, Dimitrios Ampatzidis, Dionysia-Georgia Perperidou, Georgios Moschopoulos, John Hannah,
Nikolaos Demirtzoglou, Simon McElroy and Volker Janssen; CHC, Javad, Labsat, MicroSurvey, SBG System and many others.
Mailing Address Web www.mycoordinates.org [India] Rs.1,800 [Overseas] US$100

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[editorial] [email protected] Editor Bal Krishna
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4 | Coordinates July 2020

MYCOORDINATES
ABnormal
In the pre-Covid-19 era,
Already there were concerns
Regarding too much of exposures to screens
TV, Computers, iPads, mobile,…
And their likely consequences.
Out of many, one of the repercussions of the Covid-19
Has been the many fold increase in ‘screen time’
Work from home, communications, webinars, even entertainment…
With many of our activities going online,
This new way of life,
Unfortunately being misconstrued as a new normal,
Might actually be abnormal.
Our challenge is going to be
How to time ourselves out.
Away from the screens!
Bal Krishna, Editor

[email protected]
ADVISORS Naser El-Sheimy PEng, CRC Professor, Department of Geomatics Engineering, The University of Calgary Canada, George
Cho Professor in GIS and the Law, University of Canberra, Australia, Professor Abbas Rajabifard Director, Centre for SDI and Land
Administration, University of Melbourne, Australia, Luiz Paulo Souto Fortes PhD Associate Professor, University of State of Rio Janeiro
(UERJ), Brazil, John Hannah Professor, School of Surveying, University of Otago, New Zealand
Coordinates July 2020 | 5

GEODESY
Transforming the old map

series to the modern
geodetic reference system
In the present paper we present a methodology, which is based on the verification of
the common points of the two different geodetic systems and the implementation
of the well-known 2D similarity transformation. The numerical application took
part for the Northern part of Greece (Central and Eastern Macedonia)
Georgios Moschopoulos
Freelance Surveyor Engineer
and member of the
T he transformation of the old map
sheets series of the Greek State
remains a recurring issue. The main
now on SAMA) created numerous Map
Distributions (MDs), in order to facilitate
the whole procedure (Fotiou and Livieratos
Commission of the Northern problem lies in the transformation of the 2000). The initial work included classical
Greece Surveyor Engineers’ old Greek Datum (GR-Datum), which triangulations and mapping and finally the
Association, Greece is mainly used for the mapping of the creation of map sheets mostly in 1:5000
Greek rural areas. Up to date, there is no scale (or in 1:1000). The coordinates
Nikolaos Demirtzoglou official transition procedure connecting referred to the old Greek Datum (GR-
Freelance Surveyor the old version of the GR-Datum to the Datum) and particularly its pre-1940
Engineer, Drama, Greece new official Hellenic Geodetic Reference version (Fotiou and Livieratos 2000). The
System of 1987 (HGRS1987). As a result, so-called old version of the GR-Datum
geodesists, surveyors and cartographers consists of measurements and computations
are obliged to develop ad hoc techniques. held before the Second World War. It is
referenced to the Bessel 1841 ellipsoid
Dr Antonios Mouratidis In the present paper we present a and uses the Hatt projection system
Assistant Professor, methodology, which is based on the (Mugnier 2002). Hatt is an equidistance
Department of Physical and verification of the common points of the map projection, which has practical no
Environmental Geography two different geodetic systems and the deformation for limited areas (e.g. not
of the Aristotle University implementation of the well-known 2D larger than 30-40 km)1. Consequently,
of Thessaloniki, Greece similarity transformation. The numerical its accuracy corresponded to the needs
application took part for the Northern of this particular era and of course to the
Dr Surv Ing Dionysia- part of Greece (Central and Eastern necessity for the prompt settlement of
Georgia Perperidou Macedonia). The consistency of the the population. There are cases where
Adjunct Lecturer, old version of the GR-Datum and the the accuracy is particularly low (e.g.
Department of Surveying HGRS1987 is at the level of 1 meter. lower than 5 meters), while in some areas
and Geoinformatics the results reach a 15-20 cm accuracy.
Enineering, University Figures 1 and 2 depict part of SAMA’s
of West Attica, Greece Introduction MD for a village near Thessaloniki
Dr Ing Dimitrios and Drama regions, respectively.
Ampatzidis After 1917 and especially following
Research Associate, the arrival of the Greek refugees from Unfortunately, to date, there is no
German Federal Agency Pontus and Asia Minor (1922), there was officially accepted methodology for the
for Cartography and a great need for the settlement of the rural transformation of SAMA’s old map series
Geodesy, Frankfurt population. In this direction, the Surveying to the official Hellenic Geodetic Reference
a.M., Germany Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture System of 19872 (HGRS1987, HEMCO
(which was established in 1917, from 1987, Takos 1989, Kalamakis et al. 2017).

version of the GR-Datum to any newer
version/datum. On the other hand, for
the new version of the GR-Datum, which
is practically realised in mid-80s with
new measurements and new adjustments
(Takos 1989, Fotiou and Livieratos
2000), there is an explicitly defined and
publicly released transformation procedure
for the transition to the HGRS1987,
using second degree polynomials
(HEMCO 1995). Figure 3 presents an
old benchmark of the State’s network,
which is a common point between
the two versions of the GR-Datum.
The second degree polynomials refer

to map sheets of 1:100000 scale (or for
some rare cases to 1:50000)5. Thus, if
a connection between the two versions
Figure 1: A part of SAMA’s MD in Kardia village (near Thessaloniki). Year of release: 1932. of the GR-Datum can be made, then
the old map series can refer to the
HGRS1987. This point-wise connection
is realized by the implementation of the
so-called 2-D similarity transformation6,
according to the following equation
(Dermanis and Fotiou 1992):
Xi = cxi + dyi + tx (1a)
Yi = –dyi + cxi + ty (1b)
where Xi, Yi are the point’s coordinates

with respect to the new version of GR-
Datum, xi, yi are the point’s coordinates
with respect to the old version of
GR-Datum and c, d, tx, ty are the four
Figure 2: A part of SAMA’s MD near Paranesti village (Drama region). Year of release: 1932. unknown parameters of the 2D similarity
transformation (uniform scale, rotation
As a consequence, geodesists, surveyors and two translations of the axes), which
and cartographers are applying ad-hoc will be estimated through a least squares
techniques, in order to align the old MP adjustment (e.g. Dermanis and Fotiou
information to their surveying layout3. In 1992). The methodology can be visualized
this context, we describe a methodology through Figure 4. Furthermore, it should
based on the 2D transformation of the also be pointed out that for the cases
coordinates of the State’s benchmarks4 of the -relatively- large 1:1000 scale,
from the old version of GR-Datum to the one can graphically trace some points
new one, using common points. We test in SAMA’s map, which remain till
the methodology to 11 Map Sheets in the today (e.g. fences of buildings) serving
Central and East Macedonia regions. also as common points (measured as
well with respect to HGRS1987). This
can be sometimes dictated due to the
Methodology lack of State’s benchmarks, however
Figure 3: A common benchmark of it reduces the points’ accuracy by at
the State’s network between the As previously stated, there is no officially least 25-30 cm, due to human’s eye
two versions of the old datum. released procedure to transform the old resolution ability and the map scale used

(Davidson 1993). Hence, this approach points, layouts) to the HGRS1987 and the associated documentation is also
should be adopted with extra caution. at the same time, delivers the accuracy difficult to be found and to be validated.
of the transformation. This plays an
The aforementioned procedure allows important role to several scientific Following the flowchart presented in
the transformation of the old map series groups, such as: (a) Surveyors who are Figure 3, we have the residuals’ statistics
(referring to the old version of the GR- occupied with the Cadastral mapping, quantifying the consistency of the two
Datum) to the HGRS1987. For each (b) State’s Agencies, which are looking versions (Table 1, after the removal of
examined area the procedure provides for reliable transformation for many the outliers). For each map sheet, we
the ability to transform any type of applications and (c) Cartographers. found at least 10 common points between
information (map sheets, benchmarks, the two versions. In some map sheets
Finally, it should also be we excluded 1-2 points (as outliers).
underlined that the MD of the
new version of the GR-Datum The results imply that there is no uniform
consists of map sheets at the consistency between the old and the new
scale 1:50000 (387 for the version of the GR-Datum, respectively.
whole country, according to The standard deviation ranges from 23.9
the distribution of the Hellenic cm to 149.5 cm. The mean standard
Geographic Military Service- deviation is at the level of 80 cm. It should
HGMS-, HEMCO 1995, also be mentioned that the accuracy of
Fotiou and Livieratos 2000). the transition between the new version
This practically means that the of the GR-Datum to the HGRS1987
second degree polynomials (using the second degree polynomials)
previously described is rather is at the level of 10-15 cm (HEMCO
possible to be identical for 1995)8. Roughly, the total transformation
maximum four map sheets accuracy from the old version of the GR-
of the new version’s MD. Datum to the official HGRS1987 for the
Thus we should initially examined areas is in the order of 80-100
refer the old version’s cm (mean value). Taking into account
coordinates with respect to the the oldness of the observations and
associated 1:100000 sheet7. the problematic old version of the GR-
Datum, we can consider this accuracy
as normal. It practically means that the
Numerical scale, which can be used for the reliable
application cartographic map series transformation
is between 1:4000 and 1:5000.
Figure 4: The methodology of transforming the old map series. We collected common
points between the old and One can directly apply the 2D similarity
Table 1: The statistics of the 2D similarity transformation the new version of the GR- transformation between the old version
between the two GR-Datum versions, after the Datum for 11 map sheets of the GR-Datum to the HGRS1987. This
removal of outliers. Values are in meters. located in the Northern perhaps mitigates the transformation error,
Name of the residual errors residual errors residual errors part of Greece (Central since there is an exclusion of the final
map sheet standard minimum maximum and Eastern Macedonia). transition step (from the new version of the
(MP 1:50000) deviation value value The relevant map sheets GR-Datum to the HGRS1987)9. However,
Rodolivos 1.495 -2.964 2.965 are depicted in Figure 5. this procedure avoids the officially
Serres 0.625 -1.477 1.469 accepted use of the polynomials and thus
Prosotsani 0.854 -1.528 1.446 At this point is ought to may give rise to many questions regarding
Sidirokastron 1.000 -1.680 2.353 be stressed out that the its consistency with respect to the
Achladochorion 0.448 -0.356 0.977 most difficult issue is the regulations of the Greek state. In addition,
Kastanousa 0.239 -0.306 0.460
verification of the common we do not expect considerably better
points. During the past results, due to the aforementioned problem
Kerkini 0.649 -0.926 1.229
decades (in some cases up of the old version of the GR-Datum. For
Neon Petritsion 0.711 -1.488 1.500
to 90 years) the common more consistent results between the old
Nikisiani 0.909 -0.962 1.566 benchmarks are either version of GR-Datum and the HGRS1987,
Sitochorion 0.949 -1.556 2.307 destroyed or severely one can follow the procedure described
Sochos 0.863 -1.245 1.520 inclined. On the top of that, in Ampatzidis and Melachroinos (2017).

Figure 5: Part of the 1:50000 MP for Northern Greece. The cyan boxes correspond to the 11 map sheets applied for the
present study (the initial map was derived from the site of Hellenic Cadastre S.A.). The MP was applied from HGMS.
connect the new version It was mainly used for the mapping
We strongly suggest to the Greek of the GR-Datum to the of the on-shore regions in the Pacific
official HGRS1987. We Ocean (Mugnier 2002). Greece is
State the creation of a group of tested the procedure for the only European country, which
11 map sheets of 1:50000 adopted this kind of projection.
specialists (e.g. geodesists, surveyors located in the Northern
part of Greece (Central 2
HGRS1987 is the official geodetic
and cartographers) in order to and Eastern Macedonia) reference system of Greece (from the
and we found a mean early 1990s) and the Greek Cadastre
establish a reliable methodology consistency between the is based only on this system.
old and the new version
for the transformation of the at the level of 80 cm, 3
Practically speaking, the alignment
which is at level of our of SAMA’s old mapping infrastructure
old map series, containing useful expectations according to the HGRS1987 is a major problem
to our field experience. for the Surveyor Engineers, especially
information, to the official HGRS1987 in Northern Greece (Macedonia and
We strongly suggest Thrace regions). The major difficulty
Conclusions to the Greek State the creation of a is the lack of benchmarks/points. This
group of specialists (e.g. geodesists, absence is causing significant pitfalls
We presented a methodology for surveyors and cartographers) in order during their daily professional practice.
converting the old map series of SAMA’s to establish a reliable methodology
MDs to the HGRS1987. The core of for the transformation of the old map 4
As State’s benchmarks we define
the methodology lies in finding of the series, containing useful information, here those of the State’s triangulation
common points between the old and the to the official HGRS1987. network. Unfortunately, there is
new version of the GR-Datum. Initially, a no remaining information for the
2D similarity transformation provides the benchmarks located in the land parcels.
necessary transition to the new version Endnotes The latter ones were called ‘orosima’
of the GR-Datum and as a final step -Greek jargon- and they were used
we proceed with the implementation of 1
the Hatt projection was developed by for the property identification, having
the second degree polynomials which the French cartographer Philippe Hatt. estimated projection coordinates.

5
The second degree polynomials do not Greece (in Greek). NASA, partner space agencies amass
show uniform accuracy throughout the global view of COVID-19 impacts
country. In some cases the transformation Fotiou A. and E. Livieratos
(between the two versions) accuracy (2000). Geometric Geodesy and In response to the global coronavirus pandemic,
remains low (Fotiou and Livieratos Networks. Ziti Publications, NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and
2000, HEMCO 1995). The scale of Thessaloniki, Greece (in Greek). JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
1:100000 corresponds to dimensions have joined forces to use the collective
of 30’ X 30’ of a map sheet. Davidson, N. (1993). Sky scientific power of their Earth-observing
Phenomena: A Guide to Naked Eye satellite data to document planet-wide changes
6
We applied only the 2D similarity Observation of the Heavens .Floris in the environment and human society.
transformation, since this type Books, Edinburgh Scotland.
of transformation does not cause In an unprecedented collaboration, the three space
significant deformations (e.g. a square Giannakidis I. (2009). Comparison of agencies have created the joint COVID-19 Earth
remains a square –though scaled and alternative coordinate transformation Observation Dashboard, which integrates multiple
rotated- after the implementation of models between the HEPOS reference satellite data records with analytical tools to allow
the 2D similarity transformation). frame and the official Hellenic user-friendly tracking of changes in air and water
Geodetic Reference System of 1987: quality, climate change, economic activity, and
7
The MD of the SAMA initially refers case studies in local areas over agriculture. This tri-agency data resource gives the
to dimensions of 6’X6’ map sheet. Thus, Greece. MSc Thesis, Department of public and policymakers a unique tool to probe the
we should convert the coordinates to Geodesy and Surveying, Aristotle short-term and long-term impacts of pandemic-
the associated 30’X30’ map sheet of the University of Thessaloniki (in Greek). related restrictions implemented around the world.
new version. This procedure is called
‘change of the map’s center of Hatt’s Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral In April, the three agencies formed a task force
projection’ and it is described in detail Organization (HEMCO) (1987). to take on the challenge. The group identified
by Fotiou and Livieratos (2000). The Hellenic Geodetic Reference the most relevant satellite data streams and
System 1987. Report, Ministry adapted existing computing infrastructure
8
Unfortunately, there is no accuracy of Environment, Urban Planning to share data from across the agencies and
information regarding the transformation and Public Works (in Greek). produce relevant indicators. The dashboard
of the GR-Datum’s new version presents users with seamless access to data
to HGRS1987 by the use of the Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral indicating changes in air and water quality,
second degree polynomials. Organization (HEMCO) (1995). economic and agricultural activity on a
Tables of coefficients for coordinates global scale and in select areas of interest.
9
The HGRS1987 also carries transformation of the Hellenic area,
inconsistencies, which can reach several HEMCO Report (in Greek). Air quality changes around the world were among
decimetres in an absolute sense (HEMCO the first noticeable impacts of pandemic-related
1987, Takos 1989). However, for local Kalamakis, N., D. Ampatzidis, N. stay-at-home orders and reductions in industrial
cartographic/surveying studies (e.g. for Demirtzoglou, K. Katsambalos (2017). activity that emerged from satellite observations.
a map sheet of 1:50000) the consistency The theoretical and the practical One air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which
of the HGRS1987 is at the level of some aspects of the transformations among is primarily the result of burning fossil fuels for
centimetres (see e.g. Giannakidis 2009). the different Greek geodetic datums. transportation and electricity generation, shows
The case of the mapping layouts of the up clearly in satellite data. NO2 has a lifetime
Ministry of Agriculture. Proceedings of a few hours and is a precursor of ground-
References of the 5th Panhellinc Conference level ozone, which makes it a useful indicator
of the Association of the Rural and of short-term air quality changes. Changes in
Ampatzidis,D., S. A. Melachroinos Surveying Engineers, Athens, Greece. another critical component of our atmosphere,
(2017). The connection of an old carbon dioxide (CO2), are highlighted in the
geodetic datum with a new one Mugnier, C. (2002). The Hellenic dashboard to probe how global and local reactions
using Least Squares Collocation: Republic (Grids and Datum). to the pandemic have changed concentrations
The Greek case. Contributions to Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote of this climate-warming greenhouse gas.
Geophysics and Geodesy, 47(1). Sensing, December, pp. 1237-1238.
The dashboard will also present tri-agency satellite
Dermanis A. and A. Fotiou (1992). Takos I. (1989). New adjustment of data looking for signs of changes in agricultural
Methods and Applications of the Greek geodetic networks. Journal of the production around the world, such as harvesting
Adjustments of the Observations. Hellenic Military Geographic Service, and planting due to disruptions in the food supply
Ziti Publications, Thessaloniki, Issue No. 36, pp.15–30 (in Greek). chain or the availability of labor. www.nasa.gov

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WWW.CHCNAV.COM
NAVIGATION
Clipper Adventurer Grounding 1

This paper reviews the background to the grounding of Clipper Adventure,
and the geomatics issues related to the grounding
Bruce Calderbank Abstract Victoria Island and mainland Nunavut.

Retired Fellow of the To the northwest it connects with the
Royal Institution of There seems to be a general perception Dolphin and Union Strait through to
Chartered Surveyors that the increasingly ice-free Arctic the Amundsen Gulf and thence to the
(FRICS), a Canada waterways are safe for passage, when Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean; to the
Lands Surveyor (CLS), significant areas have not been adequately northeast it connects with Dease Strait
a Canadian Certified surveyed. However, as of 2011, less than and thence to the Queen Maud Gulf.
Hydrographer (CH) Level 1, a Certified 10% of Arctic waters had been surveyed
Professional Hydrographic Surveyor Level to modern standards2. On 27 August
1 (CPHS 1), and an Albertan Professional 2010, the expedition cruise ship Clipper Clipper adventurer grounding
Engineer (P. Eng.). He has carried out consulting Adventurer went aground at 13.9 knots
assignments as the Client Navigation on a rock shoal whilst travelling in a On 27 August 2010 at approximately
Representative for over 30 companies, while limited surveyed area of Coronation 1832 hours Mountain Daylight Time,
supervising a variety of contractors over a Gulf, Nunavut. This paper reviews the whilst in transit from Port Epworth
period of 38 years. Past legal consultancy background to this grounding, and the to Kugluktuk, and sailing in between
assignments have included providing two geomatics issues related to the grounding. the Lawford and Home Islands, the
Expert Opinion Reports, and delineating Clipper Adventurer was steaming
an international offshore boundary. at 13.9 knots through the area when
Summary it grounded on a rock shoal.6 The
seas were calm without any wind or
With any vessel grounding or offshore swells, and sunny conditions and good
incident, but especially where visibility prevailed.7 The tide was at its
litigation could be involved, the highest and the water was clear.8 There
survey, navigation and positioning was no appreciable water current.
issues should be considered along
with any legal liability issues to The grounding led to 13 of the vessel’s
ensure the best case is put forward. double-bottom tanks being breached,
some holding fuel, freshwater and
sludge.9 The damage was below the
Introduction waterline and, consequently, the fuel oil
was forced to the top of the tank due to
The expedition cruise ship Clipper the ingress of sea water. As a result, there
Adventurer, length 100.6 metres, beam was no leakage of the oil. The Canadian
16.3 metres and draft 4.7 metres3 with 128 Coast Guard (CCG) also verified that
passengers and 69 maritime crew onboard, at the time of grounding there was no
was at the end of a fourteen day cruise sign of oil pollution in the vicinity of the
enroute from Port Epworth to Kugluktuk grounded ship. However, several days
(the hamlet’s name was changed from following the grounding, a light sheen
Coppermine on 01 January 1996), was visible but it dissipated quickly.10
Nunavut4. The Clipper Adventurer ran
aground on a shoal of solid rock with such An overhead view of the grounded
force that more than half of the vessel’s Clipper Adventurer, which clearly shows
length was embedded on the rock shoal.5 the rock shoal approximately 60 metres
either side of the vessel is provided in
The Clipper Adventurer grounding the left Figure 1. A starboard side view
occurred in the western portion of of the vessel with a list of 5 degrees to
Coronation Gulf which lies between port shown in the right Figure 1.11

Overhead View12 Starboard Side View13 Voyage planning
In the 2012 Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB)

Report there were four (4) pages dedicated to Voyage Planning
with the following Table and Figure provided to illustrate
three (3) possible routes, which could have been considered
by the deck officers on the Clipper Adventurer.17
Table – Voyage Planning18
Route Approximate Distance Required Speed Time Required to Kugluktuk

A 90 nautical miles 6 knots 15 hours 07 minutes
B 85 nautical miles 6 knots 14 hours 10 minutes
Figure 1: Clipper Adventurer Grounding
C 200 nautical miles 13 knots 15 hours 23 minutes
On 8 October 2010, CHS Chart 7777 was corrected Part of Route C had been taken on 26 August 2010 by the
by a permanent indication of the shoal and an Clipper Adventurer to arrive at Port Epworth. The Master
updated Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) was of the Clipper Adventurer had only planned to take Route
issued.14 A revised CHS Chart 7777 was issued A.19 The TSB calculated the travel times for these routes to
on 15 May 2015, which was 57 months after the show there was no clear reason why the vessel needed to sail
grounding occurred and is shown in the left Figure at 13.9 knots. For unexplained reason(s), the captain made the
2. The 85 metre rise in the seabed at the face of Clipper Adventurer speed to be 13.9 knots over the shorter
the rock shoal is shown in the right Figure 2. route,20 which was not required to meet the vessel’s schedule.
Starboard Side View15

1965 CSS richardson survey
In 1965, the track of soundings in question generally followed by

the Clipper Adventurer, were acquired by the Canadian Survey
Ship (CSS) Richardson. The vessel was commissioned by the
CHS in 1962 and was paid off in 1990. In 1962, the vessel was
fitted with the latest electronic navigation and survey equipment.
The vessel worked in the Western Arctic from 1962 to 1969
during the months from July to September. Most of the work was
in areas adjoining the Beaufort Sea, except for 1965, when the
vessel surveyed the approaches to Coppermine, now Kugluktuk.22
On 26 August 1965, the CSS Richardson left Lady Franklin

Point and sailed to Port Epworth, where upon arrival a survey
was carried out a survey of the inlet at Port Epworth. The CSS
Rock Shoal16
Figure 3: A) Route Chosen by Clipper Adventurer; B) Second

Figure 2: Revised Chart 7777 and Rock Shoal Route Option; C) Reciprocal Route taken on 26 August21

Chart 7777 edition 199723 Richardson Voyage to Coppermine24 Planned track
The Clipper Adventurer used paper

charts for navigation, including CHS
Chart 7777 edition 1997, on which
the desired course was plotted and
the waypoints transferred to the
route planning software and the
Electronic Chart System (ECS).28
The Navigation Officer was not

Figure 4: CSS Richardson Track Sounding Route on 26 August 1965 familiar with Canadian charts or Arctic
shipping operations,29 and had only
CHS Chart Used Onboard Clipper Adventurer37 previously been to one Canadian port
(Vancouver) in 2015, all of which the
Master was aware.30 The only other
time the Navigation Officer planned
an Arctic cruise was the immediately
previous Clipper Adventure cruise
in the Arctic from 26 July to 09
August 2010.31 During this cruise,
the Navigation Officer compiled the
voyage plan for the next cruise.32
The captain had previously completed

over 60 Arctic voyages, although
never to Port Epworth.33 It was the
second year in a row that Clipper
Adventurer had sailed in the Canadian
Arctic and the Coronation Gulf.34 On
23 February 2010, the extension of
the cruise to include Port Epworth
was added at the request of the
Canadian charterer, as Port Epworth
Figure 5: Planned Track of Clipper Adventurer was a geological point of interest.35
Richardson departed Lady Franklin The estimated horizontal error based In the Arctic, following a track of
Point and sailed south southwest to the on using the islands and mainland soundings is common practice due
narrow passage through the Black Berry features as fixed points which the sparse soundings available.36 In
Islands, then sailed south toward the were based on uncontrolled aerial the 1997 edition source classification
middle of the Lawford Island chain to the photography, was estimated by the diagram a magenta dashed line which
68 degrees parallel of latitude, then sailed CHS to be approximately ± 100 metres ran from the south west to the north east
east to the passage between the Lawford or greater.27 The total horizontal through the middle of the chart only
and Home Islands and then through that positioning error was estimated to contained track and spot soundings. In
passage, and then sailed south east to Port be in the order of ± 130 metres. the 2015 edition source classification
Epworth. The track of sounding route from diagram this same area, there was an
Lady Franklin Point to Port Epworth is Even so, a prudent mariner would know “Inadequately Surveyed” notation
highlighted in the left Figure 4, with the that the horizontal position for the track added to those parts of the chart.
original sketch in the right Figure 4. sounding was only related to the centre
of the sounding printed on the chart. As shown in Figure 5, following a
The navigation equipment of interest in The blanks in between the soundings track of soundings could be an artistic
the wheelhouse of the CSS Richardson would be understood to have mapped the endeavour which is a portion of CHS
consisted of a Decca Type 404 radar, a Sperry shallowest soundings. Areas outside of Chart 7777 edition 1997 used onboard
Mark XIV gyrocompass,25 and a Kelvin the narrow strip between the soundings Clipper Adventurer which was
Hughes MS 26B single beam echo sounder.26 would be considered to be not surveyed. produced as a Federal Court exhibit.

On the portion of the planned track Table – Exhibit Number 21 – Voyage Planning Form – 03 August 201039
on a heading of 301 degrees True, the Point Latitude Longitude Rhumb Heading degrees True Seconds Difference
maximum distance from the track of Line
Calculated Exhibit Diff Latitude Longitude
soundings in question to the planned Distance
track was 1,170 metres or 0.63 nautical #0 67º 42.3’ 111º 55.3’
miles. On this leg of the voyage, based #1 67º 45.8’ 111º 57.6’ 3.61 346.02 346 0.02
on the CHS Chart 7777 edition 2015, the #2 67º 46.4’ 111º 59.9’ 1.06 304.56 303 1.56
soundings ranged from 50 to 200 metres. #3 67º 55.0’ 112º 38.6’ 16.95 300.49 301 -0.51
#4 67º 57.5’ 112º 38.6’ 2.50 0.00 0 0.00
Further, as shown in the top left hand #5 68º 03.7’ 112º 57.8’ 9.50 310.75 311 -0.25
corner, the planned track proposed Notes: The Rhumb Line distances and bearings from the latitude and
to cross an unsurveyed area on longitude coordinates were calculated using Norcom Technology, Geodetic
heading 310 degrees True to reach a software version 3.2.11.99. Rhumb Line Distance is in nautical miles.
track of soundings to the north. This The Seconds Difference column is used in the tables below.
corresponded to 10,480 metres or 5.64
nautical miles of planned track for which Table – Exhibit Number 139 – Screen Grab of MaxSea40
there was no bathymetry data at all. Point Latitude Longitude Rhumb Heading degrees True Seconds Difference
Line Calculated Exhibit Diff Latitude Longitude
Unfortunately, the vessel data recorder Distance
(VDR) onboard Clipper Adventure #0 67º 42.2’ 111º 55.4’ 6 -6
was not backed up properly after the #1 67º 45.8’ 111º 57.6’ 3.70 346.95 347 -0.05 0 0
grounding.38 Hence whatever course #2 67º 46.4’ 112º 00.0’ 1.09 303.43 303 0.43 0 6
the Clipper Adventure took before #3 67º 55.0’ 112º 38.6’ 16.92 300.55 301 -0.45 0 0
and up to the grounding cannot be #4 67º 57.6’ 112º 38.6’ 2.60 0.00 0 0.00 -6 0
examined. However, several of the #5 68º 03.8’ 112º 57.8’ 9.50 310.75 311 -0.25 -6 0
Federal Court Exhibits provide the Notes: The Rhumb Line distances and bearings from the latitude and longitude
selected waypoints for comparison coordinates were calculated using Norcom Technology, Geodetic software
which is provided in the next section. version 3.2.11.99. Rhumb Line Distance is in nautical miles. The Seconds
Difference column compared the previous Table with this Table.
Waypoint selection Table – Exhibit Number 140 – Screen Grab of Transas41

Point Latitude Longitude Rhumb Heading degrees True Seconds Difference
Federal Court exhibit number 21 Line Distance Calculated Exhibit Diff Latitude Longitude
provided the Voyage Planning Forms #0 67º 42.2’ 111º 55.4’ 0 0
used by the Navigation Officer when #1 67º 45.8’ 111º 57.6’ 3.70 346.95 347 -0.05 0 0
planning the voyage during the previous #2 67º 46.4’ 112º 00.0’ 1.09 303.43 303 0.43 0 0
cruise in the Canadian Arctic. All of
#3 67º 55.0’ 112º 38.6’ 16.92 300.55 301 -0.45 0 0
the forms were dated 03 August 2010.
#4 67º 57.6’ 112º 38.6’ 2.60 0.00 0 0.00 0 0
#5 68º 03.8’ 112º 57.6’ 9.44 311.05 311 0.05 0 12
Federal Court exhibit number 139
provided a screen grab of the TimeZero Notes: The Rhumb Line distances and bearings from the latitude and longitude
route planning software by MaxSea. coordinates were calculated using Norcom Technology, Geodetic software
Though the start point at Port Epworth version 3.2.11.99. Rhumb Line Distance is in nautical miles. The Seconds
may have needed to be changed, the Difference column compared the previous Table with this Table.
other alterations show that instead
of using the planned route from Table – Perpendicular Distance from Leg #4 to #5 to Exhibit Number 141 (metres)
03 August, on or about 27 August
Waypoint Selection Perpendicular Distance Differences
the planned track was changed.
Exhibit 21 – Voyage Planning Form – 03 August 2010 292.0
Federal Court exhibit number 140 Exhibit 139 – Screen Grab of MaxSea 151.5 140.5
provided a screen grab of the Transas
Exhibit 140 – Screen Grab of Transas 142.5 9.0
Navi-Sailor 3000. Unfortunately, there
appears that a blunder was made entering Note: The latitude and longitude coordinates were converted to UTM
the chosen geographical coordinates coordinates using Norcom Technology, Geodetic software version 3.2.11.99.
for Waypoint #5 into the ECS. Perpendicular Distance and Differences distance in metres.

Grounding Area with Waypoints #4 and #5 and Water Depth Point B to C the Transas planned track between
Waypoint #4 and #5. The line in the
upper portion of the Figure is the line
between water depth points B and C.
Conclusions
The survey, navigation and

positioning issues which are related
to the grounding of the Clipper
Adventurer were as follows:
• The master decided to sail at 13.9
knots in a known limited surveyed
area, when the voyage plan only
required 6 knots which would
appear to be arguably reckless.
• The track of soundings in question
was only followed in a general
Figure 6: Grounding Area43 manner, where part of the planned
track was 1.2 kilometres from the
Relationship of planned tracks Unfortunately, the various changes to the track of soundings in question.
and track of soundings to planned track that occurred on or about • Had the voyage continued, the
the grounding location 27 August and the blunder entering the Clipper Adventurer would have
longitudinal value for Waypoint number 5, sailed 10.5 kilometres over an area
Using the grounding location provided brought the Clipper Adventurer closer to which had never been surveyed.
in Federal Court exhibit number 141 the rock shoal and the grounding location. • The Voyage Planning route was not
and the Waypoints #4 and #5, the followed but another was created on or
perpendicular distance from each of the If the Clipper Adventurer had actually about 27 August and when input into
Waypoint Selections to the grounding followed the Transas planned track the ECS the longitudinal coordinates
location was as shown in the Table between Waypoints #4 and #5, the for the planned track alongside the
below. The planned track established minimum depth would have been rock shoal was input incorrectly.
by Waypoints #4 to #5 for all of these 6.1 metres, enough to allow the for • At the time of the grounding the
perpendicular distances were to the the Clipper Adventurer draft of 4.7 Clipper Adventure was off track by
West to the actual grounding location. metres.42 For whatever reason, the 142 metres to the East. If the planned
Clipper Adventurer deck officers did track had been followed the vessel
The Voyage Planning not use the off track alarms available would NOT have gone aground.
via the ECS or the Anschütz autopilot, • At the time of the grounding the
route was not followed or these alarms were switched off. Clipper Adventure was not following
the track of soundings but was 147
but another was created The Clipper Adventurer was neither metres to the West. If the planned track
following the Transas planned track of soundings had been followed the
on or about 27 August nor was the vessel following the track vessel would NOT have gone aground.
of soundings. The course taken was in
and when input into between, where the former and the latter
offered safe passage. Unfortunately, End notes
the ECS the longitudinal the course taken by the Clipper
Adventurer took the vessel over the 1
Previously published in Soundings, issue
coordinates for the shallowest part of the rock shoal. 74, Spring 2019, pages 20 to 24.
planned track alongside Figure 6 shows the multibeam echo 2

Statement of Defence dated filled on
sounder data collected after the grounding 19 August 2011, paragraph 118. Also
the rock shoal was in the vicinity of the grounding area Canada v. Adventurer Owner Ltd., 2017
with the 4.8 metre contour. The line Federal Court, pages 105 to 141 [hence-
input incorrectly. in the lower portion of the Figure is forth 2017 F.C.], paragraph 30.Online at

Federal Court, Federal Court Decisions, 11
2012 TSB Report, section “Factual an Access to Information Request submit-
Search by File Name T-901-11 at:http:// Information – History of the Voyage”, ted to the TSB and answered on 25 April
decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/ paragraph 5. 2017.
item/218549/index do?r=AAAAAQA-
RY2xpcHBlciBhZHZlbnR1cmUB (last 12
Image from Denis Hains, Hydrographer 22
Online at Friends of Hydrography,
accessed: 28 March 2018). Also Transport General of Canada, oral presentation Ships, and select Richardson at: http://
Safety Board (TSB), Marine Investiga- “Arctic Canada: Cold, Hard Facts” at U.S. fohcan.org/ships/richardson.html (last
tion ReportM10H0006, Passenger vessel HYDRO Conference, Galveston, Texas, 21 accessed: 28 March 2018); and also
Clipper Adventurer, Coronation Gulf, March 2017, slide 5. Friends of Hydrography, Surveys, and
Nunavut [henceforth 2012 TSB Report], select Arctic and search for Richardson at:
section “Canadian Hydrographic Ser- 13
Image from online at Jim Walker’s http://fohcan.org/surveys/arctic.html (last
vice”, paragraph 2.Online at TSB, Marine, Cruise Law News, Sinking, “Clipper accessed: 28 March 2018). The vessel is
Investigation Reports, SearchClipper Ad- Adventurer Cruise Ship Runs Aground in now operated by Seaward Engineering &
venturer at:http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/ the Arctic” posted on 29 August 2010 at: Research out of Vancouver, British Co-
rapports-reports/marine/2010/m10h0006/ http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2010/08/ lumbia as the MV Richardson Point. See
m10h0006.asp(last accessed: 28 March articles/sinking/clipper-adventurer-cruise- also Statement of Defence dated filled on
2018). The2012 TSB Report was officially ship-runs-aground-in-the-arctic/ (last 19 August 2011, paragraph 87; and 2012
released on 26 April 2012. accessed: 28 March 2018). TSB Report, section “Analysis – Navi-
gation in Inadequately Surveyed Areas”,
3
Online at Wikipedia for MV Sea Ad- 14
2012 TSB Report, section “Canadian paragraph 1.
venturer at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Hydrographic Service – Discovery of
MV_Sea_Adventurer (last accessed on the Shoal”,paragraph 8; and 2017 F.C., 23
Low resolution copy of CHS Chart
28 March 2018). On 01 October 2012 the paragraph 59. 7777 edition 1997 – Coronation Gulf –
vessel was renamed Sea Adventurer and Western Portion, original scale 1:150,000,
taken over by another company. 15
Low resolution copy of CHS Chart 7777 projection: Mercator, datum: NAD83 was
edition 2015 was provided to the author provided to the author under licence from
4
2017 F.C., paragraphs 1 to 2. under licence to the CHS. Not to be used the CHS. Not to be used for navigation.
for navigation.
5
Ibid., paragraph 3. 24
1965 Richardson Manuscript, Appendix
16
Image from 2012 TSB Report, sec- IX.
6
2012 TSB Report, section “Summa- tion “Canadian Hydrographic Service
ry”,paragraph 1, and section “Factual – Discovery of the Shoal”, Figure 3. The 25
Private communication by the author
Information – History of the Voyage”, horizontal extent of the rock face shown is with Seaward Engineering & Research on
paragraph 4. approximately 200 metres. 27 April 2017.
7
Statement of Defence dated filled on 19 17
2012 TSB Report, section “Factual 26
Radar and echo sounder information
August 2011, paragraph 28. Information – Voyage Planning”. from 1965 Richardson Manuscript, page 2.
8
2012 TSB Report, section “Environ- 18
Ibid. Private communication by the author
27
mental Conditions”, paragraph 1. The with the CHS dated 27 March 2017.
maximum tidal range was 0.2 metres. See 19
Federal Court List of Exhibits, Court
also footnote number 89 for further tidal Number T-901-11, Exhibit numbers 21, 28
2017 F.C., paragraph 50.
details. 139 and 140 which are discussed later in
this paper. 29
2017 F.C., paragraph 50.
9
2012 TSB Report, section “Events Fol-
lowing the Grounding – Salvage Opera- 20
Oral deposition of Captain Kenth- 30
Video deposition of David Mora Malca
tion”, paragraph 1 Grankvist on 24 July 2012 at page 162, the on 21 September 2016 in Panama, video
Master of the Clipper Adventure at the time clips 00034 and 00035.
10
Online at Ship Source Oil Pollution of the grounding stated that he had decided
Fund, 2016-2017 File Portfolio (Inci- to travel at that speed to allow himself and Statement of Defence dated filled on 19
31
dents and Claims), select Clipper Ad- the passengers some rest at anchor before August 2011, paragraph 102.
venturer [henceforth 2010 Ship Source], having to disembark the next day.
paragraph 2 at:http://sopf.gc.ca/inci- 32
2012 TSB Report, section “Factual
dents-and-claims/2-2-clipper-adventur- 21
2012 TSB Report, Figure 1. A higher Information – Voyage Planning”, para-
er-2010/ (last accessed: 28 March 2018). resolution image was provided as part of graph 6.

NEWS - GIS
33
2017 F.C., paragraph 47. Survey of India to use drones for UK Geographic Association
mapping of villages in India welcomes new geospatial strategy
Statement of Defence dated filled on 19
34
August 2011, paragraph 25. Survey of India (SoI) has now approval The AGI is proud to be highlighted in
from DGCA for high definition aerial this strategy, celebrating the work of our
35
2012 TSB Report, section “Factual In- mapping of villages in India using drones. Early Careers Network and our members’
formation – Voyage Planning”, paragraph The mapping agency of India got permission long-standing history in developing
6. Confirmed with paper copy of CHS for the purpose under the SVAMITVA geospatial standards. The council
Chart 7777 edition 1997 provided to the scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj recognizes the responsibility they have
author by the CHS under licence. which stands for ‘Survey of villages and to support UK geospatial community
mapping with improvised technology in through early career development,
36
2017 F.C., paragraph 49. village areas’. The target is to map India’s skills, standards, ethics, business
over 6.6 lakh villages by Dec 2024. development, market understanding and
37
Portion of CHS Chart 7777 edition to connect with the broader international
1997 – Coronation Gulf – Western Por- The objective of the scheme is to create geospatial community. This coupled
tion, original scale 1:150,000, projection: accurate land records for property rights, with the commitment shown to a
Mercator, datum: NAD83 from Federal direct benefit transfers and panchayat level broad range of industry domains and
Court List of Exhibits, Court Number planning. This program will also reduce land implementation of the UN Integrated
T-901-11, Exhibit number 68, “Original disputes that drag for years. The immediate Geospatial Information Framework
chart #7777 produced during examina- target is to map 100,000 villages by drones by highlights the synergy this strategy has
tion of Mr. Mora”. Not to be used for Dec 2020. This is a massive project of India with its own mission: to be a thriving
navigation. and will boost the local drone industry of the UK geospatial community, actively
country. It will offer decent employment to supporting a sustainable future.
2012 TSB Report, section “Voyage Data
38
our youngsters working on this project too.
Recorder”, paragraph 3. SoI should define data, quality & process AGI is pleased to see that the excellent
specs, and award work transparently. SoI work achieved in the National
39
Federal Court List of Exhibits, Court should limit to program managing this Underground Asset Register pilots
Number T-901-11, Exhibit number 21, massive initiative rather than getting into will advance to a second stage, and
“Clipper Adventurer Voyage Plans”, page doing it themselves. If they think of doing the commitment to collaborate with
15. The copy for this page was a bit blurry it themselves it would be a resounding local government and Devolved
although readable and this was the clearest failure due to their resource constraints. Administrations on standards, principles
copy available. and guidance. It will continue to support
This initiative will be an important tool the Commission in the ongoing work
40
Federal Court List of Exhibits, Court for the administration at the Local Self for the Geospatial Data Market and
Number T-901-11, Exhibit number 139, Government (LSG) level. The data Skills Demand Studies. www.gov.uk
“MaxSea Route 871 Print Out – Port Ep- captured should become a repository
worth to Coppermine”, page 2. The copy not only for the administration but for Visualize underground
for this page was a bit blurry although the NGOs and other stakeholders, who utilities using CesiumJS
readable and this was the clearest copy would be bringing in interventions to
available. support the cause of the Village and the Cesium has launched CesiumJS that
Community. www.medianama.com enable visualizing underground data
41
Federal Court List of Exhibits, Court and allow to seamlessly transition from
Number T-901-11, Exhibit number Global Mapper Mobile v2.1 released above ground features like entire cities
140, “Transaas (sic) – Port Epworth to to what’s underneath in the same scene,
Coppermine – 20100827 August 27, 2010 Blue Marble Geographics® has announced whether that’s utility data like water
Electronic chart showing planned root the release of version 2.1 of its innovative pipelines and electricity cables, or 3D
(sic)”, page 2. mobile mapping application, Global structures like caves and mines. One can
Mapper Mobile® with updates to both visualize all the relevant information in
Private communications by the author
42
the free and Pro versions. It is a powerful one place without the need to continually
with Ian Church dated 12 May 2017. iOS and Android application for viewing switch between specialized tools. For
and collecting GIS data. It utilizes the example, one can visualize earthquake
43
Image provided to by the author with Ian GPS capabilities of mobile devices occurrences over time and measure their
Church on 15 May 2017. The rectangular to provide situational awareness and proximity to critical urban infrastructure
white from on the rock shoal is the outline locational intelligence for remote mapping by adding Cesium OSM Buildings
of the hull of the Clipper Adventurer. projects. www.bluemarblegeo.com to scene. https://cesium.com

C
E
J-SHIELD
Al
lG ds
N SS B a n
SURVEYING
Covid-19 and the surveying

profession: A New Zealand
perspective
Will we be able to maintain a Covid-19 free country or could it be that we
will eventually suffer due to the lack of herd immunity? Will we see more
Covid-19 business impacts in three to four months? Only time will tell.
John Hannah
Managing Director,
Vision NZ Ltd,
T hese are unprecedented days for the
global community. The Covid-19
global pandemic shows every sign
New Zealand was largely united in its
determination to try to eliminate the
Covid-19 threat. From March 26th all non-
Nelson, New Zealand of having the greatest global health essential activity was locked down for
impact since the 1918 Spanish flu. four-and-a- half weeks. Everyone was
limited to their own family or personal
As of July 12th, 2020 there have been “bubbles” in what was known as the
approximately 13,000,000 reported Level 4 response. This was followed,
cases of COVID-19 and about 570,000 on April 28th, by a movement back
deaths across 215 countries and six to Level 3 where family or personal
continents1 It is clear from the data ”bubbles” could be slightly extended.
that the elderly and those with pre- On May 14th the country moved to
existing medical conditions are most Level 2 - a “back-to-work” scenario.
at risk. Although the author of this Here social distancing rules continued,
article falls into one of these “at risk” but group meetings of up to 10 people
categories, he is most fortunate to were permitted. On 8 June we moved
live in an isolated country where the to Level 1 (sensible precautions) where
government listened to its medical work places, shops and sports facilities
experts, where its Prime Minister have fully re-opened and commercial life
and government exercised strong, is returning to normal. As of the time of
compassionate leadership, and where writing (12th July), the country has gone
open, factual daily media briefings on almost two months without any cases of
the virus and its progress were held. community transmission. In this time the
How has the surveying profession fared in the midst

of this crisis? The short answer is captured in one
word, “variable”. Those in cities or towns with a heavy
tourism focus have seen a significant downturn in
workloads. On the other hand, for the larger companies
in cities with a broad cross-section of clients and
work streams, the impact has been relatively small

The surveying profession in New Zealand was short-staffed prior to the
crisis unfolding -there was more work available than skilled professionals
available to meet the demand. Thus, with a degree of good fortune, the
short to medium term falloff in demand that is likely to occur with reduced
economic activity should not present a major problem to the profession
only reported cases have arisen from Having made the above distinction, Finally, the surveying profession in
returning travelers who are confined anecdotal evidence suggests that the New Zealand was short-staffed prior
to government isolation facilities. profession has been fortunate. Firstly, to the crisis unfolding - there was
the country went into the pandemic more work available than skilled
The economic cost, however, has been crisis in the midst of a season of strong professionals available to meet the
and will be high. Our borders remain economic growth – particularly in the demand. Thus, with a degree of
closed, the unemployment rate which land development sector in which the good fortune, the short to medium
was at about 4%, is rapidly moving profession is very active. Thus, although term falloff in demand that is likely
higher (although how high it will little or no field work was able to be to occur with reduced economic
become is uncertain) and the tourist undertaken during Level 4, office work activity should not present a major
industry (worth perhaps as much as that could be undertaken from individual problem to the profession. We are,
10% of GDP2) is decimated. Building home “bubbles” allowed professional however, noticing some shuffling of
activity has fallen sharply, and forward activity to continue. Indeed, some were staff from those smaller businesses
business confidence indicators are very grateful for the opportunity to at with a more limited client base, to
weak. All this has happened despite least catch up both on work backlogs the larger multi-disciplinary firms
massive government stimulus and on those legacy tasks that seem to be with the large, long-life projects.
spending (perhaps 25% of GDP). delayed until “there is time”. Productivity,
for those who had the work available has New Zealand has been fortunate thus
How has the surveying profession perhaps diminished a little. Admittedly, far. How it will deal with the reopening
fared in the midst of this crisis? after a total of seven weeks at Levels 4 of its borders remains unknown.
The short answer is captured in one and 3, the inability to undertake fieldwork Will we be able to safely create a
word, “variable”. Those in cities or was starting to bite all businesses. large Australasian or Pacific travel
towns with a heavy tourism focus “bubble”? Will we be able to maintain
have seen a significant downturn in Secondly, the country was able to bring the a Covid-19 free country or could it be
workloads. On the other hand, for Covid-19 infection rates down quickly - that we will eventually suffer due to
the larger companies in cities with a there being very few cases of community the lack of herd immunity? Will we
broad cross-section of clients and work transmission. Thus the move back to see more Covid-19 business impacts
streams, the impact has been relatively Level 2, where normal surveying activities in three to four months? Only time
small. The clients who commission could continue (albeit with strong social will tell. Meanwhile for many in
large, multi-year projects in the land distancing rules in force), was able to our nation and for the time being it
development or infrastructure sectors occur reasonably quickly. Necessary is back to enjoying an afternoon or
remain optimistic. For the smaller field work could again be undertaken. evening at a packed rugby stadium!
companies who perhaps focus more on
smaller surveying projects that have Thirdly, the professional sector in
shorter completion time-frames, the particular (with some medical and dental End notes
impacts have been more significant. specialities excepted), has typically
They typically don’t have the work been quite well suited to a “work-from- 1
https://www.worldometers.
backlog or the variety of professional home” environment. Staff are usually info/coronavirus/#countries
tasks that would enable them to endure skilled, can work alone, and have the
a sustained lock-down period. Some information technology tools to be able 2
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/
have reduced to four-day work weeks. to do so. In all the major cities and towns ReserveBank/Files/Publications/
Their future, which tends to reflect the the internet infrastructure is good and Analytical%20notes/2020/AN2020-
market segment that can react quickly has been able to handle the increased 04.pdf?revision=6c59d0c8-a81f-
to financial upheaval, is more uncertain. digital communication demands. 48bb-931c-0e38209139ba

LAND ADMINSITRATION
AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW:

A match made in heaven
This paper outlines how AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW are used to support datum modernisation in
New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and investigates the performance of AUSPOS across the State
Volker Janssen
Senior Technical
Surveyor in the Geodetic
A USPOS is Geoscience Australia’s
free online Global Positioning
System (GPS) processing service
suitable, efficient and reliable option
to establish, propagate and strengthen
the NSW Survey Control Network.
Operations team at (Jia et al., 2014; GA, 2020a). It has
NSW Spatial Services successfully processed more than 1
in Bathurst, Australia. million jobs worldwide over the last 10 AUSPOS
years and was ranked highest in a global
comparison of free online post-processing AUSPOS accepts static, 30-second
tools (Gakstatter and Silver, 2013). Receiver Independent Exchange
Simon McElroy (RINEX) data of at least 1 hour duration
Senior Surveyor, CORSnet-NSW is Australia’s largest (recommended minimum 2 hours,
leading the Geodetic state-owned and operated Continuously maximum 7 consecutive days). The
Operations team at Operating Reference Station (CORS) user’s antenna type is selected from
NSW Spatial Services network (Janssen et al., 2016; NSW a drop-down menu, and the height of
in Bathurst, Australia Spatial Services, 2020). It is built, owned instrument (measured vertically to the
and operated by Spatial Services, a unit Antenna Reference Point, ARP) is
of the NSW Department of Customer entered. The best available International
Service (DCS). CORSnet-NSW currently GNSS Service (IGS) station data and
consists of 202 stations, providing products (IGS, 2020) and the Bernese
fundamental positioning infrastructure software version 5.2 (Dach et al., 2015)
that is authoritative, accurate, reliable are employed to compute precise 3D
and easy-to-use for a wide range of coordinates, using GPS data only. Up
applications. Since May 2019, it delivers to 15 surrounding IGS and Asia-Pacific
all-in-view, all-signals, multi-constellation Reference Frame (APREF, see GA,
Global Navigation Satellite System 2020b) stations are selected as reference
(GNSS) data, making it the nation’s first stations, generally the 7 closest IGS
CORS network to reach this milestone. sites and the 8 closest APREF sites.
This paper outlines how AUSPOS Usually after a few minutes, a processing
and CORSnet-NSW are used together report (pdf) is emailed to the user. This
to support datum modernisation and includes coordinates in the two most
improve state survey infrastructure recent Australian datums (GDA2020 and
across New South Wales (NSW). We GDA94, see ICSM, 2020a) and the global
quantify AUSPOS performance across ITRF2014 (Altamimi et al., 2016), as well
NSW, demonstrating that it routinely as a physical (normal-orthometric) AHD
delivers Positional Uncertainty (PU) height for Australian data. The report
at the 0.02-0.03 m level for horizontal also provides the computed coordinate
position and 0.05-0.06 m for ellipsoidal uncertainties, ambiguity resolution
height. We also show that AUSPOS statistics, and an overview of the GPS
provides a much better connection to processing strategy applied. For advanced
the Australian Height Datum (AHD, see users, Solution Independent Exchange
Roelse et al., 1971) than reported. These (SINEX) files containing more detailed
results reveal that AUSPOS is a very information are available for download.

AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW to the GDA2020 ellipsoidal heights. Network. To this end, AUSPOS data of at
Legacy GDA94 coordinates are obtained least 6 hours duration is used to propagate
All CORSnet-NSW stations are from GDA2020 by transformation. the datum in NSW, while AUSPOS data
part of APREF and contribute to the of less than 6 hours duration strengthens
AUSPOS service, including 13 concrete- Positional Uncertainty (PU) is defined the datum. This distinction is made
pillared NSW sites incorporated into as the uncertainty of the horizontal and/ based on the higher quality of AUSPOS
the IGS network (Figure 1). This or vertical coordinates of a point, at the solutions exceeding 6 hours duration
provides a relatively dense network 95% confidence level, with respect to the and their eligibility for inclusion in the
in NSW for generating a reliable defined reference frame (datum) (ICSM, National GNSS Campaign Archive
regional ionospheric delay model 2014). A description of the practical (NGCA) hosted by Geoscience Australia.
and tropospheric delay corrections implementation of PU on public record
to support ambiguity resolution. A in NSW can be found in Janssen et al. NSW Spatial Services is currently
precise solution is then computed using (2019). The coordinate uncertainties building an updated ‘passive’ Survey
double-differencing techniques. of East, North and ellipsoidal height Control Network (in the Eastern and
reported by AUSPOS are scaled using Central Divisions) with a minimum of
During AUSPOS processing, IGS an empirically derived model, which is one fundamental survey mark observed
station coordinates are constrained with a function of duration, data quality and by 6+ hour AUSPOS every 10 km. Its
uncertainties of 1 mm for horizontal geographical location, and expressed at the vision is to ensure that any future user
position and 2 mm for ellipsoidal 95% confidence level (Jia et al., 2016). is no further than 5 km (and often much
height. Lower-tier CORS coordinates less) from such a fundamental mark
are constrained with uncertainties of providing direct connection to datum.
3 mm for horizontal position and 6 Supporting datum Similarly, levelled AHD marks are
mm for the vertical, due to the shorter modernisation observed by 6+ hour AUSPOS every
CORS operation time span, lower data 10 km, often at a far greater density.
quality or lower-grade monumentation. Datum modernisation and further This will allow users to achieve NSW
The GPS data is processed in the improvement of survey infrastructure is Spatial Services’ vision of a PU of 20
IGS realisation of ITRF2014 and required to accommodate the increasing mm in the horizontal and 50 mm in the
then transformed to GDA2020 via accuracy and improved spatial and vertical (ellipsoidal height) component
the Australian Plate Motion Model. temporal resolution available from anywhere in the State and easily apply
Derived AHD heights are computed modern positioning technologies to an transformation tools to move between
by applying a gravimetric-geometric ever-broadening user base. NSW Spatial current, future and various historical
quasigeoid model (AUSGeoid2020, Services employs AUSPOS as one of datums and local working surfaces.
see Brown et al., 2018; Janssen and several suitable methods to maintain
Watson, 2018; Featherstone et al., 2019) and extend the State’s Survey Control The use of AUSPOS campaigns has
developed into a capable and reliable
alternative to conducting traditional
static GNSS baseline surveys,
simplifying logistics by removing the
requirement of field crews having to
occupy particular survey marks at a set
time. As a consequence, processing,
adjustment and report writing efforts
have been significantly reduced or
removed. AUSPOS also forms a new
and fundamental component of vertical
datum modernisation and the propagation
of the Australian Vertical Working
Surface (AVWS, see ICSM, 2020b).
At present, the GDA2020 state adjustment

incorporates approximately 31,000 survey
control marks across NSW, i.e. 12% of
the 250,000 marks on public record.
Consequently, 88% of the marks have been
Figure 1: CORSnet-NSW network map (NSW Spatial Services, 2020). transformed from GDA94 to GDA2020.

Uncertainties of these transformed GDA2020 coordinates are Data and methodology
given null values until these are calculated via inclusion in
the state adjustment. As shown in this paper, AUSPOS is a We used 2,618 GNSS datasets observed by NSW Spatial
suitable method to accelerate the process of including additional Services over the last 5 years (November 2014 to August
survey marks into the state adjustment in order to improve 2019). Data was collected under typical conditions generally
user access to GDA2020 coordinates and uncertainties. encountered in the field, with observation session lengths ranging
from 2 to 48 hours. Each dataset was processed individually
with AUSPOS version 2.3, using final IGS products.
Some AUSPOS solutions were rejected for this analysis

due to warnings in the AUSPOS report, referring to poor
ambiguity resolution and/or large uncertainties. Overall, 154
sessions (5.9%) were rejected, including 121 (10.1%) of the
2-6 hour sessions and 33 (2.3%) of the 6-48 hour sessions.
Upon investigation of site photos and other metadata, this was
generally attributed to ambitious attempts to observe survey
marks in locations with substantial tree cover, resulting in
poor sky view conditions. As expected, shorter observation
sessions were more prone to be negatively affected by these
unfavourable conditions. For all 2,464 successful AUSPOS
solutions (Figure 2), descriptive statistics were used to evaluate
the uncertainties of the resulting GDA2020 coordinates.
We performed three tests:

Figure 2: Location of the 2,464 successful AUSPOS solutions 1. Analysing Horizontal PU (HPU) and Vertical PU (VPU) of
analysed across NSW, colour-coded to indicate observation length. the AUSPOS solutions for GDA2020 horizontal coordinates
and GDA2020 ellipsoidal heights, respectively.
2. Analysing the repeatability of AUSPOS solutions
for reoccupations on the same mark.
3. Analysing AHD results by comparing the AUSPOS-derived
AHD height to levelled AHD heights on public record
and investigating the AHD-PU reported by AUSPOS.
The results of two further tests can be immediately summarised:

• Whilst AUSPOS PU values are known to be
affected (scaled) by latitude, the variation is
negligible for user results within NSW.
• Whilst IGS products have continuously improved
and CORS density has increased, AUSPOS version
(a)
2.3 performance has remained stable, predictable,
repeatable and of high quality within NSW.
PU of AUSPOS solutions
First, we investigated the AUSPOS-derived HPU and VPU

values. Descriptive statistics (i.e. minimum, maximum, range,
median, mean and standard deviation) were examined for the
entire dataset of 2,464 successful AUSPOS solutions (2-48 hour
duration). To allow examination of the effect the observation
session length has on the resulting uncertainties, we also
(b) investigated these descriptive statistics for the 2-6 hour and 6-24
hour subsets (Janssen and McElroy, 2020). Figure 3 presents a
Figure 3: Positional Uncertainty (PU) vs. duration for graphical visualisation of the results, showing PU as a function of
(a) 2-6 hour data, and (b) 6-24 hour data. observation session length for the 2-6 hour and 6-24 hour datasets.

As expected, a longer observation these poor conditions, AUSPOS solutions Australian 50c piece (radius of 16 mm)
span generally improves PU. This is generally achieve acceptable HPU and with respect to the national datum. This
demonstrated by mean values of 0.023 heights with a VPU of better than 0.1 m. includes 38.6% of the 2-6 hour AUSPOS
m ± 0.006 m (1 sigma) for HPU and solutions and 95.2% of the 6-24 hour
0.069 m ± 0.022 m (1 sigma) for VPU solutions with HPU values at this level.
when using 2-6 hour data, compared to Cumulative distribution Similarly, 95.7% of all solutions have
values of 0.015 m ± 0.003 m (1 sigma) for HPU values of 0.03 m or better, including
HPU and 0.033 m ± 0.016 m (1 sigma) The cumulative distribution allows us 90.8% of the 2-6 hour solutions and
for VPU when using 6-24 hour data. to quantify the percentage of AUSPOS 99.5% of the 6-24 hour solutions.
Most of the improvement is gained by solutions meeting a particular PU
increasing the observation length from threshold. Figure 5 visualises the Regarding ellipsoidal height, 61.0% of
2 hours to about 4-5 hours, with minor cumulative distribution in regards to the AUSPOS solutions have VPU values
but not insignificant improvement when HPU and VPU for the 2-6 hour and 6-24 of 0.05 m or better across the entire
it is increased to 24 hours and beyond. hour datasets, indicating the relationship dataset. This includes 23.3% of the 2-6
between uncertainty and reliability hour AUSPOS solutions and 89.7% of
Observation sessions exceeding 12 hours achievable with AUSPOS. The reader can the 6-24 hour solutions with VPU values
provide AUSPOS solutions of substantially use these graphs as a simple ‘look-up’ tool at this level. Similarly, 71.8% of all
higher quality in the vertical component. to determine the likelihood of achieving solutions have VPU values of 0.06 m or
An investigation of site photos and other any specified HPU or VPU threshold with better, including 42.7% of the 2-6 hour
metadata attributed the larger VPU values 2-6 hour and 6+ hour observation sessions. solutions and 94.3% of the 6-24 hour
evident for solutions greater than 15 hours solutions. These results are impressive,
duration to poor sky view conditions Across the entire dataset (2-48 hrs), 70.6% remembering that the uncertainties are
caused by substantial tree cover. As an of AUSPOS solutions have HPU values stated at the 95% confidence level. As
example, Figure 4 illustrates the conditions of 0.02 m or better, i.e. these solutions expected, a longer observation span
encountered at the sites producing the have an absolute reported horizontal improves PU, particularly in the vertical
three largest VPU values. In spite of accuracy slightly larger than the size of an component. The findings illustrate
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 4: Pushing the boundaries of reasonable sky view conditions in the field: (a) TS486, (b) SS4115, and (c) MM3634.
(a) (b)
Figure 5: Cumulative distribution of PU for (a) 2-6 hour data, and (b) 6-24 hour data.

why Geoscience Australia stipulates, and NSW supports, opposite signs, the Root Mean Square (RMS) is appropriate to
a minimum observation span of 6 hours for AUSPOS data quantify the average agreement in the vertical component.
to propagate the Survey Control Network in Australia.
Figure 6 visualises the results, referring to the horizontal distance
between the two AUSPOS solutions, as well as the difference
Repeatability in ellipsoidal height (shorter minus longer session). Again,
it is evident that AUSPOS produces high-quality positioning
Repeatability was investigated by comparing independent results with good repeatability. While longer observation
reoccupations on the same mark. Where possible, independent sessions improve the precision (repeatability) and reduce
pairs of sessions on the same mark were selected for three the risk of outliers (range), shorter sessions provide suitable
scenarios: two short sessions (2-6 hrs), one short (2-6 hrs) results for strengthening the NSW Survey Control Network.
and one long session (6+ hrs), and two long sessions (6+
hrs). In each scenario, each session was only paired once. In July/August 2019, trigonometrical station TS3663
Since it is necessary to consider coordinate differences of PANORAMA (located in Bathurst, close to NSW Spatial
Services) was occupied 38(!) times, providing an opportunity
to investigate the repeatability of AUSPOS solutions on this
high-quality, concrete-pillared mark with excellent sky view.
The longest observation session (48 hours) was assumed ground
truth, with the AUSPOS results of the shorter sessions being
compared against it (Figure 7). The average agreement is 0.006
m ± 0.003 m (1 sigma) in the horizontal component, and the
RMS in ellipsoidal height is 0.010 m (1 sigma). This shows that
observation sessions of less than 6 hours in length have high
reliability and repeatability under good sky view conditions.
(a)
Figure 7: Difference in horizontal and vertical

(b) coordinates vs. duration for TS3663 PANORAMA.
(c)
Figure 6: Difference in horizontal and vertical

coordinates vs. duration for (a) short-session pairs, (b) Figure 8: Difference in horizontal position from 48-hour
short-long-session pairs, and (c) long-session pairs. solution for TS3663 PANORAMA (37 reoccupations).

A bullseye plot of the difference in horizontal position from to levelled AHD heights of sufficient quality on public
the 48-hour solution is shown in Figure 8, providing a spatial record, ensuring full independence from the data used to
perspective and illustrating the high precision of these results. produce AUSGeoid2020. Figure 9 visualises the results
for the 2-6 hour and 6-24 hour data, referring to the
difference between the AUSPOS-derived AHD height and
AHD connection the levelled AHD height on public record. The AUSPOS
solutions are consistent across all marks and observation
For a subset of marks, we compared the derived AHD durations, delivering AHD heights with an RMS of about
height determined by AUSPOS (using AUSGeoid2020) 0.040 m (1 sigma) or 0.078 m (95% confidence level)
and a range of about 0.35 m (-0.20 m to +0.15 m).
NSW Spatial Services, on behalf of The derived AHD-PU reported by AUSPOS appears to be
overly conservative for the data investigated, providing a
the NSW Surveyor-General, has a mean AHD-PU of 0.182 m, which is more than double the
RMS for the difference to the levelled AHD height at the 95%
legislative, regulative responsibility to confidence level (i.e. about 0.078 m). This can be explained
by the conservative AUSGeoid2020 uncertainty grid
maintain and extend the Survey Control values applied, with the best-case official AUSGeoid2020
uncertainty in NSW being about 0.14 m at the 95%
Network in NSW. CORSnet-NSW sites confidence level. It is pleasing to see that AUSPOS provides
a much better connection to AHD across NSW than reported.
comprise a fundamental, high-density
and long-term component of AUSPOS Conclusion
infrastructure within the State NSW Spatial Services, on behalf of the NSW Surveyor-
General, has a legislative, regulative responsibility to
maintain and extend the Survey Control Network in NSW.
CORSnet-NSW sites comprise a fundamental, high-density
and long-term component of AUSPOS infrastructure
within the State. AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW have
proven to be an ideal match to establish, propagate
and strengthen the NSW Survey Control Network.
In NSW, AUSPOS routinely delivers PU values of 0.02-0.03

m (horizontal) and 0.05-0.06 m (vertical). PU is substantially
improved by increasing the observation length from 2 hours
to 4-5 hours, and observation sessions exceeding 12 hours
(a) provide much higher quality in ellipsoidal height. AUSPOS
results have a high degree of predictability and repeatability
throughout the State at sites with good sky view, over at least
the last 5 years. At sites with tree cover, acceptable HPU and
ellipsoidal heights with a VPU of better than 0.1 m can be
achieved. The derived AHD-PU values reported by AUSPOS
appear to be overly conservative for the data investigated (0.18
m reported vs. 0.08 m presented here), due to the conservative
AUSGeoid2020 uncertainty grid values applied by AUSPOS.
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NEWS - IMAGING
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when the company first commercialized and construction site monitoring. These (NSIL)’ will endeavor to re-orient space
in 2014. With the onset of the COVID-19 stand-alone cloud products run Pix4D’s activities from a ‘supply driven’ model to
pandemic, the recent downturn in the photogrammetry algorithms for mapping a ‘demand driven’ model, thereby ensuring
industry, and the race to advance autonomy and modeling reality from images. optimum utilization of our space assets.
into offshore oil and gas operations, 3D at
Depth quickly phased in the technology Pix4Dcloud Advanced extends the These reforms will allow ISRO to focus
as part of their current standard services. functionalities of Pix4Dcloud to address more on research and development
the needs of construction customers activities, new technologies, exploration
3D at Depth developed software with timeline-based monitoring and missions and human spaceflight
simulators that can be installed on the improved accuracy. Both products programme. Some of the planetary
vessel prior to the start of any project now replace the previous Pix4D exploration missions will also be
to simulate a remote scan or metrology. Cloud platforms. pix4d.com opened up to private sector through
An additional feature provides flexibility an ‘announcement of opportunity’
for those vessels with low bandwidth Private sector participation in space mechanism. www.hindustantimes.com
communications to shore. 3datdepth.com activities will be allowed in India
NGA Signs R&D Agreement
RS algorithm for landslide monitoring India has approved far reaching with Capella Space
reforms in the Space sector aimed at
Chinese researchers have designed an boosting private sector participation in Capella Space has signed a Cooperative
improved remote sensing method for the entire range of space activities. It Research and Development Agreement
more efficient landslide monitoring. was approved by Union Cabinet of the (CRADA) with the National Geospatial-
country chaired by the Prime Minister. Intelligence Agency (NGA). The CRADA
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote gives Capella access to NGA researchers
sensing is a potential technique for long- India is among a handful of countries for deeper insight into problems and
term monitoring of landslide-prone areas. with advanced capabilities in the space in return NGA gains access to Capella
Traditional pixel offset tracking methods sector. With these reforms, the sector Space’s SAR data and analytics services
work well for fast-moving landslides will receive new energy and dynamism, and signifies NGA’s first research
but still have some limitations. to help the country leapfrog to the next partnership with an American commercial
stages of space activities. This will not small satellite SAR data company, in an
The researchers from the Chinese Academy only result in an accelerated growth of effort to expand its research capabilities.
of Sciences proposed the improved offset this sector but will enable Indian Industry
tracking method to optimize a more to be an important player in global The CRADA with Capella Space is
efficient workflow, as well as an improved space economy. With this, there is an part of the NGA’s broader Commercial
algorithm based on homogeneous samples. opportunity for large-scale employment in GEONIT Strategy, first released October
the technology sector and India becoming 2015 and later updated in September
The researchers applied the proposed a Global technology powerhouse. 2018. The NGA Commercial GEOINT
method to study the evolution of the Strategy provides a vision and plan for
landslide that happened in 2018 in Space sector can play a major catalytic continually increasing collaboration
southwest China's Tibet Autonomous role in the technological advancement with commercial GEOINT companies
Region, using SAR data from the and expansion of our Industrial base. in order to meet rising customer
Gaofen-3 satellite and the Advanced The proposed reforms will enhance the demands for more timely and persistent
Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2). socio-economic use of space assets and imagery, analytics, and contextual
activities, including through improved information. www.capellaspace.com
In the study, the researchers demonstrated access to space assets, data and facilities.
that the SAR remote sensing plays Global air pollution maps now
an important role in global landslide The newly created Indian National Space available to the public
monitoring, especially when ground live Promotion and Authorization Centre
data are insufficient. www.xinhuanet.com (IN-SPACe) will provide a level playing A new online platform that allows for
field for private companies to use Indian the tracking of air pollution worldwide
Stand-alone photogrammetry cloud space infrastructure. It will also hand- is now available to the public. The maps,
processing solutions by Pix4D hold, promote and guide the private which use data from the Copernicus
industries in space activities through Sentinel-5P satellite, show the averaged
Pix4D has released Pix4Dcloud and encouraging policies and a friendly nitrogen dioxide concentrations using a
Pix4Dcloud Advanced: the new mapping regulatory environment. The Public Sector 14-day moving average. The maps not
platforms for online surveying workflows Enterprise ‘New Space India Limited only show changes over time on a global

NEWS - UAV
scale, but also provide the possibility for resolution of our SkySat imagery from Indian Government issues draft rules
users to zoom in to areas of interest, for 80 cm to 50 cm for our ortho product. for manufacturing and using drones
example any city or region over Europe.
Tasking Dashboard: At Planet we want The Civil Aviation Ministry of India
The averaged maps also reflect the to democratize access to our assets, issued draft rules for manufacturing
effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and we hear from all our users a desire drones and using it in the country. As per
– with drastic reductions of nitrogen to have simpler and faster workflows. the new policy authorized manufacturer
dioxide concentrations visible over Planet’s imaging pipeline and delivery or importer can sell its devices only to
many areas. These effects can now be infrastructure have been built in the cloud an individual or entity approved by the
easily explored across the globe. and the Tasking Dashboard and API aviation regulator DGCA. The draft policy
are the latest results of that foundation. provides guidelines for those who wish
With air quality a serious concern, the The Tasking Dashboard is a new user to manufacture, operate and even import
Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite was interface that allows customers to request the UAVs which are classified as either
launched in 2017 to map a multitude SkySat collections, while our new API Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Model
of air pollutants around the globe. provides efficient, automated access. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems or
Copernicus Sentinel-5P carries the Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Tropomi instrument – a state-of-the- Rapid revisit, with up to 12x revisit
art instrument that detects the unique capabilities: While Planet leads the market As per new rules, drone importer,
fingerprint of atmospheric gases to image with guaranteed sub-daily revisit, the manufacturer, trader, owner and operator
air pollutants more accurately and at a upcoming launch of six new SkySats will will need to take approval from the
higher spatial resolution than ever before. allow Planet to image certain locations up Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
to 12 times per day, at a global average An authorized unmanned aircraft system
The S5P-PAL is also part of the new of 7 times per day. This unprecedented importer or manufacturer must not sell a
‘Rapid Action on Coronavirus and Earth capability will provide more rapid UAS to any person except an authorized
observation’ dashboard, also known as response to global events and enable trader or owner. DGCA will have the
RACE. The platform provides access imaging at times of the day previously power to inspect a UAS manufacturing
to key environmental, economic and unseen by satellites www.planet.com or maintenance facility before granting
social indicators to measure the impact any authorization under these rules.
of the coronavirus lockdown and Germany launches decentralized
monitor post-lockdown recovery. contact tracing app “No UAS shall operate in India unless
there is in existence a valid third
Planet announces 50 cm Germany has developed a contact tracing party insurance policy to cover the
SkySat imagery app “Corona-Warn-App” that warns you liability that may arise on account of
if you’ve been in contact with someone a mishap involving such UAS,” the
Over the past year, Planet has seen who may have been infected with the draft rules added. Only Nano class
increased demand for its SkySat imagery coronavirus. The app serves as a digital drones, which are less than 250 grams,
to fulfill customers’ needs for timely, complement to distancing, hygiene will be allowed to operate in India in
accurate and frequent information across and wearing masks. It uses Bluetooth general, the draft rules stated, adding
the decision cycle. The COVID-19 technology and the Apple/Google that only a “qualified remote pilot” will
pandemic has intensified this trend, as Exposure Notification APIs,” says the be permitted to operate heavier drones.
traditional surveying and inspection Android app page, which has 18,000 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com
methods are not currently possible. reviews already, averaging at 4.6/5.
Chennai in India soon to become
To meet the present moment, and The reason Germany opted to go for the a drone manufacturing hub
demonstrate our commitment to rapidly decentralized approach supported by the
deliver more value to customers every Google/Apple API was that its citizens Capital of Indian state Tamil Nadu,
year, Planet is excited to unveil three new aren’t too keen on being spied on by their Chennai will soon become a drone
releases as part of our overall tasking government. Despite all this there still seems manufacturing hub, enabling
offerings. Combined, these releases not to be some hesitance about downloading the better pandemic and disaster
only enhance the core imagery for analysis, app in Germany, according to Reuters, but responses using drones.
but also reduce friction to acquire that data. maybe there will be a snowball effect once
a few intrepid punters give it a go. Either In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Higher resolution 50 cm imagery: In just way the German government has given space scientists like Mylsamy Annadurai
six months, we successfully lowered our its contact-tracing app the best possible and senior officials of the state are
SkySat constellation to enhance the spatial chance of success. www.cnbc.com exploring the possibility of turning

Chennai into a drone manufacturing First authorization in Spain This
hub with support from institutions like for flights BVLOS involves
Anna University and MIT. The draft having multiple
Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2020 SCR, a company of the everis Aerospace, high-quality
recently issued by the Indian Ministry Defense and Security group, has obtained sensors (independent observers) on board
of Civil Aviation, which seeks to relax the first authorization in Spain to perform and developing advanced estimation
the rules related to drone use, has flights beyond visual line of sight logics. Many manufacturers prefer the
made such a possibility more feasible. (BVLOS) with drones of more than 2 kg quickest and cheapest tactic and end up
https://economictimes.indiatimes of maximum take-off weight (MTOW). delegating too much logic to the GNSS.
That makes the platform more vulnerable
Simple workflow for The permission, which is indefinite, has to attacks. www.uavnavigation.com
earthworks monitoring been granted by the Spanish Aviation
Safety and Security Agency (AESA. Drone-based confined space
Virtual Surveyor has introduced new inspection services
functionality in Version 7.3 of its The permission will especially facilitate
popular drone surveying software the use of fixed-wing systems in Terra Inspectioneering, a group company
to create a simplified workflow for operations where, until now, their use was of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation,
monitoring earthworks progress at limited to specific and restricted actions. has been awarded a confined space
construction sites. The productive inspection contract for the Netherlands
workflow enables construction A leap forward in the sector. Until now, and Belgium by Dutch multinational
managers to quickly calculate cut-and- operations out of sight with drones tank storage company Vopak.
fill changes over time for comparison of more than 2 kg were only allowed
with the earthworks design plan. in experimental format, with the sole Under the contract, Terra
purpose of conducting proofs of concept Inspectioneering will provide non-
The software is a powerful construction or demonstrations. However, from now entry visual testing, ultrasonic thickness
monitoring tool designed to bridge the on SCR will be able to offer professional testing, and deformation analysis
gap between UAV photogrammetric services continuously with platforms services to Vopak using the proprietary
processing applications and engineering up to 25 kg. https://scrdrones.com collision-proof Terra UT drone. The
design packages. The software generates drone inspection services will be offered
an interactive onscreen environment with Testing autopilot against for the tanks owned and operated by
drone orthophotos/DSMs and/or Lidar an anti drone system Vopak at 11 sites across Belgium and
point clouds where the user can compare the Netherlands. www.vopak.com
multiple drone surveys in a matter of UAV Navigation has ramped up its
seconds. www.virtual-surveyor.com security measures by designing a very Dedrone and BlackBerry partnership
robust system from both hardware and
Microdrones enters into 3D software perspectives. The quality of the BlackBerry Limited has partnered with
components and their special designs Dedrone, a market and technology
Microdrones offers fully integrated help mitigate the impact of certain high- leader in airspace security, to deliver
survey equipment systems for high wall power signals. For example, the hardware advanced counter-drone technology to
mapping and 3D modeling applications. is certified to MIL-STD-810F and MIL- secure the world’s most critical sites.
STD-461F. This proves that the system As part of this embedded technology
mdMapper3000DµoG 3D aaS fills a has been tested by an independent party partnership, Dedrone is integrating
niche where traditional manned aircraft that certifies its level of adequacy. BlackBerry AtHoc software into its
3D mapping can’t get close enough to the products to enable real-time secure
subject to get the exacting detail for high- From a software point of view, it can resist alerts when a malicious or unauthorized
end 3D models or high wall mapping. interception due to two main reasons:the drone is detected in an airspace.
non-dependence of GNSS for critical
The newly released mdMapper3000DµoG system loops, which allows us to continue The Dedrone technology portfolio
Oblique aaS adds a fully integrated operating despite not being able to use combines machine-learning software
gimbal to the popular dual IMU direct GNSS and the multiple cross supervisory with best-in-class hardware sensors,
georeferencing mdMapper3000Dµog logics. Also, the UAV Navigation property electronic attack methods like smart
system. This provides more opportunity to ICD (Interface Control Document) that jamming, and defeat weapons to
capture oblique imagery, helpful for high our system incorporates, allows the provide early warning, classification
wall mapping and mining photogrammetry system to prevent, analyze, and detect any of, and mitigation against drone
applications. www.microdrones.com possible interference or system failure. threats. www.dedrone.com

Tracking C VID Inspiration is drawn from existing ethical
codes and supplemented with input
from meetings. www.geonovum.nl
UK gives up on centralized
stakeholder initiative will work towards coronavirus contacts-tracing app
AI enabled technology to evolving better understanding of the
ensure social distancing challenges and opportunities around As per BBC report, the UK has given
AI using the experience and diversity up building a centralized coronavirus
Amazon has launched an artificial of participating countries. It will also contacts-tracing app and will instead
intelligence-based tracking system to support cutting-edge research and applied switch to decentralized app architecture.
enforce social distancing at its offices activities on AI-related priorities.
and warehouses to help reduce any The UK’s NHS COVID-19 app, has not
risk of contracting the new coronavirus Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, progressed past field tests, after facing a
among its workers. One of the early Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of plethora of technical barriers and privacy
solution developed at Amazon applies Korea and Singapore are among the challenges-as a direct consequence of
artificial intelligence and machine other nations, which have joined the the government’s decision to opt for
learning to the camera footage in the partnership. economictimes.indiatimes.com a proprietary system which uploads
buildings to help site leaders identify high proximity data to a central server, rather
traffic areas and implement additional Developing ethical framework for than processing exposure notifications
measures to improve social distancing. use of personal location data locally on device. https://techcrunch.com
As the company continued to learn and The corona virus is spreading around the Singapore plans wearable
innovate to support the health and safety world at lightning speed. This crisis is virus-tracing device for all
of associates, it also saw an opportunity not only about DNA and RNA. Where
to evolve tech even further and promote people are and how they move hugely Singapore plans to give a wearable
social distancing behavior in real-time. influences the spread of the virus. device that will identify people
Given social distancing isn’t always Therefore, information about location who had interacted with carriers of
natural, the company set out to use and travel is seen as an important tool coronavirus to each of its 5.7 million
augmented reality to create a magic-mirror- in the fight against COVID-19. residents, in what could become
like tool that helps associates see their one of the most comprehensive
physical distancing from others. Working However, the great potential of (personal) contact-tracing efforts globally.
backwards from a concept of immediate location data also begs a number of
visual feedback, and inspired by existing questions: What does it mean for our Testing of the small devices, which can
examples like radar speed check signs, privacy and democratic values? Now be worn on the end of a lanyard or carried
‘Distance Assistant’ provides employees and in the long term? Is the price not in a handbag, follows limited take-up
with live feedback on social distancing too high? It is crucial to collectively of an earlier smartphone-based system
via a 50 inch monitor, a camera, and a ensure that data and apps are deployed and has further fuelled privacy concerns
local computing device. www.cnbc.com in a responsible manner. Geonovum has about contact tracing technology.
decided to make a valuable contribution to
India becomes member of this. It has developed an ethical framework The government did not specify whether
global alliance on AI for the use of personal location data. carrying the device would be mandatory.
India has joined leading nations of The purpose of the ethical reference The government’s earlier TraceTogether
the world including USA, UK, EU, is to inspire data users, but also policy app encountered problems, especially
Australia among others as a founding makers and decision makers to help them on Apple (AAPL.O) devices where its
member of a league of nations, which collect, use and apply personal location operating system suspends Bluetooth
has launched a Global Partnership on data responsibly. Personal location data scanning when the app runs in the
Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay). are all data that show where people are background. The pivot to wearables is a
located and how they move, whether or signal that Singapore has no immediate
The first of its kind initiative is aimed not they can be traced. This data can, for plans to adopt contact-tracing technology
to guide responsible development example, be collected via mobile apps. In from Apple and Google (GOOGL.O)
and use of AI, grounded in human the document it is now consulting, you rolled out last month, which has
rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, will find a number of tools for ethical several restrictions designed to protect
and economic growth. The multi- behaviour when applying location data. users’ privacy. www.reuters.com

NEWS - GNSS
China launches last BeiDou satellite Designed for the geospatial, construction internet-connected devices are capable
and mining sectors, MiRTK works with of sensing, communicating, interacting,
China recently launched the last satellite every make and model of GNSS equipment. computing and actuating. These devices
of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite It uses a small modem that slides onto the are set to become even more integrated into
System (BDS) from the Xichang Satellite accessory slot of the tripod and connects our daily lives and by 2022 it is estimated
Launch Center in southwest China's to the base station via a single cable. that around 18 billion out of 29 billion
Sichuan Province. The satellite, carried Unlike UHF radios, MiRTK is not limited connected devices will be related to the IoT.
by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, is by range from the GNSS base station
the 30th BDS-3 satellite and the 55th and does not require line of sight with With millions of moving interconnected
of the whole BeiDou satellite family. the survey rover or machine. It is limited devices in the IoT environment, many
The launch marked the completion of only by the Telstra network, so if a user is applications require or benefit from knowing
the country's domestically developed receiving emails on their phone the MiRTK the location of an individual device. In this
BeiDou constellation, one of four service will work https://im-mining.com context, the latest GSA White Paper looks
global navigation networks alongside at how GNSS-based positioning for the
with the United States' GPS, Russia's ION GNSS+ 2020 goes virtual IoT can be made more power-efficient, to
GLONASS and the European Union's meet the needs of this growing market.
Galileo. https://news.cgtn.com After careful consideration, the ION
Satellite Division has decided to hold The White Paper also advises applications
UK to scale back plans for ION GNSS+ entirely virtually. This that require a position accuracy of one
independent satnav decision was made in light of COVID-19 meter or less to use a multi-constellation,
and the domestic and international travel multi-frequency receiver. “However,
British ministers are seeking to scale restrictions that we recognize will make as most low-power IoT applications
back plans for a £5bn satellite navigation it impossible for many speakers and prioritise extending battery life, a multi-
system that was introduced in 2018 participants to participate in person. constellation single-frequency receiver is
as an alternative to the EU’s Galileo The virtual platform is the best way to sufficient when positioning accuracy of
project. The ministers are exploring deliver a meaningful technical program multiple meters is acceptable,” it notes.
other options, which include using experience to all participants. ION The report also states that, when deciding
OneWeb, the UK satellite operator that GNSS+ 2020 VIRTUAL will be held on an energy-efficient GNSS technique,
went bankrupt in March, the Financial over the original dates, September 21-25, the choice of the terrestrial network limits
Times reported, citing sources. in Central Daylight Time. www.ion.org the possible options, as most solutions
rely on external data to determine the
OneWeb has pledged to move its Uinta Mapping and Data position via GNSS. www.gsa.europa.eu
satellite production from Florida in the Collection Software by Juniper
US to the UK if its management wins Major update to BlueSky™
government support for its bid, according Juniper Systems has introduced Uinta GNSS Firewall software
to the report. Plans for an independent Mapping and Data Collection Software.
satellite system were announced in 2018 It is a powerful hassle-free data collection Microchip Technology Inc. has
by the then prime minister, Theresa software built with end-users in mind. released a major software update for
May to ensure national security in the Uinta’s data collection tools include its BlueSky™ GNSS Firewall product,
event that Britain were banned from detailed mapping with points, lines, areas, providing a higher level of resiliency
equal access to the EU programme as well as form-based notes for digital against GPS vulnerabilities for systems
after Brexit. www.theguardian.com recordkeeping. www.junipersys.com. dependent on GPS signal reception.
Internet-enabled correction service Power-efficient positioning BlueSky GNSS Firewall Software Release
for high accuracy GNSS in Australia for the IoT 2.0 performs real-time analysis to detect
jamming and spoofing for protecting
Intelligent positioning solutions provider The European GNSS Agency (GSA) reception of the GPS signal and hardening
Position Partners has announced the has published a White Paper on “Power- response and recovery to avoid signal
release of MiRTK. This new correction efficient positioning for the Internet of disruption. It includes charting and
service for GNSS equipment utilises the Things”, providing an overview of GNSS advanced threshold settings of GNSS
internet instead of UHF radio frequencies. technologies that are relevant for low- observables such as satellites-in-view,
It is compatible with all brands and models power IoT applications, including those that carrier-to-noise, position dispersion, phase
of GNSS from manufacturers including require hybridisation with other connectivity time deviation and radio frequency (RF)
Topcon, Trimble, Leica Geosystems, solutions. The world is embracing Internet power level to simplify system turn-up
Sokkia, Hemisphere and more. of Things (IoT) applications. Billions of and deployment. www.microsemi.com.

NEWS - INDUSTRY
SatGen now with NavIC (IRNSS) 64-bit architecture, the Ellipse Series of temperature readings; quarantine
3rd generation enables the use of high management; and control of site
The latest update to SatGen GNSS precision algorithms and technology occupancy. It also publishes the company’s
simulation software SatGen v3 for PC used in high-end inertial systems such healthcare crisis rules. www.gmv.com
now incorporates NavIC RF simulation. as rejection filters, FIR filtering, etc. All
Ellipse miniature INS are now RTK- Carlson Software releases
Designed to create custom GNSS RF I&Q enabled without extra cost and output raw major updates
or IF data files based on user-generated data for post-processing. All these features
trajectories, the updated software can now are made possible in small and robust Carlson Software has released major
accurately simulate the Indian NavIC aluminum enclosure box version, but also updates to its Precision 3D Topo 2020
GNSS satellite constellation alongside in the 17-gram OEM version providing and Precision 3D Hydro 2020 software,
existing GPS, Galileo, GLONASS unmatched performance/size ratio. enabling new, extremely efficient
and BeiDou RF signal generation. workflows that utilize the best of a 3D
With its dual frequency RTK GNSS design environment while providing
The new release, SatGen v3 version 3.12.5, receiver, the Ellipse-D provides a traditional CAD deliverables. The main
includes full support for simulating the centimetric position. Dual frequency addition to P3D Hydro 2020 is the inclusion
NavIC L5 signal. Alongside this we have provides a way more robust heading and of storm sewer design based on a library
released SatGen v3 BETA version 3.12.6, position computation than single frequency of 3D drainage grates and curb inlets. A
that includes support for simulating the receivers. It allows unmatched performance new and unique “curb line snap” combined
NavIC S-Band signal. www.labsat.co.uk in attitude (0.05°) and in heading (0.2°). with the low point snap leads to fast inlet
With its dual-antenna capability, Ellipse-D placement which is followed by hydraulic
Underground GNSS coverage provides precise heading in a few seconds, analysis that includes peak flow, gutter
in Tunnels, Stations etc. in all dynamic conditions, and even spread and bypass flow calculation. The
in challenging GNSS conditions. It is spreadsheet editor borrowed from Carlson
Chronos Technology has announced a also immune to magnetic disturbances. Hydrology allows for quick pipe sizing
partnership with Syntony GNSS to offer Ellipse-D is quad-constellation, meaning leading to final design. www.carlsonsw.com
GNSS underground coverage in tunnels. it could use simultaneously satellites
GNSS has become fundamental for from GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU, 10 Million User Milestone
critical infrastructure applications and yet and GALILEO for more signal for Trimble Connect
when entering underground areas such availability in challenging navigation
as tunnels, metro/subway, car parks and conditions. www.sbg-systems.com Trimble® Connect™ cloud-based
airport service areas the signal is lost collaboration platform has surpassed 10
GMV creates a mobile App to million users. In response to COVID-19,
Syntony's SubWAVE™ solutions expands ensure a safer return to work distributed working has intensified the
the GNSS coverage to underground areas need for teams to share information and
enabling the localisation of assets, people GMV has launched Covclear, a mobile collaborate remotely, leading 1.2 million
and equipment with a standard GNSS app to ensure a safer and more efficient users to join Trimble Connect in March
chipset, ie standard smartphone or TETRA return to work after the COVID-19 and April alone. To date, Trimble Connect
radio offering underground operators, their lockdown. The application helps to make has hosted more than 80,000 design and
staff, emergency services and the general sure offices will be a safe workplace construction projects, making it possible
public the benefit of full underground while minimizing the risk posed to the for people to collaborate and work
GNSS coverage. chronos.co.uk health of employees or other persons together from anywhere in the world.
who are working in open workplaces in
Ellipse Series 3rd Generation an environment of maximum safety and Trimble Connect is an open collaboration
by SBG Systems protection. The app is collaborative and platform for design and construction
relies on a principle of co-responsibility that connects project stakeholders with
SBG Systems present the third generation between the company and its employees the data they need to inform decisions
of its popular range of miniature inertial to protect their own health and the health and improve team efficiency. Project
sensors called the Ellipse Series. The line of their relatives and workmates. stakeholders can share, review, coordinate
is composed of four models: the Ellipse-A and comment on data-rich constructible
is a motion sensor, the Ellipse-E provides Covclear integrates all the following in a models, schedules and critical project
navigation with an external GNSS receiver, single platform: a daily medical health information in real time—reducing
the Ellipse-N is a single antenna RTK check of all employees; recording of trips costly miscommunication and improving
GNSS/INS and the Ellipse-D is a dual- to restricted sites; contact tracing within coordination to keep projects on time
antenna RTK GNSS/INS. With its new the firm; control of office access by means and on budget. connect.trimble.com

Kaarta launches Stencil Pro compared to standard rubidiums) and it can independently geolocate VHF
mobile mapping system consumes only 0.45W of power, which marine radios, UHF push-to-talk radios,
is about ten times less than existing L-band mobile satellite devices, EPIRB
Kaarta has announced beta testing on solutions with similar capabilities. emergency distress beacons, and vessel
Stencil Pro, a versatile professional- Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
grade mobile mapping platform with With these competitive advantages, the
dimensional and visual fidelity. An all- new Spectratime mRO-50 Miniaturized HxGN Content Program updates
in-one system to scan, process and view Rubidium Oscillator provides 3 million sqkm of aerial data
captured data in real time, Stencil Pro accurate frequency and precise time
offers panoramic high-definition 4K synchronization to mobile applications, Hexagon’s Geosystems division has
imagery and colorized point clouds. With such as military radio-pack systems in announced the HxGN Content Program,
robust surround-view perception in a wide GNSS denied environments. Its improved the largest library of high-accuracy
range of light conditions, it is optimized operating temperature of-10°C to 60°C airborne data, is updating 3 million square
for both indoor and outdoor performance. (military version extended to -40°C kilometres in 2020 of high-accuracy
Featuring a 32-line high-density, low-noise to 75°C) is also ideal for UAVs and four-band orthophotos, digital surface
lidar with a range of 120 meters (nearly underwater applications. www.orolia.com models (DSM) and stereo imagery
400 feet) and a data rate of 600,000 points across the United States and Europe.
per second, it produces a highly accurate First-ever nationwide lane-
3D model in minutes. www.kaarta.com level precise positioning In North America, the HxGN Content
Program will update 2.5 million square
Tersus introduces compact Swift Navigation has announced the kilometres of aerial data, close to a third of
GNSS board successful completion of a cross-country the continental United States. In addition
drive test in the US. The goal of this first- to the standard 30-centimetre resolution
Tersus GNSS Inc. has released the BX40C of-its-kind drive, from San Francisco to in wide areas and 15-cm resolution in
RTK board to support its series of GNSS New York and back, was to measure the urban areas in the U.S., the 2020 program
boards and provide highly accurate and efficacy of Swift’s recently expanded will include 15-cm resolution data in
fast positioning services. It is a compact Skylark™ cloud corrections service and wide areas upon customer request. The
GNSS real-time kinematic (RTK) board to demonstrate true nationwide lane-level Danish DDO program, the premier
with full constellation tracking for GNSS correction coverage at the accuracy, aerial data provider in Denmark, will
providing centimeter-level accuracy reliability and availability levels required also become part of the HxGN Content
positioning. It can be integrated with by Swift customers. www.swiftnav.com Program for the first time and will cover
autopilots and inertial navigation units to the country at 12.5-cm resolution on a
meet various developing requirements. It New HawkEye 360 radar biennial refresh schedule. hexagon.com
is suitable for high-precision positioning,
navigation and mapping. It supports HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced that Eos Positioning Systems Releases
multiple constellations and frequencies the company's flagship RFGeo product Eos Tools Pro for Windows
to improve the continuity and reliability can now map an expanded catalog of
of the RTK solution — even in harsh marine navigation radar signals to further Eos Positioning Systems has announced
environments. www.tersus-gnss.com improve global maritime situational the release of Eos Tools Pro for Windows
awareness. With this update, HawkEye 10. It implements powerful new features
Low SWaP-C Miniaturized 360 introduces the first S-band radar that enables users to exploit all four global
Rubidium Oscillator by Orolia signal and quadruples the number of GNSS constellations and a state-of-the-
X-band radar signals in the company's art NTRIP client to access RTK bases
Orolia has introduced a breakthrough library. It can now cover the most used and RTK networks all over the world via
low SWaP-C Miniaturized Rubidium frequencies for X-band magnetron- NTRIP, Direct IP, and wireless radios.
Oscillator, the Spectratime mRO-50, based radar systems, providing a more
to meet the latest commercial, military comprehensive view of maritime activity. “This is a huge step forward in
and aerospace requirements where functionality and flexibility for our
time stability and power consumption HawkEye 360's RFGeo identifies and Windows users,” Eos CTO Jean-
are critical. The Spectratime mRO- geolocates RF signals collected by its Yves Lauture said. “We implemented
50 provides a one day holdover proprietary satellite constellation. RFGeo the latest support for Windows
below 1µs and a retrace below 1 x is the first commercially available product GeoLocation and other features
10-10 in a form factor (50.8 x 50.8 x offering global spectrum awareness offered by Microsoft in order to allow
19.5mm) that takes up only 51 cc of across a broad range of radio signals. In our customers to use high-accuracy
volume (about one-third of the volume addition to the newly announced signals, locations directly into their apps.”

® September 21-25, 2020
Live Streaming and On-Demand Technical Program
Virtual Exhibit Hall
VIRTUAL PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

2020
The 33rd International Technical Meeting of the
Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation
REGISTER TODAY!
FREE Virtual Access for First Time Attendees*
*Restrictions apply. See ION GNSS+ website for details. ion.org

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RNI: DELENG/2005/15153

Clipper Adventurer Grounding

The Smallest Dual Frequency

Ellipse-D Ellipse-N OEM

Visit our website: www.sbg-systems.com

Mailing Address Web www.mycoordinates.org [India] Rs.1,800 [Overseas] US$100

4 | Coordinates July 2020

Already there were concerns

Regarding too much of exposures to screens

TV, Computers, iPads, mobile,…

And their likely consequences.

Out of many, one of the repercussions of the Covid-19

Has been the many fold increase in ‘screen time’

Work from home, communications, webinars, even entertainment…

With many of our activities going online,

This new way of life,

Unfortunately being misconstrued as a new normal,

Might actually be abnormal.

Our challenge is going to be

How to time ourselves out.

Away from the screens!

Bal Krishna, Editor

Coordinates July 2020 | 5

Transforming the old map

6 | Coordinates July 2020

The second degree polynomials refer

Xi = cxi + dyi + tx (1a)

Yi = –dyi + cxi + ty (1b)

where Xi, Yi are the point’s coordinates

Coordinates July 2020 | 7

8 | Coordinates July 2020

Coordinates July 2020 | 9

10 | Coordinates July 2020

Clipper Adventurer Grounding 1

Bruce Calderbank Abstract Victoria Island and mainland Nunavut.

12 | Coordinates July 2020

In the 2012 Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB)

Table – Voyage Planning18

Route Approximate Distance Required Speed Time Required to Kugluktuk

Starboard Side View15

In 1965, the track of soundings in question generally followed by

On 26 August 1965, the CSS Richardson left Lady Franklin

Figure 3: A) Route Chosen by Clipper Adventurer; B) Second

Coordinates July 2020 | 13

The Clipper Adventurer used paper

The Navigation Officer was not

The captain had previously completed

14 | Coordinates July 2020

Waypoint selection Table – Exhibit Number 140 – Screen Grab of Transas41

Coordinates July 2020 | 15

The survey, navigation and

planned track alongside Figure 6 shows the multibeam echo 2

16 | Coordinates July 2020

Coordinates July 2020 | 17

18 | Coordinates July 2020

Covid-19 and the surveying

How has the surveying profession fared in the midst

Coordinates July 2020 | 27

28 | Coordinates July 2020

AUSPOS and CORSnet-NSW: