PARIS, June 19, 2019 — (PRNewswire) —  Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN^[1]) has signed a strategic agreement with AirMap, the leading global airspace intelligence platform for drones, to collaborate on future projects to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, into the national airspace system and unlock the positive economic and social benefits of expanded commercial drone operations.

"AirMap is ushering in a new era in drone aviation," said Matt Gilligan, vice president of Raytheon's Intelligence, Information and Services business. "Drones must safely operate in an already complex ecosystem, which is where our experience matters."

The agreement combines the two companies' expertise:

• Raytheon's Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or STARS, is used by air traffic controllers across the U.S. to provide safe and efficient aircraft spacing and sequencing guidance for more than 40,000 departing and arriving aircraft daily at both civilian and military airports.
• AirMap is the leading global provider of airspace intelligence for UAS operations, with over 250,000 registered users. In 2018, the majority of U.S. registered commercial drone pilots used AirMap to request over 45,000 automated authorizations to fly in controlled airspace.

"Raytheon technology has helped...

The 2020 Census promises to be the most technically advanced census undertaken, where data, for the first time, will be mostly collected online.

The post GIS and the US 2020 Census appeared first on GIS Lounge.

Madrid, 18 June 2019 – Airbus built SEOSAT/Ingenio, the first Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA) and Spanish government has left Madrid and is ready for final testing.

The spacecraft will now start a 3 month environmental test campaign which includes the Thermal Balance and Vacuum test, followed by Mechanical Vibration, Acoustic and Electromagnetic Compatibility testing. Fifty engineers and technicians from Airbus Spain will carry out all the different tests at Airbus in Toulouse.

SEOSAT/Ingenio will be transported back to the Madrid-Barajas site in mid-September where the last functional tests will be carried out. The compatibility with the ground segment and the launcher will also be verified. Once these are complete, the Qualification Acceptance Review will take place, which is the final ESA milestone and the satellite will be ready to be launched.

The launch is scheduled for the first half of 2020 onboard a Vega launcher from Kourou, French Guiana.

Once in orbit, SEOSAT/Ingenio will complete Spain’s Earth observation system, complemented by the PAZ satellite already in orbit since February 2018. Together, they will provide combined radar and optical images.

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce...

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — June 18, 2019 — Atwell, LLC is pleased to welcome Elise Austin as GIS Manager. Based in Atwell’s Southfield office, Austin will be responsible for growing and leading an internal GIS team, managing the development of new custom GIS web-based and desktop solutions.

Austin brings a wealth of experience in geospatial analysis and ESRI based applications. She is experienced in ArcDesktop, ArcServer, ArcPro, web based applications, and SQL management studio. Austin has extensive GIS experience having led a team focused on GIS applications and practices for 911 emergency management for public safety, environmental/natural resources data analysis and modeling. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Geoscience with a Minor in Geography/GIS from West Virginia University; and has earned four ESRI certifications.

“Elise is a great addition to our GIS team,” says Atwell Team Leader Justin Cecil, “Her experience with software development, project management, client support and ability to provide guidance to our clients make her a great asset for the growth of our team and the company.”

Atwell, LLC is a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm with technical professionals located across the country. Creating innovative solutions for clients in the real estate and land development, power and energy, and oil and gas, Atwell provides comprehensive turnkey...

Companies working together to defend against drone incursions

PARIS, June 18, 2019 — (PRNewswire) —  Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN^[1]) and Black Sage are now partnering through a formal teaming arrangement to provide an integrated drone detection and mitigation system for civil authorities, critical infrastructure and military organizations around the world.

"As we saw at Gatwick and Heathrow airports, drones operating inside commercial air corridors are posing a real challenge," said Todd Probert, vice president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "And though Raytheon has developed a range of counter-drone systems, from missiles to lasers to high-powered microwaves, authorities also need a system that can safely stop and land a drone where it may not be safe to shoot them down. That's why we've teamed with Black Sage on a solution safe enough to operate in a populated area."

To defend urban environments, like airports and cities, against drones, Black Sage's sensors, AI, and radio-frequency jammers have been integrated into Raytheon's Windshear command and control system. This combined system allows a single operator to control a network of sensors and effectors that safely and quickly track, take over or land drones flying where they shouldn't.

Though the integrated system is designed primarily for urban environments, the systems are...

SHENZHEN, China, June 17, 2019 — (PRNewswire) — MMC (MicromultiCopter Aviation) is set to attend the 4^th Shenzhen International UAV EXPO from June 20 to June 22, showcasing its brand new industrial chain products within UAV-Ecosystem including UAV frame, flight control system, payloads and motors which are now open for sale. It is notable that MMC will present a series of drone platforms with open source flight controllers that allow secondary development and minimizes the users' concern over cyber security. They can even customize their UAV by matching up drone platform with different components or payloads within the MMC industrial chain. In addition, all MMC-developed payloads can be easily mounted to different drone platforms thanks to the standardized quick-release connector.It makes the UAV products instantly switchable among different functions to meet user needs under various circumstances.

Ever since the launch of MMC UAV-Ecosystem in September of 2018, the company has been insistently expanding the ecosystem with a "share for win-win" mindset. Devoted to producing high-performance UAV, MMC aims to boost automation level in the way people work for greater safety, higher efficiency and lower cost.

MMC will be located at booth NO. 2A60 and NO.2D51 in Hall NO.2 of Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition center. Visitors will...

June 18, 2019 - thinkWhere is bringing its extensive knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) and services to the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). Having worked with organisations such as the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Ofgem and EuroGeographics (the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registry Authorities), the Stirling-based tech company is providing training courses on open source GIS to support pioneering research by UHI.

Over 69 percent of research submitted by UHI for independent review achieves the two highest grades – internationally excellent and world leading.  Projects are assessed from the fields of Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology and Area Studies. Students from these, and other disciplines, have already received training from thinkWhere with further courses booked later this year.

“Graduate students identify specific training needs as part of their analysis and progress monitoring,” commented Val Cooper, Graduate School Training Officer. “If these needs cannot be met internally, by colleagues or university staff, then we look to the commercial sector for help. Having shortlisted thinkWhere as a possible provider of training courses, their flexible approach, delivery mechanisms and value for money made them an obvious service partner.”

Working alongside staff from the...

June 18, 2019 -- Simple GIS Software, LLC has announced that it has released Simple Territory Mapper Plugin for its Simple GIS Client desktop GIS application, allowing users to easily create and manage their territories.  The Simple Territory Mapper Plugin provides a set of tools to extend the functionality of Simple GIS Client desktop GIS software to:  

Simple Territory Mapper is the most cost effective solution for managing your territories.  Comes with a free 30 day trial and requires...