GIS in Education

Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed contracts with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex) for two launches aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

“This announcement marks SpaceX’s first launch contract in Mexico. It is also the second launch contract in Asia that we have signed in the last month,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer.

“We are very pleased to have SpaceX, the world’s fastest growing space launch company, as our launch partner for Satmex 7. Satmex is positioned for a new era of growth with the anticipated launches of Satmex 8 in 2012 and Satmex 7 in late 2014 or early 2015. The addition of Satmex 7 (C and Ku band satellite) will expand our fleet to three satellites covering the Americas. Satmex 7 will be a cornerstone of the Satmex fleet designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) and data services with increased power levels and improved elevation angles from any location within the coverage. These benefits will provide better performance to deliver media content directly to homes as well as broadband services,” said Patricio Northland, CEO of Satmex.

“Over the past decade, we have seen launch prices increase dramatically, making access to space out of reach for many programs. As one of the fastest growing satellite operators in the world, ABS requires access to space that combines affordability and lift capacity for our future satellite programs,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS. “Together with Satmex, our co-launch partner, we embark upon an innovative prospect of dual launching four medium-powered satellites on two launches on the Falcon 9. We are extremely happy to be working with Satmex and SpaceX to dramatically realign the cost structure of space access in order to bring the affordable capacity demanded by our customers.”

SpaceX will launch the two companies’ geosynchronous telecommunications satellites on two separate launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launches will take place in late 2014 or early 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2015.

SOURCE SpaceX

It is on March 13th 2012, in the frame of a princely trade mission, that SPACEBEL will sign the contractual pre-agreements with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) for the supply of an Earth observation mini-satellite to be launched in 2017.

After several years of negotiations, the SPACEBEL consortium was selected in July 2011 on the basis of their technical proposal and thanks to the continuous support of the Belgian Government, both at Federal and regional levels.

With this 100% Belgian satellite named VNREDSat-1b (Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment & Disaster Monitoring satellite) Vietnam will be able to monitor independently its territory and environment. Weighing 130 kg, the small spacecraft will play an important role, amongst others, in the field of natural resources management (agriculture, forests), will ensure a better follow-up of climate changes, detect pollution in the seas, help to minimize the impact of natural disasters, etc.

To realize this project representing a total value of over 60 million €, SPACEBEL relies upon the expertise of a panel of Belgian partners: QinetiQ Space, AMOS, Deltatec, the Space Centre of Liège, and VITO, who will be responsible respectively for the satellite platform, hyperspectral instrument, integration and testing, and data processing.

Prime contractor and architect of the system, SPACEBEL will also develop the on-board software as well as the entire ground segment.

A training programme on satellite technology and remote sensing space applications to be set up in co-operation with the University of Liège completes the SPACEBEL offer.

This first successful commercial sale confirms the skills of SPACEBEL in the field of small satellites. At the same time, it is the consecration of the know-how of the Belgian space sector.

SOURCE: SPACEBEL

Join the SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing 2012 Conference!

Kyoto International
Conference Center
Kyoto, Japan
29 October - 1 November 2012

Abstracts Due: 16 April 2012

Present your research at the 8th Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing Symposium, focusing on remote sensing for the environment and the prevention and mitigation of disaster.

Papers are being solicited in the following technical areas:

• Remote sensing of the atmosphere, clouds, and precipitation
• Land surface remote sensing
• Remote sensing of the ocean environment
• Lidar remote sensing for environmental monitoring
• Multispectral, hyperspectral, and ultraspectral remote sensing technology, techniques and applications
• Earth-observing missions and sensors: development, implementation, and characterization
• Remote sensing and modeling of the atmosphere, oceans, and interactions

Advantages of participating:

• Present your work to experts from around the world and get immediate feedback
• Enjoy social and networking opportunities
• Publish your work in the SPIE Digital Library

Visit the conference website.

Job Title: LiDAR Specialist
Job Code: GC-0-23006
Company: Digital Aerial Solutions, LLC
Location: Tampa, Florida
Closing Date: 2012-03-23

Position Description:
Digital Aerial Solutions LLC. (DAS) seeks a LiDAR Specialist for our Tampa office. The primary responsibility of this position is to assist the Production Manager in the post processing of all LiDAR data to the required final deliverable products for our clients. Must be highly motivated with a desire and aptitude for additional learning and be capable of working in a team environment, striving for quality.

The ideal candidate shall be familiar with all phases of LiDAR processing: LiDAR project cost estimating, LiDAR flight planning, Airborne GPS/IMU processing, QAQC procedures, LiDAR’s required accuracy specifications, Leica’s proprietary software, classification/editing procedures, bore-sighting, calibration, breakline generation, DEM and contour generation.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in computer science, geodesy, photogrammetry or applied sciences. Applicant must have excellent verbal and written skills along with excellent computer skills where the individual can demonstrate proficiency in a CAD environment utilizing software packages such as TerraSolid, Microstation V8i, ArcGIS, ArcCatalog, Leica’s ALSPP, QT Modeler, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Global Mapper, etc. Experience with USGS and FEMA LiDAR projects and specifications a plus, as is experience in ortho-photo processing and production.

Job Requirements:
The candidate should possess education in an associated field. Or a combination of work experience and/or training that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Minimum of 2- 4 years “hands-on” LiDAR production required. We offer excellent compensation & benefits. The successful candidate must complete a background and driver’s license check.

Please no phone calls, recruiters or agency’s. Send resume’s to Mitch Jordan at mjordan@digitalaerial.com or Mona Kristensen at monak@digitalaerial.com

Join an exciting MathWorks webinar: Converting MATLAB to C Code.

Date and time:

22 Mar 2012
9:00 AM U.S. EDT/ 1:00 PM GMT
2:00 PM U.S. EDT/ 6:00 PM GMT

In this webinar we demonstrate the workflow for generating readable and portable C code from your MATLAB algorithms using MATLAB Coder. Through product demonstrations, you will learn how you can use MATLAB Coder to:

- Prototype your MATLAB algorithms as standalone executables on a PC

- Accelerate parts of your MATLAB algorithms by automatically generating MEX functions

- Integrate your algorithms as compiled C libraries with custom software

- Generate C source code to hand-off to software engineers

To register now, or to learn more, visit Matlab.

GeoEye, Inc., a leading provider of geospatial information and insight, announced it has received a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from GE Aviation. Under this contract, GeoEye will produce aviation reference data to serve hundreds of the world's busiest airports. Over the next decade, GeoEye intends to capture all of the world's International Air Transport Association (IATA) airports. This agreement allows GE Aviation to utilize GeoEye 3D Airports and Terrain/Obstacle databases produced from GeoEye's stereo satellite imagery. These GeoEye aeronautical databases will be imbedded into GE Aviation's products and services.

GeoEye 3D Airports is a family of value-added geospatial products that captures precise spatial models of domestic and international airports, their surrounding terrain and man-made obstacles. These products are used to enhance the safety of flight and ground operations at airports and enable airlines to reduce fuel consumption, flight times and airport traffic noise. GeoEye 3D Airport Maps offers a three-dimensional geospatial model of an airport's features that are required to support aircraft and helicopter operations. GeoEye 3D Airport Terrain and Obstacles provide information regarding natural elevation and man-made obstacles near airports.

GE Aviation will imbed these products in their next generation products and services to facilitate Performance Based Navigation operations that will increase commercial flight frequency and fuel efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. This GE offering utilizing GeoEye state-of-the-art data products exceeds the current requirements of the global Air Traffic Management initiatives sponsored by the FAA NEXTGEN program and the EUROCONTROL SESAR program.

Dejan Damjanovic, GeoEye's Director of Air and Marine Solutions, said, "GeoEye's unique ability to acquire 3D Airport intelligence using the highest resolution and highest accuracy commercial satellites in the world, coupled with our decade of aeronautical expertise, make our 3D Airports the best choice for GE Aviation's needs."

"This advanced aeronautical data, along with our Required Navigation Performance (RNP) products, will accelerate the deployment of RNP flight paths that will help meet the global challenge of increasing efficiency in the world's air traffic management system," said Giovanni Spitale, general manager of GE's PBN Services. "It will allow the benefits of PBN to be achieved earlier for the global air transportation community, saving time, fuel, reducing emissions and noise while increasing hourly operations frequency."

About GeoEye
GeoEye is a leading source of geospatial information and insight for decision makers and analysts who need a clear understanding of our changing world to protect lives, manage risk and optimize resources. Each day, organizations in defense and intelligence, public safety, critical infrastructure, energy and online media rely on GeoEye's imagery, tools and expertise to support important missions around the globe. Widely recognized as a pioneer in high-resolution satellite imagery, GeoEye has evolved into a complete provider of geospatial intelligence solutions. GeoEye's ability to collect, process and analyze massive amounts of geospatial data allows our customers to quickly see precise changes on the ground and anticipate where events may occur in the future. GeoEye is a public company listed on NASDAQ as GEOY and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia with more than 750 employees worldwide. Learn more at www.geoeye.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limitation, the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to growth, expected levels of expenditures and statements expressing general optimism about future operating results, are forward-looking statements. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements and those presented elsewhere by our management from time to time are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2010, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 15, 2011, and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011, and Sept. 30, 2011, which we filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011, Aug. 2, 2011, and Nov. 1, 2011, respectively. Copies of all SEC filings may be obtained from the SEC's EDGAR Web site, http://www.sec.gov/, or by contacting: William L. Warren, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, at 703-480-5672.

SOURCE GeoEye, Inc.