Malaysia uses satellite to fight illegal logging: report

Malaysia is zooming in on forests with a satellite in order to fight illegal logging which its government says is harming the major timber exporting country, a report said Sunday.
Darus Ahmad, deputy director-general with the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency, said the "eye in the sky" programme was put in place in October.
"There is always criticisms that our forests are diminishing," he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.
Darus said that using satellite images the authorities can establish a national forest inventory of the country's total area of forest cover.
They can then check whether logging in a particular area is legal or not, he said, adding that the facility was currently available in the western peninsular part of Malaysia only.
Darus also said the system can be used to prevent air pollution by detecting forest fires and illegal land clearing.
In the 1990s alone, Malaysia lost more than 13 percent of its forests, with much of the deforestation on the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei.
The World Wildlife Fund at the time estimated that illegally logged trees made up about one third of Malaysia's timber exports.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year pledged not to indiscriminately approve logging licences, amid mounting concern that clearances are threatening endangered species and tribal communities.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who also heads the National Forestry Council, later warned that illegal logging could undermine Malaysia.
"It can jeopardise our efforts to preserve biodiversity, flora and fauna and have an impact on global warming. At the international level, illegal logging portrays a negative image of our country," he said.
"It can harm our national economy as the timber industry produces 23 billion ringgit (6.8 billion dollars) worth of wood-based products a year," he added.
The European Union market accounts for about 30 percent of Malaysia's annual timber exports.

Handheld GPS Targeted To Serious Outdoor Adventure

DeLorme has announced that it is now shipping its next generation handheld GPS receiver, the Earthmate PN-40. The new device's exceptional performance and unrivaled map and imagery options make it a superior choice for serious outdoors enthusiasts, geocachers, and active families.
The PN-40 is powered by the high-sensitivity 32-channel Cartesio chipset, by STMicroelectronics, for no-wait satellite acquisition. DeLorme ConstantLock provides sure-fire signal retention, even under forest cover and in other challenging GPS environments.
A powerful dual-core processor delivers lightning-quick performance. Features include a 3-axis electronic compass, usable while held in any position; and a sensitive barometric altimeter for reliable altitude readings.
Detailed Maps, Aerial Imagery, NOAA Nautical ChartsThe PN-40 comes with Topo USA 7.0 software included (no extra purchase required). Topo USA puts the most up-to-date topographic maps available in the user's hand. Built on 1:100,000 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data, Topo USA displays current terrain and land cover detail plus updated DeLorme street and road data-everything from interstate highways to remote back roads.
In addition, Topo USA links users to a unique menu of supplemental data, including high-resolution aerial imagery, NOAA nautical charts, and USGS 7.5-min. quad maps.
GPS for Serious Outdoor AdventuresWith its blazing-fast performance, high-end features and unrivaled map and data options, the PN-40 is staking out a leadership position as a GPS for serious outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, geocaching, hunting, fishing, kayaking, boating, snowmobiling, and many more.
"We developed the PN-40 as a serious, practical tool for reliable performance in any navigational situation or condition," said Caleb Mason, Director of Marketing at DeLorme. "At the same time, the PN-40 reflects DeLorme's well-established reputation for forward-thinking innovation."
Many of the PN-40's distinctive capabilities are tied to its performance partnership with Topo USA. The software enables users to view the supplemental aerial imagery, NOAA charts and USGS quads on the PC as well as on the PN-40. That, along with Topo USA's superior road and trail data, its realistic 3-D terrain views, and 4 million places of interest, enables a level of scouting, trip planning, and routing that no other GPS provider can offer. Unique CapabilitiesOne exclusive Topo USA feature is the ability to automatically create trail routes rather than laboriously loading trail points. Both road and trail routes can easily be sent to the PN-40.
Topo USA also uniquely enables users to import collected GPS tracks and quickly convert them to routable roads or trails.
For geocachers, the PN-40 and Topo USA allow a generous 800 characters for cache descriptions. It supports both .gpx and .loc files.
Easy Photo Geo-TaggingThe PN-40 and Topo USA offer a simple way to locate the exact position where any digital photos were taken during a hike, kayaking trip, geocaching, or other outdoor adventure.
Rock-Solid ReliabilityThe PN-40 has a 65K-color daylight-readable TFT screen for clarity in any light conditions, and is WAAS-enabled for the best possible positional accuracy.
It has an impact-resistant and waterproof (IPX7) rubberized housing, and offers the same rock-solid reliability as the still-available Earthmate PN-20, which has performed successfully in the world's most challenging environments.
DeLorme was the GPS provider for a pair of recent Arctic expeditions-Will Steger's Global Warming 101 trip in 2007, and Ed Viesturs' 2008 Canadian Arctic Trek for Earth Health.
John Huston, who was base camp manager for Steger, also relied on a PN-20 during a 720-mile trip he led to the South Pole culminating in January 2008. In March of 2009, Huston and Tyler Fish will embark on North Pole '09, equipped with an Earthmate PN-40 (DeLorme is helping to underwrite the expedition).
"When traveling in the world's polar regions, we need a GPS that is reliable and easy to use," said Huston.
"The Earthmate is our choice; we see it as an honest friend on the ice."

Never Get Lost In Bali Again

"Around two million tourists visit Bali each year with increasing numbers hiring vehicles to explore the island at their own pace, but until now the only way to navigate Bali was with antiquated road maps and directories, some of which were mapped over thirty years ago", said Bali Navigator Sales and Marketing Director - Don Meredith.
"Our Bali Navigator digitized mapping software has full auto-routing capability, a feature where a user can simply enter a destination and the GPS receiver will calculate the path and guide you there with turn by turn data. Now users in Bali will have at their finger tips a fully integrated GPS system as advanced and as detailed as any other GPS mapping technology in the world. We are extremely proud ofthe work that our mapping team has done in Bali and over the moon with the final product which is nowready to release to the market. This first release version also includes the map for Lombok" he added.
Bali Navigator Technical Director - Brian Long added, "Bali is a small island and one of the smallest in the Indonesian archipelago, east to west the island is only approximately 150 kms wide and 110 kms north to south, yet remarkably our ground mapping team have tracked over 6,000+ kilometers of roads (around 70% of all Bali's roads) and we have amassed over 12,000 POI (Points Of Interest) including: Hotels, Restaurants,
Nightclubs, Department Stores and Supermarkets, Petrol Stations, Boutique Shops, Hospitals and Police, plus hundreds of Tourist Attractions. We even employed a well known Bali professional surfer to assist our trackers plot and map the positions of Bali's top surf breaks so now finding your favorite Hotel or Restaurant, Petrol Station, Boutique Shop or even where the best waves are pumping just got a whole lot easier. It truly is "Like Having A Tour Guide In Your Pocket", he said.
GPS units can either be purchased or rented. Contact Bali Navigator before you arrive in Bali and they will arrange to deliver a GPS unit to your Hotel, Villa or selected Car Rental Outlet.
At the moment the Bali Navigator map is only suitable for Garmin brand GPS units but talks are underway with other hardware manufacturers to make the Bali Navigator map available for use in other GPS brands. There is also a version of the Bali Navigator map available to download for GPS compatible SmartPhones.

Guidepoint To Supply Stolen Vehicle Recovery To Steve Saleen's SMS Supercars

GuidePoint Systems has announced it will supply its GPS-based stolen vehicle recovery solution for two new ultra-high performance vehicles built by Steve Saleen's new company, SMS Supercars.
The Pontiac, Mich.-based vehicle telematics supplier said SMS will initially offer Guidepoint as a security option on its new SMS Challenger vehicles.
The fully certified and street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are based on the 2009 Challenger R/T platform and feature an SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi with power ratings from 500 to 700 horsepower.
Both models are fully equipped with a complement of SMS ultra-high performance components, including drive train, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interiors.
"The ultra-high performance vehicles built by SMS deserve an ultra-high performance security solution," said Rand Mueller, president and CEO of GPSi.
"Guidepoint integrates the most advanced GPS and wireless technology to protect vehicles from being moved by anyone other than their rightful owners and, if necessary, to recover the vehicle quickly before any damage can be done. We're pleased to work with Steve Saleen and the entire SMS team to offer their customers the peace of mind that comes with Guidepoint."

GadgetTrak Launches MacTrak With Location From Skyhook Wireless

GadgetTrak has announced the launch of MacTrak. MacTrak includes location-awareness from Skyhook Wireless' Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) and integration with Flickr to capture the location and images of laptop thieves.
"GadgetTrak offers the most advanced data protection and theft recovery solutions available for mobile devices," said Ken Westin, founder and CTO of GadgetTrak.
"Taking advantage of Skyhook's cutting-edge location technology allows our software to send the location of the device to the owner along with a photo of who is using the system, greatly increasing the chances of getting the stolen device back."
According to the FBI one out of every ten laptops sold will be stolen within a year of purchase, 97% of which will never be recovered. Consumers carry more and more mobile devices with them every day and the risk of device theft or loss is increasing. GadgetTrak's cutting-edge products are poised to secure and recover hundreds of millions of at-risk mobile devices, as well as protect the data that is on them.
"GadgetTrak is an excellent example of location-awareness enhancing the security of our valuable mobile devices," said Kate Imbach, director of marketing at Skyhook Wireless.
"And in practice, Skyhook's Wi-Fi Positioning can pinpoint the location of a stolen device within 20-30 meters even in dense urban areas or indoors, meeting the tough performance standards of security applications."
When a MacTrak enabled laptop is stolen, the device owner can remotely activate tracking for their stolen system. Once the stolen device connects to the Internet, GadgetTrak's patent-pending software will determine the device location using WPS.
It will also activate the Mac's camera and photograph the thief. It will upload the image, location and network information to Flickr and send an email to the owner with the same information. The data will continue to be sent over time until tracking is disabled.

Military Weather Satellite Achieves Five Years On Orbit

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Flight 16 (F16) Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built by Lockheed, has surpassed five years of on-orbit operations and continues to provide critical weather data to the warfighter, one year beyond its four year design life.
The DMSP constellation is built under contract for the U.S. Air Force and is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
As a result of the constellation's exceptional performance, stability and longevity, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. has elected to postpone the planned November 2008 launch of the replacement F18 DMSP spacecraft, preserving future launch options.
"We take great pride in DMSP's sustained record of performance serving the warfighter," said Sue Stretch, Lockheed Martin's DMSP program director.
"Our partnership with the Air Force ensures commanders have timely access to environmental data critical to the preparation and execution of military operations and we look forward to providing continued success for our customer."
DMSP is used for strategic and tactical weather prediction to aid the U.S. military in planning operations at sea, on land and in the air.
Equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite that can image cloud cover in visible and infrared bands and measure precipitation, surface temperature and soil moisture, the satellite collects specialized global meteorological, oceanographic and solar-geophysical information in all weather conditions.
The DMSP constellation comprises two spacecraft in near-polar orbits, C3 (command, control and communications), user terminals and weather centers. The final replacement satellites are maintained at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, Calif. for storage, functional testing and upgrading until the spacecraft are shipped to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. for launch when requested by the Air Force.

Galileo Workshop Considers GIOVE Satellite Results

The European Space Agency (ESA) is hosting a workshop that will present the findings of the in orbit verification and early experimentation from the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B satellites. SSTL's Galileo team, led by Elizabeth Rooney, is supporting the workshop and will be presented with an award in recognition of SSTL's outstanding contribution to the success of the Galileo programme.
The GIOVE (Galileo In Orbit Validation Element) satellites serve several purposes - to secure and maintain the Galileo frequency filing with the ITU (International Telecommunications Union), to validate technologies to be used in the Galileo operational constellation, to monitor the environment in the Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO) and to generate Galileo signals so that user equipment can be developed.
GIOVE-A was developed rapidly in a little over two years under a 28M euros contract placed by ESA in July 2003.
Almost 3 years after the successful launch of GIOVE-A, and 6-months after the launch of GIOVE-B, the workshop will focus on the health and recent in-orbit testing of the MBOC (multiplexed binary offset carrier), which is broadcast by the new satellite.
The performance of the Passive Hydrogen Maser (PHM) clock onboard GIOVE-B, which promises increased accuracy and stability compared to the rubidium atomic clock used onboard GIOVE-A, will also be explored.
The first Galileo satellite, GIOVE-A, was launched in December 2005. Since securing the Galileo frequencies with the ITU in January 2006, GIOVE-A has consistently returned data from clock characterization experiments, radiation monitoring results as well as transmitting representative Galileo navigation signals.
In addition to using the signals to confirm the improved performance of the binary offset carrier signals, ESA has used the navigation signals in their GIOVE Processing Centre (GPC) housed in ESTEC which computes precise orbits and clocks of the GIOVE satellites based on the measurements collected by a global network of Galileo Experimental Sensor Stations.
The GPC generates the navigation data messages that are then uploaded to the GIOVE satellites. In the past year, SSTL has worked closely with ESA to upgrade the ground interfaces to support improved data update rates and also to introduce new fields in the navigation messages to improve interoperability with GPS.
Results from several in-orbit test campaigns performed on the GIOVE-A navigation signals have confirmed that the payload performance has remained consistent during the life of the mission.
As GIOVE-A continues to provide excellent performance and availability, the satellite's mission has been extended a further year beyond its nominal lifetime of 27 months in order to maintain continuity of Galileo's in-orbit validation prior to the launch of GIOVE-B and beyond.
The results from the GIOVE satellites provide important information about the in-orbit performance of technologies for ESA and companies, including SSTL, that are currently bidding to build the operational Galileo satellites.
SSTL together with its German partner OHB-System (www.ohb-system.de) was recently down-selected by ESA and the European Commission (EC) as one of two potential suppliers of satellites to the Galileo operational system to be deployed by 2013.

SSTL Earns ESA Award For Its Role In Galileo

British small satellite manufacturer, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), has been presented with an award by the European Space Agency (ESA) acknowledging the successful GIOVE A mission and its outstanding contribution to the success of the Galileo programme.
The award was presented by Didier Faivre of ESA's Galileo Directorate to Elizabeth Rooney of SSTL at an event held at the European Space Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, on 13th October 2008.
SSTL was contracted into ESA's Galileo programme in 2003, when it began building the first test bed satellite as part of the Galileo In Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE) of Galileo.
The satellite was rapidly built and launched before the end of 2005. Since then the company has been actively involved with the in-orbit testing of GIOVE-A and, more recently, GIOVE B, launched in April 2008.
Last month, SSTL together with its German partner OHB-System was downselected by ESA and the European Commission (EC) as one of two potential suppliers of satellites to the Galileo operational system to be deployed by 2013.
SSTL's Commercial Director, John Paffett said: "The GIOVE programme clearly demonstrated the benefits of dual-source supply, SSTL's GIOVE-A was designed, built and tested in a rapid 28 month schedule which allowed Europe to claim the ITU frequency filing. Without GIOVE-A, ESA would have lost the rights to the entire Galileo system. Dual source supply is also important in ensuring that the operational Galileo system is available as soon as possible and at the lowest final cost to the taxpayer. The long term benefit of a competitive supply base for Galileo satellites should not be underestimated."
Paffett believes that market forces will also give Galileo the required boost to develop satellite navigation equipment: "Galileo has a lot to offer the satellite navigation marketplace, whether it's landing planes or simply providing reliable navigation in the mountains. The possibilities are endless but it won't happen until the equipment manufacturers see a working constellation in space. The sooner this happens, the better."

Russia Invites Cuba To Join Glonass

Russia has invited Cuba to join its satellite navigation system, Glonass, Russia's communications minister, who is currently on a working visit in Havana, said on Friday.
Glonass - the Global Navigation Satellite System - is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions in terms of longitude, latitude and altitude to within a few meters.
"We are inviting all countries to join the system," Igor Shchegolev said at a news conference. "And, of course, we have invited Cuba."
Glonass is expected to begin providing worldwide services by the end of the next year.
Shchegolev and his Cuban counterpart Ramiro Valdes also signed a memorandum on cooperation in information technology.

New ASTRA 1M Satellite Ready For Launch On 6 November

Betzdorf, Luxembourg (SPX) Oct 31, 2008 - SES ASTRA has announced that its new ASTRA 1M satellite has been fully integrated into the fairing of the launch vehicle, a Proton Breeze M rocket, and is ready for launch on 6 November (local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite built by EADS ASTRIUM on an Eurostar E3000 platform will be launched by International Launch Services (ILS) into SES ASTRA's prime ... more