With the new version 3.2 for its Leica GPro download and ground processing software, Leica Geosystems is now offering improvements and new capabilities to its Airborne Sensor customers, such as increased speed and simplified handling. In this new version 3.2, Leica GPro offers a new project information file structure, which enhances usability and productivity. Increased speed for pixel-wise orthorectification is provided. Plus, Leica GPro now supports the newly launched ADS40 2nd Generation sensor heads SH51 and SH52.
www.leica-geosystems.com

Trimble, USA introduced its AgGPS Implement Steering system for keeping implements pulled by tractors using the Trimble RTK Autopilot automated steering systems on the same repeatable path, even on extremely sloped fields. The system includes its own implement-mounted GPS receiver and T3 roll-compensated control system. A single display in the tractor communicates desired path information to the implement, instantly adjusting the steerable coulters. This information instructs the implement to directly follow in the path of the tractor.
www.trimble.com

Trimble will launch its Trimble VRS Now service for Germany in December. The commercial subscription service will provide surveyors, civil engineers and geospatial professionals with instant access to real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS corrections without the need for a base station. Using GNSS reference station data from SAPOS, the SAtellite POSitioning Service of the German State Survey, the Trimble service will deliver centimetre-level RTK positioning customized for each GNSS receivers exact location anywhere in the network. The Trimble VRS Now service will supply fast, easy to use and accurate GNSS positioning for a variety of applications.

Magellan (formerly Thales Navigation) has launched Magellan Professional,
the new brand under which it will market its survey and GIS business. The company has also launched its Magellan Professional website today which can be easily accessed from
www.pro.magellanGPS.com.

Leica Geosystems has announced the launch of Leica HDS6000, its next generation, ultra-high speed laser scanner. Also announced was Leica Cyclone SCAN v5.6, companion laptop software for controlling the new scanner. The Leica HDS6000 features several major “next generation” advances that increase the versatility, portability, and productivity of ultra high-speed, phase-based laser scanning for many as-built survey applications. www.leica-geosystems.com

There were 37,000 GPS portable navigation devices (PNDs) shipped to the Taiwan market during the second quarter of 2006, dropping by 44.8% from the 67,000 units delivered in the preceding quarter, according to IDC (International Data Corporation) statistics cited by local industry sources. The large quarter-on-quarter decrease was mainly the result of retail networks launching intense sales promotions in a peak period prior to the 2006 Chinese New Year, on January 29, as well as Garmin and local brands, including Mio, Asustek and PaPaNav, launching new GPS PND models late in the second quarter, the sources pointed out. www.digitimes.com

Nordnav has announced the launch of a new ultra-sensitive indoor GPS Reference tracking 10 times weaker signals than any other commercially available GPS receiver. The reference receiver allows the user to measure the exact signal lavels on every satellite, compare the fading between the indoor and outdoor signals, characterize the multipath effects on every satellite signal.
www.nordnav.com

Blue Marble Geographics announces the GeoObjects® Royalty Free Promotion, available for a limited time. GeoObjects, Blue Marble’s map display and data translation developer toolkit, is the display library behind much of their software. Blue Marble, known for their coordinate conversion technology, is also the creator of industry leading map display,
image reprojection, referencing, gps tracking, and Internet mapping technology.
www.bluemarb legeo.com

Autodesk recently announced its Civil3D Community Site. The new site helps engineers and surveyors stay informed on the latest Civil 3D-related
developments, interesting projects and other activities. Users can share templates, participate in discussion groups, access extensive training materials and receive invitations to participate in webcasts to learn more about the latest Civil 3D features.
http://civilcommunity.autodesk.com.

OrthoVista is the premier software for fully automated color balancing and mosaicking of geo-referenced image blocks. The new OrthoVista 4.2 provides a number of new features for optimizing quality, speed and productivity. It has significant processing speed and 33% faster than the previous version on average. The new OrthoVista 4.2 and INPHO 5.0 can be downloaded from INPHO’s website
www.inpho.de.

NovAtel Inc. announced that its GPS engine is onboard Neural Robotics Inc.’s (NRI) AutoCopter(TM) Express Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - a fully autonomous and electric-powered mini-helicopter that can be used for applications including aerial photography, surveillance, pipeline and utility line inspection, convoy escort, and mine detection. Further, Johannes Kepler, Vice President and CTO, Novatel Inc. has received the Johannes Kepler Award from the Institute of Navigation (ION). It was presented by Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, Chair of the ION Satellite Division and Dean of Engineering at the University of Calgary, at a ceremony held in Fort Worth, Texas. for sustained and significant contributions to the development of satellite navigation.

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) recently opened a new Topcon Technology Center (TTC) in Brisbane, Australia. The center produces key software systems for the company’s machine control and land surveying products used around the world.

This easy-to-operate 10 Hz receiver with an LCD display is very suitable for a wide range of applications, from agriculture to surveying, from construction to aviation. Combined with the dedicated Z+ antenna and an OmniSTAR HP+ subscription it delivers worldwide decimetre real-time accuracy.