GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation
(GAGAN)
A S Ganeshan
Project
Director, Navigation Systems,
ISRO Satellite
Centre
What is the origin of
the name ‘GAGAN’?
As you are aware GPS meets
most of the navigation requirements of users. However, to improve the
performance and integrity of the GPS system and to meet civil aviation
requirements, the basic GPS system is to be augmented by GEO satellite with
corrections and confi dences. Hence, the name GAGAN which is an acronym for GPS
Aided Geo Augmented Navigation System was chosen. Gagan is a Hindi word of
Sanskrit origin for the sky and aptly suits the project.
We are expected to have
a certified GAGAN by 2013. How close are we to this?
With the completion of
installation, integration and testing of all ground elements, the major
requirements of facility certifi cation has been completed. The integration of
GEO satellites with the ground elements and other aspects related to certifi
cations have been taken up. The system is expected to be certified by the 3rd
quarter of 2013. The GAGAN will be certifi ed by DGCA to provide NPA (Non
Precision Approach) services of RNP-0.1over Indian FIR (Flight Information
Region) and PA (Precision Approach) service of APV- 1.0/APV-1.5 over Indian
landmass.
What are the user
segments going to be benefitted by GAGAN?
Even though GAGAN is being
developed primarily for civil aviation applications over Indian region, it is
expected to provide enhanced service level to the user segments like,
Agriculture, Emergency response, Business solutions, Geographical data
collection, Natural resources, Land management, Scientifi c research,
Geodynamics ,Urban Mapping, Unmanned vehicles, Vehicle tracking, Air
navigation, Car navigation, Maritime applications, Search And Rescue
Operations, GIS, Timing applications, Canal Transit Management, etc In short,
it is expected to replace the GPS receivers and provide data integrity. Also,
GAGAN will aid the DGPS users with minimum change, risk and cost.
What is the reach of
GAGAN going to be and how other countries will be able to utilize its services?
The GAGAN system intends to
deploy and certify an operational Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)
for the Indian Flight Information Region (FIR), with expansion capability to
neighboring FIRs. When commissioned for service, GAGAN will provide a civil
aeronautical navigation signal consistent with International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) as established
by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Panel. The neighboring
countries can utilize GAGAN system by having reference stations within their
country. As the GAGAN GEO foot print extends from Middle East Asia to
Australia, the augmentation can be provided over this region using GAGAN
system. GAGAN will bridge the gap between Europe (served by EGNOS) and Japan
(served by MSAS).
What is the role of
private sector in the development of GAGAN?
Navigation projects have
created awareness among the Public Sector Undertaking and Indian industries and
they have been contributing to GAGAN projects. To name a few, ECIL (Electronics
Corporation of India Limited) was responsible for designing and development of
11 meter antennae installed at INLUS (Indian Land Uplink Station). Accord
Software is developing GAGAN and IRNSS receivers. Software development of INLUS
RFU (Radio Frequency Unit) systems will require the participation of software
companies capable of developing DO-178B compliant software. Many other
industries are involved in various subsystems of Navigation projects. Even
though the Indian private sector participation is limited in the development of
GAGAN, there is tremendous scope for the industry to develop user segment
equipments for the GAGAN system. The industries need to come up innovative
solution to meet diverse user positioning and timing requirements. Also, hand
in hand there is a need to develop applications suiting Indian conditions and
requirements using GAGAN signals especially in the areas of survey, intelligent
transportation systems, location based systems, disaster management, maritime
etc.
What are your plans to
create awareness among prospective users of GAGAN?
GNSS user meet is planned to
be jointly organized by ISRO and AAI on February 23rd 2012 at ISRO Satellite
Centre, Bangalore. This will be a platform where all the parties involved in
Navigation will interact and prospective users will greatly benefit. The plan
is to conduct such meets at regular intervals to ensure that the benefit of
GAGAN utilization is maximized.
How interoperable is GAGAN going to be with
other SBAS systems?
The functional performance of
GAGAN will meet the accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability
requirements specified for aviation by ICAO. The system will be inter-operable
with other international SBAS systems like US-WAAS, European EGNOS, and
Japanese MSAS etc and provide seamless air navigation across regional
boundaries utilizing same signal frequency.
Interference and jamming
with satellite signals are becoming major threats. How serious such threats are
in the context of GAGAN?
The threat to GAGAN signals
is similar in nature to any other GNSS system
|
What is the origin of
the name ‘GAGAN’?
As you are aware GPS meets
most of the navigation requirements of users. However, to improve the
performance and integrity of the GPS system and to meet civil aviation
requirements, the basic GPS system is to be augmented by GEO satellite with
corrections and confi dences. Hence, the name GAGAN which is an acronym for GPS
Aided Geo Augmented Navigation System was chosen. Gagan is a Hindi word of
Sanskrit origin for the sky and aptly suits the project.
We are expected to have
a certified GAGAN by 2013. How close are we to this?
With the completion of
installation, integration and testing of all ground elements, the major
requirements of facility certifi cation has been completed. The integration of
GEO satellites with the ground elements and other aspects related to certifi
cations have been taken up. The system is expected to be certified by the 3rd
quarter of 2013. The GAGAN will be certifi ed by DGCA to provide NPA (Non
Precision Approach) services of RNP-0.1over Indian FIR (Flight Information
Region) and PA (Precision Approach) service of APV- 1.0/APV-1.5 over Indian
landmass.
What are the user
segments going to be benefitted by GAGAN?
Even though GAGAN is being
developed primarily for civil aviation applications over Indian region, it is
expected to provide enhanced service level to the user segments like,
Agriculture, Emergency response, Business solutions, Geographical data
collection, Natural resources, Land management, Scientifi c research,
Geodynamics ,Urban Mapping, Unmanned vehicles, Vehicle tracking, Air
navigation, Car navigation, Maritime applications, Search And Rescue
Operations, GIS, Timing applications, Canal Transit Management, etc In short,
it is expected to replace the GPS receivers and provide data integrity. Also,
GAGAN will aid the DGPS users with minimum change, risk and cost.
What is the reach of
GAGAN going to be and how other countries will be able to utilize its services?
The GAGAN system intends to
deploy and certify an operational Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)
for the Indian Flight Information Region (FIR), with expansion capability to
neighboring FIRs. When commissioned for service, GAGAN will provide a civil
aeronautical navigation signal consistent with International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) as established
by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Panel. The neighboring
countries can utilize GAGAN system by having reference stations within their
country. As the GAGAN GEO foot print extends from Middle East Asia to
Australia, the augmentation can be provided over this region using GAGAN
system. GAGAN will bridge the gap between Europe (served by EGNOS) and Japan
(served by MSAS).
What is the role of
private sector in the development of GAGAN?
Navigation projects have
created awareness among the Public Sector Undertaking and Indian industries and
they have been contributing to GAGAN projects. To name a few, ECIL (Electronics
Corporation of India Limited) was responsible for designing and development of
11 meter antennae installed at INLUS (Indian Land Uplink Station). Accord
Software is developing GAGAN and IRNSS receivers. Software development of INLUS
RFU (Radio Frequency Unit) systems will require the participation of software
companies capable of developing DO-178B compliant software. Many other
industries are involved in various subsystems of Navigation projects. Even
though the Indian private sector participation is limited in the development of
GAGAN, there is tremendous scope for the industry to develop user segment
equipments for the GAGAN system. The industries need to come up innovative
solution to meet diverse user positioning and timing requirements. Also, hand
in hand there is a need to develop applications suiting Indian conditions and
requirements using GAGAN signals especially in the areas of survey, intelligent
transportation systems, location based systems, disaster management, maritime
etc.
What are your plans to
create awareness among prospective users of GAGAN?
GNSS user meet is planned to
be jointly organized by ISRO and AAI on February 23rd 2012 at ISRO Satellite
Centre, Bangalore. This will be a platform where all the parties involved in
Navigation will interact and prospective users will greatly benefit. The plan
is to conduct such meets at regular intervals to ensure that the benefit of
GAGAN utilization is maximized.
How interoperable is GAGAN going to be with
other SBAS systems?
The functional performance of
GAGAN will meet the accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability
requirements specified for aviation by ICAO. The system will be inter-operable
with other international SBAS systems like US-WAAS, European EGNOS, and
Japanese MSAS etc and provide seamless air navigation across regional
boundaries utilizing same signal frequency.
Interference and jamming
with satellite signals are becoming major threats. How serious such threats are
in the context of GAGAN?
The threat to GAGAN signals
is similar in nature to any other GNSS system
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