International Committee on Global Navigation meets

26 January 2009, 11:47am

The International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems concluded their Third Meeting in Pasadena, CA, USA, on 8-12 December 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to continue further review and discussion on developments in global navigation satellite systems. The International Committee also addressed global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) science and innovative technology applications and future commercial applications. Representatives from industry, academia, and governments shared views on GNSS compatibility and interoperability.

The meeting was hosted by the United States. Attendees included the members of the Providers Forum: China, the European Community, India, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United States, states that are members of the ICG: Italy, Malaysia, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and the following international organizations: the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC), the European Position Determination System (EUPOS), the Fédération Internationale des Géomètres (FIG), the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN), the International GNSS Service (IGS, formerly International GPS Service), and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the affiliated Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean have for the first time attended the meeting as invited observers. The International Committee recognized the IAG Reference Frame Sub-Commission for Europe (EUREF), also among the attendees, as a new associate member.

The International Committee appreciated the fact that its four working groups focus on:

- compatibility and interoperability;
- enhancement of performance of GNSS services;
- information dissemination and capacity building; and
- interaction with national and regional authorities and relevant international organizations.

The groups made substantive progress in furthering the ICG Workplan, approved at the first meeting of the ICG organized by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs in Vienna in 2006. The International Committee also recalled that in its resolution 62/217 of 21 December 2007 the General Assembly noted with appreciation the establishment of the ICG.

The International Committee noted that the Providers Forum has for the first time adopted its Terms of Reference and a Workplan. The Plenary of the ICG also affirmed on its meeting that in the future the Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education, affiliated to the United Nations, would act as the ICG Information Centres. The International Committee further agreed to establish a Task Force on Geodetic References and a Task Force on Time References in order to promote progress in its Workplan. At at the end of its meeting, the International Committee accepted the invitation of the Russian Federation to host the fourth ICG meeting in Saint-Petersburg, from 14 to 18 September 2009. The ICG at the same time noted the offer of the European Community and Italy to jointly host the succeeding meeting in 2010. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, as the Executive Secretariat of the ICG and the Providers Forum, will assist in the preparations for these meetings and
interim planning and working group activities.

About ICG

The International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) was established on a voluntary basis as an informal body to promote cooperation, as appropriate, on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing and value-added services, as well as the compatibility and interoperability of global navigation satellite systems, while increasing their use to support sustainable development, particularly in developing countries, and held its first meeting in Vienna, in 2006, and its second meeting in Bangalore, India, in 2007. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) serves as the Executive Secretariat of the ICG and the Providers
Forum. More information on the ICG can be found on its information portal at the web site below.

UNOOSA implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee. The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology. Located in Vienna, Austria, UNOOSA maintains a website at the link below.

For further information contact:
Sharafat Gadimova
Programme Officer
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Telephone: (+43-1) 260 60-5479
Email: sharafat.gadimova@unoosa.org

Source: UN Information Service

ICG Secretariat

UNOOSA

Third ICG Meeting Report (PDF)

Geo: International