Press Briefing on the Establishment of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG)

UNIS Vienna held a press briefing today on the International Meeting for the Establishment of an International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG). The Meeting is organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, and is being held at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria, 1- 2 December.

Speakers at the briefing were Sergio Camacho-Lara, Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs; Ken Hodgkins, Deputy Director, Office of Space and Advanced Technology, United States Department of State; Michael Shaw, Director, National Space-based PNT Coordination Office, United States; and Rafael Lucas, European Space Agency. The briefing was chaired by Sonja Wintersberger, Associate Information Officer, UNIS Vienna.

Since 2001, OOSA has organized a number of regional workshops and international meetings to promote the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and, in the latest of these events, to develop the draft Terms of Reference for the ICG. The Meeting is to review and discuss the draft Terms of Reference and is expected to reach final agreement on those terms. OOSA will continue to actively support ICG as an observer. When requested, OOSA may also act as an organizer and focal point for specific meetings and activities of ICG.

Mr. Camacho introduced the role of OOSA in relation to GNSS and emphasized the importance of promoting international cooperation, in particular for the benefit of developing countries gaining access to these technologies.

Mr. Hodgkins remarked that an important task would be to bring system operators together with system users. Bringing GNSS technology to developing countries was of particular importance as the civil and commercial applications could be of tremendous benefit for these countries.

Mr. Shaw pointed out that GNSS services were a critical element in modern transportation safety and economic growth, and that global utility would revolutionize our lives within the next decades. Right now it was important that the different systems, which were being fielded, were developed to compatibility and interoperationability.

Mr. Lucas introduced the European Galileo system. He pointed out that the first Galileo satellite was expected to be launched on 26 December, with a back up ready to be launched in March April 2006.

In response to a question on the use of GPS in precision farming, Mr. Shaw explained the applications of GPS in this area, including storage and evaluation of soil data, by which  one could vary the amount of seeds and fertiliser, which was both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

In response to a question on the probability of a single GNSS system under the auspices of the UN, Mr. Shaw answered that the coordination of various systems could be expected for the near future. Mr. Lucas added that different systems were desirable so that their accuracy could be cross-checked.