THE EVENT OF THE MONTH:
The Galileo Information Centre for Latin America organizes the first Information Days: A step more into cooperation on Galileo between EU and Latin America
On 27th - 28th March 2007, the GALILEO Information Centre (GIC) for Latin America, hosted by CRECTEALC/Campus Brazil in Sao Jose dos Campos, organized the first Galileo Information Days. This event was held in the frame of the Galileo cooperation activities that the European Union initiated a year ago under the supervision of the new European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA). 
The GIC , managed by LATINO Conosortium, was created for the benefit of cooperation with all Latin American countries, as Jacques Barrot, the Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of transport stated on the occasion of its inauguration by the end of 2005: “The last EU-Latin America summit put satellite navigation on our common agenda. I see a huge potential for our cooperation on Galileo. The information centre will help, in a very practical way to foster our scientific and industrial relation in this promising field”
Since its opening the GIC is being the focal point for the promotion of GALILEO services and applications in the region, supported by the regular news and information distributed through its virtual centre as well as the organization of successful events like those Galileo Information Days.
The Galileo Information Days, supervised by the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) represented by Dr. Daniel Ludwig, were attended by more than 70 participants, establishing an unique platform to gather important stakeholders from the region to present their own GNSS strategy plans, and get updated information on the Galileo Programme evolution as well as the main outcomes from the different cooperation activities organised in the region in the frame of Galileo.
THE GALILEO INFORMATION DAYS PROGRAMME:
First day presented an overview of the LATINO activity leaded by the Spanish Company PILDO LABS, in charge of the GIC, and the current status on the Galileo Programme together with a review of GNSS implementation plans from different Latin American. The Industrial development of Galileo Receiver by the Belgium Company Septentrio was also presented. Septentrio Sv is a counterpart of LATINO Consortium.
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| Title | Speaker | Organization |
| GNSS Implementation in Europe: Galileo & EGNOS Status | D. Ludwig | European GNSS Supervisory Authorithy (GSA) |
| Galileo Receiver Development by Septentrio | P.Grognard | Septentrio Sv |
| Galileo Information Centre: LATINO Activities in Latin America | S. Soley | Pildo Labs |
| GNSS in Latin America: Plan & Strategy | R. Montenegro | Central American Cooperation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA) |
| GNSS implementation in Brazil | R. Mussi | Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) |
| Ionospheric Studies for GNSS Applications | F. Azpilicueta | La Plata University |
| GNSS implemation in Mexico | J.Gonzalez Bernal | CRECTEALC Mexico |
| GNSS perspectives | J. Riveros | Colombia |
| SACCSA in Latin America | L. Andrada |
Spanish Airports and Air Navigation |
During the second day, the results from the market analysis developed by CELESTE activity were presented, as well as the FLARE infrastructure to be implemented in the region for future demonstrations on augmentation systems capabilities.
| Title | Speaker | Company |
| CELESTE Overview | L. Andrada | AENA |
| Scenarios Identification | A.Cezon | GMV |
| Scenarios Evaluation | J. Michelon | Alcaltel Alenia Space (AAS) |
| Ionosphere, Operability and Independence | A. Cezon & J. Michelon | GMV & AAS |
| Aeronautics Applications | L. Andrada | AENA |
| Rail Applications | I. Monfort | INECO |
| LBS Applications | F.Salla | ATECH |
| Road Applications | A.Cezon | GMV |
| Maritime and Fluvial Applications | A.Quevedo | INDRA SI |
Background
- The GSA is the new Community Agency in charge of the management the public interest, to be the regulatory authority the European GNSS Programme, Galileo. The GSA is also in charge to control the use of funds and manage the related R&D activities. In particular, in Latin America Region, GSA funds and manages LATINO, CELESTE and FLARE projects.For more information about GSA please visit the GSA web site
- The CELESTE Consortium, leaded by the Spanish Air Navigation Services Provider (AENA) investigates scenarios that go beyond the current Satellite Based Augmentation System and Galileo Baselines to propose an optimised solution. The CELESTE Activity support the analysis of the necessary steps for a possible migration of the current GPAS based GNSS applications to a GALILEO and SBAS based.
- The fLAre Project will be dedicated to support the development of an infrastructure which enables future performance of demonstrations in a area not covered in Latin America. The fLAre project will provide added value of Satellite Augmentation Based System with respect to GPS only.
