Positioning, Navigation & Timing

As a pioneer of EGNOS and Galileo programmes,
FDC has assisted public institutions and private stakeholders for over 30 years.

Our modern society strongly relies on satellite navigation systems (GNSS) in various areas including transport, defense, telecommunications, energy but also precise agriculture, supply chain management and intelligent connectivity. The range of satellite navigation applications is indeed huge and continuously fueled by a steadily growing demand and evolving technologies with for instance the advent of 5G, automated driving, smart cities, big data and Internet of Things.

FDC’s renowned technical expertise in GNSS technology is combined with an in-depth knowledge of GNSS applications and a comprehensive understanding of both civilian and military user needs. Those skills, complemented by a solid market vision and strong market development competences, are used every day to meet our clients’ challenges.

FDC’s teams have been assisting public institutions and private organisations in the satellite navigation domain for over 30 years. We are proud to have contributed to the early stages of the EGNOS and Galileo programmes and we are fully committed to shaping their future.

Case Studies

Context & Objectives

The rapid development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is significantly modifying the automotive industry landscape. In particular, connected and autonomous vehicles are expected to create significant opportunities across the Road value chain. These new paradigms will rely on a wealth of different technologies among which Space technologies are expected to play a key role. In this context, CNES asked FDC and its partner Ptolemus Consulting to support them in assessing the role that Space technologies could play in autonomous and connected vehicles.

FDC’s Activities

Our business and technology experts assessed the opportunities for Space technologies in the ITS market. Corresponding activities included:

  • Technical and Business consultancy
  • Interaction with stakeholders
  • User requirement analysis
  • Value Chain analysis
  • Market analysis

Outcomes

  • Opportunities for Space applications and recommendations
  • Technologies comparison (SWOT) for Connected and Autonomous vehicles
  • Positioning technologies offer and expected evolution
  • GNSS service provision schemes and penetration analysis

Context & Objectives

The Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) is an encrypted navigation service for governmental authorised users and sensitive applications requiring high continuity.

To use the service, PRS users from EU Member States need to interact with the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC), the entity responsible for managing the access to PRS. However, the complexity of the operational access procedures requires the training of future users. FDC was tasked to support the European Commission’s personnel units and the GSMC with the organisation of training sessions.

FDC’s Activities

Our experts used their deep knowledge of the PRS access rules and management to train PRS users in cooperation with CGI and QinetiQ. FDC activities encompassed:

  • Upstream organisation of the training session
  • Elaboration of tailored training course materials
  • Provision of lecture modules

Outcomes

  • 2 training sessions organised in 2017
  • 15 Member States representatives trained
  • Very good feedback from participants with a final quality satisfaction level of 8 over 10

Context & Objectives

The continuous launch of satellites has gradually raised Galileo availability, offering a wealth of opportunities for demonstrating services capabilities and adequacy with user requirements. In this context the European Commission (EC) mandated FDC and its partners (Leonardo and QinetiQ) to implement Pilot Projects demonstrating PRS adequacy for various user applications.

FDC’s Activities

Our teams worked in close collaboration with the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) to elaborate Pilot Project demonstrations and Workshops. FDC’s activities encompassed:

  • Definition of scenarios demonstrating PRS added-value for Geo-fencing as well as Timing & Synchronisation applications
  • Preparation of Workshop and Pilot Project materials
  • Carrying out of a demonstration

Outcomes

  • 1 Pilot Project event held
  • First implementation of the EU pre-operational PRS Receivers (P3RS2) for demonstration purpose
  • Preparation of further PRS Pilot Project events with the elaboration of demonstration videos

Context & Objectives

Entities willing to access Galileo secure service are bound to apply specific security rules. As stated in the Decision No 1104/2011/EU, these rules shall be applied by the European Union (EU) Member States seeking to use PRS but also by the EU itself. In order to support the enforcement of this Decision, FDC was mandated for the development of bespoke software allowing the management of corresponding data between Member States and with the EU.

FDC’s Activities

Our engineers designed and developed professional software easing the management of sensitive information. FDC’s activities included:

  • Modelling and implementation of a software database
  • Development of user-friendly interfaces
  • Elaboration of user documentation

Outcomes

  • 3 bespoke software modules with user-friendly interfaces
  • 3 User Manuals
  • 1 Security Operating Procedures (SecOps) document defining protection measures for the managed information>/li>