Indian Space Research Organization

Combining Two Giants: Indian Railways & ISRO Come Together to Make Our Train Journeys Safer …

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Indian Railways and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) are coming together to utilise technology in a way that our train journeys can be made a lot safer and easier in terms of navigation.

With the vision of making our railway journeys safer and more efficient, Indian Railways will tie up with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to get satellite images of all the track routes, and to help in navigation.

With the use of geospatial technology, it will be possible to map the complete rail routes including buildings, land, workshops etc. on the way.

The technology involves GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing) features.

trin isro

Photo Credit: Feng Zhong/Flickr

This service will be provided by GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system of ISRO. GAGAN is an indigenous navigation system which was jointly developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to assist aircrafts in accurate landing. It can now be used to assist trains as well, and Indian Railways will be able to receive online satellite images which will help in mapping the train routes in detail.

“We will sign an MoU with ISRO shortly to avail the online satellite images to create a GIS platform,” informed a senior Railway Ministry official to PTI.

This is how the GAGAN system can help Indian Railways:

  • It will be very helpful at the time of train accidents when it is difficult to find out the exact location of trains.
  • With the help of remote sensing facility, it will also help in devising solutions for safety at unmanned railway crossings.
  • Drivers on the road can be warned about an approaching train by activating hooters at the crossings.
  • With the use of GAGAN software system, trains would know the location of any unmanned level crossing and a warning signal can be given for their reference.
  • The images will also be used for geo-fencing, which will be utilised for the recently launched paperless ticketing system app. Geo-fencing is a feature which makes use of GPS and radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries.
  • It will also be easier to track trains with the technology on a real time basis. As of now, the train movements are tracked manually.

“There is specific information provided for aligning the railway tracks, particularly in mountainous regions, and also identifying tracks which are most stable when you are going through tunnels. In all these things, space technology is useful,” ISRO Chairman, A.S. Kiran Kumar was quoted saying earlier this year.

Source….. Tanaya Singh ….www.the betterindia.com

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Isro to put US satellite in space for the first time….

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Many may find it a crowning glory, but Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) scientists think it’s just an acknowledgement long due. The US, which imposed sanctions on India, will take India’s help to launch one of its satellites soon.

Isro has a track record of launching satellites for 19 countries including space-faring nations, but this is the first time the US would be using an Indian vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, to put one of its satellite in orbit.

“US will be the 20th country to sign up for a commercial launch by India,” said Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar, on the sidelines of the 5th convocation of AMET University. “It’s the cost-effective technology we have.”

India has so far launched 45 satellites for 19 nations. Kiran Kumar said another 28 foreign satellites will be launched in the next two years. “The need of the hour is to increase our capacity,” he said.

ISRO, at present, is gearing up for the launch of GSLV-Mark-II, probably around August 27. “The 2.1-tonne capacity GSLV-Mark-II will be carrying a communication satellite,” he said. “By March 2016, we will launch seven satellites.”

Isro, meanwhile, has put to long-duration test its indigenously developed cryogenic engine for GSLV-Mark-III, which can carry satellites weighing up to four tonnes. “We will launch it by December 2016,” Kumar said. India’s big missions including the proposed manned mission rests on the shoulders of GSLV-MIII.

Having successfully launched a Mars mission, India is planning a mission to Venus. Isro is also on the lookout for a launch pad outside Sriharikota, in Kulasekharapattinam in southern Tamil Nadu.

Source….www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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