A new plano-altimetric map of the Dome Concordia (Dome C) area was drawn up from 1995/96 kinematic double-frequency global-positioning-system (GPS) data of two different projects, as well as static GPS data from a geodetic net for deformation analysis and ice-flow velocity measurements covering an area of about 2000 km2.The GPS surveys were carried out for EPICA during the 10th and 11th Italian Expeditions to choose the optimal location for deep ice-core drilling at Dome C. The accuracy of the kinematic survey was tested by analysing the height-value differences at intersections between different profiles; values ranged from 50–150 mm.The new map was compared with the 1993 kinematic interferential GPS data and residuals between the 1993 and 1995 data were calculated. The surface topographic values were used to calculate the elevation of the Dome C area bedrock, obtained from the reference ground-based and airborne radio-echo-sounding surveys.

The initial Galileo satellite positioning services, started on December 15, 2016, became available with a formal announcement by the European Commission. This first step toward the Galileo system Full Operational Capability (FOC) has allowed many researchers to test the new system. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the results and the conclusions of a kinematic test involving a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) multi-constellation receiver able to acquire the Galileo Open Service (OS) signal. The produced outputs were compared to a reference trajectory obtained from a Mobile Mapping System (MMS) implementing integrated high-performance GPS/INS measurements. By exploiting the CUI (command user interface) of the open source library RTKLIB, a reduced operative status was simulated for GPS and GLONASS. Specifically, all the possible operative combinations were tested and, when possible, statistically assessed. This was necessary to offer a fair comparison among the tested constellations. The results, referred to the reference trajectory, show that the new European system is characterized by a better planimetric performance with respect to the other systems, whereas, from an altimetric point of view, the GPS and GLONASS systems perform better.

Computational science is a main pillar of most present research as well as industrial and commercial activities and plays a unique role in exploiting ICT innovative technologies. The ICCSA conference series have been providing a venue to researchers and industry practitioners to discuss new ideas, to share complex problems and their solutions, and to shape new trends in computational science.Apart from the general tracks, ICCSA 2017 also include 43 international workshops, in various areas of computational sciences, ranging from computational science technologies to specific areas of computational sciences, such as computer graphics and virtual reality. Furthermore, this year ICCSA 2017 hosted the XIV International Workshop on Quantum Reactive Scattering. The program also features three keynote speeches and four tutorials.The success of the ICCSA conference series in general, and ICCSA 2017 in particular, is due to the support of many people: authors, presenters, participants, keynote speakers, session chairs, Organizing Committee members, student volunteers, Program Committee members, international Advisory Committee members, international liaison chairs, and various people in other roles. We would like to thank them all.We would also like to thank Springer for their continuous support in publishing the ICCSA conference proceedings.

No abstract

11 years ago, on 28 December 2005, was launched the Europe’s very first navigation satellite, GIOVE-A (Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element-A), thus starting the deployment of Galileo, the EU’s own global satellite navigation system. The deployment phase of Galileo suffered of many difficulties and delays but recently the Programme has been accelerated and, in the last months, the pace of deploying Europe’s own satellite navigation system continued to increase with the launch of the 18th Galileo satellite, on 17 November 2016. It is expected that the system will be fully operational by 2020, with actual implementation costs in the range of 5.23 billion of euros and 7 billion foreseen till 2020 for EGNOS e Galileo Projects. The excellent performances of Galileo satellites, as measured on the ground, “allows Europe to join the club of the worldwide providers of satellite navigation services”. Galileo will be integrated by EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay service). Consisting of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations, EGNOS achieves its aim by transmitting a signal containing information on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning signals sent out by GPS. It allows users, in Europe and beyond, to determine their position to within 1.5 m (1σ). Since the first signals became available to users, demonstrations have shown the usefulness of EGNOS services in every type of kinematic application, in the aerial, maritime and terrestrial domain. As part of ‘GIANT’ (GNSS Introduction in the AviatioN sector), tests have proved the benefits of EGNOS when landing at airports with fewer aids or when helicopters make emergency landings. The integrity data provided by EGNOS is particularly suited for applications driven by stringent safety constraints during critical navigation phases such as landing aircraft, manoeuvring ships in narrow channels, and tracking the precise locations of trains. Actually many applications are based on EGNOS, and the Open Service (OS), available since October 2009, is widely used in the agricultural world, where it has proved valuable for reducing the use of fertilisers, thus helping to protect the environment. The accuracy of the Open Service has also proved useful to guide blind people in the city via mobile phones—like car drivers using GPS. Towards the certification of the Safety of Life service, many tests have been performed in the aviation, maritime and rail sectors. Mapping of fixed assets, controlling mining machinery and other professional uses are potential applications that could benefit from the EGNOS Commercial Data. Demonstrations showing the potential of EGNOS have been performed in many other sectors and many applications are just waiting to be thought of, such as for rail, road and maritime users. The European Commission (EC) estimates that 6–7% of European GDP (Gross Domestic Product)—around 800 billion by value—is already dependent on satellite navigation. Any GNSS device available on the marked is able to receive GPS, GLONASS and EGNOS...