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SALHUB Training Courses for PNT, EO and SatComms

The Space Applications Learning Hub (SALHUB) is one of five new projects recently announced by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to help tackle key skills gaps identified by the recent  UK space sector skills survey. This UKSA funding has been provided to boost the availability of training and to break down barriers to opportunities within the fast-growing, high-tech sector.  

The SALHUB is led by the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) together with expert partners Space Professionals Partnership Limited (SPPL), Geospatial Ventures Limited (GVL) and Space Skills Alliance (SSA). 

This project will deliver expert-led training modules in systems engineering, data/artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and commercial operations across positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), Earth observation (EO/GIS) and satellite communications (SatComms).   

Training across these three domains of PNT, EO and SatComms will be delivered both online and in-person. Online training will be delivered between 30 September and 6 December 2024 (see initial schedule below), and in-person training will be delivered in early 2025, with a 5-day course for each domain.

All courses during the grant period are open, available to all and free to attend. All courses, particularly the in-person courses, may well fill quickly so please register your interest here to be first to hear when booking opens.

Expert-led Training 

The RIN is a widely respected UK learned society and professional body. RIN domain experts supported the work resulting in the October 2023 Policy Framework for greater PNT resilience.   

The SALHUB project will build upon the RIN’s acclaimed earlier PNT training  by introducing domain experts GVL and SPPL to develop high quality training courses for PNT (led by RIN), EO (GVL) and SatComms (SPPL).

Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Training

PNT enables all aspects of everyday life, from smartphone apps to enabling critical infrastructure such as communications and power networks. PNT is a growing area and our courses are designed for anyone considering moving into a sector using PNT, anyone who has just made that move, or indeed those wanting new insights and to deepen PNT skills. Courses will be offered at foundation and intermediate level.  

The foundation courses will provide a vital bedrock of awareness and knowledge needed by everyone involved in using or specifying positioning or timing as part of a system or application. Intermediate level courses go deeper, into system engineering design, data analytics for PNT systems and how to interpret and apply PNT data, including use of AI/ML techniques. 

In a little more detail: the PNT course initial delivery will span a series of webinar sessions to be delivered in late 2024 (see dates below) and will address how to write positioning and timing system specifications for any use case, best practices for resilient PNT, a review of data sources, types of data and outputs from positioning and timing systems, interpretation and analysis of PNT data and a special module on timing. There will be modules on bringing everything together into a system-of-systems capable of performing resiliently. We will also cover how to track and maintain performance for your use case, flagging issues and how to plan to address them.

In early 2025, the PNT courses will be also delivered in a week-long block in-person in London, where the above modules will be complemented by additional hands-on workshops and using real data sets and tools.

Earth Observation (EO) & Graphical Information System (GIS) Training

EO and GIS are an integral part of the operations of a wide array of organisations. These skills are increasingly in demand across the widest range of sectors & span disciplines from understanding online mapping systems & environmental monitoring to urban planning. Our EO and GIS courses are designed for anyone considering moving into the space or indeed anyone with a desire to understand the use and applications of EO and GIS. They are also relevant to people seeking new insights or those who are keen to deepen the EO and GIS skills. Our courses will be aimed at foundation skills with learning moving to intermediate levels at later stages.

The Earth Observation and GIS Training is a modular course providing both an overview of EO and GIS and detailed insights into EO and GIS systems and applications. The foundation level will include an Introduction to EO and GIS, covering an overview of EO and GIS, their uses and benefits, and different configurations (including satellite-based EO and GIS software).

More detailed modules will include Data Acquisition and Sources, covering the types of EO data (optical, radar, thermal) and GIS data sources (spatial databases, remote sensing, field surveys); Data Processing and Management, focusing on preprocessing EO data and managing GIS data; and System Specifications and Design, discussing how to write EO and GIS system specifications and design resilient systems. Further modules will explore Data Interpretation and Analysis, remote sensing techniques, AI/ML in EO and GIS, Performance Monitoring and Maintenance, and practical workshops using QGIS with Copernicus data. The course culminates with a module on System Integration and Application, considering technical and societal benefits of EO and GIS.

The initial online webinar course delivery will take place in late 2024. In early 2025, the course will be delivered in a week-long in-person training programme, including all the above modules, additional hands-on workshops, and real datasets and tools.

Satellite Communications (SatComms) Training

SAL-HUB will offer a modular course providing both an overview of Satellite communications and some detail in terms of Satcom systems and business needs.  The foundation level will include an Introduction to Satellite Communications covering an overview of uses and benefits, and different configurations (including low earth orbit and geostationary).

More detailed modules will include Use Cases to Requirements covering an understanding of common use cases for Satcom; Regulation & Standards; Satcom System Design including satellite capacity, ground segment system management and related services; network design and link budgets; Management Systems; 5G & Satellites; System Design and Business Requirements and Techno-Economic Analysis considering technical and societal benefits of SatComms.

Cross-Cutting themes in System Engineering, Data/AI/ML and Commercial Operations

Before the PNT, EO and SatComms courses begin, there will also be an introductory week of cross-cutting content that explores systems engineering, data/AI/ML and commercial operations. These sessions will cover foundational modules that will act as a leveller for attendees coming from different sectors. 

The System Engineering modules will include focus on system engineering from a space industry perspective and include an Introduction to Space System Engineering; System Context, Requirements and Design; and System Verification, Validation and Qualification.

The Data/AI/ML modules will focus on an introduction to the concepts of AI and ML from the  perspective of the space industry. They will include an introduction to AI and ML, satellite & space data contexts, data processing and also introduce task setting including supervised learning, un-supervised learning and reinforcement learning.

The Commercial Operations modules will provide an introduction to commercial skills aimed at space industry professionals. They will cover an overview of developing a Product and Service Strategy, Product and Service Launch and Access to Finance aimed at the space industry.

Online Training Dates 

The Cross Cutting Theme online sessions are planned for delivery from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October, with 90-minute online sessions being held at 1100-1230 BST and 1300-1430 BST throughout the week.

The PNT course online sessions are planned for delivery from 1100-1230 BST (GMT after 27 Oct) every Monday from 7 October to 25 November. 

The EO course online sessions are planned for delivery from 1100-1230 BST (GMT after 27 Oct) every Wednesday from 9 October to 27 November. 

The SatComms course online sessions are planned for delivery from 1100-1230 BST (GMT after 27 Oct) every Friday from 11 October to 6 December.

Course Registration

The final touches are currently being made to the courses before we make them live to book online – if you’d like to be among the first to hear about it when registration becomes available then please register your interest at: https://rin.org.uk/page/SALHUBTraining

Note on a meeting of IMO NCSR11: 4– 13 June 2024

Report by Kim Fisher, FRIN

The meeting of the sub-committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue was intended to be held under the chairmanship Nigel Clifford of New Zealand but he had retired and was unable to take the chair. The vice chair Alexander Schwarz of Germany was also unavailable as he had been moved to other work in the German Administration. The meeting thus began with the election of new officers – Joris Brouwers of the Netherlands as chair (he previously had chaired the NAV working group) and Capt. Cerdo Espejo of Chile as vice chair. It was an eight day meeting but the Maritime Safety Committee is pressing for a return to a five day meeting. Ways of reducing the workload were discussed without any real conclusions. The next meeting has been agreed to be eight days again.

There were statements on the ongoing situation in Ukraine, the Red sea, and a new issue, jamming of GPS by North Korea. No specific actions were identified for these and no outputs were required from the meeting.

At the previous meeting there had been considerable discussion on proposals to amend SOLAS to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements which resulted in the setting up of a correspondence group led by China. The correspondence group report led to a significant workload for the meeting but successfully concluded with draft revisions to SOLAS regulation V/23, revised performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements, and a Circular on voluntary early implementation of the revised SOLAS V/23. The International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA) was invited to submit further consequential editorial updates directly to the next meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee.

The previous meeting had referred proposals for the introduction of a VHF data exchange system (VDES) as a possible replacement for the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to a correspondence group led by Japan. There was considerable discussion in this which resulted in general agreement that VDES should be introduced through chapter V (navigation) of SOLAS and not chapter IV (radiocommunications) as a voluntary option. More work was needed to prepare draft amendments to SOLAS and complete performance standards and the correspondence group was re-instated.

Proposals for performance standards for NAVDAT, intended to be a possible replacement for NAVTEX had been held over from the last meeting. The meeting successfully completed the performance standards and a revision of resolution MSC.509(105) on provision of radio services, and invited the IMO NAVTEX coordinating panel to develop a NAVDAT coordination scheme. Further work was forwarded to the next meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group.

The last meeting had referred the issue of increased costs for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) providers as new GMDSS satellite service providers are recognised in addition to Inmarsat to the Maritime Safety Committee for advice. The Committee had subsequently instructed NCSR to prepare draft amendments to the SOLAS Convention clearly stating the requirement for dissemination of MSI and search and rescue information through all recognised satellite service providers (RMSS), and set a target date of 31 December 2026 for full dissemination by existing RMSS. A revision was made to resolution A.707(17) on charging, but the work was not otherwise completed and was referred to the next meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group.

Proposals to revise the criteria for the provision of new GMDSS satellite service providers (resolution A.1001(25)) had been referred by the last meeting back to a correspondence group led by France. The new proposals led to considerable discussion but ultimately resulted in a revised resolution.

The issue of unlawful practices in the “dark fleet” associated with the manipulation of data transmissions from the AIS and tampering of AIS transponders was again discussed. Some modifications were made to the performance standards for AIS to incorporate the ship IMO number and a manufacturer identity. A proposal was made for the audits of the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system to use twelve months of data and not one month as at present to help in identifying wrongly reporting ships and the International Maritime Satellite Organization (IMSO) offered to conduct a trial.

Issues on the implementation of S-100 charts and operational guidance on route exchange were discussed and a correspondence set up to generate guidelines on the use of electronic nautical publications (ENP) to be led by Korea.

Amendments were agreed to the ship' routeing system TSS "In the approaches to Hook of Holland and at North Hinder" together with a revised recommendation on navigation for containerships in traffic separation schemes “Off Vlieland, Terschelling-German Bight, Off Friesland and German Bight western approach”, and draft areas to be avoided around oil rigs “off the Brazilian coast – Santos Basin”.

At the end of the meeting the retirement was announced of Christian Rissone of France and Jean-Charles Cornillou also of France.

The next meeting of NCSR is planned for 13 to 22 May 2025. A meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) is planned for 2 to 6 June December 2024. A meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group is planned for 7 to 11 October 2024. A meeting of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group is planned for 4 to 8 November 2024.

Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng elected President of the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN)

Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng, CBE, EBS, CEng, FREng, FRIN, FICE, FCIHT, FInstCES, was elected President at the RIN's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 18 June 2024. Professor Ochieng is a serving Trustee and Member of both the Council and Technical Committee of the RIN. 

Having joined the RIN in the 1990s and witness it grow from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of so many including the Executive/Secretariat, Council members and Presidents and the wider membership, Professor Ochieng takes on the mantle of leading the RIN at an exciting time following the release of  the UK Government's Policy Framework for greater PNT (positioning, navigation and timing) resilience. The start of the implementation of the Framework has seen the UK lead the world in establishing a unique and dedicated PNT Office within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). 

Professor Ochieng is particularly excited by the RIN’s mission and vision. The latter is to “unite in one body those interested in navigation, and to advance the art, science and practice of navigation and to promote knowledge in navigation and its associated sciences, including positioning, timing, tracking and conduct of a journey, whether on, in, over or under land, sea, air or space”.

This is translated into the vision “to be an inclusive group of diverse disciplines and people working together for a more navigable world".

“I very much look forward to working with the Trustees, Council, wider membership, and partners in industry, government, non-governmental organisations and the wider public to promote the vast contributions of PNT and related areas including Geospatial Science and Geomatic Engineering, to the world and beyond, capitalising on our established track record in facilitating research, education, innovation and practice”.

“I am particularly keen to ensure that the RIN plays its role in addressing the challenges of our time (encapsulated within the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals) across geography and time, underpinned by a culture of equality, diversity, inclusion, respect, excellence, collaboration, innovation and integrity”.

Professor Ochieng affirms that his Presidency will be anchored on developing talent, capacity building, generating resources, and sustained significant societal impact addressing local, regional and global challenges. Professor Ochieng will challenge each Member of the RIN to identify at least one aspect of the RIN’s work that they will champion in the coming 2 years, taking ownership and demonstrably delivering. 

Professor Ochieng is the Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chair in Positioning and Navigation Systems and Director of the Institute for Security Science and Technology at Imperial College London. He is a Trustee of the Science Museum Group (SMG), Chair of the Science Museum Advisory Board (SMAB), Member of NPL’s Science and Technology Council (STAC) and Scientific Advisor at the DfT and FCDO. He Chairs the Africa Engineers Steering Committee at the Royal Academy of Engineering.

His achievements are highly recognised globally including in his native Kenya as well as in the UK.

In 2022, Professor Ochieng received the honour of Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) from Kenyan President Dr William Ruto for his contributions to Kenya and the world. One of the country’s highest national decorations, the EBS is awarded by the President to public dignitaries, exemplary members of the public service, and other professionals who have provided distinguished service.

In June 2024, His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom bestowed upon Professor Ochieng the National Honour of ‘Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)’ for services to Global Positioning and Navigation Systems. A pioneer of Europe’s satellite-based global positioning and navigation systems, Professor Ochieng’s research covers positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system design and application on water, land, air and space. His research portfolio also includes infrastructure security and resilience, and user-centric mobility. As well as his research, he also advises the UK government on related policy.


Editor’s note:

About the Royal Institute of Navigation:
The Royal Institute of Navigation is a learned society and a professional body for navigation. The RIN's activities cover the full breadth of navigation and precise timing, spanning land, sea, air and space and includes animal navigation, human cognition, navigable cities and buildings and all domains of the practice of navigation.

Contact information: 
Dr Clare Stead 
comms@rin.org.uk

Released 19 June 2024