I hope I’m not about to poke a stick into a hornet’s nest. Let’s be clear that I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on. I don’t have any particular axe to grind here.
In case you’re confused, check out my original efforts to clarify the situation:
The rest of this post comes to us courtesy of CrossRate Technology.
Newly released report on eLoran refutes recent comments and decisions by Department of Homeland Security officials.
Windham, ME – May 12, 2009 – The recently released Independent Assessment Team (IAT) report, chaired by Dr. Bradford Parkinson, the father of GPS, and other industry leaders, concludes “… the IAT unanimously recommends that the U.S. Government complete the eLoran upgrade and commit to eLoran as the national backup to GPS for 20 years.” The IAT reached this conclusion by evaluating the need for a GPS backup then evaluating all available or potential alternatives. The IAT also performed a “deep dive” on the costs of the Loran system and a transition to eLoran, and found the infrastructure enhancements to eLoran are 70% complete and the cost to complete the rollout is less expensive than decommissioning the Loran system. This report is in direct opposition to recent comments made by the Department of Homeland Security that terminating Loran will save $190 M over five years and more research is needed to evaluate the need and solution for a GPS backup.
The IAT evaluated the need for a GPS backup and concluded, “that eLoran be completed and retained as the national backup system for critical safety of life, national and economic security and quality of life applications currently reliant on position, time, and/or frequency from GPS.” The IAT evaluated multiple systems to backup GPS and concluded, “eLoran is the only cost-effective backup for national needs; it is completely interoperable with and independent of GPS, with different propagation and failure mechanisms, … It is a seamless backup, and its use will deter threats to US national and economic security by disrupting (jamming) GPS reception.”
The report goes on to emphasize the need for commitment and urgency by saying “the IAT unanimously recommends that the U.S. Government complete the eLoran upgrade and commit to eLoran as the national backup to GPS for 20 years.” and “The US Government policy decision is needed to motivate users to equip.” The IAT team conducted a “deep dive” into the costs of operating the Loran system as it is today, decommissioning the system or upgrading the system to eLoran. They concluded upgrading to eLoran with improved accuracy and coverage is less expensive than decommissioning the Loran system and the new eLoran system will cost less to operate than the current Loran system.
The IAT report has never been classified but has been held from public release since March 20, 2007 when it was completed and presented to the co-sponsoring DOT and DHS Executive Committees. The report was now released only after an extensive Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) battle waged by industry representatives against the federal government. This report directly refutes the claims by DHS in recent months which claim savings from terminating eLoran but do not include the decommissioning costs or operational savings available with modern eLoran transmitters. Senior DHS representatives have claimed in the last few months that it is not clear a GPS backup is needed, or that eLoran is an appropriate solution, and they have recommended additional study is required. This study may not be the results they desired but it is definitely thorough and was performed by a qualified and non-biased team members. Ultimately the mission of DHS is to secure the country’s citizens and infrastructure and this report identifies eLoran as a critical project for both safety of life, and the way of life of all American citizens.
About the Independent Assessment Team
The IAT was formed at the request of the U.S. Department of Transportation and co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The assessment was performed by the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), a non-profit corporation that administers federally funded research and development to provide objective analyses of national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise. The IAT team was assembled with the IDA staff and external advisors including GPS scientists/architects, senior representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Naval Observatory, Office of Management and Budget, National Institute of Science and Technology as well as industry representatives from Boeing and Texas Instruments.
About CrossRate Technology
CrossRate Technology is committed to improving the systems and technologies you rely on for position, navigation and time. CrossRate’s team of engineers has addressed the reliability problems of GPS with a technology advancement that integrates three systems into one. CrossRate understands the importance of reliable, accurate information. For safety and security at sea, look to CrossRate Technology.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
When I read that BHO’s rationale for eliminating Loran is that:
“Oh, there’s a GPS receiver in every car anyway.”, it smacks of
cheap demagoguery. I’ve read the IDA report many times over;
the holders of the gov purse strings should too.
Electrically, Loran and GPS are at opposite ends. So, if one goes,
the other will survive. Details as to why this is, abound in my mind
as this is being written. This is not the place for technicalities; it
suffices to say that the policy to kill Loran denotes the level of small-
mindedness and ignorance the prevails in D.C., from the top down.
Hope some see the light after 02-Nov-2010; it’s a national security
matter.
Claude Jodoin Eng.,
B.Sc. (Applied Math), Ms. (Ocn. Eng.), Ms.S.E.E. (Thesis on GPS)