Press release
July 2014
ESA awards IAP study "Plough Stars" to Berner &
Mattner
Winter road services with satellite support
Munich/Germany, July 9, 2014 – Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik GmbH
has been selected by the European Space Agency to carry out the
feasibility study "Plough Stars – Winter Road Maintenance". The project,
part of the ESA Integrated Applications Promotion (IAP) program, has the
objective of using satellite-based Earth Observation and Navigation to
make plowing and salt spreading of snowy roads more efficient, safer,
and more environmentally friendly, as well as reducing costs.
In the important task of keeping roads safe in winter, the drivers of snowplows
are faced with many challenges. During heavy snowfall or when snow is drifting,
it's hard to see just where the road is while plowing it. This is particularly true of
rural areas and poor visibility conditions – even when the roads are provided
with markers. When snowplows collide with obstacles on the edge of the road, it
costs a lot. Precise positioning of road maintenance vehicles could help prevent
damage claims against road maintenance operators. Berner & Mattner has now
been awarded a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out a
study to evaluate the feasibility of using satellite-based services to support
winter road maintenance.
Is a satellite-based assistance system feasible?
The goal of the Plough Stars study is to assess the technical feasibility and
cost-effectiveness of an integrated solution using different satellite-based
services and existing terrestrial technologies. The use of satellite services
should improve safety under winter road conditions as well as minimizing
environmental damage and the costs of winter road maintenance. The most
important aspect of the project is improved vehicle guidance on the basis of
more exact position data. Assistance systems for the drivers of snowplows,
automatic documentation of road clearing and spreading services, and
improved weather and snow forecasts are additional goals of the Plough Stars
project.
Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik GmbH, as a provider of space applications
and with successful management of projects for the European Space Agency,
has qualified to perform this study as prime contractor. Together with the two
Austrian companies BRIMATECH Services and TeleConsult Austria, along with
Munich-based Vista Geowissenschaftliche Fernerkundung, the consortium also
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July 2014
includes experts from the areas of high-precision satellite navigation, Earth
observation, weather and snow forecasting, and technology assessment.
The Plough Stars study is funded by ESA's Integrated Application Promotion
program (IAP or ARTES 20). The ARTES 20 programme, in close partnership
with end-users, is dedicated to the development, implementation and pilot
operations of Integrated Applications that will lead to sustainable services. The
goal is to provide innovative added value to services by combining different
space assets, such as Telecommunications, Earth Observation, Navigation, and
Human Spaceflight technologies, and by integrating them with existing
terrestrial assets.
Available images
The following images are available for download in printable format at:
www.htcm.de/kk/bernermattner/
Image source:
Kabelleger / flickr.com (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Berner & Mattner has been awarded a
contract from the ESA for a feasibility study
to assess the use of satellite-based services
to support winter road maintenance.
About European Space Agency (ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, and has 20
European Member States plus Canada as associated member. Its mission is to
shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that
investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and
the world. Following this mission, ESA's “agenda 2011” presents: "The next
step is to enable new services based on exploiting several systems, space and
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July 2014
non-space, acting in concert as a system of systems. This will widen existing
application areas and open new domains." The Integrated Applications
Promotions programme (IAP – ARTES 20) focuses on the development of a
range of new and innovative solutions by using and integrating different
available space assets with terrestrial assets, resulting in viable services for the
benefit of society. Today, ESA launches satellites for Earth observation,
navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far
reaches of the Solar System, cooperates in the human exploration of space,
and enables new services based on the exploitation of several systems, space
and non-space.
About Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik GmbH, Munich
Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik GmbH specializes in systems engineering,
development and testing of complex electronic and mechanical systems. We
offer a variety of services ranging from consulting, conceptual design, software
and systems development to the setup and operation of entire test and
integration systems. We are a strategic partner for our customers' development
departments of the automotive, energy, defence, mechanical engineering,
space and transportation industries, providing customized software and
engineering solutions based on our products and services. In doing so, we
optimize efficiency and quality of our customers' software and system
development. This is why leading companies such as Audi, BMW, Bombardier,
Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Siemens, Volkswagen and many more have been
placing their trust in Berner & Mattner’s expertise. The company with
headquarters in Munich was founded in 1979, currently employs 450 people at
8 sites in Germany and Austria and is a member of the international Assystem
Group.
Assystem is an international Engineering and Innovation Consultancy. As
a key participant in the industry for more than 45 years, Assystem supports its
customers in developing their products and managing their capital expenditure
throughout the product life cycle. Assystem employs around 11,000 people
worldwide and reported €871.4 million in revenue in 2013. The Company is
listed on NYSE Euronext Paris. In Germany Assystem together with its
subsidiaries Assystem, Berner & Mattner and SILVER ATENA, employs more
than 1,400 people.
For more information: www.berner-mattner.com and www.assystem.com
(without company profile 3.117 characters / with company profile 6.025)
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Press contact:
Berner & Mattner
Systemtechnik GmbH
Erwin-von-Kreibig-Str.3
80807 Munich
Germany
Phone +49 89 608090-0
Fax +49 89 60981-82
www.berner-mattner.com
Martina Heinze
Marketing & Communications
Phone +49 89 608090-166
Fax +49 89 608090-299
E-Mail:
Martina.Heinze@berner-mattner.com
HighTech communications GmbH
Grasserstr. 1c
80339 Munich
Germany
Phone +49 89 500778-0
Fax +49 89 500778-78
www.htcm.de
Brigitte Basilio
E-Mail: b.basilio@htcm.de
Tel. +49 89 500778-20
Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik GmbH
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