<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Author: Urs Hugentobler, Chair IGS Governing Board; via IGS Central Bureau</div><div><br></div><div>Dear Colleagues,<br><br>I am pleased to announce the Call for Participation for the IGS Multi-GNSS<br>Global Experiment (M-GEX). More and more new GNSS systems and signals are<br>available. GPS and GLONASS broadcast new frequencies and signals, Galileo<br>launches first satellites in the near future, Japan has its first QZSS<br>satellite in the sky and China is well along installing its Compass satellite system.<br>New user equipment is available that can track the new satellites and<br>signals.<br><br>The IGS strives to provide highest accuracy products based on all GNSS. To<br>consistently integrate the new systems and signals, to familiarize with<br>new data formats, and to develop and extend existing analysis software it<br>is indispensable to understand in detail the performances of signals and<br>equipment at the necessary highest level of precision. To collect tracking data<br>from the new satellites and foster engineering experimentation with the<br>new signals, the IGS launches a Call for Participation for a Multi-GNSS<br>Global Experiment, requesting proposals for hosting sites providing new<br>signals and making tracking data publicly available, hosting data<br>centers, and performing engineering analysis. The IGS M-GEX also intends<br>to interface with existing networks and initiatives such as the JAXA CfP<br>for hosting sites for a Multi-GNSS Monitoring Network<br>(<a href="http://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/e/news/qz-110601_e.html">http://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/e/news/qz-110601_e.html</a>).<br><br>The M-GEX experiment will run from February 2012 to August 2012. First<br>results will be presented at the IGS Workshop held in Olsztyn, Poland, </div><div>July 23-27, 2012. Eventually the experiment will form a core for a </div><div>Multi-GNSS IGS network. The experiment will have oversight by an Experiment </div><div>Organizing Committee, to be chaired by Robert Weber, TU Vienna, also </div><div>Chair of the IGS GNSS Working Group.</div><div><br></div><div>The call for participation is linked to the 'What's New' section of the IGS website</div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; color: rgb(16, 50, 238); "><a href="http://igs.org/">http://igs.org/</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; color: rgb(16, 50, 238); "><br></div>In the near future, IGS webpages will be set up specifically for the M-GEX </div><div>experiment, including web forms for the proposal information, which </div><div>are also attached to the CfP.</div><div><br></div><div>Further, the IGS is a component of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), </div><div>which is a key integrating activity of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). </div><div>There is an additional CfP being circulated by GGOS soliciting proposals for a core </div><div>network of multi-technique geodetic sites to define and improve the </div><div>Terrestrial Reference Frame and provide essential data for other space </div><div>geodesy requirements. Please access this companion CfP at: </div><div><a href="htpp://www.ggos.org">htpp://www.ggos.org</a></div><div><br></div><div>I am looking forward for a broad participation and a successful experiment.</div><div><br></div><div>With many thanks for your interest and kind regards, <br><br>Urs Hugentobler<br>on behalf of the IGS</div></body></html>