Expanding Navigation Applications to Empower Humanity's Future
International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN) World Congress 2024 Held in Beijing
The opening ceremony and plenary session of the World Congress 2024 of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN) were held in Beijing on the morning of October 29. The event was hosted by CIN, with the theme of "Expanding Navigation Applications to Empower Humanity's Future," focusing on the development of satellite navigation technology in the new era. Over 300 participants, including representatives from IAIN member countries such as the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Egypt, Japan, and South Korea, as well as Chinese and foreign academicians, experts, paper authors, and guests, attended the congress. The meeting explored new prospects for the integrated application of navigation, communication, remote sensing, and other technologies through expert keynote speeches, paper exchanges, exhibitions, and demonstrations.
He Jianzhong, president of CIN; Luo Hui, a member of the Leading Party Member Group of the China Association for Science and Technology as well as director of the International Cooperation Department; Cen Yanqing, director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Transport; and Krzysztof Czaplewski, president of the IAIN, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Weng Mengyong, chairman of the China Highway and Transportation Society, and Wang Changshun, chairman of the China Air Transport Association, also attended the congress.
The IAIN is a non-governmental international scientific and technological organization that plays a significant role in the global maritime field as a consultative body of the International Maritime Organization. It has not only promoted the development and progress of navigation technology but also facilitated the application of satellite navigation, mobile communications, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and related technologies in various land, sea, air, and space domains. Since joining the IAIN in February 1988, the CIN has actively participated in various activities as a full member. According to reports, since 1976, the IAIN World Congress has been held every three years, and this is the second time it has been held in China after three decades.
He Jianzhong, President of CIN
In his speech, He Jianzhong noted that innovative developments in navigation technology will focus on intelligence, high-precision positioning, multimodal interaction, and deep integration with autonomous driving technology, providing people with more accurate and intuitive navigation guidance and more personalized services, empowering new production and lifestyle changes. CIN pays close attention to the research and application of navigation and related technologies, promoting the precise matchmaking of scientific and technological innovation achievements with actual industrial needs through academic research, technical exchanges, and services. The institute also actively participates in international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, collaborating with multiple countries and regions to promote the construction of international and regional cooperation platforms for nautical science and technology, effectively facilitating in-depth cooperation, exchanges, and sharing in the field of nautical science and technology.
中国科协党组成员、国际合作部部长罗晖
罗晖表示，中国科协是中国最大的科技类学术共同体，支持全国学会在中国组织高水平学术交流活动，搭建国际科技界交流的机制和平台，助力推进国际科技界的信任合作。在新技术变革和大环境变革的双重挑战下，全球航行业发展更需要加强合作，聚合全球航行科技创新资源，共同促进全球导航技术知识共享。
交通运输部国际合作司司长岑晏青
岑晏青表示，中国始终致力于推动航行领域的创新发展，已成为世界上航运设施体量最大、海上运输货物最多、船队规模位居世界前列的国家。当今世界，导航技术的进步对于推动智慧交通发展具有重要意义。中国高度重视智慧交通发展，大数据、互联网、人工智能等新技术正在与中国交通行业深度融合，智慧交通正逐渐由愿景变为现实。
约翰·哈里森奖
尼科奖
荣誉会员奖
开幕式上，颁发了国际航联约翰·哈里森奖（终身成就奖）、尼科奖（特殊成就奖）和荣誉会员奖，中国环球航海家翟墨荣获尼科奖，这是中国人首次获得该奖项。美国授时导航基金会理事长德纳·高华德荣获哈里森奖，国际航联前主席约翰·波特尔、国际航联前秘书长西蒙·加斯金荣获荣誉会员奖。
近年来，中国的导航技术取得了举世瞩目的成果。今年9月，中国成功发射了第59颗和第60颗北斗导航卫星，进一步提升了北斗三号系统的可靠性和服务性能。新卫星在星载原子钟配置和新型星间链路终端的搭载等方面的技术升级，有助于确保北斗三号系统的平稳运行。北斗系统的服务用户现已超过10亿，并与其他国家和地区的卫星导航系统实现了兼容共用。
中国导航领域专家、中国工程院院士、国家卫星定位系统工程技术研究中心主任刘经南在会上介绍了北斗卫星导航系统与应用情况。北斗全球系统具备功能多、技术多、精度高等特点，在导航、通信、搜救、遥感、遥测等领域发挥着重要作用，由后发和创新形成的内生优势为北斗规模化跨时空域、跨行业领域应用提供了无限可能。目前，我国北斗规模应用主要体现在区域、行业、社会等层面，例如为国家治理、重大工程等提供关键技术保障，为交通运输、农业渔牧、城市管理、公共安全、应急救灾、低空经济等领域提供高效便捷服务，为航空航天、海洋探测、地球观测、网络通信、基础科学等领域提供新的平台和手段，以及通过政府补贴等激励支持社会公益领域规模应用等。北斗规模应用的另一个重点是综合开发其通导遥一体化的独门优势，发挥其跨技术、跨领域最终跨时间域和跨空间域的时空智能作用。
中国自主航行专家、中国航海学会常务副理事长张宝晨介绍船舶自主航行与导航的最新技术发展。
弹性导航和授时基金会理事长 德纳·高华德
国际航行学会联合会副主席、意大利航行学会代表 萨尔瓦多·盖各里昂
波兰格丁尼亚海事大学校长 亚当·温垂特
荷兰航海学会理事长 巴特·班宁
美国、意大利、波兰、荷兰专家分别就导航技术应用的最新发展、海事教育应对自主航运等海洋技术发展、飞机导航等主题进行演讲。