Photo: ESA

Evaluation of the Galileo satellite system 

Galileo is Europe's first satellite-based navigation system and the first in the world to be constructed specifically for civilian use. COWI has carried out a mid-term evaluation of the project's implementation.

Galileo is a project to develop Europe's first satellite-based global navigation system. It differs from existing systems (eg, GPS) in that it has been developed primarily for civilian use. The EU Commission, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, is aiming to have the system operational by the end of 2010.

Key evaluation questions

COWI was assigned responsibility for evaluating the project's implementation to date. This included assessing its effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, and checking for optimism bias (over-estimating benefits and under-estimating costs and risks).

Ten key evaluation questions were asked and, broadly, positive responses were received to all, though there were some concerns raised over the financial set-up of the project, which uses the Public Private Partnership model. For the full responses to all ten evaluation questions, please click on the link 'Midterm Evaliation of the Galileo project for the period 2002-2004 (pdf)' on the right-hand side of this page.

Findings were reported to the relevant European Parliament Committee and any subsequent action will be forthcoming.

Photo: ESA


Circling the Earth

The Galileo system consists of 30 satellites that will circle the Earth in three different orbits at a height of 24,000 kilometres.  

Each satellite carries an atomic clock that measures time to a billionth of a second and emits a unique signal time-stamped with when it left the satellite. The receiver on the ground determines how long the signal has taken to arrive and calculates the distance to the satellite. The receiver can read signals from multiple satellites and by reading signals from at least four satellites simultaneously, it can determine its precise position.  

Galileo will provide greater precision than GPS and can be received anywhere in the world.