Special interest groups & regional branches

Special Interest Groups give RIN members a chance to plug themselves in to the heart of debate, get the latest information, share views with leading experts and attend events, all related to their particular sphere of concern or interest.

The RIN currently runs ten SIGs, and is always keen to cover new ground if there is sufficient demand and sufficient support from members to form a new SIG.

Special interest group categories

• Land

  There are currently two SIGs covering land-based issues: the Land Navigation & Location Group, which mainly covers navigation in land-based vehicles, and the Navigation on Foot Group, which covers all pedestrian navigation, from nav-capable mobile phones to orienteering to Polar expeditions.

  SIGs in this category

  • Land Navigation and Location Group
  • Navigation on Foot Group

• Air

  There are currently three SIGS covering aviation issues: the Civil & Military Aviation Navigation Group, which covers airlines, air traffic control and all military aircraft (including rockets and the Space Shuttle); the General Aviation Navigation Group, which covers all smaller aircraft, including planes, helicopters, gliders, balloons etc; and the History of Aviation Navigation Group, which exists for all those with an interest in air history.

  SIGs in this category

  • General Aviation Navigation Group
  • History of Air Navigation Group
  • Civil and Military Air Group

• Sea

  There are currently two SIGs covering maritime issues: the Maritime Transport & Navigation Group, which mirrors the Civil & Military Aviation Navigation Group, in that it covers military and merchant marine navigation, and the Small Craft Group, which covers all elements of private and leisure sailing.

  SIGs in this category

  • Maritime Traffic & Navigation Group
  • Small Craft Group

• Space

  There is a degree of overlap between SIGs in the space arena. While the Civil & Military Aviation Navigation Group covers general space-flight missions and issues, the Space Special Interest Group takes a broader responsibility for Global Navigation Satellite System issues including GPS and Galileo - as well as those of the various satellite augmentation systems, like EGNOS. It also covers all other space navigation issues. Meanwhile, the Research & Development Group covers all work on developing new technology, hardware and approaches to the challenges of space.

  SIGs in this category

  • Space Special Interest Group

• Animal

  The Animal Navigation Group is one of the RIN's most active information-sharing groups, and it covers everything concerning how animals - from ants to elephants, and from sticklebacks to starlings - navigate throughout their lives. It also covers the biology and psychology of human navigation.

  SIGs in this category

  • Animal Navigation Group

• Research & Development

  The Research & Development Group covers research work and development in all areas of navigation, from military funding for Unmanned autonomous vehicles to academic work on new approaches to getting satellite signals in urban canyons.

  SIGs in this category

  • Research & Development Group

Regional branch categories

• The Branches will enable you to find out about the Branch, see the latest Branch news and find out details of forthcoming and past Branch events.

  Branches in this category

  • Boscombe Down Branch
  • Croatian Branch
  • EUGIN
  • Irish Branch
  • Scottish Branch
  • Solent Branch