German Society for Positioning and Navigation

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation e. V. (DGON) — in English, the German Society for Positioning and Navigation — is an independent, non-profit scientific and technical association headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is dedicated to the promotion of science, research, technology and application in the fields of positioning, navigation and radar (Ortung), with the aim of contributing to the safety, efficiency and economic viability of maritime, aviation, space and land transport. The DGON describes itself as the independent scientific-technical network for positioning, navigation and localization in Germany, bringing together science, industry, public authorities, users and operators. The organization traces its origins to 16 September 1951, when the "Ausschuss für Funkortung" (Committee for Radio Positioning) was founded on the initiative of Leo Brandt. That committee grew into a significant network for positioning and navigation, and on 13 December 1961 it was transformed into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation e. V. (DGON). The association has therefore been active for more than 75 years, a milestone it celebrated with a retrospective on its history. DGON's work spans several technical domains: aviation, maritime shipping, land transport, radar technology, inertial sensor technology, space technology, traffic telematics, and underwater positioning, navigation and communication. It is structured into commissions for the transport systems (Aviation Commission, Maritime Commission, Land Transport Commission) and technical-scientific committees (Radar Technology, Inertial Sensors, Space Technology, Traffic Telematics). The association is led by a five-member board and supported by a council and a scientific advisory board. A central part of DGON's mission is the organization of specialist conferences and international symposia, which serve as platforms for discussion, collaboration and the presentation of new technologies. Its portfolio of events includes the International Radar Symposium (IRS), the European Navigation Conference (ENC GNSS), CERGAL, ESAVS, IMAV, ISS/Gyro Technology, ISIS-MTE, ISPA, POSNAV and AHORN. The DGON also promotes young scientific talent through cooperation with universities and research institutions, and awards the Leo Brandt Prize "DGON Master of Navigation" for outstanding theses in positioning and navigation at German universities. As a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein), DGON is not a commercial company but a professional and scientific society. It is supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI, now part of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport). Its members are experts and institutions from public authorities, science, industry and user organizations. The association also engages in standardization work and provides expert opinions, statements and recommendations on current topics in positioning and navigation as well as related fields of telecommunications and informatics.

The history of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation (DGON) begins on 16 September 1951, when the "Ausschuss für Funkortung" (Committee for Radio Positioning) was founded on the initiative of Leo Brandt. The committee was established within the "Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Verkehrs e.V." and from the outset pursued a mission that remains relevant today: promoting the development of positioning technologies in the interest of transport safety. In the years that followed, the committee developed into a significant network for positioning and navigation, in which science, industry, public institutions and users worked together, research and young talent were promoted, and international exchange was built up. On 13 December 1961, the organization was transformed into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation e. V. (DGON), founded in Düsseldorf. By the early 1970s, the association had around 350 individual and corporate members. Its purpose, as stated in its statutes, was to promote science and research, technology and application of positioning and navigation, thereby contributing to the safety, efficiency and economic viability of maritime shipping, aviation, space travel and land transport. Over the decades, DGON established itself as a national platform and an internationally connected society. It organized specialist conferences and symposia, supported academic work, and engaged in standardization. Its event portfolio grew to include well-known international meetings such as the International Radar Symposium (IRS), the European Navigation Conference (ENC GNSS), CERGAL, ESAVS, IMAV, ISS/Gyro Technology, ISIS-MTE, ISPA, POSNAV and AHORN. The association also awards the Leo Brandt Prize "DGON Master of Navigation" for outstanding theses at German universities in the field of positioning and navigation. Structurally, DGON is organized into commissions for the transport systems — Aviation, Maritime and Land Transport — and technical-scientific committees for Radar Technology, Inertial Sensors, Space Technology and Traffic Telematics. It is led by a five-member board, supported by a council and a scientific advisory board. The association is headquartered in Bonn and is supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). In 2026, DGON marked the 75th anniversary of its origins, reflecting on its history and framing the milestone as a mandate to further develop its network and attract the next generation to positioning and navigation.

• Founding of the "Ausschuss für Funkortung" (Committee for Radio Positioning) on the initiative of Leo Brandt, within the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Verkehrs e.V.

• Transformation into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation e. V. (DGON), founded in Düsseldorf.

• Membership reaches around 350 individual and corporate members.

• DGON marks 75 years since the founding of its predecessor organization, the Ausschuss für Funkortung.

• 28th International Radar Symposium (IRS) to be held in Vienna, 2–4 June 2027, with Microwave Journal as official media partner.

Independent, non-profit scientific-technical network and professional society for positioning, navigation and radar in Germany, bridging science, industry, public authorities and users; supported by the Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).

• International Radar Symposium (IRS)

  International symposium on radar technology; the 28th edition is scheduled for 2–4 June 2027 in Vienna.

• ENC GNSS – European Navigation Conference on Global Navigation Satellite Systems

  European conference on global navigation satellite systems.

• CERGAL – International Symposium on Certification of GNSS Systems & Services

  International symposium on certification of GNSS systems and services.

• ESAVS – International Symposium on Enhanced Solutions for Aircraft and Vehicle Surveillance and Applications

  International symposium on enhanced surveillance solutions for aircraft and vehicles.

• IMAV – International Micro Air Vehicle Conference and Flight Competition

  International conference and flight competition on micro air vehicles.

• ISS – Inertial Sensors and Systems Symposium on GYRO TECHNOLOGY

  Symposium on inertial sensors and systems, including gyro technology.

• ISIS-MTE – International Symposium Information on Ships, Marine Traffic Engineering Conference

  International symposium on ship information and marine traffic engineering.

• ISPA – International Symposium on Precision Approach and Performance Based Navigation

  International symposium on precision approach and performance-based navigation.

• POSNAV – Positionierung und Navigation für Intelligente Transportsysteme

  German-language event on positioning and navigation for intelligent transport systems.

• AHORN – Der Alpenraum und seine Herausforderungen an Orientierung, Navigation und Informationsaustausch

  Event on orientation, navigation and information exchange challenges in the Alpine region.

• DGON Navigationskonvent

  DGON's navigation convention.

• Leo Brandt Prize "DGON Master of Navigation"

  Award for outstanding theses at German universities focusing on positioning and navigation and related technologies.

1. 1Startseite | DGON e.Vdgon.de
2. 2Über uns | DGON e.Vdgon.de
3. 3Heute vor 75 Jahren begann die Geschichte der DGON | DGON e.Vdgon.de
4. 4Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org