Spatial

Improved spatial data

Precise positioning technology will enable the collection of spatial data with seamless accuracy across Australia with low cost user equipment. This will be accessible for spatial, surveying and mapping applications, particularly in remote locations where there is no mobile phone coverage.

Extends coverage across Australia

SouthPAN will extend coverage of existing positioning networks to an estimated 75 per cent of Australia’s land mass by complementing CORS-based RTK/NRTK services in remote areas and mobile phone blackspots.

Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (Spatial Services NSW)

Project Title

Assessing dual-frequency multi-constellation SouthPAN and SouthPAN-aided Precise Point Positioning (PPP) for surveying applications

Organisations Involved

• NSW Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI) (Spatial Services NSW)

Project Summary

SBAS technology can potentially be of benefit to surveying applications, particularly in remote locations where mobile phone coverage is patchy or non-existent. In a practical scenario, this project therefore aimed to:

1. Quantify the positioning quality achievable with L1 Legacy, Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation (DFMC) SouthPAN and SouthPAN-aided Precise Point Positioning (PPP).
2. Investigate whether DFMC SBAS can provide a fill-in service in remote locations or mobile phone blackspots where RTK/NRTK based on a CORS network is not available.
3. Investigate whether SBAS-aided PPP can provide a fill-in service in remote locations or mobile phone blackspots where RTK/NRTK based on a CORS network is not available.

CORSnet-NSW is a state-of-the-art network of currently 190 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), providing fundamental positioning infrastructure for NSW. It is built, owned and operated by Spatial Services, a unit of the NSW Department of Finance, Services & Innovation (DFSI).

Real-time access to CORSnet-NSW is limited to areas with sufficient mobile phone coverage to connect to the internet. In remote areas and mobile phone blackspots across the state, mobile phone coverage is intermittent or non-existent. SouthPAN technology is expected to be of benefit to surveying and spatial applications by complementing CORSnet-NSW RTK/NRTK services in these areas.

The objectives of this project were therefore to quantify the positioning quality achievable via SouthPAN in a practical scenario in order to evaluate the benefits of SouthPAN technology for the surveying and spatial profession (and other users of real-time positioning infrastructure), particularly in remote locations with intermittent or non-existent mobile phone coverage.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

Project Title

Assessing dual-frequency multi-constellation SouthPAN and SouthPAN-aided Precise Point Positioning for survey and/or mapping applications in Victoria

Organisations Involved

• RMIT
• DELWP (GPSnet)

Project Summary

SouthPAN technology can potentially be of benefit to surveying applications, particularly in remote locations where mobile phone coverage is patchy or non-existent. In a practical scenario, this project therefore aimed to assess the positional accuracy, repeatability and reliability of dual-frequency multi-constellation SouthPAN and SouthPAN-aided Precise Point Positioning for survey and/or mapping applications in Victoria.

University of Otago

Project Title

SouthPAN applications for low accuracy rural cadastral surveys

Organisations Involved

• University of Otago
• Trimble New Zealand Solutions

Project Summary

Rural cadastral surveys have an important role in New Zealand's economic development as they facilitate land transfers, the registration of Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) covenants and easements for walking tracks. Otago University evaluated the effectiveness of conducting low accuracy rural surveys using the satellite delivered SBAS L1 Legacy Service, SBAS L1/L5 DFMC Service and SBAS Precise Point Positioning (PPP). A positioning accuracy level of 20-50 cm is required in order for the new generation SBAS positioning service to meet the requirements for low accuracy rural (Class C) surveys. The new survey methods proposed here, using the SBAS technology, were benchmarked against conventional single-baseline RTK and Trimble's RTX service. The outcome of the project was a feasibility analysis of whether SBAS could provide for the required accuracy needed for rural boundary surveys. The project also broke new ground by using point data (rather than vector data) for cadastral boundary surveys.