In the evolving landscape of geospatial science, professionals face a constant question: how do we justify the investment in next-generation technology? We're told that multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS receivers are the future, but it’s fair to ask what tangible returns this technology brings to a project's bottom line. Does tracking every possible satellite and signal truly make a difference in the field?
The answer is an emphatic yes, but the reason is more nuanced than simply "more is better." The value lies in a principle of total system availability — a chain of performance where every link, from satellite to software, must be equally strong.
To explore this concept, industry expert and licensed land surveyor Jason Evans has authored a new technical paper that moves beyond marketing claims to provide a data-driven look at why holistic availability is the new benchmark for precision and productivity.
Full constellation skyplot from the Bay of St. Louis taken at 2024-09-05 5:30UTC.
The white paper examines the three critical pillars of GNSS availability:
1. The availability of constellations
Superior satellite geometry is the foundation of a reliable position. By leveraging all major global constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou), we fundamentally reduce the risk of high Dilution of Precision (DOP). For the field professional, this translates directly into less downtime, confident performance in challenging environments like urban canyons or beneath canopy and the near-elimination of the rigid mission planning required in the early days of GPS.
2. The availability of signals
Beyond constellations, modern receivers tap into multiple signals from each satellite. This multi-frequency capability is the most powerful tool for neutralizing the largest source of GNSS error: ionospheric distortion. By analyzing how different signals are affected as they pass through the atmosphere, advanced positioning engines can model and remove errors with incredible accuracy. This results in faster convergence times, more robust positions and a resilient defense against threats like signal spoofing.
3. The availability of corrections
A state-of-the-art receiver is only as good as the corrections it receives. Whether using a local base station, a real-time network (RTN), or a precise point positioning (PPP) service, the correction stream must be able to support every constellation and signal the rover can track. As the data clearly shows, using a limited or legacy correction feed with a modern receiver bottlenecks the entire system’s performance. Further, efficient communication protocols are essential to deliver data without overwhelming field communications, while new technologies that provide seamless backup corrections are becoming critical for mitigating signal interruptions.
Ready to see the data behind the theory? Explore the white paper for an in-depth analysis of the charts, convergence tests and evidence that prove why total system availability is the key to unlocking peak performance.
