Satellite Based Augmentation System Test Bed
Alive and Signalling
Have you noticed your GNSS receiver is displaying more accurate position information since early June? The SBAS Testbed Project is underway, with the SBAS L1 Legacy signal now live. The PPP (precise point positioning) signal will be live in August and the SBAS Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation signal shortly after, in October. SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) provides a cost-effective way to improve the accuracy and reliability of GPS signals from around one metre to the ten centimetre level. It does this by broadcasting corrections from a geo-stationary communication satellite.
The first call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for SBAS testbed demonstrator projects closed in late April. We received 65 submissions from Australia and New Zealand, with all nine selected industry sectors covered. Over $13 million was requested by proponents, set against the available funding of approximately $3.6 million in the first round.
We’ve evaluated the submissions and have identified some novel and high impact ideas that will clearly explore and demonstrate the benefits of the SBAS technologies. We aim to have some testbed demonstrator projects starting soon and look forward to sharing some good news about the projects shortly. Industry areas that will benefit from this first round include: aviation, agriculture, construction, maritime, rail, resources, road, spatial and utilities. Also covered are some consumer focussed areas – think: geo-marketing and advertising, mobile workforce management and tracking, as well as, sport and well-being games and apps.
The second call for EOIs will target specific sectors: rail, construction, utilities, aviation (unmanned aerial vehicles), resources, agriculture (horticulture) and consumer (including any health and welfare projects). It opens Friday 1 September, with all submissions due by 5pm AEST on Friday 29 September 2017. For more information, jump online at CRCSI.
If you are interested in accessing the SBAS Legacy L1 signal using your existing GNSS receiver, or running your own project, please get in touch with the CRCSI’s SBAS team. We are keen to find out how widely this more accurate positioning information can, or already has, helped you. Further information on how you can access the signal can be found on the CRCSI FAQ page.