Benefits of Telecommunications Technology to GPS Users

Thomas Yan

School of Surveying & SIS, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.

DOI:                 

Abstract

For many years, telecommunications technology has assisted GPS users in accomplishing their tasks. Dial-up system over copper phone line enables users to download data from base station at remote locations. Radio modem provides wireless communications link between a base station and a rover to enable surveyors to carry out RTK-surveys. While these techniques are still very much in use, developments in telecommunications technology over the last decade or so has brought more services providing easier use, faster speed and wider coverage. Fast spread of Internet has made TCP/IP protocols ubiquitous resulting in more devices being IP-enabled and Internet-connected. Wireless technology such as GPRS and 3G make better use of bandwidth providing faster speed and better coverage to mobile users. This paper looks at these new emerging technologies and how they could have impact on GPS users. It also discusses recent GPS-related protocols such as Ntrip and RTCM 3.0 which were designed in response to these new developments. Examples will be presented based on local trends, settings and conditions in Australia.

Keywords

telecommunications, network, wireless, mobile, protocols, GPS

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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