13 February 2017

Australia funding a satellite-based augmentation systems test-bed and trial programme

Modern positioning infrastructure, such as the US-provided Global Positioning System (GPS), is something people are increasingly taking for granted yet it is also technology that is proving useful for many transport-related applications.

The accuracy and integrity of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), of which GPS is now but one example, can be improved through using satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) that broadcast correction messages using geostationary satellites. SBAS coverage is already provided over North America (WAAS), Europe (EGNOS), Japan (MSAS) and India (GAGAN) but not over Australasia.

On 17 January 2017 the Australian Ministers of Infrastructure and Resources announced that the Federal Government would be providing A$12m to fund a SBAS test-bed and trial programme.

Further information about this was provided in a statement released on the same day by the Chief Executive of Geoscience Australia and related questions and answers.

On 10 February 2017 Geoscience Australia announced that the test-bed would be provided by a consortium of Lockheed Martin from the USA, GMV from Spain and Inmarsat from the UK. Both Lockheed Martin and GMV have made press releases about this news.

CRCSI is going to be involved in organising the trial programme.

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