It is a pleasure to introduce this edition of Map it Out from the lands of the Wadawurrung people, near Djilang (Geelong). These lands include the Wurdi Youang Aboriginal stone arrangement, believed to be constructed about 10,000 years ago for astronomical observations to guide navigation and agricultural activities. In this edition we celebrate a modern form of space-based positioning with the 50-year anniversary of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
It is fair to say GPS has changed the world. GPS has radically altered the way we live and travel, and has brought major economic, productivity, social and environmental benefits. Gone are the days of juggling a street directory while trying to navigate roads and traffic. Today we can simply enter an address into a handheld device and be guided along the optimal route to our destination. The influence of GPS goes even further in supporting precise timing, which is crucial to the function of communication networks, electrical power grids and financial transactions.
The Victorian government was an early adopter and established the GPSnet ground station network to deliver GPS corrections. GPSnet has been in operation for 30 years with the first ground station installed at Ballarat in the early 90s. The network now consists of more than 150 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ground stations that are maintained to support 2 cm-level precise positioning capability across the state.
There is a wide range of applications that benefit from this more advanced precise positioning technology, including precision agriculture, construction, mining, transport, environmental monitoring and asset mapping.
GNSS is essential for surveying activities, and almost all spatial information is traceable back to GNSS in some way. GNSS precise positioning is integrated into just about all forms of surveying technology and is used for land-based surveys of infrastructure and natural features, large-scale airborne imagery and scanning programs, maritime and water body surveys, and rapid asset monitoring surveys along railways and roads.
Recognising the importance of GNSS, we have updated our coordinate reference systems to closely align with GNSS positioning. The sector’s transition to Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020) ensures continued alignment with precise positioning and underlying spatial information.
There are ongoing advancements in GNSS positioning infrastructure and technology that are increasing access to precise positioning for mass-market devices. This includes a new SouthPAN Satellite Based Augmentation System for the Australia/New Zealand region. SouthPAN will support high integrity, sub-metre level positioning for all GNSS-enabled devices. The GPSnet ground station network streams are also freely available, enabling the delivery of new GNSS correction services and encouraging innovation and increased productivity for more and more applications.
As we celebrate 50 years since the inception of GPS, it is important to reflect on the success of this technology. In short, it just works! Most people using GNSS are unaware of the incredible Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that goes on to provide an accurate blue dot on their phone. GNSS is used by everyone, with no effort, and is now relied upon in the everyday activities of government, business and the community.
Regards
Alex Woods
Manager Geodesy
Surveyor-General Victoria
Department of Transport and Planning
