Real-Time Kinematic Surveying; Figure 1.1 Rtk Setup For Gps Surveying - Thales Z-Max Operation And Application Manual

Real-Time Kinematic Surveying

RTK mode of GPS surveying requires that at least two GPS receiver systems are
functioning simultaneously, as shown in Figure 1.1. In fact, this is true for any mode of
GPS use where better than a few meters (SA disabled) of positional accuracy is
required. In a two-receiver GPS RTK system, one receiver subsystem is usually
located on a known position, i.e. a point with accurately known latitude, longitude, and
height, or easting, northing, and height. Once operational, the base system collects
raw data from all available satellites. This raw data is packaged and sent out the serial
port to a connected radio transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts the packaged raw
data to anyone who wants to listen. This is the basic function of a base receiver in an
RTK system.
RTK Rover
RTK Base

Figure 1.1 RTK Setup for GPS Surveying

The RTK rover is the mobile part of the system. The rover system is lightweight and
portable, situated either in a backpack or mounted on a pole. You interface with the
system through either a handheld computer/data collector or from the front panel
display. Once operational, the radio portion of the rover system receives the
transmissions from the base system containing the base GPS receiver raw data. The
radio passes the received base raw data to the rover receiver via the serial port.
Simultaneously, the rover GPS receiver collects its own raw data at its current
position. The raw data from the base GPS receiver and the raw data from the rover
Introduction 155