Applications - Thales Z-Max Operation And Application Manual

GPS receiver are processed by the rover receiver and the centimeter-level vector
between the base and rover receivers is computed. Finally, the rover receiver
computes the rover position using the known base position, the computed vector and
station antenna heights. This is the basic function of the rover receiver in an RTK
system.
With the base and rover functioning as described above, a user carrying the rover
system can move about a project site and position features of interest quickly and
accurately. Positions are computed immediately, giving the user confidence that all is
functioning properly. And since the base system does not discriminate to whom it
transmits its raw data, there is no limit to the number of rover system that can operate
off of one base station.

Applications

RTK Surveying is appropriate for any application that requires both high precision and
high productivity. Applications such as topography, construction, control point
densification, GIS data collection, oil exploration and mining are just a few of the
many applications that are good uses of RTK surveying technology. Compared to a
conventional total station, an RTK system will be vastly more productive in these
types of surveys and have the added benefit that an RTK system can be operated by
only one person.
There are two primary survey tasks for which RTK systems are used. One method is
the precise positioning of features that already exist (topography, mapping, as-built
surveys). Another powerful application of RTK is navigating to features with known
coordinates. This is done when recovering boundary control or while transferring a
design features that exist electronically to real stakes in the ground (construction
stakeout).
In feature acquisition, the rover system moves around the project area positioning
and assigning attributes to features of interest. Features of any type can be
positioned, such as the centerline of a road, the perimeter of a pond, light poles or
corners of buildings. This capability makes GPS RTK a great tool for mapping
applications, such as topographic and planimetric surveys and as-built surveys. RTK
systems are also very efficient for mapping stockpiles and gravel pits for volume
computations.
Feature stakeout is a task that can only be accomplished with GPS operating in RTK
mode. Stakeout of a feature involves navigating to a point or series of points that
define the location of a feature. Given the coordinates of a point from another source
such as an aerial photograph or a to-reach description, you are able to find the exact
location on the ground that corresponds to those coordinates. Conventionally, this is
156 Z-Max Surveying System Operation and Applications Manual