A solution to tough GNSS land applications using terrestrial-based transceivers (LocataLites)

Acceptable RTK GPS/GNSS performance is heavily dependent on a relativity unobstructed sky-view, where there are at least five satellites with good geometry available, and on the reliability of the wireless data link used for differential corrections. In “tough” GNSS applications where satellite occlusion is common, such as open cast mining, the RTK based technology often fails to deliver the required positioning availability and accuracy. Locata’s solution to these “tough” applications is to deploy a positioning network of terrestrial based transceivers (LocataLites) that transmit ranging signals and augment or replace GPS entirely. This paper describes a proof-of-concept integrated GPS/Locata system for drill rig systems in open cast mining. With RTK GPS providing initialisation of Locata receiver, it is shown that Locata can deliver RTK level accuracies independent of GPS.