Base Station Availability

GRYFN's systems have an integrated GNSS which collects high accuracy positional data over the course of your UAS operation. This data is what allows the data products to be geolocated within 2-5cm accuracy consistently. While the GNSS data is collected during the flight, it will need to be corrected with the use of a base station to ensure the high level of accuracy.

When post-processing GNSS sensor data, base station availability nearby the data collection site must be considered. NOAA provides data to Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) for GIS professionals, engineers, and other positions that would benefit from increased positioning precision. When post-processing GNSS data, a few options are available to users for correcting their GNSS data from:

Utilize a single base station near the data collection site

GRYFN highly recommends processing GNSS data with a single CORS base station if possible. Processing with a single CORS base station is recommended if the nearest CORS site is within 15-30km of the rover location. You can check the link below for a map of CORS base stations across the United States.

ArcGIS Web Application

National Geodetic Survey (NGS) CORS Map

Utilize a network of base stations to triangulate and create a virtual reference at the site of data collection

If there is not a single CORS base station withing 15-30km of your operating area, but several within 70km of the operation you can use a virtual base station. This option uses the data from those selected stations to create a virtual station closer to your operating area, and process like a single base station. You can learn more about this method through the link below.

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applanix smartbase.pdf

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Applanix SmartBase White Paper

Utilize a self-operated base station

If there are no base stations within 70km of your operating area it is advised that you use a self-operated base station. There are several available on the market, and two examples are the Trimble Smart Target or the Emlid Reach RS3. This data can then be manually inputted into the GRYFN Processing Tool to correct the GNSS data to achieve high accuracy data products.

What if I don't need high accuracy for a specific operation?

If a user does not require the highest georeferencing accuracy, GNSS/IMU data can be processed using the Realtime trajectory data to achieve results in the ~1m accuracy range.