In an Australian first, CRCSI researchers at RMIT have successfully demonstrated the performance of the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) LEX signal for precise positioning. The research outcome is part of the wider CRCSI Positioning Program which also recently announced the successful precise point positioning of merging GPS and Beidou systems.
LEX is a viable option for precise positioning and navigation in remote regions where GNSS CORS infrastructure is not available or is costly to establish. Geophysical studies, precision agriculture, airborne and hydrographic surveys are likely to benefit from its use. The LEX signal is unique in that it has a high data transmission rate of 2kbps. This allows GNSS correction data to be sent directly to the user’s receiver, providing centimetre-level point positioning accuracy in real-time.
The demonstration is significant as it shows QZSS LEX could be used to augment GPS and GNSS in providing instantaneous high accuracy positioning, anywhere, anytime in Australia. The live demonstration was presented at the recent GNSS Symposium and was conducted in partnership with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.
CRCSI Backgrounder
The CRCSI is an unincorporated joint venture set up under the Cooperative Research Centre Program of the Australian Commonwealth Government. The purpose of the CRCSI is to build critical mass in research ventures between end-users and researchers tackling clearly articulated, major challenges for the end-users using the fundamental spatial technologies of global navigation satellite systems, spatial data infrastructures, data fusion and spatial feature extraction. The CRCSI brings powerful collaboration on all critical research and education issues that involve a spatial aspect. In doing so the CRCSI seeks to accelerate the take up of spatial science in key end-users, spawning major innovation and productivity advances in the key industry sectors of Health; Defence; Energy & Utilities; Sustainable Urban Planning; and Agriculture, Natural Resources and Climate Change.