GNSS Technology in Topography

GNSS stands for “Navigation Satellite System” and can be global or regional systems. One of the advantages of using GNSS technology is that it provides access to geopositioning information from multiple satellites, which allows for greater accuracy, redundancy and permanent availability. That is, in the event of a satellite failure, GNSS receivers can simply pick up signals from another satellite to continue receiving information. 

In the following, we will discuss more about GNSS technology: what it is, how it works, and the benefits it offers: 

What is GNSS in surveying?

GNSS in surveying is known as Geodetic GNSS. In this case, the satellite-connected device is used to geo-reference locations and learn their spatial position data, e.g. altitude and coordinates. Thanks to this collected information, highly accurate maps can be generated.

How does GNSS work in topography?

There are three elements necessary for this satellite navigation system to be used in surveying: 

• Satellites: both navigation and communication satellites. They are the ones that will allow the information to be received and analyzed before being sent. 
• Stations: which are located in different countries and have the objective of providing information to the satellites and correcting erroneous positions of these. 
• Receiving antennas and receivers, the former receive the signals from the satellites and the latter transform the frequency received by the antenna so that it can be read by the latter. In the case of a geodetic GNSS, these elements allow the equipment to analyze the information provided by the satellites to calculate the position. 

The use of GNSS technology is useful because it allows the analysis of reliefs, so it is possible to know if they are safe or not. In this way, different projects and works can be developed, for example, houses, shopping centers, infrastructure projects such as roads, highways, bridges, etc.  Its use also allows to analyze the relief of mines, quarries, subway tunnels, soil fertility, hydrocarbon exploration and even environmental impact studies.

GNSS and drones

One way in which GNSS technology is currently used is through unmanned aerial vehicles: drones. With the use of GNSS drones, which have built-in cameras, it is possible to carry out bathymetry studies, monitor mining deposits, analyze orography, capture multispectral images and even model 3D maps.

Benefits of using GNSS Technology in Topography:

• Among the benefits of using drones with GNSS technology are: 
• Reduce geo-positioning errors. Since it provides high precision topographic data. 
• Taking accurate geo positioning data with drones with this technology is faster than using conventional surveying techniques. 
• It is not required for the operator to go to the field to be able to use the devices, as they can be manipulated remotely.  
• It improves productivity by working with more accurate data. 
• Its use reduces the amount of equipment and manpower required. 
• There are fewer operational constraints than with traditional techniques. 

Now that you know the benefits of using GNSS technology, get the GNSS equipment you need at Mettatec!