GPS Equipment
For survey applications the Discovery Programme has a Trimble 5700 differential GPS base and rover system. These dual frequency, phase measurement receivers operate in differential mode to achieve accuracies of +/-10mm plan, +/-20mm height. The differential corrections are broadcast by a base radio to the rover receiver in real-time and the system is often referred to as Real-time Kinematic (RTK) GPS.
The lastest addition to our GPS capability has been a Trimble 5800 differential network enabled RTK receiver. This stand alone receiver achieves accuracies of +/-10mm plan, +/-20mm height by receiving differential corrections via a GPRS mobile phone connection. This licensed service is provided via the Trimble VRSNOW (Ireland) service and provides positions in Irish Grid or Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM) coordinate system. This receiver can also operate as a roving RTK unit, receiving radio corrections from the 5700 base station unit.
Firmware and Software
Trimble Survey Controller
This is the software used in the field hosted on the data controller to gather, code and manage GPS data. It gives full control over data collection and stake-out, organizes job files and transfers to PC or laptop for processing or output.
5700 system, TSCe controller, version 10.80
5800 system TSC2 controller, version 11.32
Trimble Geomatic Office
Software to provide the link between field collected data and third party design and data manipulation and viewing software such as CAD and GIS. Enables post processing of RINEX GPS and gathered data, and integrates RTK and conventionally surveyed data.
Trimble Receiver Firmware
The GPS receivers host firmware for the processing of the incoming GPS signals.
GPS Receiver 5700 firmware, version 1.24
For reconnaissance and navigation purposes the Discovery Programme has two Garmin GPS 12 hand held GPS receivers. These operate as stand alone units, single frequency, code only measurement, and as such can attain accuracy of only +/- 3-5m.