Geoscience Australia will lead a nation-wide trial of a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) starting early this year.
SBAS uses both satellites and ground stations to improve the accuracy and integrity of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) such as the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The two-year project is expected to cost $12 million.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the program could test the potential of SBAS technology for aviation, sea, rail and road transport.
“The future use of SBAS technology was strongly supported by the aviation industry to assist in high accuracy GPS-dependent aircraft navigation," Chester said.
“Positioning data can also be used in a range of other transport applications including maritime navigation, automated train management systems and in the future, driverless and connected cars.”
Geoscience Australia has said the SBAS trial will test three specific technologies:
- Single frequency service SBAS, which is equivalent to WAAS (USA SBAS) and EGNOS (Europe SBAS). This technology will improve positioning of stand-alone GPS from 5 m accuracy to better than 1 m accuracy
- Dual frequency/Multiple Constellation SBAS. This is the so-called next generation SBAS and will exploit the recent development of a civil frequency, known as L5 for GPS and E5a for Galileo. This capability will demonstrate significant performance improvements over single frequency SBAS, particularly in regions with dynamic ionosphere
- Precise Point Positioning (PPP). PPP is a method that provides highly accurately position solutions with accuracy better than 10 cm.
Australia's GNSS accuracy is currently 5-10 m, but SBS has the potential to reduce that to 5 cm, according to Geoscience Australia.
The SBAS test-bed signal will not be available for use with general IFR avionics because the signal can't be used for safety-of-life applications. Specially-modified avionics will be used instead.
For more information on the SBAS trial and to register interest to take part, check the Geoscience Australia website.