Sunnyvale, Calif., Dec. 20, 2006 — Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) announced today it has supplied its VRS™ (Virtual Reference Station) software to establish a national Global Positioning System (GPS) infrastructure network in the south of Poland. The VRS network provides a geospatial infrastructure for surveying, engineering and Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals. The VRS network enables high accuracy Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS positioning without the need of separate base stations or software, significantly increasing efficiency and productivity.
The network is the first of its kind in Poland and supplies centimeter-level RTK GPS data for a variety of positioning applications including geodetic and cadastral surveying, road and bridge construction, and archeological excavation site location and documentation. There are also plans to use the network for managing and dispatching emergency medical and rescue teams in Kraków to improve efficiency and response times.
The VRS network, known as Malopolski System Pozycjonowania Precyzyjnego, is operated by the BGUM, the survey office of the local government. Built with Trimble GPSNetTM and RTKNet™ software, the network covers the southern part of Poland, called Malopolska. In addition to improving the accuracy of results, the network is expected to enable fast measurements within 2-5 seconds. The use of the network will be free of charge for surveyors in the next three years.
"The VRS network provides a highly reliable, cost-effective means for surveyors and other professionals to work faster and achieve more accurate GPS positioning results," said Maciej Antosiewicz, Chief of the Survey Office at the Malopolska Regional Office of the Polish Government. "The Malopolska network is expected to provide vast opportunities for the positioning industry that could bring significant business benefits. The VRS network is the first part of the planned nation-wide GPS network, known as ASG (Aktywna Siec Geodezyjna or Network for Online Positioning User Service), which will be a GPS CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station) network covering the entire country of Poland."
The network also makes it easier to combine GPS technology with traditional optical surveying methods because the results are available in real-time. In addition, simultaneous use of GPS and optical equipment does not require complex preparations and data exchange.
The Malopolska VRS network follows more than 80 Trimble infrastructure installations networks throughout the world including: China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, U.S., Singapore, Portugal, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, New Caledonia, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. For a partial reference list of Trimble VRS installations visit: http://www.trimble.com/vrsinstallations.shtml.
About BGUM
BGUM is the Geodesy and Cartography Office for the Malopolska region of Poland. BGUM is responsible for the region’s cartographic resources and manages the cartography and geodesy fund; maintains the region’s databases within Poland’s GIS; develops rules for managing the Arable Land Protection Fund resources; and performs other activities to protect and maintain the region’s arable and forested land.
About Trimble VRS Technology
Trimble VRS technology uses the RTK solutions from Trimble RTKNet software and provides high-accuracy, RTK GPS positioning for wider areas. The VRS network is available at any time without setting up a base station and provides common control anywhere in the network.
Because Trimble RTKNet software is able to process the entire network simultaneously, Trimble VRS networks offer greater quality control and higher data accuracy at longer distances. In the field, the farther users get from a reference station using conventional RTK, the more susceptible they become to reduced accuracy and performance due to systematic errors such as ionospheric and tropospheric effects. In a Trimble VRS network, RTKNet software provides a fully modeled solution that factor in potential systematic errors. Users connect into the system using a wireless connection; the software acknowledges the users field positions and allows them to operate as though there is a reference station—a virtual reference station—right next to their rover. As a result, the PPM error is eliminated or significantly reduced, allowing surveyors to achieve RTK precision over much greater distances with fewer reference stations. Users can also retrieve stored GPS and modeled data from the control center via the Internet for post-processing.
About Trimble’s Engineering and Construction Business
Trimble, a world leader in GPS, construction lasers, robotic total stations and machine control solutions, is creating a broad range of innovative solutions that changes the way construction work is done. The Engineering and Construction business of Trimble is focusing on the development of technology and solutions in the core areas of surveying, construction and infrastructure. From concept to completion, Trimble’s integrated systems streamline jobs and improve productivity.
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions typically include significant software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has a worldwide presence with more than 2,600 employees in over 18 countries.
For more information Trimble’s Web site at www.trimble.com.
