Sunnyvale, Calif., April 3, 2008 – Trimble announced today it has been selected by ISTANBUL KULTUR UNIVERSITESI (IKU) to supply 150 Trimble® NetR5™ Reference Stations, 150 Trimble Zephyr Geodetic™ 2 Antennas, and Trimble VRS™ technology to establish a nationwide Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) infrastructure network for the country of Turkey. The Trimble VRS network will provide a geospatial infrastructure for surveying, engineering and Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals that enables high accuracy real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS positioning without the need of separate base stations or software, significantly increasing efficiency and productivity.
In addition to supplying the technology, Trimble is providing a turnkey solution that includes building the GNSS network, known as CORS-TR® (Continuous Operating Reference Station-Turkey or TUSAGA AKTIF), as well as installing the network’s control centers. The first of its kind in Turkey, the GNSS network will be operated by the Turkish General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) and General Command of Mapping (GCM), and financially supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), the country’s leading agency for management, funding and research. The main control center will be managed by the TKGM backed by the one in GCM.
"The national CORS-TR project provides new opportunities for national mapping and the use of information technologies in Turkey," said Dr. Kamil Eren, of the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture — Department of Civil Engineering, of Istanbul Kultur University. "The Trimble VRS network will also make it easier to use GNSS technology for a variety of high-tech applications."
One of the largest GNSS networks in the world, the CORS-TR system will supply centimeter-level RTK GNSS data for a variety of positioning applications including geodetic and cadastral surveying, road and bridge construction, earthquake and tectonic plate movement monitoring and analysis, and scientific research, as well as other high-accuracy positioning applications. Turkey also plans to use the network to improve and maintain the vertical and horizontal quality control network as well as calculate the nationwide datum transformation parameters.
The nationwide Turkey VRS network follows more than 150 Trimble infrastructure installations networks throughout the world including: China, Germany, Poland, 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, Southern Poland and Japan. For a partial reference list of Trimble VRS installations visit: http://www.trimble.com/vrsinstallations.shtml.
About IKU, TKGM and TUBITAK
ISTANBUL KULTUR UNIVERSITESI (Istanbul Kultur University or IKU) is one of Turkey’s most respected private universities. The CORS-TR project is overseen by IKU’s engineering faculty. Established in 1997, IKU has over 7000 graduate and undergraduate students studying in the faculties of Science, Engineering and Architecture, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Law, and Art and Design.
The Turkish General Directorate Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) is the governmental agency that carries out land registry and cadastral works in Turkey.
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is the leading agency for management, funding and conduct of research in Turkey. Established in 1963, its mission is to advance science and technology, conduct research and support Turkish researchers. The Council is an autonomous institution and is governed by a Scientific Board whose members are selected from prominent scholars from universities, industry and research institutions.
About Trimble VRS Technology
Trimble VRS technology uses Trimble RTKNet(TM) software and provides high- accuracy, RTK GNSS positioning for wider areas. The VRS network can be continuously available without setting up a base station and provide 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 GNSS 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 may include 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 3,600 employees in over 18 countries.
For more information Trimble’s Web site at http://www.trimble.com/.
Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual events and results may differ materially from those described in this press release. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the ability of Trimble VRS hardware and software to meet the future needs of the CORS-TR network, or to create new opportunities or significant efficiencies; unanticipated delays or difficulties in launching or operating the CORS-TR network; and the future accuracy, reliability or continuous availability of the network. More information about potential factors which could affect Trimble’s business and financial results is set forth in reports filed with the SEC, including Trimble’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K. All forward looking statements a
re based on information available to Trimble as of the date hereof, and Trimble assumes no obligation to update such statements.
