Ashtech ProFlex 500 CORS stations scheduled for French Nationwide GNSS Reference Network
Carquefou France, 29 September 2010 – EXAGONE, the firm in charge of TERIA, the French GNSS reference network, has signed an agreement with Ashtech® for 50 ProFlex™ 500 CORS reference stations. Replacement of the current i-CGRS stations by Ashtech ProFlex 500 CORS started this month and deployment will be completed by the end of October. Since its launch in April 2003, at the direction of the French Council of the Order of Licensed Surveyors, TERIA has become an invaluable geo-referencing tool providing 24/7 centimeter-level accuracy positioning throughout France.
The TERIA network was initially composed of over 100 Ashtech (formerly Magellan Professional) i-CGRS dual-frequency GPS reference stations. EXAGONE wished to upgrade TERIA by replacing the i-CGRS dual-frequency GPS reference stations with the ProFlex CORS 500, Galileo-compatible dual-frequency GPS + GLONASS stations.
"By accessing GLONASS satellites we will extend coverage and provide greater availability and robustness to the signals used by mobile receivers connected in the field", explains Mr. Jouannet, President of EXAGONE. "We have selected the Ashtech solution for its excellent GNSS performance, station robustness, and integrated connectivity, which facilitates installation in the field and integration with the existing network."
The patented BLADE technology integrated into the ProFlex 500 CORS station and into all the latest generation Ashtech receivers allows optimal utilization of GLONASS signals and corrections. Reception and use of GLONASS reinforces the reliability of real-time surveys and provides greater availability in difficult environments such as urban canyons and wooded coverage.
A vast range of applications
TERIA is useful for all sorts of positioning, stake out and survey work. Additional functions specific to the TERIA network, include real-time processing, precise positioning and geo-referencing in national planimetric and altimetric reference systems. The positions of the TERIA network reference stations are officially approved and periodically checked by the French National Geographical Institute (IGN).
The system is used by licensed surveyors and professionals in public works, precision agriculture, cadastre departments, urban development and environmental authorities, personal assistance and civil security protection services, municipal authorities responsible for geographical information systems and companies collecting GIS data for network maintenance or mobile cartography.
Beyond classic centimetric positioning, other applications, linked in particular to the arrival on the market of new equipment for consulting and transmitting geographic data, suggests that TERIA will be used even more widely.
