CORSnet-NSW: Improving Positioning Infrastructure for New South Wales

CORSnet-NSW is a rapidly expanding network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) providing fundamental positioning infrastructure for New South Wales that is accurate, reliable and easy to use. It is built, operated and managed by Land and Property Information (LPI), a division of the NSW Department of Finance & Services. Currently (September 2011) consisting of 68 reference stations, the network will grow to more than 120 CORS within the next two years. CORSnet-NSW supports a wide range of GNSS applications in areas such as surveying, agriculture, mining and construction, and provides a solid platform for research and innovation involving satellite positioning technology. It undergoes a continuous program of maintenance to ensure the best possible positioning infrastructure is available to NSW. This paper presents the current status of the CORSnet-NSW rollout and discusses several issues critical to providing (and achieving) reliable GNSS positioning of homogeneous and high accuracy across the State. These issues include the direct connection to the national datum via GDA94(2010) coordinates, the importance of site transformations and absolute GNSS antenna models, considerations regarding GNSS-based height determination using CORS, and the automated monitoring of CORSnet-NSW sites for quality control. Efforts to support regional geodesy in the Asia-Pacific region and future plans are also outlined.