Network RTK: Same look and feel... only better

Easier, more accurate and more reliable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning is increasingly becoming available to Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) users in Australia. Generally at no extra effort or cost to the user, thanks to the growing availability of Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK). Until recently, NRTK services were only available in major urban areas but are now rapidly becoming accessible in regional areas. This transition to the next level of GNSS positioning is made possible by many factors, including GNSS modernisation and the rapid densification of nationwide CORS infrastructure. Many professionals currently enjoy the high precision and increased productivity offered by single-base RTK systems. For the user in the field, NRTK has the same 'look and feel' as traditional RTK... only it's better. In this article we quickly review the core difference between conventional, single-base RTK and NRTK. Using CORSnet-NSW, 5 million observations and 1750 station occupations in several test areas across NSW, we then show that NRTK consistently outperforms single-base RTK in both precision and accuracy.