GPS accuracy in Australia planned to improve even further

Better link here Michelle and other forumites: Satellite Based Augmentation System test-bed project

The key is in the words 'any time and anywhere' because post-processed high-accuracy GPS has been available for a considerable time. "An SBAS will overcome the current gaps in mobile and radio communications and, when combined with on-ground operational infrastructure and services, will ensure that accurate positioning information can be received anytime and anywhere within Australia and New Zealand."

What chance that consumer GPS navigators will benefit? Close to zero, I suspect!
The roads are wider than 5m, and some navigator applications cannot even get the car ON the roadnow!

Hi Michelle

GNNS augmentation has been available in Australia for more than 20 years via commercial suppliers. It is built in to most of the precise agricultural positioning systems, oil rig supply boats, aerial survey aircraft etc etc.

GPS errors (ionosphere, clock drift, ephemeris) are removed, based on your location, using sophisticated mathematical algorithms contained in the GPS firmware. The variables( error corrections) used by the algorithms are broadcast from Satellites (VHF usually) and updated every second or more often ( my knowledge of the technology is about 5 years out of date).

This technology will only benefit those who invest in the hardware that can receive and process the signal corrections. So it will not benefit the majority of us using present technology embedded in consumer devices.

The number of satellites in view, and their location in the visible sky (geometry) has a very large influence on GPS locational accuracy. With 16 satellites in view and good geometry x,y accuracy of around 2m and z accuracy of double that is achievable without GNNS augmentation. For me this level of accuracy is more than enough for remote area navigation and positioning.

Cheers John

And about time to. I've lost count of the times I've wandered around the bush in WA due to this lack of accuracy.
Dave.

All we need to do now is convince Google to get some accuracy into their maps to stop people driving on private property, convinced it's a road, because Google Maps says so.

I'm sick of telling people to turn around and get out of our private property between our 12 neighbouring factory units - because Google has told them this land is a continuation of the street that ends at the cul-de-sac, 400 metres away!

They could also do a vast amount of major corrections to landmarks - such as Cambridge Gulf, marked as "Scambridge Gulf" on Google Maps!

No matter how many times I try to correct the name, Google refuses point-blank to change it.

They also think I've visited places that I've only been past, from 50 metres away. So much for the accuracy of their "targeted marketing"!

Cheers, Ron.

Hi Guys, not sure that I really see that level of accuracy is so important for civilian navigation use. 5.0 m is pretty close, within eyesight. For military & surveying, there are units available that are extremely accurate.

Macca.

Michelle, we have two Garmin 7inch screen, different models and they show accuracy as low as 3 metres real time... so they say! Michael

This sounds to me very much like the Wide Area Augmentation System. This requires WAAS-enabled GPS receivers, but the majority of consumer devices aren't equipped to use the supplementary signal.