How many VRS are using Galileo and Beidou?
I do a lot of ground control for USGS 3DEP program. There are several types of points, one of which is VVA-Forested, which means getting a LiDAR checkpoint in the woods. The quantity of VVA-F depends on the dominant ground cover. I did one recently with 450 points (11,000+ sq mi) in the upper midwest that had only 4 woods points, and another one this month in the mid atlantic area that had 60 woods points out of a total of 180 points (2400 sq mi). That area was forested mountains
For years we would use GNSS to set two points in the open, and then use a total station to locate the point in the woods. Then I upgraded my R10 receivers to R10-2 (only two of the four were capable of being upgraded), which meant ProPoint. After some testing, I determined that setting a base nearby we could get good results in full foliage woods with the R10-2 if we used all four constellations (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and Beidou). And leaf off even easier.
The VRS (Keynet) in the area I live in (NE US) apparently only uses GPS and Glonass. This means we have to set a base nearby (typically on the roof of the vehicle) and do RTK over radio or cell. However, I use the Trimble VRSNow system sometimes and, at least in the areas I was in, it uses the 4 constellations, and I could usually get good VRS in the woods, although the work was done leaf-off.
On the other hand, there are areas in the east where it still requires the GNSS pair/total station method in mid summer due to really thick canopy.
I am wondering how many of the VRS systems in the US have upgraded their receivers and network to use 3 or 4 constellations?
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