Resource grade GNSS

There are a number of sub-meter GNSS receivers out there and the Juniper Geode could be a good solution, but I am not certain if they have a field collection software they offer as well. If they may ever need higher accuracy, the the Leica FLX100 may fit the bill as it is sub-meter via SBAS, but can also utilize NTRIP corrections to get to several centimeters of accuracy.

Leica also has Zeno Mobile, which can be installed on an Android phone or tablet and export to shapefile, utilize Esri ArcGIS Online and it looks like a few other export capabilities.

If they have a GIS in place with Esri and ArcGIS Online, then the Esri Field Maps app may be a good fit. Most of the GIS/GNSS devices like the Juniper Geode and Leica FLX100 would be able to provide positioning to a 3rd party app.

Field software and workflow back to the office will be the more important piece if simplicity is the driving factor.?ÿ

@johnson5144 Thanks for the reply. Trying to get a handle on as many angles as possible. I'm thinking that the SBAS (WAAS) might be a better option than the NTRIP corrections but that would really depend on whether a reliable WIFI hotspot was available, which isn't always the case. I'm thinking reliability and consistency with the corrections is more critical than getting accuracy down to a decimeter or two. With locates and the like often the accuracy is +/- 2' to begin with. The GIS system the telecom people have migrated to was recently acquired by ESRI, so that is definitely an avenue I need to explore. One thing I love about all this GIS business as a surveyor, they can input shapefiles that are submeter accurate but the cadastral base maps are still going to be far less accurate and that makes a lot of work for me reconciling the differences on the ground. Half the battle is getting the people using these systems to understand that and away from the black box silver bullet mentality.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ

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"Field software and workflow back to the office will be the more important piece if simplicity is the driving factor." 100%?ÿ

@williwaw, absolutely.

If they have Esri on the office side (or will have), then a field software that offers the ability to utilize Esri ArcGIS Online might be the ticket. This would remove the need to manually transfer data from the field to the office or office to the field. The only two I know of are Esri's Field Maps and Leica's Zeno Mobile, but I am sure there are others. The base maps available in both Esri Field Maps and Leica Zeno Mobile would require an active internet connection though.

If higher accuracy positioning and the ability to access base maps is of interest, you could eliminate the need for a hotspot by getting a rugged Android tablet with an integrated cellular modem to be activated with a local carrier, if it is an option. This would help eliminate possible connectivity issues.?ÿ

@williwaw ,?ÿ

Ah, a question I can try to answer - resource or mapping grade!

Not a fan of Zeno Mobile, or Zeno Connect (the former the mapping application), the latter a middleware to dump data into, say ESRI field maps.?ÿ Both are not as reliant a package in my experience than the options below.

Juniper Geode is well loved, solid instrument.?ÿ I have never tried.

Backing up, stick with a good WAAS receiver is probably your best bet. Should get you in the submeter, and ITRF reference frame. Keeping the receiver out of the pocket would be essential, since its line of sight to the Geostationary sat.?ÿ In AK, WAAS is very good.?ÿ ?ÿFor decent receivers, easy to connect to Field maps(assuming your collecting points and lines) I like the Trimble R1, but that's getting pretty old in the teeth (6 years and nothing new). Buying used should not be a problem.?ÿ Otherwise, I would come down on the EOS Arrow 100 or 100+ model for a serious submeter solution.?ÿ ?ÿThis company has WAAS down cold (creator of the SXBlue - a killer receiver). and has really impressed folks with its ease of connection to IOS/Android.?ÿ Decent price point.?ÿ ?ÿThis approach likely though chooses the application for you - ESRI Field Maps and parking data in the ESRI AGOL cloud.?ÿ I'm a fed, so all the AGOL publishing is free to me, so you have that added cost.?ÿ

Sadly, the big players in the GPS industry has made an all-in-one impossible, so now, a phone, a battery, a receiver, a antenna all are your package.?ÿ And very little wiggle room except for ESRI. Trimble has left much of us in the dust - TerraFlex running on an Android/IOS is an option, and similar to workflows, but man do I miss the days of TerraSync/PFO that never, ever failed and simple - like export from device a shapefile and your off to map making land.?ÿ Stick to WAAs for this application and you should be fine.

My go to site for GPS accuracy is the USFS GPS page.?ÿ Hasn't really kept up with the latest greatest, but a reliable, independent resource on accuracy assessments.?ÿ ?ÿThe datum is the killer.?ÿ Your crew will be fine though with you ensuring they check in.?ÿ 2% of all GIS folks using GPS do this, and think that 5cm display of "accuracy" is accuracy.?ÿ Boinggggggg

USDA Forest Service Global Positioning System: MTDC Accuracy Reports (fs.fed.us)

@gisjoel That's some gold. Thanks for the input!?ÿ