The Australian government has initiated a two-year trial of satellite positioning technologies that could support operations across various industries.The office of Matt Canavan, minister for resources and Northern Australia, said Thursday initial contracts have been signed for an effort to study the economic and social impacts of a Satellite-Based Augmentation System on Australia and Asia.
“In coming months, further contracts are expected to be signed covering more than 30 industry-based projects across 10 sectors examining real-world applications of three new satellite positioning technologies,” Canavan said during an appearance at the Central Queensland University, one of the contract recipients.
“[Three] signals will be uplinked to a geostationary communications satellite out of Lockheed Martin’s station at Uralla in the New England region of New South Wales,” he added.
Australia provided an estimated $9.2 million while New Zealand allotted $1.5 million for the effort.
SBAS is designed to build on the accuracy of positioning data transmitted from international satellites to Australia, Canavan’s office noted.
Darren Chester, Australia’s minister for infrastructure and transport, stated that SBAS may potentially contribute to the safety, efficiency, capacity and positive environmental effect of all transport sectors in the country.
Lockheed, Inmarsat, GMV and Geoscience Australia will oversee the trial activity, while the Cooperative Research Center for Spatial Information will manage the industry projects, which span across the agriculture, aviation, construction, consumer goods, maritime, railway, transportation, utilities and other sectors.
