A New GPS Augmentation Solution: Terralite’ XPS System for Mining Applications and Initial Experience

Kurt R. Zimmerman, H. Stewart Cobb, Frank N. Bauregger, Santiago Alban, Paul Y. Montgomery and David G. Lawrence

Abstract:	The objective of this work was to create a practical radio location system that can provide 100 percent availability and continuity, together with instantaneous decimeter level accuracy in deep open-pit mines. Novariant has developed a tri-frequency system called Terralite XPS to meet these requirements, and to overcome several limitations of an earlier system that was based on L1 pseudolites. The system employs a set of groundbased Terralite Transmit Stations, or “Terralites," that are located in and around the mine. Terralite signals are used to augment available GPS satellites, and to provide coverage in those areas where insufficient GPS satellites are available to provide positioning capability. This paper discusses the architecture of the Terralite XPS system, including components and key differences from earlier L1 pseudolite augmentation systems. Considerations of issues such as system self-configuration, integration with conventional GPS equipment, and dynamic range are discussed. The paper concludes with real-world positioning data from a mining application and comparison with conventional GPS. The work is significant in that it provides for the first time a practical commercial solution to the GPS availability problem for deep open pit mines and will likely be applied to similar scenarios in a variety of other industries.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2005) September 13 - 16, 2005 Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA
Pages:	2775 - 2788
Cite this article:	Zimmerman, Kurt R., Cobb, H. Stewart, Bauregger, Frank N., Alban, Santiago, Montgomery, Paul Y., Lawrence, David G., "A New GPS Augmentation Solution: Terralite’ XPS System for Mining Applications and Initial Experience," Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2005), Long Beach, CA, September 2005, pp. 2775-2788.
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