BeiDou satellite system continues global expansion
The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is scheduled to reach full coverage of the countries and regions along the Belt and Road route in 2018, according to Guo Xinping, the founder and ECO of the UniStrong Science & Technology Co, one of China’s top GNSS companies.
China launched twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on January 12 with two further satellites in February 12, expanding its navigation and positioning services for Belt and Road countries in 2018. The complete global satellite navigation system is expected to be completed by 2020.
The current accuracy of the BeiDou system is around 2 to 5 meters and can be increased to within one meter for free services, and even a centimeter for paid services when ground stations are employed.
In surveying and mapping harsher environments, more constellations matter, as they provide more data and therefore more reliable information, Mauro Colombi, Vice President of Operations at Stonex, one of the world’s leading measurement and survey companies, told the Global Times.
