Three ways the RT3000 v4 makes mobile mapping easier!

Delivering great surveys for customers is increasingly reliant on high-quality localisation data. And that data can be obtained in a variety of ways.

Many surveyors, both land-based and airborne, are using GNSS-aided inertial navigation systems (GNSS/INS) to gather high-precision localisation data during surveying missions. In this blog, we’re unashamedly showing off our latest GNSS/INS, the RT3000 v4, and talking about how it can help mobile mapping professionals get the localisation data they need faster and more easily.

Meet the RT3000 v4

The RT3000 v4 is our most accurate GNSS/INS ever. It features our most advanced MEMS inertial measurement unit – the IMU10, combined with survey-grade GNSS receivers. And in keeping with OXTS tradition, it combines those components with advanced algorithms and clever calibrations to deliver performance comparable with more expensive FOG INS devices.

There are multiple versions of the RT3000 v4 for you to choose from, alongside the standard version: 

• The RT3000 v4 T, which gives you access to TerraStar correction data.

• The RT3000 v4 16G, which is capable of measuring up to 16Gs of force.

• The RT3000 v4 DO-160, which has been tested against the stringent DO-160 standards for protection against, heat, cold, water, dust, EMF, and more. 

Whichever model you choose, compared to previous editions of the RT3000, the RT3000 v4 is up to 90% more accurate in how it measures position, while being 50% smaller and 70% lighter. For mobile mappers, that accuracy naturally translates into more precise georeferencing data for your survey. But there are some other features that make the RT3000 v4 handy for surveyors conducting mobile mapping projects.

Please note though, this isn’t an exhaustive list, these are just some of our favourites!

The RT3000 v4 warms up with just three minutes of low-dynamic movement – around six times faster than previous models.

This impacts GNSS/INS users in two ways. With less time warming up, surveyors can spend more time collecting data, which in turn helps to cover more ground during a project. It also means a surveyor doesn’t need to find the space to perform high-dynamic manoeuvres before starting a data collection project.

The graphs below detail the improvement in the time taken to get to pitch and roll specification between the RT3000 v4 and the older v2 version.

Direct georeferencing techniques, like those using a GNSS/INS, rely on precise clock synchronisation between the localisation solution and the sensors doing the survey. The closer the synchronisation, the higher quality the final output will be.

Older systems will do this using a pulse per second (PPS) signal, which is effective but complicated to implement and requires a lot of hardware. PTP, on the other hand, takes place entirely over ethernet, simplifying setup and making it easier to synchronise your sensors. The RT3000 v4 includes PTP synchronisation as standard, allowing you to achieve the best sensor setup on your surveying payload.

LiDAR has quickly become one of the most popular surveying tools thanks to its ability to produce detailed point clouds that allow for precise measurements, high levels of accuracy, and the ability to analyse data repeatedly without having to conduct additional scans. Delivering a point cloud of that quality, however, relies on your ability to accurately georeference each point – and do so in a timely manner.  

The RT3000 v4 is compatible with OXTS Georeferencer, our point cloud georeferencing application. It enables you to quickly and easily combine data from your GNSS/INS and your LiDAR, giving you a fully georeferenced point cloud in just a few clicks. 

OXTS Georeferencer also contains our boresight calibration tool, which precisely aligns the coordinate frames of the LiDAR and GNSS/INS before your survey. Those measurements are used to eliminate blurring and ‘double vision’ that can often mar point clouds – making your work even more valuable to clients.