A Comparison of Different Communication RTK Survey Systems

This study examines different RTK survey systems with different data communication methods. The performances of different RTK are analyzed and compared in terms of system configuration, positioning precision, operation radius, communication method, external information, and cost expense. The results show that RTK data by radio station transmission are with low reliability, high labor-intensity, and small operating radius. In contrast, RTK with mobile communication and network are with high reliability, small labor-intensity and large operating radius. However, the radio station transmission RTK requires neither external information nor data transmission cost, while the mobile communication RTK and network RTK have extra data transmission charges because of their dependency on the local wireless communication and network communication. Radio station transmission RTK and mobile communication RTK have low positioning precision, and cannot provide all-weather survey. Network RTK positioning precision is high, and can provide weatherproof survey, although the investment and maintenance costs of network RTK are higher.