Serbia Builds Nationwide GPS Infrastructure Network with Trimble

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2006 -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) announced today it has supplied Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations and VRS™ (Virtual Reference Station) software to establish one of the first Eastern Europe nationwide VRS infrastructure networks. Located in Serbia, the multi-purpose network provides a geospatial infrastructure for surveying, engineering and Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals. The network supplies fast and accurate GPS positioning for a variety of applications including surveying, urban planning, construction, environmental monitoring, resource and territory management, disaster prevention and relief, precision agriculture, scientific research, transportation management, and telecommunications and electricity distribution mapping.

The Serbian VRS network or AGROS (Active Geodetic Reference Network of Serbia) is operated by the Serbian Geodetic Authority (RGZ), the national organization for cadastre in Serbia and the network was established in co-operation with Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad (FTN). Built with 32 Trimble 5700 Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS), Trimble GPSNet™ and RTKNet™ software, the network is available to all geospatial professionals. Users subscribe to the network on a monthly basis or purchase prepaid time bundles for individual projects.

In conjunction with implementation of the Trimble VRS network, RGZ has developed new surveying procedures and standards that allow surveyors to work faster, easier and with greater confidence using the nationwide network. The VRS network also makes it easier to combine GPS technology with traditional optical surveying methods because the results are available real-time; in addition, simultaneous use of GPS and optical equipment does not require complex preparations and data exchange.

The Serbian VRS network is also part of the European Position Determination System (EUPOS) currently being implemented in 14 Central and Eastern Europe countries. The system will provide a uniform Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) infrastructure throughout the participating countries.

Using the VRS network, surveyors and other professionals in Serbia have been able to realize significant savings in equipment investment, said Prof Dr Oleg Odalovic, PhD. Sc. Surv. Eng., Assistant Director, Surveying Networks Department of RGZ. They are also working faster and achieving more accurate GPS positioning results with greater reliability by using the VRS network and the new RGZ-defined standards.

The Serbian VRS network follows more than 80 installed Trimble infrastructure networks throughout the world including: China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, U.S., Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. For a partial reference list of Trimble VRS installations visit: http://www.trimble.com/vrsinstallations.shtml. Link here.