Singapore builds National GPS Infrastructure Network

California, USA, 7 September 2006 -- Trimble announced today it has supplied Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations and VRS(TM) (Virtual Reference Station) software to establish a national GPS infrastructure network in Singapore.

Covering the entire island-nation, the network provides a geospatial infrastructure for surveying, engineering and GIS professionals. The VRS network enables geospatial professionals to take advantage of highly accurate Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS positioning without the need of separate base stations or software, significantly increasing efficiency and productivity.

The network supplies RTK GPS (centimeter-level) data for a variety of positioning applications including surveying, urban planning, construction, environmental monitoring, resource and territory management, disaster prevention and relief, scientific research, transportation management, and telecommunications and electricity distribution mapping.

The Singapore VRS network, known as SiReNT (Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network), is operated by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the national organization for cadastre in Singapore. Built with five Trimble NetRS reference stations, Trimble GPSNet(TM) and RTKNet(TM) software, the network covers the entire country of approximately 700 square kilometers (approximately 270 square miles). The SLA intends to offer a variety of subscription levels to the VRS network to meet the needs of geospatial professionals throughout Singapore.

"The VRS network provides a highly reliable, cost-effective means for surveyors and other professionals to work faster and achieve more accurate GPS positioning results," said Victor Khoo, Manager of the Survey Services, SLA. "The SiReNT network will provide vast opportunities for the positioning industry throughout Singapore that could provide significant business benefits."

The network also makes it easier to combine GPS technology with traditional optical surveying methods because the results are available in real-time; in addition, simultaneous use of GPS and optical equipment does not require complex preparations and data exchange.

The Singapore VRS network follows more than 80 Trimble infrastructure installations networks throughout the world including: China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, U.S. including Alaska, 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 .

- Singapore Land Authority (SLA)
The SLA is responsible for the management and maintenance of the national land survey system in Singapore. This facilitates the defining of boundaries or legal limits of properties. Towards this end, SLA provides a range of survey services including the setting up and maintenance of the Integrated Survey Network (ISN) and Precise Leveling Benchmarks (PLBM); the allocation of Lot Numbers; the inspection and approval of cadastral surveys, as well as survey plans, maps and records. SLA introduced the SVY21 system which is based on the coordinated cadastre concept, a new method of recording land information, which allows for more accurate and consistent cadastral surveys.
More information on the SLA can be found at http://www.sla.gov.sg .

- Trimble
Trimble is a leading innovator of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has more than 2,400 employees in more than 18 countries worldwide. For more information visit: www.trimble.com.

Source : http://biz.yahoo.com