Skip to main content

Australia launches positioning technology trials

The Australian Government is to invest US$9 million (AU$12 million) in a two-year program looking into the future of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) positioning technology in Australia. The funding will be used to test instant, accurate and reliable positioning technology that could provide future safety, productivity, efficiency and environmental benefits across many industries in Australia, including transport, agriculture, construction, and resources. Federal Minister for Infrastructure
January 19, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The Australian Government is to invest US$9 million (AU$12 million) in a two-year program looking into the future of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) positioning technology in Australia.

The funding will be used to test instant, accurate and reliable positioning technology that could provide future safety, productivity, efficiency and environmental benefits across many industries in Australia, including transport, agriculture, construction, and resources.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the program could test the potential of SBAS technology in the four transport sectors—aviation, maritime, rail and road.

The two-year project will test SBAS technology that has the potential to improve positioning accuracy in Australia to less than five centimetres. Currently, positioning in Australia is usually accurate to five to 10 metres.

The SBAS test-bed is Australia's first step towards joining countries such as the US, Russia, India, Japan and many across Europe in investing in SBAS technology and capitalising on the link between precise positioning, productivity and innovation.

Related Content

  • NSW commits major funds to roads and maritime in 2013-2014 state budget
    June 20, 2013
    The New South Wales (NSW) Government will invest US$4.7 billion to build and maintain critical road and maritime infrastructure across the state in the 2013-2014 state budget, providing for new roads infrastructure, maintenance and road safety. Roads minister Duncan Gay says this new infrastructure fund, Restart NSW, will support the WestConnex Motorway, WestConnex enabling works in the Port Botany and Sydney Airport Precinct, the Pacific and Princes highways, Bridges for the Bush, and addressing congestion
  • ITS Australia Awards 2025 finalists announced
    November 13, 2024

    ITS Australia has announced 32 finalists for the 15th Annual ITS Australia Awards, with winners announced at a ceremony on 13 February 2025 in Perth, Western Australia.

  • ITS ‘could save Australia US$500 million a year’
    February 22, 2013
    According to Australia’s federal infrastructure and transport minister, Anthony Albanese, an Australia-wide electronic freeway management system has the potential to greatly reduce congestion and save Australian families and businesses more than US$500 million a year. Albanese said as much as he announced the US$21 million contract to deliver an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and communications infrastructure to the Westgate freeway managed motorway project in Victoria under the national smart managed m
  • Pioneering IntelliDrive technologies in Michigan
    February 2, 2012
    Pete Goldin reports on upgrades to the USDOT's Michigan Test Bed, where IntelliDrive technologies are being pioneered