High Accuracy GPS
By 2018, it will be possible to increase the accuracy of the global positioning system (GPS) to within 1m error tolerance and receive this high accuracy positioning information in real time.
On September 3, the National Ministry of Transportation announced it will begin developing a high-accuracy satellite-based augmentation system next year and start trial services by 2018. About 128 billion won (US$116 million) will be spent on research and development.
Minister Seo Seung-hwan reported such plans at the Cabinet meeting earlier that day. The GPS provided globally by the US government is used widely in automobile navigation and smartphone map services, but outside a US GPS receiving station it has an error range of 17-37 meters which reduces its accuracy and credibility. Depending on the receiving device, the error range can be as high as several hundred meters.
In nations such as the US, Europe, and Japan, SBAS is already being used in aviation, marine, roads, information and communications, distribution, medical emergency and other fields.
SBAS will be available after a free software update for all fields using GPS, so it is expected to be used widely for businesses using GPS-based services.
The Ministry anticipates an annual 34.7 billion won (US$31.5 million) of economic value earned with the SBAS, and improvements made in aviation safety and other GPS-based businesses through it.