Disruptive Technology: Low cost, high accuracy GNSS on demand.

True North | Summer 2020

By: Brock Kingston, Senior Account Manager, MGIS

Breaking through the classic stereotype that high accuracy GNSS spatial data collection is expensive, Trimble Catalyst eliminates the traditional barriers that prevented putting equipment of this nature into the hands of many potential users. At a $500 price point for the Catalyst DA1 Antenna ($500 is not a misprint), the hardware for this system is very affordable. Accuracy is based on the subscription you choose: one-meter, sub-meter, decimeter and precision (centimeter). Subscriptions are currently available ‘ on-demand’ / pay-as-you-go in monthly packages, and also now in a 10 hour package for precision accuracy. Did I mention that hours can be ‘ pooled’ and shared by multiple different Catalyst users as needed? There you go! A low cost, high accuracy on demand GNSS solution. It gets better … you can bring your own device (BYOD) as Catalyst is compatible with most Android OS smart phones and tablets or choose from a variety of rugged data collector options.

What does this mean for you and your colleagues? No capital budget for equipment? No problem! Catalyst is at a price point where you can put it on a credit card and fit it easily into an operating budget. Only need to collect high accuracy locations a couple of times a week or one to two months a year? Catalyst on-demand, pay-as-you-go subscriptions are perfect for that public works team member who wants to collect that valve they notice is not in your GIS, or for that summer student who is collecting sidewalk deficiencies. Perhaps you are a supervisor who wants to spot-check a couple of points on site. Mapping RPAS (formerly UAS/Drone) ground control points and utility location are two more great examples of use for this on-demand system. Starting to get an idea of the unlimited applications? It shouldn’ t be considered as a replacement for your high performance survey or mapping GNSS solutions (in harsh GNSS conditions), but rather as a solution to fill data collection gaps for those occasional users on your team who want in on the action with an affordable, high accuracy tool. It might be time to consider adding Catalyst to your field data collection toolbox or putting one in every vehicle so that you do not miss any more data collection opportunities!

Brock Kingston
Senior Account Manager, MGIS
Cansel