Contributed by Kapil Katiyar, Trimble
Singapore has set its sights on becoming a world-class, tech-driven city-state. As it transforms into a Smart Nation, Singapore is leveraging advanced technology to impact how its people and businesses live, work, and play. The result? Singapore is reaping the benefits of a clear, decisive focus on developing its digital economy, which includes accelerating economic growth by digitizing industries and businesses.
As part of this initiative, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) sought to evaluate how it delivers access to GNSS positioning and location data to public agencies and private entities across the country. The SLA set up the Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network (SiReNT) infrastructure in 2006 with five reference stations to deliver accurate and reliable GPS correction services. The main users of this initial setup were the land surveyors. Newer GNSS-based reference stations were progressively added and by 2016, all 10 reference stations were upgraded to support GNSS.
SiReNT has since evolved to support diverse applications in many industries, including sustainability, logistics, mobility and construction. For example, signals from GNSS satellites, enabled by SiReNT and satellite remote sensing techniques, are used to track sea-level changes.
SiReNT’s real-time centimeter-level precise positioning is also used to establish property boundaries to support a robust cadastral system and can ensure precision in construction and piling works. By 2020, the SiReNT user base had grown beyond the land surveyors and included various users from five main segments: geomatics, construction automation, asset management, autonomous robots and platforms, and environmental monitoring.
Locally, the development and operations of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) are also enabled by SiReNT’s reliable and precise Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) service. To achieve a higher level of performance to deliver efficiency, reduce costs and improve accuracy, SiReNT and Trimble have been working together since 2016 to deliver consistent GNSS satellite positioning and precise location information.
In 2022, the Trimble Alloy™ receivers were introduced into the SiReNT infrastructure and today, users can benefit from the GNSS single-base or network-based Virtual Reference Stations (VRS) correction services of SiReNT. Users continue to rely on the absolute positioning precision and accuracy of up to three centimeters in real-time for Smart Nation-type applications. Additionally, SLA makes use of Trimble products such as the R10 and DA2 GNSS receivers, VX Total Station and the Trimble Business Center software for data processing.
SLA’s Senior Geomatics Manager of the Survey and Geomatics Division, Tan Hua Seng Jimmy, said, “With the Trimble Solutions Alloy receivers, SiReNT is able to provide reliable positioning to users in various industries and user segments to achieve precise positioning, navigation and tracking via the use of multi-constellation satellite positioning techniques, such as RTK and Post Process On-Demand (PP On-Demand).”
Jimmy added, “SiReNT is user-friendly. With a valid user account, users can simply connect to the services through the internet and receive SiReNT correction data in real-time onsite or be able to download past correction data for post processing at their desktop. There is no need for users to set up their own local base stations for precise positioning. Additionally, geospatial data captured using SiReNT is referenced to Singapore’s national coordinates reference frame, the SVY21. This ensures data homogeneity and interoperability instantly without the need for conversions.”
As Singapore progresses as a Smart City, SiReNT, backed by Trimble, spearheads initiatives for faster, smarter and more accessible geospatial data. The synergy between SiReNT and Trimble epitomizes a commitment to efficiency, cost reduction and enhanced data accuracy in line with Singapore's tech-driven evolution.
At a glance
- No base station needed, reducing operational costs and improving ease of use
- Reduction in costs of resources and marked efficiency improvements
- 10 GNSS reference stations that covers the entirety of Singapore and its offshore islands
- Built-in system redundancy and integrity monitoring
- Self-service account applications and management in online portal
10 GNSS reference stations across Singapore
Source: Singapore Land Authority
- SSTS - Sultan Shoal Station
- SSMK - Semakau Station
- SLYG - Loyang Station
- SNUS - NUS Station
- SNYU – Nanyang Technological University Station
- SRPT - Republic Polytechnic Station
- SNPT - Nanyang Polytechnic Station
- SING - Singapore Station
- SMS1 - Meteorological Service Station
- SNSC - National Sailing Centre Station
Kapil Katiyar is the Regional Sales Manager, Southeast Asia for Real-Time Networks and RTX Corrections services with Trimble Advanced Positioning. He has a masters in Engineering from Asian Institute of technology (Thailand) and nearly 15 years of experience in sales & business development in geospatial products & solutions.
