Testbed in Aarhus for Precision Positioning and Autonomous Systems

The demand for basic infrastructures in modern society are increasing in line with the desire for increased growth and efficiency. Testbed in Aarhus for Precision Positioning and Autonomous Systems - TAPAS is a science and research project aimed at contributing to the implementation of the Danish digital initiatives 5.3, including the implementation of "Industry 4.0".
Geodetic reference systems already form a basic infrastructure that provides the basis for precision positioning and navigation using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Available systems of today are based primarily on GPS, with supplement of local Real Time Kinematic (RTK) systems.
Additional global GNSS systems are these years being implemented. This includes GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China) and not least Galileo (the European version of a GNSS). Systems, which are now forming the basis for new terrestrial networks and the basis for both faster and better position determination. The project's goal is establish a sound ground based network test bed, to support and test new advanced technological developments with a need for fast, efficient and flexible precision positioning. Hence, existing and new applications as well as new autonomous systems can use the TAPAS network reference and be easily initialized, integrated and used in real time.
TAPAS will be designed as a geodetic innovation platform, in form of physical and virtual networks in Aarhus. Initially, TAPAS will initially focus on the area around Aarhus city and harbor as a test bed for in situ trials.
The ambition is to achieve the full potential of GALILEO and evaluate this system's quality in relation to GPS. Further, and in particular, to achieve unprecedented precision positioning in real-time.
Autonomous systems constitute a very large growth area within a wide range of business areas such as transport, agriculture, environment and urban development. Infrastructures that support autonomous platforms. E.g. automated vehicles and machines, drones, marine units, etc. Systems inseparably linked to geodetic reference systems, RTK and associated communications networks (Wi-Fi, 5G mm.).
TAPAS is going to be developed, to accommodate both new geodetic and autonomous reference systems, as well as current and future communication networks. I.e. this innovation research platform attempts to integrate these systems, test concrete initiatives and utilize satellite-based Earth observation data.
The TAPAS network and associated functionality and research, is initially going to be implemented as an Alpha version within the available funding from SDFE in 2017 and in 2018. Pending the successful outcome of TAPAS Alpha and the research introduced using TAPAS Alpha. The plan is hereafter to expand the network and its capabilities in succeeding versions starting with a TAPAS Beta. TAPAS Beta has to rely on new funding being available to the project. However, intention is initially to use the basic network of TAPAS Alpha as a research platform to carry out defined technology demonstrations, but also to extend the network geographical area with additional GNSS Stations pending available funding options.