What is the accuracy difference between Fixed and Float RTK?

Fixed RTK typically delivers ±8 mm horizontal and ±15 mm vertical accuracy. Float RTK carries ±300–1000 mm of positioning error depending on baseline length and atmospheric conditions.

Why does my RTK show Fixed but coordinates are still wrong?

Common causes are a datum mismatch (wrong coordinate system), an incorrect geoid model applied to elevation, or an antenna height entry error.

How do I know if multipath is affecting my survey?

Multipath typically shows as unstable repeated measurements — the same physical point measured three times gives results differing by 20–50 mm rather than the expected ±8 mm.

Can I survey during ionospheric storms?

RTK accuracy degrades during geomagnetic storms (Kp index above 5). For precision engineering or cadastral surveys, postpone sessions until the Kp index drops below 3.

What is the maximum reliable CORS baseline for centimetre accuracy?

Most CORS networks guarantee ±10–20 mm horizontal accuracy within 50 km of the nearest reference station. Beyond 70 km, deploy a self‑deployed base station within 15 km of the survey area.

APEKS FAQ | RTK Surveying vs Static Surveying: Understanding the Key Differences

2025-08-22

RTK Surveying vs Static Surveying: Understanding the Key Differences

In the world of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) surveying, precision and efficiency are crucial. Two of the most widely used methods are RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) surveying and Static surveying. While both rely on satellite signals to determine precise positions, they serve different purposes and excel in different scenarios. In this article, we'll break down the key differences between these two surveying methods.

What is RTK Surveying?

RTK surveying is a real-time differential GNSS technique that achieves centimeter-level accuracy. It works by using a base station and a rover simultaneously observing the same satellites. The base station calculates corrections in real time and sends them to the rover, allowing the rover to adjust its measurements immediately.

Key features of RTK surveying include:

Real-time results: The rover can move while surveying and instantly obtain precise positions.
High efficiency: Measurements are immediate, making it ideal for fast-paced projects.
Ease of use: Equipment setup is relatively simple compared to static surveying.

Applications: RTK is widely used in construction staking, topographic surveys, road works, and other scenarios requiring real-time centimeter-level accuracy.

Limitations: RTK's accuracy can be affected by distance from the base station, data link quality, and environmental conditions such as tall buildings or dense trees.

What is Static Surveying?

Static surveying, on the other hand, focuses on achieving maximum accuracy, often at the millimeter level. It requires multiple GNSS receivers to remain stationary for extended periods while observing the same satellites. The collected data is then processed afterward using software to calculate baselines and adjust the network.

Key features of Static surveying include:

Extremely high precision: Horizontal accuracy can reach 2.5 mm, and vertical accuracy 5 mm.
Post-processing required: Observations are processed after data collection to achieve the highest precision.
Complex workflow: Requires careful setup, long observation times, and multiple receivers.

Applications: Static surveying is ideal for high-precision control networks, deformation monitoring, settlement monitoring, and projects where ultimate accuracy is essential.

Limitations: The process is time-consuming and operationally more complex than RTK. Accuracy depends on observation duration, satellite geometry, and station network configuration.

RTK vs Static Surveying: A Quick Comparison

Feature	RTK Surveying	Static Surveying
Accuracy	Centimeter-level	Millimeter-level
Real-time	Yes	No (post-processing)
Mobility	Rover can move	Receivers must remain stationary
Setup complexity	Low	High
Applications	Construction, topographic surveys, road works	High-precision networks, deformation & settlement monitoring

Conclusion

In summary, RTK surveying prioritizes speed and convenience, making it suitable for projects where immediate positioning is required. Static surveying, on the other hand, emphasizes maximum precision, often used in projects with extremely high accuracy demands.

In practice, these two methods are often used together, combining the efficiency of RTK with the precision of static surveying to achieve the best results.

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