Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 further enhances its unrivalled versatility. New are a Network based DGPS service and a unique User Location Service, providing secure external on-line access to user location information. Along with added support for legacy Network RTK methods, FKP and Virtual Reference Station, and further additions to the Spider Business Center,  V3.1 significantly expands the scope of services a Leica GNSS Spider user can offer to his customers. In addition further optimisations of its advanced modelling and processing algorithms ensure unmatched Network RTK service availability.

“With Leica GNSS Spider Leica Geosystems offers the most advanced and versatile yet simple and efficient to use solution for GNSS Infrastructure and Network RTK. It allows the network service providers to fully focus on the business of reference stations and to optimise the scope of services they offer”, says Frank Pache, Product Manger for GNSS Networks software solutions at Leica Geosystems.

New advanced modelling techniques
The core part of a Network RTK solution is the real time analysis and error modelling to reliably provide high accuracy corrections for improved RTK performance. Ongoing research and development ensures that each new version of GNSS Spider sets new standards for Network RTK performance and reliability.
“Version 3.1 introduces the latest modelling techniques, ensuring our customers can provide high quality correction services to their rover users all day, every day.”, states Mr. Pache.

Legacy Methods for Network RTK
Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 now also enables the service provider to offer services based on the legacy Network RTK methods Flächen-Korrektur-Parameter (FKP) and Virtual Reference Stations (VRS). Together with the official recommended standard RTCM Network RTK method realized by Leica MAX and its variant for server based individualized Network RTK Leica i-MAX, the newly supported methods enhance the flexibility for service providers to meet their customer’s demands.

Mr. Pache explains: “The open RTCM standard for Network RTK clearly provides superior performance over any other method. However with Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 we acknowledge that service providers, and particularly those who have been operating networks since before the RTCM standard for Network RTK had been developed, have obligations to continue offering also these legacy methods as part of their service portfolio along with the new RTCM standard.”

Unique User location service
The unique User Location service is a real time service allowing the easy relay of rover user location information. This data is provided by RTK rover users to Leica GNSS Spider and can be securely accessed by external custom applications. The new service is easy to set up as an integral part of the Leica GNSS Spider RT-Product services. It can be configured just like any other real time service with all the same options for communication channels and access protection.

Mr. Pache comments: “Such value added service, for example, allows the office management of rover crews to independently trace where they are operating at any given time. In case they urgently need a particular job to be done, they can easily pick the crew closest to the new job location.”

Networked DGPS service
The variety of DGPS based applications grows continuously. For GNSS network service providers this is an interesting clientele. Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 now offers Network DGPS services in addition to the existing nearest site single base DGPS solution. The Network DGPS corrections provide better coverage and consistency over single base corrections.

Enhanced Spider Business Center and more
Along with the new legacy Network RTK, the Network DGPS and User Location service, the Spider Business Center has been further optimized. Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 offers more flexibility in using different RTK formats. The support for RTCM coordinate reference system information has been enhanced. Other new features offer enhanced limit checks for rover access to network services.
Further extensions and optimizations in many different areas of Leica GNSS Spider improve its usability for file based services and in GNSS monitoring applications.

Clear benefits
The new version introduces many extensions and enhancements around the Leica GNSS Spider Business Center for Network RTK services and for GNSS Monitoring applications.

“All our customers can benefit from this new version, with possibilities to broaden their service offering and service reliability. Those participating in our Active Customer Care program benefit from our continuous improvement program at no extra cost.”, concludes Mr. Pache.

Leica GNSS Spider V3.1 is now available as an improvement for the third generation of Leica Geosystems’ solutions for professional, reliable and secure GNSS Networks and Reference Stations.