Accurate and affordable location technology for New Zealand

A potential gap between available location technology and its use on the ground was identified in the New Zealand land transport sector. This research sought to bridge that gap and support the NZ Transport Agency's ('Transport Agency') goal to increase the use of appropriate location technology by its key providers. Consultation with these was undertaken to understand the requirements for location technology and any lessons learnt from previous implementations. A literature and technology review and evaluation identified suitably accurate and affordable location technologies for use in road asset management in New Zealand. Mapping grade global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and consumer grade GNSS combined with mobile geographic information systems and imagery were found to be the most appropriate options for immediate use. Other promising technologies include augmenting GNSS with ground-based networks like Locata or other wireless systems (Bluetooth, WiFi, ultra wide-band). There is also potential for the wider use of ground-based LiDAR for desktop surveys. The use of these technologies requires clear guidance. It is recommended that current Transport Agency manuals are updated to include guidelines for the use of location technology, with clear accuracy requirements. This will assist providers in choosing the most appropriate location technology for a given situation.