CORS Network

A Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network consists of permanently installed GNSSGNSSGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the umbrella term for satellite-based positioning systems that provide a... receivers at precisely surveyed locations that operate 24/7, recording satellite observations and distributing correction data to users in real time. CORS networks eliminate the need for individual surveyors to set up and calibrate their own base stations, providing consistent, reliable corrections over wide geographic areas. Network architectureCORS stations are typically spaced 30-70 kilometers apart and connected via the internet to a central server that computes Network RTK corrections using techniques like Virtual Reference Station (VRS), Master-Auxiliary Concept (MAC), or Flächen-Korrektur-Parameter (FKP). These network solutions model spatial variations in atmospheric delays, enabling centimeter-level accuracy across the entire coverage area, not just near individual stations. Major networksThe U.S. National Geodetic Survey operates the NOAA CORS Network with over 2,000 stations. Similar networks exist worldwide, including Ordnance Survey's OS Net (UK), SAPOS (Germany), and numerous commercial networks operated by companies like Trimble, Leica, and Topcon. CORS networks have democratized high-precision positioning by providing readily accessible correction infrastructure. Their continuous operation supports surveying, construction, agriculture, and scientific applications with consistent accuracy over vast areas.