IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation Website

Continous Operating Reference Stations (CORS)

Positioning India with Precision – Enabling Research, Innovation & Digital Governance

The Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) initiative at theGeo-Intel Lab, IITTNiF, represents a key national effort under the Technology Innovation Hub on Positioning and Precision Technologies (PPT) to strengthen India’s geospatial infrastructure.

CORS provides real-time, high-precision GNSS data services that form the backbone of modern surveying, mapping, navigation, and monitoring applications.

At Geo-Intel Lab, CORS infrastructure is being developed as part of a federated national network, integrating with initiatives of the Survey of India and other partner institutions.

This setup not only enables centimeter-level positional accuracy but also creates a living platform for research, education, innovation, and digital governance.

By connecting academic institutions, government agencies, industries, and startups, the CORS program supports:

Advanced teaching and hands-on learning in GNSS and geodesy.
Applied research in atmospheric, geodetic, and environmental sciences.
Development of precision technologies for agriculture, infrastructure, and robotics.
Integration of CORS data into decision-support systems and Digital Twin frameworks for smart governance.

The Geo-Intel Lab’s CORS facility embodies the mission of “Positioning India with Precision”, fostering innovation for public good and strengthening the nation’s geospatial ecosystem under the National Geospatial Mission and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Collaborators

Survey of India
HyFIX India
Indian Meteorological Department

Applications of CORS at Geo-Intel Lab

The Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network offers a range of high-precision positioning and GNSS-based services supporting education, research, and innovation across multiple domains. At Geo-Intel Lab, these services are being actively used to build national capacity and advanced research applications in the following areas:

1. High-Precision Positioning

CORS provides access to high-accuracy geospatial data, empowering students and researchers to conduct precise surveys, mapping, and geodesy studies.

2. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS

Supports RTK GPS-based learning for applications like precision agriculture, civil engineering, and urban planning, enabling real-time position tracking and correction.

3. GNSS Data Processing

Hands-on training in differential correction, post-processing, and quality control of GNSS data. Used for teaching and practical exercises in satellite-based positioning.

4. Geodetic Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of ground motion, crustal deformation, and tectonic activity. Applied in research on seismic behavior and earth surface processes.

5. Atmospheric Studies

CORS data aids atmospheric and ionospheric research, including tropospheric delay, ionospheric disturbances, and signal error modeling, supporting GNSS-based atmospheric studies.

6. Navigation and Robotics

Used in developing autonomous navigation algorithms and robotics applications requiring accurate localization and path-planning.

7. Environmental Monitoring

Integration of CORS data with environmental models for air and water quality tracking, habitat mapping, and wildlife movement monitoring.

8. Disaster Management

Provides accurate positioning for disaster mapping, emergency operations, and infrastructure damage assessment, strengthening resilience and response planning.

9. Infrastructure Development

Facilitates GNSS-enabled campus mapping, land development, and utility planning—advancing urban design and smart infrastructure practices.

10. Educational Outreach

CORS data is used for training programs, workshops, and awareness sessions, fostering spatial literacy and geospatial technology adoption across academic and government institutions.

Driving Impact through Research and Collaboration

Through these initiatives, Geo-Intel Lab at IITTNiF is positioning itself as a national hub for GNSS-based innovation, enabling interdisciplinary projects in surveying, digital governance, and public good applications.

Page updated

Report abuse