26 Feb Japan’s Global Positioning Satellites: New Australian Opportunities
Australians are well aware of GPS (Global Positioning Systems) as it is used in everyday life, either directly or indirectly through various apps. What is not commonly known is that the satellites providing this service are US operated. The Japanese Government decided to launch 4 satellites to provide a “Japanese GPS” equivalent service which will greatly reduce positioning errors and provide a service area which will include Australia. 
This will open up new opportunities in the use of precision positioning technology for Australia-Japan collaboration, including commercial industry applications.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) together with JETRO, Austrade, Geoscience Australia NSW and Victorian State Governments, the AJBCC, JABCC, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Japanese Consulates in Sydney and Melbourne collaborated in briefing seminars on the so called Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) in Sydney and Melbourne this month.
About the The QZSS Global Positioning System
Main area where QZSS is available.
The footprint for the 4 positioning satellites covers Australia, with a distinguishing feature being more accurate precision in measurement – more satellites in this network are planned to be launched.
The Japanese Government is promoting the use of this satellite system, known by the nickname as a result of a populist campaign – Michibiki –or “showing the way”.
The use of this GPS system is a real opportunity for Australian corporate users and application developers with the aim to promote the use of satellite data in an increasing range of industry sectors.
Applications could include;
- Autonomous driving, especially in agriculture
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
- Operation management for logistics companies
- Monitoring growth surveys for agriculture
- Natural disaster management.
Information on the QZSS can be found here.
Outline of how the service can be used in agriculture and construction is here.