Shippensburg University and AlphaRTK have partnered together to offer free access to AlphaRTK’s global navigation satellite system (GNSS) correction service to students and faculty. AlphaRTK is the most affordable RTK network to be able to fully support four-constellation global navigation satellite system corrections.
“Educational institutions perform a tremendous amount of geospatial research and instruction,” Chris Kahn, Founder of AlphaRTK said. “We believe they should be equipped with this powerful resource, as it will enhance their abilities to perform modern geospatial data collection.”
AlphaRTK has been available in the surrounding areas of Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey. With the new location in Shippensburg, this satellite service can reach south central Pennsylvania.
“Our Geoenvironmental Science program prepares students for a variety of careers in GIS, earth science, and the geotechnical services industry – with innovative hands-on teaching being our hallmark. We’ve been teaching students how to use GPS-guided drones to support aerial mapping projects since 2015,” said Dr. Scott Drzyzga, a professor at Shippensburg University.
“Adding the precision of the AlphaRTK service enables us to support new mapping and science projects with unprecedented accuracy while providing our students with opportunities to learn with these technologies before they graduate.”
A real-time kinematic service can help students and faculty to learn more information in their career fields such as agriculture, archaeology, construction, engineering, and surveying. These career paths all require the use of geographic information systems.
“Any student can learn about industry standards in a classroom,” said Dr. Claire Jantz, chair of the Geography-Earth Science Department, “but having access means our students will gain hands-on experience and be that much better prepared for the workforce or an advanced degree.”
The satellite unlocks more precise mapping for research at the university. The agreement with Shippensburg University is similar to RTK’s agreements with Rutgers and West Chester.
“At AlphaRTK, we view supporting the Geospatial Community as a responsibility,” Kahn said.
“Adding the precision of the AlphaRTK service enables us to support new mapping and science projects with unprecedented accuracy while providing our students with opportunities to learn with these technologies before they graduate,” said Drzyzga.
