Timaru businesses are being encouraged to look at the benefits new satellite technology may offer, in a bid to help boost the local economy.

Venture Timaru and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) are working together to engage local businesses set to benefit from the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN).

SouthPAN is a free service that improves GPS accuracy from 5-10m to less than a metre, and in some cases as little as 10cm.

Venture Timaru Chief Executive Nigel Davenport says SouthPAN offers benefits to a range of industries that could do with a helping hand in this challenging economic environment.

“This new and enhanced positioning technology will benefit us all, whether in our personal or working lives.

“It will provide significant benefits for a number of industries, from agriculture through to forestry, maritime, aviation, and emergency services, by improving productivity and reducing costs.

“We’re very keen to see local businesses get involved with SouthPAN and see how it can benefit them, so urge anyone interested to get in touch with us” says Davenport.

He sees SouthPAN, and the benefits it will bring being, an integral part of the district’s long-term vision to grow the economy and community.

“This technology will be a pivotal resource in enabling faster, more precise and efficient operations, helping us all drive cost reductions and productivity improvements. These will undoubtedly all feature prominently in our Towards 2050 Plan, which is currently under development for our district.”

Timaru’s Richard Pearse Airport is also supporting the initiative, recognising the potential benefits.

Timaru’s Richard Pearse Airport Chief Executive Andrew Dixon says the airport is eager to utilise SouthPAN, which will have a number of benefits to the aviation industry once safety of life certification is achieved by 2028.

“SouthPAN will provide a significant safety and usability upgrade for pilots using the airport, as it offers them a greater level of positioning data than was ever available before. For travellers this is a positive, as it’s likely to improve the reliability of scheduled flights through fewer weather disruptions.”

The airport has been selected as one of five locations across New Zealand where new reference stations will be installed later this year. The station will be part of a new dedicated network, replacing infrastructure that is delivering SouthPAN’s freely available services today.  
LINZ Director – SouthPAN Michael Appleyard says LINZ is looking forward to working with businesses in Timaru and seeing how SouthPAN can help.

“Through utilising SouthPAN, New Zealanders can unlock new economic opportunities, improve productivity and enhance the way we navigate everyday life.

“We’re already hearing the benefits from early users in the maritime, forestry and horticulture industries, and this is just the beginning.

“We’re keen to hear from any businesses interested in finding out how SouthPAN can help them and their bottom line.”


More information on SouthPAN

SouthPAN is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that enhances positioning and navigation across New Zealand and Australia.
The system is a joint initiative between the New Zealand and Australian governments, led by LINZ and Geoscience Australia.

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), such as GPS, are essential for positioning, navigation, and timing, playing a critical role in our daily lives. A wide range of devices and systems depend on GPS data to deliver services we rely on every day.

SouthPAN is part of New Zealand’s investment in critical positioning infrastructure, enhancing precise positioning and location capabilities for all our communities and businesses to benefit from.

SouthPAN can support communities and businesses in the following ways:

• Aviation: Enable safer flights in more challenging weather conditions and help reduce flight delays and cancellations.
• Agriculture: Increase productivity and reduce costs by enabling less cost prohibitive access to precision farming techniques and capabilities.
• Forestry: Enhance the safety, productivity and efficiency of forestry operations.
• Maritime: Improve the safety and route efficiency of maritime navigation and activities.
• Emergency services: Enable faster and more accurate response times during emergencies.