Context: The Union Minister of Science & Technology has launched the state-of-art National Survey Network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations(CORS).

What are Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)?

• Global Navigation Satellite Systems(GNSS) has revolutionized our ability to access location information.It measures its distances from a bunch of satellites orbiting over the earth through radio signals.

• However, this system isn’t perfect and can have errors like satellite orbits, satellite clock errors, receiver noise, and delays caused by the Earth’s atmosphere.These errors can make our location less accurate, up to around 10-11 meters.

• To improve this accuracy limit, Survey of India has established a network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).

• These stations provide very precise real-time positioning, with an accuracy of about ±3 cm.They also offer various positioning services for different users in the geospatial and scientific communities.

• The Survey of India has set up more than 1,000 CORS stations across India.

Significance of these stations

• CORS based precision services will boost auto navigation and machine control-based solution in Agriculture, Mining, Construction, Transport and Civil Aviation sector.

• This will open new domains of innovation and research and create a Geospatial based ecosystem in these sectors.

• CORS data will also aid in various scientific studies like Upper Atmosphere and Space weather studies, Meteorology and weather forecast, Plate motion and Tectonic studies, Seismology and Hydrology etc.

• Nationwide CORS based services will be available to business and pubic, which will not only ensure coherence in geospatial data generated by different stake holders by providing them common reference, but will also increase their productivity.

Applications of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
CORS Network has a wide application in the development of India:

• Firstly, it can be used in different government schemes like SVAMITVA project for mapping of rural abadi areas, PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, Smart Cities & AMRUT Project for urban development, Bharatmala and Sagarmala Projects for improving the logistics sector among others.

• Secondly, CORS based precision services will greatly improve auto-navigation and machine control in sectors like Agriculture, Mining, Construction, Transport and Civil Aviation sector. 

• Thirdly, the data from CORS will also be valuable for various scientific studies like Upper Atmosphere and Space weather studies, Meteorology and weather forecast, Plate motion and Tectonic studies, Seismology and Hydrology etc.

Additional Facts

About Survey of India

• It is the National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology.

• It is the oldest scientific department of India.

• It was set up in 1767 and has evolved rich traditions over the years.

• It is assigned the role as the nation's Principal Mapping Agency, Survey of India bears a special responsibility to ensure that the country's domain is explored and mapped suitably.