The Evolution of Precise Positioning Techniques

Precise positioning techniques have undergone a remarkable evolution, transforming from traditional surveying methods to modern real-time, centimeter-level accuracy solutions enabled by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This chapter explores the historical advancements, key methodologies, and future trends in precise positioning, with a focus on their impact across scientific, academics, industrial, and societal domains. The discussion begins with the transition from classical geodetic techniques—such as triangulation and trilateration—to the advent of satellite-based navigation. Early GNSS applications, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, relied on Differential GNSS (DGNSS) and code-based positioning, offering meter-level accuracy. The introduction of carrier-phase techniques, such as Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP), marked a paradigm shift by enabling high-precision solutions without the need for local reference stations. The chapter delves into the advancements in PPP with Ambiguity Resolution (PPP-AR), hybrid RTK-PPP methods, and the integration of multi-GNSS constellations, which have significantly improved accuracy, reliability, and global coverage. The impact of atmospheric modeling, real-time corrections, and network-based augmentation systems (e.g., SBAS, GBAS, and NRTK) is also discussed, highlighting their role in reducing positioning errors. Finally, emerging trends such as GNSS fusion with inertial sensors (GNSS/INS), AI-driven positioning, and quantum-enhanced navigation are explored, showcasing the future of precise positioning.