The following article shows an economic application of centimeter resolution real time navigation using quasi zenith satellite positioning. This article is the result even with an initial limited number of available satellites. With the next generation of micro-satellites universities could collaborate to build a similar European system to provide safe automated driving, night-time agricultural activity and centimeter precision soil management to provide a major improvement to a wide range of different industrial activities. In short a clear economic advantage for Europe and a wealth of post graduate opportunity.

 

Utilisation of the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) Augmentation System for Precision Farming in Australia

 

QZSS is a system of GPS used in Japan. Driverless tractors are becoming more popular in Europe with over 50% of the British countryside already being farmed using precision farming techniques. Changing to the QZSS system would be expensive and most of countryside is already GPS mapped. The current ESA system is supposed to work to within a meter anywhere in Europe.

Edited November 18, 201510 yr by fiveworlds

I don't think mapping is the issue, it's the navigation. AFAICT the QZS system is an augmentation to GPS, rather than a replacement for it, to give precise positioning. But with Europe building out Galileo, I doubt they have much support for such a system.

Yeah most places have much better than within a metre at the moment but there's always the odd rural spot forgotten.