u-blox
Construction and GPS Machine Control

Construction & GPS Machine Control

Your machines are on site. Your schedule is tight. The last thing you need is a positioning system that creates more work than it saves.  

u-blox delivers centimeter-level RTK GNSS positioning, GNSS heading, and correction services for construction machinery, mining, and autonomous vehicles without requiring a local base station on every site.

The problems we solve

The same GNSS challenges come up on every construction project. Here's how u-blox addresses each one:

How it works

How it works: GNSS receiver + RTK correction service

  • 17.0 × 22.0 × 2.4 mm surface-mount module
  • All-band, all-constellation GNSS
  • RTK, PPP-RTK, and PPP on one platform
  • 0.1° RMS dual-antenna heading with ZED-X20D under specified conditions

Two components. No local infrastructure.

u-blox provides a high-precision GNSS receiver for the machine and a cloud-based RTK correction service. The service achieves centimeter-level accuracy without a base station at the job site.

ZED-X20P-top-bottom.png

1. The GNSS receiver on the machine

A u-blox ZED-X20P all-band or ZED-X20D GNSS with heading module receives satellite signals from all major GNSS constellations across multiple frequency bands. Combined with RTK correction data, the module achieves centimeter-level accuracy within seconds of acquiring a fix.

High Precision Positioning HardwareHigh Precision Positioning Hardware
PointPerfect GNSS correction service

2. Corrections delivered from the cloud without RTK base stations

The PointPerfect service pulls real-time correction data from a network of hundreds of continuously operating reference stations and delivers it to the machine over the internet. The receiver uses these corrections to eliminate the atmospheric and satellite errors, achieving position accuracy within 1–3 cm. 

GNSS Correction ServicesGNSS Correction Services

Case Studies

3tag laser measurement device being used in a construction site

3tag

How Netpipe's 3tag pairs the u-blox ZED-X20P and PointPerfect Flex to deliver centimetre accuracy with no poles, no tripods and no specialist surveyors.

Learn more
Field construction robot

Optimotive

Rugged autonomous robots revolutionize data collection across construction and infrastructure with centimeter-level precision

Learn more

Choose the X20 module that matches the machine

 

ZED-X20P: precise position

ZED-X20D: precise position + heading

Best fitConstruction surveying and site layout,and machine guidance systems where precise position is the primary requirement, or heading can be derived from movementMachine guidance and control for excavators, dozers, graders, drilling and piling rigs, and autonomous construction equipment that needs reliable heading at standstill or low speed
 
Positioning capabilitiesCentimeter-level RTK; PPP-RTK and PPP options; up to 25 Hz navigation outputCentimeter-level RTK; PPP-RTK and PPP options; up to 20 Hz navigation and heading output
Heading capabilitiesDynamic course-over-ground and Moving Base support on ZED-X20P-01B0.1° RMS dual-antenna heading under specified static open-sky conditions; available without machine movement
Form factor17.0 × 22.0 × 2.4 mm (ZED form factor)

Choose the right correction service: Network RTK vs PPP-RTK

Recommended for Construction: PointPerfect Live (network RTK / nRTK):  

Network RTK corrections over IP from a dense reference station network. Best for active construction sites within the coverage area. 

Pairs with ZED-X20P or ZED-X20D for the highest on-site performance.

  • Sub-3 cm horizontal accuracy
  • Fast RTK fix — machines get to work immediately
  • No base station, no setup, no specialist required
  • Real-time service monitoring dashboard

Recommended for Remote Sites: PointPerfect Flex (PPP-RTK):  

PPP-RTK corrections don’t depend on local RTK networks. For mining, oil and gas, and OEM deployments needing broad coverage. 

Pairs with ZED-X20D.

  • Continental coverage
  • No local base station or RTK network required
  • Usage-based flexible plans for seasonal fleets
  • One integration, any site on earth

Where it’s used

Sectors

The same GNSS hardware and correction service platform applies wherever machines work outside and accuracy matters.

Construction GNSS (primary): Earthmoving, grading, paving, drilling, and crane operations across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

Mining GNSS: Open-pit operations where drill accuracy, autonomous haulage, and worker safety zones drive productivity and reduce risk.

Oil & Gas GNSS: Wellhead positioning and pipeline survey where accuracy directly affects project economics and worker safety.

Utilities & Infrastructure GNSS: Subsurface mapping and pipeline inspection robots where precise spatial data reduces the risk of accidental strikes and costly damage. 

 

Related Applications

Person holding power drill

Connected tools

Construction worker at work site with crane

Safe connected worker

Featured Products for Construction

Evaluation Tools

Get In Touch

Tell us about your machine guidance challenge. Our engineers can advise on the right GNSS hardware and correction service for your application. They can help configure an evaluation kit or discuss integration into an existing machine platform. 

Contact u-blox

Frequently Asked Questions

No results have been found for .