RTKsta

RTKsta is a modular open-source software platform designed for real-time kinematic GNSS network management and rover positioning. It provides the tools needed to configure base stations, stream real-time corrections to rovers, and process GNSS data to deliver centimeter-level positions. The system is intended for professional surveying, construction, and mapping projects that require reliable real-time positioning across fixed networks or localized RTK setups.

RTKsta comprises several components: a base-station server that manages reference stations, a rover client for field devices, a correction network caster to distribute real-time corrections, a processing engine for quality control and audit logging, and an application programming interface for integration with GIS and custom workflows. The platform supports multiple correction formats (such as RTCM 3.x, CMR, and other streams) and multiple GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and others). It emphasizes low-latency streaming, data integrity checks, and comprehensive event logging for traceability.

In practice, RTKsta is deployed as a distributed system. Base stations publish corrections to a caster; rovers subscribe through NTRIP or direct connections. The processing engine computes positions, performs integrity checks, and logs results for later analysis. The project is community-driven, with ongoing contributions to adapters, drivers, and interoperability.

History and reception: RTKsta originated as a collaborative effort among surveying technologists and GNSS developers and has been adopted by several small to mid-sized surveying firms as an alternative to commercial RTK suites. See also: RTK, GNSS, RTKLIB, NTRIP.