GNSS RTK receiver vs total station: when to use each
By the Mars Geosystems technical team. Updated .
Short answer: Use GNSS RTK in open areas where you need speed and no line of sight between points. Use a total station when you need millimetre precision over short distances, work indoors or under heavy canopy, or set out structures relative to each other. Most survey firms own both.
Where GNSS wins
Large topographic jobs, road corridors, farms and cadastral work in the open. One person can survey with a rover, and every point is in the national coordinate system.
Where a total station wins
Tunnels, building interiors, dense cities, under trees and anywhere millimetre relative accuracy matters – anchor bolts, steel and precast.
Using both
Establish control with GNSS, then set up the total station on those points for detailed or indoor work. Our STSA9 and STS2 import GNSS control points directly.
Frequently asked
Is a total station more accurate than RTK?
Over short distances, yes: a 2" total station measures to a few millimetres, while RTK is about 8 mm + 1 ppm horizontally.
Can GNSS work indoors?
No. GNSS needs a view of the sky. Use a total station or a SLAM scanner indoors.