What is 10Hz logging? High-precision data recording enabled by real-time positioning

Table of contents

• What is 10Hz logging?

• What is real-time positioning?

• Benefits and use cases of 10Hz logging

• Key points for achieving high-precision data recording

• Simple surveying with LRTK

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is 10Hz logging?

10Hz logging refers to recording (logging) data at a high frequency of 10 times per second. The term is mainly used for recording position information, and 10Hz means an update frequency (positioning frequency) of "10 times per second." Typical GPS devices and smartphones update positions at around 1Hz (once per second), so 10Hz is ten times faster. For example, at 10Hz you can record position every 0.1 seconds, allowing you to capture movement trajectories in very fine detail. This makes it possible to obtain smooth data even in situations where real-time responsiveness is required or where movement changes rapidly.

However, simply increasing the logging frequency does not by itself improve the underlying accuracy of positioning. Even if you obtain a large number of position points at 10Hz, you cannot call it high-precision recording if each point has large errors. This is where high-precision technologies such as real-time positioning become important. Only by combining high-frequency logging with high-precision positioning technologies can you achieve truly “high-precision data recording at 10Hz.”

What is real-time positioning?

Real-time positioning is, as the name implies, a collective term for methods that improve positioning accuracy in real time. A representative technology is RTK (Real Time Kinematic) positioning. RTK uses two GNSS receivers—a base station (fixed) and a rover (mobile)—and sends error information calculated at the base station to the rover for immediate correction, reducing errors that would otherwise be several meters with standalone positioning to several centimeters. In other words, it is a mechanism that obtains high-precision positions by canceling out the usual GPS error sources (satellite signal delays, clock errors, etc.) in real time. This enables centimeter-level positioning with GNSS to be used in fields such as construction surveying, machine control, and precision agriculture where meter-level accuracy was previously insufficient.

To perform real-time positioning, you need not only a GNSS receiver but also a communication method to exchange correction information. Commonly, radio communication or NTRIP (network RTK service over the Internet) is used to deliver correction data from the base station to the rover. In Japan, it is also common to achieve high-precision positioning with the rover alone by using electronic reference station networks or private correction services, so smartphones can easily obtain correction information over mobile data. In areas without network coverage, such as mountainous regions, it is also possible to perform real-time positioning using satellite-delivered augmentation signals such as the CLAS signal from Japan’s QZSS “Michibiki.” In any case, real-time positioning provides immediate high-precision coordinates on site, which is a major advantage because it allows construction or surveying to be reflected instantly without waiting for post-processing.

Benefits and use cases of 10Hz logging

Combining high-precision real-time positioning with 10Hz logging offers the following benefits and is used in various scenarios.

• Smooth trajectory capture: Recording data at high frequency allows you to capture the trajectory of a moving object smoothly. For example, when a car or heavy machinery turns a corner, 1Hz (once per second) updates can appear jumpy, but 10Hz can record fine trajectory changes. Even fast-moving objects will have fewer missed position updates, resulting in continuous trajectory data.

• Application to real-time control: For real-time control applications such as machine guidance for construction equipment or autonomous tractors in agriculture, high-frequency and high-precision position updates are essential. Updating position at 10Hz enables immediate response to centimeter-level offsets, allowing smooth blade control or course correction of working machines. In control fields where real-time responsiveness is required, 10Hz logging directly contributes to improved safety and accuracy.

• Contribution to surveying and mapping: Continuous positioning can improve efficiency in surveying and GIS data collection. When a person walks to measure boundary lines or road centerlines, logging positions at 10Hz captures unbroken line data. Sections that were previously interpolated between points can be recorded accurately thanks to high-density trajectory data, enabling detailed feature shapes to be recorded precisely. This reduces the effort for drafting and GIS input in post-processing and lowers the risk of re-surveying.

• Drone flight and autonomous driving: High-frequency logging is also useful for aerial survey drones and autonomous vehicle navigation. RTK-enabled drones can fly stably using centimeter-level positioning, and logging position at 10Hz on the ground allows detailed analysis of flight paths and sharing of correction information. In autonomous vehicles, GNSS+RTK-based high-precision positioning is being implemented, and updating vehicle position at 10Hz makes it easier to synchronize with other sensors (IMU, LiDAR), contributing to safer and smoother autonomous driving.

As shown above, 10Hz logging plays an active role across many fields when combined with real-time positioning. Especially in sites where both real-time responsiveness and precision are required (construction management, smart agriculture, infrastructure inspection, robot control, etc.), the ability to obtain high-precision data at high frequency leads to improved work efficiency and output quality.

Key points for achieving high-precision data recording

To realize real-time high-precision logging at 10Hz, several technical points must be considered. Below are the main elements that support high-precision data recording.

• Support for multi-GNSS and dual frequency: The types of satellites and frequency bands received are important to improve GNSS positioning accuracy and stability. Multi-GNSS support—using not only GPS but also GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS (Michibiki)—makes positioning more stable because satellite availability is less likely to drop. A dual- (or triple-) frequency receiver that supports L2 and L5 in addition to L1 enables ionospheric error removal and faster initialization, making it easier to consistently obtain a stable cm-level fixed solution.

• Access to real-time correction information: Correction data such as RTK is indispensable for high precision. Depending on the operational setup, you can set up your own base station to transmit corrections by radio or use an existing RTK network service via NTRIP over the Internet. The latter is convenient because only the rover needs to be prepared. In either case, maintaining a stable communication environment to receive correction information without interruption is key. In areas with unstable Internet, choose a receiver that can utilize satellite-delivered augmentation signals such as Michibiki’s CLAS for peace of mind.

• Ensuring a favorable positioning environment: GNSS positioning is heavily influenced by the surrounding environment. To achieve high precision, it is ideal for the antenna to have a clear view of the sky with few obstructing buildings or trees. To avoid multipath (signal reflections), perform positioning and logging in locations with as few obstructions as possible. Also, with base-station methods the baseline length (distance between the base station and the rover) affects correction effectiveness—the shorter the baseline, the better—so using nearby known points or regional services when possible contributes to improved accuracy.

• High-performance receivers and antennas: Choosing equipment that can stably output high-precision logs at 10Hz is also important. Typical smartphone built-in GPS operates at 1Hz, single-frequency, and has low antenna sensitivity, making it unsuitable for continuous high-precision positioning. Using RTK-capable, high-sensitivity GNSS receivers and antennas allows stable fixed solutions even in urban areas. Recently, small GNSS devices that connect via Bluetooth to smartphones and tablets have appeared, and many support update rates of 10Hz or higher. The use of such dedicated devices supports stable operation for high-precision data recording.

• Data processing and sharing workflows: Logging at 10Hz for long periods generates large amounts of data. Choose receivers with sufficient internal memory or SD card capacity, or implement mechanisms to upload data to the cloud incrementally. For example, if you transmit collected trajectory data to a cloud map in real time, you reduce the risk of data loss and can have the site logs already shared and viewable by the time you return to the office. High-precision positioning data is often used across teams, so cloud integration that allows immediate sharing from the field further enhances operational efficiency.

Considering the above points, the three keys to operating high-precision data recording with 10Hz logging are “selecting good equipment,” “appropriate environment and settings,” and “efficient data management.”

Simple surveying with LRTK

In recent years, solutions that make high-precision 10Hz logging easily achievable have emerged. One such solution is simplified surveying using the LRTK series. LRTK is a small RTK-GNSS receiver designed to be used with a smartphone; it is designed to be user-friendly by integrating with a dedicated mobile app. A pocket-sized receiver that can be attached to a smartphone connects by Bluetooth, and with one-touch connection to a network RTK correction service, centimeter-level positioning that previously required specialized equipment and technicians can be achieved on a smartphone.

A feature of smartphone-based simple surveying with LRTK is that high-precision trajectory data and point positioning results obtained by continuous 10Hz positioning can be saved and shared to the cloud on-site. Because position information collected in the field can be shared with the office immediately and viewed by the whole team in real time, feedback on survey data and decision-making speeds up dramatically. Moreover, because the configuration is simple—just an LRTK device and a smartphone—there is no need to carry heavy tripods or cables, and it is possible for one person to complete measurement tasks on site. Compared to traditional surveying equipment, LRTK excels in portability and usability, and it is a “simple surveying” tool that can truly change what is considered standard practice on site.

By experiencing simplified surveying with LRTK, which greatly streamlines field operations while taking advantage of the benefits of high-precision 10Hz logging, the image of “high-precision positioning = difficult and large-scale” will be transformed. Try smart surveying using the latest technology and experience how easy and useful high-precision data recording can be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Will positioning accuracy improve if I use 10Hz? A: Increasing the update frequency (Hz) itself does not directly improve the precision of each measurement. With 10Hz you obtain more position points per second and produce smoother trajectories, but the accuracy of each point depends on the positioning method used (such as whether RTK corrections are applied) and environmental conditions. To obtain high precision you need measures that improve the positioning itself, such as real-time corrections; 10Hz should be regarded as a setting for recording high-precision points at high frequency.

Q: What is needed to perform real-time positioning? A: Basically, an RTK-capable GNSS receiver and a communication environment to receive correction data are required. Specifically, you need a source acting as a base station (or a network correction service), a rover receiver, and a means to link them (Internet connection, UHF radio, etc.). Nowadays, regional real-time reference station networks are established, allowing rovers to obtain correction information nationwide via NTRIP services with only a rover device. Also, using high-precision GNSS devices for smartphones and associated apps lets those without specialist knowledge connect to correction services and start RTK positioning with just a button push.

Q: Can a typical smartphone do 10Hz logging? A: Typical smartphone built-in GPS is fixed at around 1Hz updates, and the system is not designed for higher-frequency, high-precision output. Therefore, it is difficult to perform 10Hz logging with a smartphone alone. However, by combining a smartphone with an external RTK-capable GNSS receiver (for example, LRTK), you can acquire and record 10Hz high-precision positioning data in a smartphone app. In short, a smartphone alone cannot, but it is possible when used with a dedicated device.

Q: Why is regular GPS usually limited to about 1Hz? A: An update rate of 1Hz (once per second) has long been sufficient for typical GPS uses (car navigation, map apps, etc.). Higher-frequency positioning increases CPU load and power consumption, but for general use, updates once per second are usually adequate. Some chips and firmware can be extended to 5Hz or 10Hz for specialized applications, but such devices are designed with high-frequency operation and power consumption in mind. The limitation of typical smartphones and consumer GPS units to 1Hz reflects a specification chosen to balance use case and battery life.

Q: I’m worried about data volume when logging at 10Hz. How much capacity is needed? A: At 10Hz, ten data points are recorded per second. For example, saving position in NMEA text format yields on the order of tens of bytes per point, which is a few hundred bytes per second and on the order of a few megabytes per hour. That is not enormous by itself, but prolonged continuous logging accumulates. High-frequency logging also increases post-processing effort, so consider adjusting the logging interval or using a device with larger memory if needed. If cloud integration is available, automatic uploading to a server prevents filling the device’s storage. Also, splitting logs into files at appropriate points and other data management strategies are important when operating long-duration logging.