In order to support the development of basic surveying and mapping services in Macao, improve the quality of measurement results and work efficiency, and promote the application of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in topography, geographic information collection, and relevant fields, Cartography and Cadastre Bureau of the Government of the Macao SAR established four satellite positioning reference stations in the Macau Peninsula, Coloane Island, Taipa Island, and the University of Macau on Hengqin Island in 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2016, respectively, at an interval of 2-9km. The scope of services of the four satellite positioning reference stations covers the whole Macao.

Mount Fortress GNSS Reference Station (FOMO)	FOMO, built in 2002, is located to the east of the Macao Museum on "Fortaleza do Monte". It was the first all-weather satellite positioning reference station in Macao.
Coloane Alto GNSS Reference Station (COAL)	COAL, built in 2006, is on "Alto de Coloane", Estrada do Alto de Coloane.
Taipa Grande GNSS Reference Station (DSMG)	DSMG, built in 2008, is located on the top floor of the office building of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, the Macao SAR Government, on Taipa Grande. Note: Taipa Grande GNSS Reference Station (DSMG) needs to be reconstructed and has been suspended from 14 March 2023 until further notice.
University of Macau GNSS Reference Station (UMAC)	UMAC, built in 2016, is located at the north side of University of Macau.

All the four satellite positioning reference stations work 24hx7. They constantly receive the signals from the US GPS, the Russian GLONASS, and the Chinese Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). Connected with the control center of the Macao Cartography and Cadastre Bureau, the four stations return the real-time signals received to the control center. After the data are processed and analyzed, the stations will provide the satellite positioning service required by the user to meet the requirement of precise satellite positioning and enhance the efficiency of measurement and satellite positioning.

In 2009, the Macao Cartography and Cadastre Bureau established Macao Satellite Positioning Reference Station Service (MoSRef) to further disclose the data of the satellite positioning system and offer automatic coordinate calculation function. In November 2012, the Macao Cartography and Cadastre Bureau introduced NTRIP. Through the mobile telecommunication network and NTRIP, the user can utilize the correction message provided by MoSRef and services like Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) for positioning. The issue of failure to receive the MoSRef service in an environment with poor receipt of radio signals was solved. Moreover, the demand of user devices was reduced. Hence, satellite positioning services can be applied more widely.

 

Currently, MoSRef provides the following services:

1. Raw data download
2. Automatic coordinate calculation
3. Real-time positioning for measurement

• DGPS
• RTK
• Network RTK