Abstract: A real time geophysical survey system and method. The system comprises a base station, one or more data acquisition vehicles, and a global positioning satellite network. The base station is provided with a computer, radio communication equipment, and means for determining from signals of the satellite network the position of the base station. The data acquisition vehicles are each provided with geophysical survey instrumentation, radio communication equipment, an acquisition vehicle positioning display, and means using signals of the satellite network to calculate at least an approximate horizontal position of the data acquisition vehicle. During a survey, by periodically polling each data acquisition vehicle, the base station determines the location of each data acquistion vehicle and accurately tracks its position, both with respect to the base station and with respect to a preselected survey pattern over the geographic area to be surveyed.

Abstract: A real time geophysical survey system and method. The system comprises a base station, one or more data acquisition vehicles, and one or more fixed reference stations. The base station is provided with a positioning system, suitable survey instrumentation, a computer, and radio communication equipment. The data acquistion vehicles are each provided with a positioning transponder, a positioning display, suitable survey instrumentation, and radio communication equipment. During a survey, by periodically polling each vehicle's positioning transponder, the base station positioning system tracks the position of each vehicle with respect to both the base station and the fixed reference stations. Data regarding each vehicle's position are then provided to the base station computer, and the base station transmits signals to the positioning display aboard each vehicle so as to guide the vehicle along a preselected survey pattern.