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B.C. Active Control System (BCACS)

Last updated on June 27, 2024

The British Columbia government, in cooperation with other levels of government and industry, is making it easier for users to collect, merge and overlay geographic data through the B.C. Active Control System (BCACS).

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About the B.C. Active Control System

The B.C. Active Control System (BCACS) is the active component of the province’s geospatial reference framework. The BCACS:

  • Integrates satellite-based positioning and broadcast communication
  • Provides users with standardized, low-cost, and instantaneous positioning

The BCACS network has 20 permanent and continuously operating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite receivers. These are strategically located to provide coverage across the province. To view information about GPS active control points across British Columbia, see the BCACS Active Control Points Map.

Get access

Access to the BCACS system post-mission data is provided through FTP download.

Technical details

Product details

Raw Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observation data is collected from GNSS receivers placed on accurately positioned boundaries in B.C.

  • BCACS GPS base stations: Provide data to allow users to correct coordinates from single receivers, making positions accurate to less than 1 metre
  • Post-mission data: Available for the whole province by subscription or on a pay-per-download basis
The BCACS base stations and post-mission data are managed in part by GeoBC.

File details

Hourly post-mission files are assigned letters “a” through “x”: 

  • “a” files: Assigned to files beginning at 00:00 UTC
  • “x” files: Assigned to files beginning at 23:00 UTC

To find the right files for your specific times, check the RINEX Time Correlation Table (PDF, 9.2KB). This table helps you match file labels with UTC, Pacific Standard Time, and Pacific Daylight Time.

Municipal data

Municipal active control systems provide a common geospatial reference for all agencies with spatially positioned data. Benefits include:

  • Shared access to data
  • Decreased maintenance costs
  • Improved accuracy of positional information

Metro Vancouver

The Metro Vancouver Real Time Kinematic service was developed through a partnership between the B.C. Government, Metro Vancouver and its municipalities.

Capital Regional District

The Capital Regional District (CRD) Real Time Kinematic service was developed through a partnership between the B.C. Government, the CRD and its municipalities.

National level systems

At the national level, Natural Resources Canada maintains the Canadian Spatial Reference System, Canadian Active Control System, and other geodetic tools. Learn about the NRCan Geodetic Reference Systems.

Contact info

General enquiries: GeoBCinfo@gov.bc.ca 

Deliveries Courier
3rd Floor, 3400 Davidson Ave
Victoria, BC V8Z 3P8

Mailing Address
PO BOX 9375 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC V8W 9M5