South Supreme ME

South Supreme ME Product Review

South Supreme ME Visual-LiDAR RTK GNSS Receiver

The South Supreme ME is an advanced Visual-LiDAR RTK surveying system designed for users who need more than a standard GNSS rover. It combines GNSS RTK positioning, SLAM LiDAR scanning, IMU tilt measurement, cameras, visual measuring and point cloud workflows in one integrated platform. For surveyors, engineers, construction teams and GIS professionals, this means one system can support conventional RTK work, contactless measurement, 3D scanning and mapping in places where ordinary GNSS receivers are limited.

The South Supreme ME is especially useful when fieldwork moves between open-sky GNSS conditions and challenging environments such as bridges, underpasses, building façades, narrow corridors, pipelines, industrial sites, stockpiles and urban areas with obstruction or multipath. The system can be used for both contact and non-contact measurement, allowing the operator to collect data without always needing to occupy every measured point directly.

Key advantages

• Hybrid GNSS RTK and SLAM LiDAR system for indoor and outdoor surveying workflows.
• 1698-channel GNSS engine with multi-constellation and multi-frequency support.
• LiDAR scanning up to 200,000 points per second with up to 70 m maximum detection range.
• Contactless Air Measurement function with 5 cm accuracy at 15 m range.
• SLAM relative accuracy ≤1 cm, with absolute RTK accuracy down to 3–5 cm and PPK down to 2–4 cm.
• IMU tilt compensation with optimal accuracy within 60°.
• Four-camera system for colorization, visual positioning and AR visual stakeout.
• Suitable for volume calculation, visual measuring, outdoor mapping, indoor mapping, laser scanning and 3D modelling.

Hybrid GNSS RTK and SLAM LiDAR for difficult surveying environments

Traditional RTK GNSS is highly efficient in open-sky conditions, but many real projects include areas where satellite visibility is poor or unsafe to access directly. The South Supreme ME is built for these mixed environments. By combining GNSS RTK with SLAM LiDAR, the system can collect accurate spatial data while the user moves through the site, scans a structure or measures features remotely.

This is valuable for road and infrastructure surveys, utility mapping, construction monitoring, façade measurement and other tasks where a normal GNSS rover or total station workflow may be slower or more complicated. The system can capture point clouds and coordinate information while supporting both contact and contactless measurement methods.

Air Measurement for fast contactless data collection

The South Supreme ME includes an Air Measurement function that combines laser sensing technology with AI image matching. It allows users to collect multiple 3D coordinates from a single capture, without needing to stand precisely over every point or level the pole for every observation.

According to the datasheet, Air Measurement supports measurement from a range of 15 m while maintaining 5 cm accuracy. In practical fieldwork, this helps when measuring objects that are difficult, dangerous or inefficient to reach directly, such as slopes, bridge details, pipework, walls, excavation edges and industrial structures.

SLAM LiDAR scanning and point cloud workflows

The integrated LiDAR scanner captures up to 200,000 points per second with a 360° horizontal field of view and 59° vertical field of view. The system supports a maximum detection range of 40 m at 10% reflectivity and 70 m at 80% reflectivity. This gives survey teams the ability to create point cloud data for mapping, modelling, inspection and analysis.

SLAM accuracy is specified as relative accuracy ≤1 cm. Absolute accuracy is listed as down to 3–5 cm when using RTK and down to 2–4 cm when using PPK. The datasheet also specifies 3–5 cm accuracy within a 20 m radius, with error increasing by 3 cm per additional 10 m. These values make the South Supreme ME suitable for applications where fast 3D capture and practical survey accuracy are required.

Magicalc mixed-solution positioning for limited GNSS areas

The South Supreme ME includes a Magicalc mixed-solution function for situations where GNSS satellite signals become temporarily unavailable or difficult to maintain. The datasheet states that the system can maintain 5 cm accuracy for a few minutes when GNSS signals are out of reach, with the solution status changing from fixed to mixed solution.

This can be useful under overpasses, in tunnels, underground garages, urban canyons and other locations where conventional RTK GNSS would normally lose performance. It does not replace good GNSS observation practice, but it helps reduce workflow interruptions when moving through obstructed areas.

Integrated camera system for colour point clouds and visual workflows

The South Supreme ME uses four cameras to support colorization, visual positioning and AR visual stakeout. Two 12 MP panoramic SONY cameras are used for SLAM LiDAR colour point cloud workflows. An 8 MP front-facing camera supports contactless visual-LiDAR survey work, while a 2 MP downward camera supports AR visual stakeout.

For surveyors and engineers, this makes the collected data easier to interpret. True-colour point clouds and visual context can help with checking site conditions, reviewing measurement results, identifying assets and producing clearer deliverables for clients and project teams.

Designed for long field sessions

The South Supreme ME is designed with multiple power options. It can use an internal 7.4 V 5000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a hot-swappable 7.4 V 6800 mAh handgrip battery and external power. The datasheet lists battery life of more than 3 hours for Air Measurement, indoor mapping and point cloud scanning, and more than 24 hours in GNSS rover and static mode.

This power design is useful for larger sites and longer scanning sessions because the system can continue operating without frequent restarts or reinitialization. For RTK and LiDAR workflows, fewer interruptions mean cleaner project handling and less time lost in the field.

Field software, controller and post-processing

The system is supplied with Android mobile app software with a lifetime license and driver included, according to the datasheet. The field software supports data collection control, project management, real-time point cloud browsing and processing, visual positioning, CAD and AR stakeout, measurement and calculation functions.

The H9 data collector is specified with an 8-core 2.0 GHz CPU, 7700 mAh battery, 6-inch touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard and Android 12. It is designed for SLAM and photogrammetry workflows.

For office processing, AcuteLas Studio is listed as the Windows post-processing software with a lifetime license. The software supports trajectory processing, LiDAR data processing and fusion, point cloud classification, data quality checking, quality report output, coordinate system conversion, topographic survey modules, colour point clouds and LAS/LAZ export workflows.

Technical specifications

GNSS features

Channels	1698
GPS	L1C, L1C/A, L2C, L2P(Y), L5
GLONASS	G1, G2, G3
BeiDou	B1I, B2I, B3I, B1C, B2a, B2b
Galileo	E1, E5a, E5b, E6, AltBOC*
SBAS	L1*
IRNSS	L5*
QZSS	L1, L2C, L5*
MSS L-Band	B2b-PPP, E6B HAS
Positioning output rate	1 Hz to 20 Hz
Initialization time	<10 s
Initialization reliability	>99.99%

*Marked as reserved for future upgrade in the datasheet.

Positioning precision

Code differential GNSS positioning	Horizontal: 0.25 m + 1 ppm RMS; Vertical: 0.50 m + 1 ppm RMS
GNSS static	Horizontal: 2.5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS; Vertical: 3.5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS
Static long observation	Horizontal: 2.5 mm + 0.1 ppm RMS; Vertical: 3 mm + 0.4 ppm RMS
Rapid static	Horizontal: 2.5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS; Vertical: 5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS
PPK	Horizontal: 3 mm + 1 ppm RMS; Vertical: 5 mm + 1 ppm RMS
RTK UHF	Horizontal: 8 mm + 1 ppm RMS; Vertical: 15 mm + 1 ppm RMS
RTK NTRIP	Horizontal: 8 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS; Vertical: 15 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS
SBAS positioning	Typically <5 m 3DRMS
RTK initialization time	2–8 s
IMU accuracy	8 mm + 0.7 mm/° tilt
IMU tilt angle	Optimal accuracy within 60°

LiDAR and SLAM

LiDAR range	40 m at 10% reflectivity; 70 m at 80% reflectivity
Field of view	Horizontal: 360°; Vertical: 59°
Point frequency	200,000 points per second
Eye safety class	Class 1, IEC 60825-1:2014
SLAM relative accuracy	≤1 cm
SLAM absolute accuracy with RTK	Down to 3–5 cm
SLAM absolute accuracy with PPK	Down to 2–4 cm
SLAM accuracy range note	3–5 cm at 20 m radius; error increases 3 cm per additional 10 m
Contactless measurement accuracy	5 cm at 15 m range

Cameras and visual measurement

SLAM LiDAR colorization cameras	12 MP x 2 units, left and right
Contactless visual-LiDAR survey camera	8 MP front-facing camera
AR visual stakeout camera	2 MP downward-facing camera
Graphics processor	NVIDIA graphics processor for real-time true-colour image processing

Hardware and environmental specifications

Dimensions	134 mm x 147 mm x 138 mm
Weight	1.38 kg
Material	Magnesium aluminium alloy shell
Operating temperature	-20°C to +55°C
Storage temperature	-40°C to +80°C
Humidity	80% non-condensing
Waterproof / dustproof	IP64 standard
Battery	Inbuilt 7.4 V 5000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery; hot-swappable 7.4 V 6800 mAh handgrip battery, 87.32 Wh
Battery life	Air Measurement / indoor mapping / point cloud scanning: >3 h; GNSS rover mode and static mode: >24 h

Communications and data

I/O ports	Nano SIM card slot; Type-C interface for charge, OTG and Ethernet; UHF antenna interface
Internal UHF	Inbuilt, receiving only
UHF frequency range	410–470 MHz
Communication protocols	Farlink, Trimtalk, SOUTH
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth 3.0/4.2 standard, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
NFC communication	Auto pairing device and controller by touch
Modem	802.11 b/g/n standard
Internal storage	64 GB SSD internal storage
External storage	Supports automatic cycling storage and external USB storage via OTG
Data transmission	USB plug-and-play data transmission; FTP/HTTP data download supported
Sample interval	Customizable sample interval up to 20 Hz

Data formats and correction support

Static data format	STH, RINEX 2.01, RINEX 3.02, etc.
Differential data format	RTCM 2.1, RTCM 2.3, RTCM 3.0, RTCM 3.1, RTCM 3.2
GNSS output data format	NMEA 0183, PJK plane coordinate, Binary code
Network correction support	VRS, FKP, MAC and NTRIP protocol
Point cloud output	Post-processing free LAS point cloud output with GEO coordinates
Point cloud formats	Raw format exportable to .LAS or .LAZ directly or through included software
Colour point clouds	Supported

User interaction and software

Operating system	Linux
Buttons	Single button
Indicators	Satellite, data and power indicators
Web interaction	Web UI via WiFi or USB connection for receiver status monitoring and configuration
Voice guidance	Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, French, Italian and Arabic
Mobile app software	Android app with lifetime license and driver included
Post-processing software	Windows software with lifetime license
Software modules	Georeferencing, colorization, slice module, profiles and debugging, import and export
Secondary development	Provides secondary development package and OpenSIC observation data format / interaction interface definition
Cloud service	Remote management, firmware updates, online registers and related services

H9 data collector specifications

CPU	8 cores, 2.0 GHz
Battery	7700 mAh high-capacity battery
Screen	6-inch touchscreen
Keyboard	QWERTY full keyboard
Operating system	Android 12
Workflow focus	Optimized for processing SLAM data and photogrammetry data

AcuteLas Studio recommended computer specifications

Operating system	Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or higher
Processor	Intel 13th Gen Core i7 processor or better
RAM	32 GB or better
Storage	SSD 1 TB or better

Measurement accuracy and operating range may vary depending on atmospheric conditions, signal multipath, obstructions, observation time, temperature, satellite geometry and the number of tracked satellites. Specifications may change without prior notice.

Applications

The South Supreme ME is suitable for survey and mapping professionals who need a flexible system for both GNSS and LiDAR-based work. It is particularly useful when the project includes hard-to-reach objects, poor satellite visibility or a need for true-colour 3D documentation.

• Road, bridge and infrastructure surveys
• Underpass, tunnel and underground garage measurement
• Building façade scanning and exterior wall measurement
• Stockpile, excavation and earthwork volume calculation
• Utility, pipeline, valve and asset mapping
• Municipal surveying and park vegetation mapping
• Indoor and outdoor 3D mapping
• Visual stakeout and CAD-AR stakeout workflows
• Construction site measurement and progress documentation

Why buy from Global GPS Systems?

Global GPS Systems supplies professional surveying, mapping and construction positioning equipment to customers worldwide. When you order the South Supreme ME from Global GPS Systems, you receive more than a product shipment; you get support from a specialist team that understands RTK GNSS, correction services, field setup and survey workflows.

We ship worldwide from the Netherlands with insured delivery, provide warranty support and help with import, export, tax and duty questions where relevant. Our team can advise on whether the South Supreme ME is the right solution for your projects, how it compares with other RTK GNSS receivers and LiDAR systems, and what accessories or correction services may be needed for your fieldwork.

FAQ

What is the South Supreme ME?

The South Supreme ME is a hybrid Visual-LiDAR RTK GNSS receiver that combines GNSS positioning, SLAM LiDAR scanning, IMU tilt measurement, cameras and field software for surveying, mapping, visual measuring and 3D data capture.

Who is the South Supreme ME made for?

It is made for surveyors, civil engineers, construction professionals, GIS teams, mapping specialists and asset managers who need to measure both open-sky GNSS points and complex or GNSS-limited environments.

How many GNSS channels does the South Supreme ME have?

The South Supreme ME has a 1698-channel GNSS engine with support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, SBAS, IRNSS, QZSS and MSS L-Band signals as specified in the datasheet.

Can the South Supreme ME work where GNSS signals are limited?

Yes. The Magicalc mixed-solution function is designed to help maintain measurement capability for a few minutes when GNSS satellite signals are out of reach. This can be useful under overpasses, in tunnels, underground garages and other obstructed environments.

What is the LiDAR scanning speed of the South Supreme ME?

The LiDAR scanner captures up to 200,000 points per second.

What is the maximum LiDAR detection range?

The datasheet specifies 40 m at 10% reflectivity and 70 m at 80% reflectivity.

What accuracy can the South Supreme ME achieve for SLAM LiDAR?

The datasheet specifies SLAM relative accuracy ≤1 cm, absolute accuracy down to 3–5 cm with RTK, and absolute accuracy down to 2–4 cm with PPK.

What is Air Measurement?

Air Measurement is a contactless measuring function that combines laser sensing and AI image matching. It allows users to capture multiple 3D coordinates without directly occupying every point. The datasheet specifies 5 cm accuracy at 15 m range.

Does the South Supreme ME support IMU tilt measurement?

Yes. The datasheet specifies IMU accuracy of 8 mm + 0.7 mm/° tilt, with optimal accuracy within 60°.

Does the South Supreme ME include cameras?

Yes. It has two 12 MP cameras for SLAM LiDAR colorization, one 8 MP front-facing camera for contactless visual-LiDAR survey work and one 2 MP downward camera for AR visual stakeout.

Can the South Supreme ME export LAS or LAZ point clouds?

Yes. The datasheet states that raw point cloud format can be exported to .LAS or .LAZ directly or through the included software, and that colour point clouds are supported.

What software is used with the South Supreme ME?

The datasheet lists Android mobile app software for field use and AcuteLas Studio for Windows post-processing. The software supports workflows such as georeferencing, colorization, slicing, profiles, import/export, trajectory processing, point cloud classification and quality checking.

Does the South Supreme ME have an internal UHF radio?

The datasheet specifies an inbuilt UHF module that is receiving only, with a 410–470 MHz frequency range and support for Farlink, Trimtalk and SOUTH communication protocols.

What is the battery life of the South Supreme ME?

The datasheet specifies more than 3 hours for Air Measurement, indoor mapping and point cloud scanning, and more than 24 hours in GNSS rover and static mode.

Can Global GPS Systems help me choose the right setup?

Yes. Global GPS Systems can help with product advice, RTK workflows, correction services, field setup, accessories and worldwide delivery from the Netherlands.