CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Certification Practice

BeiDou represents a satellite-based radio navigation system. It is China's independent global navigation system that operates through a network of satellites in orbit and provides positioning, navigation, and timing services to users worldwide.

The system functions similarly to other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russia), and Galileo (European Union), allowing for precise location information to be determined anywhere on Earth. This satellite-based nature enables it to deliver extensive coverage, making it indispensable for various applications including transportation, surveying, mapping, and more.

Other options do not accurately describe BeiDou: a ground-based navigation system would rely on terrestrial signals rather than satellites, a cellular network pertains to mobile communications rather than positioning, and an astronomical positioning system is not a specific type of navigation system but relates more to celestial navigation using astronomical objects. Thus, BeiDou's classification as a satellite-based navigation system is the most precise and relevant answer.