TECHNICAL PAPERS
Nov 1, 2008

Geometric Combination of Multiple Terrestrial Network Solutions

Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 4

Abstract

Terrestrial network solutions prepared by different institutes and/or at different epochs imply different reference frame definitions, since various reference stations and processing strategies may be involved. A combination procedure, utilizing a time-variant similarity transformation model, enables a geometric integration of multiple solutions into a common reference frame definition. Additional benefits, including an elimination of systematic bias and a cross check on the quality of each individual network solution, could also be achieved. In this study, a combination approach which takes into account complete geometric interrelations between multiple solutions is developed. With the observable dependency analysis procedure, the proposed approach guarantees a self-consistent, more meaningful, combination solution regardless of the choice of a reference solution. Numerical tests have been performed on actual International Global Navigation Satellite System (GNNS) Service (IGS) and National Geodetic Survey (NGS) solutions using the Geodetic Network Analysis Tool software developed along with this study. Results reveal potential problems if the proposed analysis procedure is not implemented in a combination solution.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Geodetic Survey, NOAA, under Contract No. UNSPECIFIEDNCNL2000-6-00004. Comments by three anonymous reviewers are also gratefully acknowledged.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Surveying Engineering
Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 134Issue 4November 2008
Pages: 126 - 131

History

Received: Oct 9, 2007
Accepted: Mar 14, 2008
Published online: Nov 1, 2008
Published in print: Nov 2008

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Authors

Affiliations

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan Univ., Taipei 106, Taiwan (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
B. H. van Gelder, M.ASCE
Associate Professor, Land Surveying and Geomatics Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907.
T. Soler, M.ASCE
Chief Technical Officer, Spatial Reference Systems Division, National Geodetic Survey, NOS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
R. A. Snay
Chief, Spatial Reference Systems Division, National Geodetic Survey, NOS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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