Evaluation of GPS/Galileo RTK Network Configuration: Case Study in Greece
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 4
Abstract
Network-based real-time kinematic (NRTK) positioning in local or regional reference networks has been proven to be an efficient technology for high precision global positioning systems (GPS) positioning over the last few years. With a view to GPS modernization and the development of the European Galileo system, considerable improvements are expected, enabling high reliability of real-time kinematic (RTK) rover positioning on distances larger than the typical ones of current RTK networks. This paper evaluates the expected performance of a GPS/Galileo NRTK by assessing the spatial variability of specific quality indicators; namely, the success rates of correct integer ambiguity resolution and the network internal reliability. This approach provides a useful tool for design analysis of RTK networks. The Greek GPS-RTK network is used to simulate different geometric configurations to demonstrate in a practical sense whether or not a particular configuration can meet the user specified requirements. As a result of this study, a priori indication on the network reliability associated with different geometries is obtained, and the limitations of the network as a function of the station geometry can be ascertained.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the use of the Visual Software by S. Verhagen from the Delft University of Technology. Also, thanks are given to the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments.
References
Baarda, W. (1968). “A testing procedure for use in geodetic networks.” Publications on geodesy, vol. 2, Netherlands Geodetic Commission, Delft, Netherlands.
Cocard, M., Bourgon, S., Kamali, O., and Collins, P. (2008). “A systematic investigation of optimal carrier-phase combinations for modernized triple-frequency GPS.” J. Geodes., 82(9), 555–564.
Colombo, O. L., Hernandez-Pajares, M., Juan, J. M., Sanz, J., and Talaya, J. (1999). “Resolving carrier phase ambiguities on the fly, at more than 100 km from nearest reference site, with the help of ionospheric tomography.” Proc 12th Int. ION Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 1635–1642.
Eckl, M. C., Snay, R. A., Soler, T., Cline, M. W., and Mader, G. L. (2001). “Accuracy of GPS-derived relative positions as a function of interstation distance and observing-session duration.” J. Geodes., 75(12), 633–640.
Edwards, S. J., Cross, P. A., Barnes, J. B., and Betaille, D. (1999). “A methodology for benchmarking real time kinematic GPS.” Surv. Rev., 35(273), 163–174.
Euler, H.-J., Seeger, S., and Takac, F. (2004). “Analysis of biases influencing successful rover positioning with GNSS-Network RTK.” J. Global Posit. Syst., 3(1–2), 70–78.
Gianniou, M. (2008a). “Hepos: Modern network-based GPS surveying.” GIS/GPS, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, Cheshire, UK.
Gianniou, M. (2008b). “HEPOS: Designing and implementing an RTK-Network.” Geoinformatics Magazine, 11(1), 10–13.
Grafarend, E. W., Sanso, F., and Benciolini, B. (1985). Optimization and design of geodetic networks, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Grejner-Brzezinska, D. A., et al. (2007). “Efficiency and reliability of ambiguity resolution in network-based real-time kinematic GPS.” J. Surv. Eng., 133(2), 56–65.
Grejner-Brzezinska, D. A., Arslan, N., Wielgosz, P., and Hong, C-K. (2009). “Network calibration for unfavorable reference-rover geometry in network-based RTK: Ohio CORS case study.” J. Surv. Eng., 135(3), 90–100.
Han, S. (1997). “Quality-control issues relating to instantaneous ambiguity resolution for real-time GPS kinematic positioning.” J. Geodes., 71(6), 351–361.
Julien, O. M., Cannon, E., Alves, P., and Lachapelle, G. (2004). “Triple frequency ambiguity resolution using GPS/Galileo.” Eur. J. Navigation, 2(2), 51–56.
Landau, H., Chen, X., Kipka, A., and Vollath, U. (2007). “Latest developments in network RTK modeling to support GNSS modernization.” J. Global Posit. Syst., 6(1), 47–55.
Landau, H., Vollath, U., and Chen, X. (2002). “Virtual reference station systems.” J. Global Posit. Syst., 1(2), 137–143.
Landau, H., Vollath, U., and Chen, X. (2004). “Benefits of modernised GPS/Galileo to RTK positioning.” Proc. GNSS/GPS Int. Symp., Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Landgate. (2006). “CORS and a future geodetic framework for Western Australia.” Geodetic Strategy, 〈www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/geodetic+Strategy〉 (Jul. 2010).
Schwarz, C. R., Snay, R. A., and Soler, T. (2009). “Accuracy assessment of the National Geodetic Survey’s OPUS-RS utility.” GPS Solut., 13(2),119–132.
Takac, F., and Zelzer, O. (2008). “The relationship between network RTK solutions MAC, VRS, PRS, FKP and i-MAX.” Proc. 21st Int. ION Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 348–355.
Tang, M., and Feng, Y. (2008). “Area-oriented reference station placement for network RTK.” Proc. IEEE Conf. Computer Science and Software Engineering, IEEE, Washington, DC, 919–922.
Teunissen, P. J. G. (1995). “The least-squares ambiguity decorrelation adjustment: A method for fast GPS integer ambiguity estimation.” J. Geodes., 70(1–2), 65–82.
Teunissen, P. J. G. (1996). “GPS carrier phase ambiguity fixing concepts.” GPS for Geodesy, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, Springer, Berlin, 263–335.
Teunissen, P. J. G. (1998). “Success probability of integer GPS ambiguity rounding and bootstrapping.” J. Geodes., 72(10), 606–612.
Teunissen, P. J. G. (1999). “An optimality property of the integer least-squares estimator.” J. Geodes., 73(11), 587–593.
Teunissen, P. J. G., de Jonge, P. J., and Tiberius, C. C. J. M. (1997). “The performance of the LAMBDA method for fast GPS ambiguity resolution.” Navigation, 44(3), 373–383.
Tiberius, C., Pany, Z. T., Eissfeller, Z. B., Joosten, P., and Verhagen, Z. S. (2002). “0.99999999 confidence ambiguity resolution with GPS and Galileo.” GPS Solut., 6(1–2), 96–99.
Verhagen, S. (2002a). “Performance analysis of GPS, Galileo and integrated GPS-Galileo.” Proc. 15th ION Int. Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 2208–2215.
Verhagen, S. (2002b). “Studying the performance of global navigation satellite systems: A new software tool.” GPS world, 13(6), 60–65.
Verhagen, S. (2004). “Integer ambiguity validation: An open problem?” GPS Solut., 8(1), 36–43.
Verhagen, S. (2006). Manual for the Matlab user interface—VISUAL, Delft Institute of Earth Observation and Space Systems, Delft Univ. of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.
Verhagen, S., Teunissen, P. J. G., and Odijk, D. (2007). “Carrier-phase ambiguity success rates for integrated GPS-Galileo satellite navigation.” Proc. SANE2007, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Tokyo, 107(2), 139–144.
Vollath, U., Deking, A., Landau, H., and Pagels, C. (2001). “Long range RTK positioning using virtual reference stations.” Proc. Symp. on Kinematic Systems in Geodesy, Geomatics and Navigation (KIS), Univ. of Calgary, Banff, Canada.
Vollath, U., Landau, H., Chen, X., Doucet, K., and Pagels, C. (2002). “Network RTK versus single base RTK—Understanding the error characteristics.” Proc. 15th ION Int. Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA.
Vollath, U., Sauer, K., Amarillo, F., and Pereira, J. (2003). “Three or four carrier—How many are enough?” Proc. ION GPS/GNSS Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 1470–1477.
Wanninger, L. (2002). “Virtual reference stations for centimeter-level kinematic positioning.” Proc. 15th ION Int. Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 1400–1407.
Wübbena, G., Bagge, A., Seeber, G., Böder, V., and Hankemeier, P. (1996). “Reducing distance dependent errors for real-time precise DGPS applications by establishing reference station networks.” Proc. ION Int. Meeting, Institute of Navigation, Manassas, VA, 1845–1852.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 31, 2010
Accepted: Jan 3, 2011
Published online: Oct 14, 2011
Published in print: Nov 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.