TERRESTRIAL EVALUATION OF THE GPS STANDARD POSITIONING SERVICE

Francis W. Mooney

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	During the period of January through April and also in August 1985, an engineering test team from the Transportation Systems Center (TSC) conducted a static and underway assessment of radionavigation systems in the Boston area. Sponsored by the Research and Special Programs Administration, the object of the tests was to gather data to determine the viability of the Global Positioning System, Standard Positioning Service (SPS), to provide navigation for terrestrial users. Concurrent data were also obtained on the LORAN-C system to provide a current assessment of its capabilities. Four receivers, two GPS and two LORAN-C, were used in the evaluation. Tests assessed the capabilities of receivers for conducting static survey and underway navigation. Test units were exposed to operating conditions representative of the rural, suburban and urban terrestrial environments. Parameters of interest included navigation accuracy (absolute and repeatable), interference susceptibility and signal availability. GPS results obtained with signals from the current constellation of satellites were compared with those expected from 18 and 21 satellite configurations. This paper presents a discussion of the conduct of the evaluation and a summary of the results.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 32, Number 4
Pages:	351 - 369
Cite this article:	Mooney, Francis W., "TERRESTRIAL EVALUATION OF THE GPS STANDARD POSITIONING SERVICE", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 32, No. 4, Winter 1985-1986, pp. 351-369.
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