Network-based ionospheric gradient monitoring to support GBAS

Maria Caamano, José Miguel Juan, Michael Felux, Daniel Gerbeth, Guillermo González-Casado, Jaume Sanz

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Large ionospheric gradients acting between a Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) reference station and an aircraft on approach could lead to hazardous position errors if undetected. Current GBAS stations provide solutions against this threat that rely on the use of “worst-case” conservative threat models, which could limit the availability of the system. This paper presents a methodology capable of detecting ionospheric gradients in real time and estimating the actual threat model parameters based on a network of dual-frequency andmulti-constellation GNSS monitoring stations. First, we evaluate the performance of our algorithm with synthetic gradients that are simulated over the nominal measurements recorded by a reference network in Alaska. Afterwards, we also assess it with one real ionospheric gradient measured by the same network. Results with both simulated gradients and a real gradient show the potential to support GBAS by detecting and estimating these gradients instead of always using “worst-case” models.
Video Abstract:
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 68, Number 1
Pages:	135 - 156
Cite this article:	Citation Tools https://doi.org/10.1002/navi.411
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In