Six Live GNSS: What RTK Performance One Can Expect?

I. Khazanov, D. Kozlov, G. Zyryanov, Spectra Precision

Abstract:	Given paper is logical extension of ION GNSS 2011 paper from Ashtech [1], which described the principles of GNSS-agnostic receiver with focus on GPS+GLONASS positioning. Since that time, GNSS constellation has grown dramatically and new strong player, Chinese BeiDou GNSS, was deployed. Also one QZSS became operational, four stable Galileo replaced test GIOVEs, and SBAS coverage has grown. Our new paper describes mutli-GNSS RTK concept involving up to six GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, and SBAS) utilizing standardized RTCM 3.2 transport for transmitting reference data. The key point of the paper is so called GNSS-agnostic concept claiming no preference to any particular GNSS (e.g. GPS) in [up to RTK] positioning process. Paper discusses specific multi-GNSS clock/biases issues keeping in mind different possible assumptions about reference data. The paper shows and proves how e.g. RTK positioning can be achieved with only 2+2+2 Satellites tracking (GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou). Additionally the paper demonstrates RTK performance which can be available w/o GPS, such configurations as GLONASS-only, BeiDou-only, GLONASS+BeiDou. The conclusion is made that today, GPS tracking cannot be considered as essential condition to achieve reliable and accurate RTK solution in all the cases. GNSS world is not GPS-centric anymore. All the performance results are apple to apple in comparison to GPS-only and/or GPS+GLONASS. Thus a reader can immediately see what multi-GNSS operation can bring to the professional positioning compared to using only single-GNSS or dual-GNSS modes. The paper proves that while open sky short baseline RTK results are not changed dramatically when adding new players to GPS and GLONASS, using all six GNSS can be mandatory to achieve high performance in difficult conditions and/or specific applications. All the reported results correspond to lately introduced Spectra Precision Land Survey receiver SP80 populating Z-Blade GNSS-agnostic Ashtech technology.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 27th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2014) September 8 - 12, 2014 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida
Pages:	925 - 932
Cite this article:	Khazanov, I., Kozlov, D., Zyryanov, G., Precision, Spectra, "Six Live GNSS: What RTK Performance One Can Expect?," Proceedings of the 27th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2014), Tampa, Florida, September 2014, pp. 925-932.
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