Integration of GPS and LORAN-C/Chayka - A European Perspective

Dirk Kügler

Abstract:	Since several years, GPS as a powerful high accuracy positioning and navigation system has an enormous impetus on all fields of navigation applications. Nevertheless, especially in Europe, GPS is not regarded as being a system which can be certified as sole means of navigation for aviation and maritime purposes. Following an IALA recommendation, Germany has decided to use two independent and complementary systems for any maritime applications (namely DGPS and LORAN-C). Although the absolute accuracy of LORAN-C is not very high (approximately 200-400 m), the system is superior to non-augmented GPS with regard to availability and integrity. Notably, LORAN-C's low-frequency signal propagation has completely different immunity to noise, fading and interference to the corresponding properties of GPS. For those reasons, these complementary system features form a good basis for integrated (hybrid) navigation systems. Remarkably, LORAN-C in Europe (NELS) is under civil control which gives an important contribution to the institutional question. Between 1995 and 1997, the Avionik Zentrum Braunschweig has investigated the potential of combined (hybrid) (D)GPS/LORAN-C navigation systems with respect to institutional, operational and technical aspects in much detail. Furthermore, an experimental program with stationary and dynamic test of a combined (hybrid) (D)GPS/LORAN-C system has been carried out. This paper will show results and will present a technical realisation concept of hybrid (D)GPS/LORAN-C navigation systems for marine and land users.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 54th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1998) June 1 - 3, 1998 The Adams Mark Hotel Denver, CO
Pages:	383 - 393
Cite this article:	Kügler, Dirk, "Integration of GPS and LORAN-C/Chayka - A European Perspective," Proceedings of the 54th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1998), Denver, CO, June 1998, pp. 383-393.
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