OPUS Tools and Real Time Kinematic Networks

Daniel Roman, Gerald Mader, Richard Foote, Neil Weston

Abstract:	The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is responsible for maintaining access and standards of accuracy for positioning within the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). There are many Real Time Networks (RTNs) around the U.S., and users of such RTN’s desire positions that are consistent to an acceptable standard of accuracy within the NSRS. Some RTNs rely upon the broader Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) Network to provide control. Most of the CORS network is not owned nor operated by NGS, but NGS collects and archives information for these sites for the use of others. There has been a great deal of interest expressed by some states and agencies in adding more CORS sites, potentially including some RTN base stations. While this is laudable, it is also beyond the current capability for NGS to maintain such a larger network. Current NGS guidelines [1] state that CORS stations should be spaced 70 km or more apart. This is too sparse for most RTN applications due to the degradation of the corrector signals with distance - especially in the presence of limiting topography. As an alternative, Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) tools are being developed to provide rapid and accurate monitoring of RTN positions. An OPUS-Static (OPUS-S) solution generates multiple single baseline solutions to obtain location information. Processing of a significant period of data (24-48 hours) for a RTN master station could be automated for data submission from the RTN operator either daily or monthly. These data could then be shared via OPUS, where they would be stored in the OPUS-Database (OPUS-DB). As a final step for evaluating the RTN base station, a RTN tool is being developed to capture and simplify the above processes to ensure that RTN base stations can be monitored for consistency within the NSRS. The validity of RTN positions can ultimately be checked by the RTN users simply by occupying a published bench marks and comparing the RTN-derived position with the published coordinate. This RTN Validator tool will be developed throughout this year and is intended to be released for testing in 2015. NGS will not maintain or provide augmentation service greater than the above stated 70 km guideline except for special cases. However, NGS will work with agencies and localities seeking to develop their own denser networks to meet real time positioning needs.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2015 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 28, 2015 Laguna Cliffs Marriott Dana Point, California
Pages:	512 - 516
Cite this article:	Roman, Daniel, Mader, Gerald, Foote, Richard, Weston, Neil, "OPUS Tools and Real Time Kinematic Networks," Proceedings of the 2015 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Dana Point, California, January 2015, pp. 512-516.
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