The United States Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System

Brendon Cook

Abstract:	In its role to improve the service provided to civilians, the US DOT, in cooperation with the DOD and DOC, are developing a nationwide land-based GPS augmentation system. Using the USCG’s existing DGPS radiobeacon network as a template that provides coverage to both coastlines, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, and major inland waterways, the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) program intends to densify the existing network with dual redundant terrestrial and waterway coverage. With an estimated capital budget of approximately $37 million and annual operations budget of approximately $7 million, this system is poised to offer significant benefits to State Departments of Transportation, municipalities, the Precision Agriculture industry, weather forecasting, Geographic Information Systems, the national Intelligent Transportation System program, emergency response organizations, and many more. In addition to expanding the existing real-time USCG network, NDGPS enhances the existing Continuously Operating Reference Station network, providing users with additional sites for post processing DGPS applications. This paper describes the goals of the NDGPS, its site selection plan, budgeting, and elaborates on the benefits to users. The scheduling, implementation, and status are also presented. Included within this paper is a brief study on the role of NDGPS as it exists within the FRA’s Positive Train Control program, and how NDGPS could be adopted throughout various industries.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 28, 2000 Pacific Hotel Disneyland Anaheim, CA
Pages:	297 - 305
Cite this article:	Cook, Brendon, "The United States Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System," Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 2000, pp. 297-305.
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