Differential GPS Network Design

Peter Loomis, Len Sheynblatt, and Tysen Mueller

Abstract:	Inter-visibility of satellites and spatial decorrelation Iimit the range of a single differential GPS reference station. A network of a few reference stations can generate differential corrections over a relatively broad area with accuracy nearly equal to local differential GPS. Three types of networks have been identified as economically interesting. The smallest, the local network, assumes common visibility of the satellites and concentrates on removing spatially decorrelated errors on the decimeter-level, as would be required in hydrographic surveys. The regional network covers areas comparable to the United States or Western Europe. Finally, a world-wide network estimates orbit and clock corrections for all satellites continuously. This paper discusses the high-level design of each type of network with respect to various issues: correction message content and rates; ionospheric measurement with and without P-code; observability and estimation of the satelhte orbit and clock errors; and the synchronization of the reference receiver clocks in the larger networks where satellites are not in common view.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 4th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1991) September 11 - 13, 1991 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	511 - 520
Cite this article:	Loomis, Peter, Sheynblatt, Len, Mueller, Tysen, "Differential GPS Network Design," Proceedings of the 4th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1991), Albuquerque, NM, September 1991, pp. 511-520.
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