The Effects of Network Geometry on Network RTK Using Simulated GPS Data

P. Alves, Y.W. Ahn, G. Lachapelle

Abstract:	The multiple reference station approach is emerging as the leading method for precise real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning. The multiple reference station approach was developed in response to the growing need for better availabiity, accuracy and reliability of positioning and navigation. The accuracy of traditional, single reference station, RTK positioning results is a function of the atmospheric errors and the distance between the mobile user and the closest reference station. To insure certain levels of RTK positioning accuracy, availability and reliability, reference stations must be placed in such an arrangement as to limit the maximum distance to the nearest reference station from any location within the region. When more than one reference station is established, the reference stations can be used interactively to better model the correlated errors, namely residual troposphere, ionosphere, and orbit errors, at the rover. The advantage of the multiple reference station approach is due to the spatial geometry of the reference stations and that with respect to the user. This paper discusses the effects of network geometry on the achievable user accuracy, namely the orientation and number of surrounding reference stations required to best estimate the rover's errors. The tests show that the best performance is achieved when the reference stations are balanced on all sides of the rover receiver and that reference stations external to these core stations do not contribute to performance improvement.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003) September 9 - 12, 2003 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	1417 - 1427
Cite this article:	Alves, P., Ahn, Y.W., Lachapelle, G., "The Effects of Network Geometry on Network RTK Using Simulated GPS Data," Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003), Portland, OR, September 2003, pp. 1417-1427.
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