Integration of a Real-Time GPS Data Collection Network with a Variety of Customer Applications

Brent Renfro, Richard Mach, and Jon Little, Tom Creel and Randall Taylor

Abstract:	Since 1985, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) (formerly the Defense Mapping Agency) has operated a network of highly-reliable GPS tracking stations to collect data for computation of the NIMA GPS precise ephemerides and surveying applications. Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin (ARL:UT) has been the life-cycle development and sustainment laboratory for the network throughout that time. Previously the network consisted of autonomous GPS data collection stations that would provide a variety of data to NIMA that could only be used in post-processing for internal and external customers. NIMA is enhancing this network to support additional data types in real-time, near real-time, and post-processing. In addition, the enhancements will include integration into customer's systems for a variety of GPS applications. This presentation and paper will provide an overview of the current and planned configuration of the NIMA network and the integration of this network with customer systems. Topics addressed include the architecture of the network showing its flexibility in the addressing of current and future customer needs, a summary of the data quantities provided by the network, past and projected reliability of the network, quality assurance methods, and a summary of customers showing the data types received.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1999 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 25 - 27, 1999 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	455 - 461
Cite this article:	Renfro, Brent, Mach, Richard, Little, Jon, Creel, Tom, Taylor, Randall, "Integration of a Real-Time GPS Data Collection Network with a Variety of Customer Applications," Proceedings of the 1999 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1999, pp. 455-461.
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