New Developments in the GPS Toolkit

Susan M. Cummins and Brent A. Renfro

Abstract:	The GPS Toolkit, or GPSTk, is an open source collection of algorithms and frameworks that supports development of processing and analysis applications for navigation and global positioning. The GPSTk was first released in 2004 by the Space and Geophysics Laboratory (SGL) of Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin (ARL:UT). Since that time, the GPSTk has seen a steady increase in usage from a growing, worldwide user base. Code library contributions from users outside the U.S. have added significant new functionality to the toolkit, and users have made many helpful suggestions for improving and extending existing toolkit capabilities. The paper describes new additions to the GPSTk that will be available in an upcoming major release, the user community and challenges involved in providing an open source GPS Toolkit, and plans to restructure the GPSTk and add functionality. Two new libraries have been contributed to the GPSTk by users outside of the U.S.: a processing framework library for use with precise positioning applications, and a geodynamics library to model the effects of natural forces on space vehicle dynamics. These libraries were contributed by academicians in Spain and China, respectively. A brief description of the purpose and content of these libraries is provided. The paper also describes current ARL:UT development of processing capability for GPS civil navigation message data. Providing responsive, high quality support is critical to keeping GPSTk users productively engaged. Challenges can arise in accurately interpreting user issues from user descriptions, providing adequate, clear and precise guidance in response, and ensuring that available documentation is both sufficient, and sufficiently up-to-date to answer new users' most likely questions. In the paper, challenges in GPSTk support are explored in detail. Critical mechanisms to protect GPSTk consistency and integrity are incorporated into the stable release process. The web site that hosts the GPSTk open source distributions, Source-Forge.net, also plays a significant role in ensuring the integrity of distributions, and was the target of a malware attack in late January 2011. More detail on the attack and actions taken are described in the paper. In addition to plans for enhancing the content of GPS Toolkit offerings, periodic review of system and third-party tools used to maintain, build, test and document the GPSTk will be conducted. The specific operating systems for which GPSTk release packages are created and for which support is provided will also undergo review to ensure support of the most-used platforms. The paper expands on these considerations for the future of the GPSTk.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011) September 20 - 23, 2011 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Portland, OR
Pages:	3910 - 3915
Cite this article:	Cummins, Susan M., Renfro, Brent A., "New Developments in the GPS Toolkit," Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011), Portland, OR, September 2011, pp. 3910-3915.
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