Integrity Analysis of Real-Time Ppp Technique with Igs-Rts Service for Maritime Navigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Diasty, M.

2017-10-01

Open sea and inland waterways are the most widely used mode for transporting goods worldwide. It is the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that defines the requirements for position fixing equipment for a worldwide radio-navigation system, in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity, availability and coverage for the various phases of navigation. Satellite positioning systems can contribute to meet these requirements, as well as optimize marine transportation. Marine navigation usually consists of three major phases identified as Ocean/Coastal/Port approach/Inland waterway, in port navigation and automatic docking with alert limit ranges from 25 m to 0.25 m. GPS positioning is widely used for many applications and is currently recognized by IMO for a future maritime navigation. With the advancement in autonomous GPS positioning techniques such as Precise Point Positioning (PPP) and with the advent of new real-time GNSS correction services such as IGS-Real-Time-Service (RTS), it is necessary to investigate the integrity of the PPP-based positioning technique along with IGS-RTS service in terms of availability and reliability for safe navigation in maritime application. This paper monitors the integrity of an autonomous real-time PPP-based GPS positioning system using the IGS real-time service (RTS) for maritime applications that require minimum availability of integrity of 99.8 % to fulfil the IMO integrity standards. To examine the integrity of the real-time IGS-RTS PPP-based technique for maritime applications, kinematic data from a dual frequency GPS receiver is collected onboard a vessel and investigated with the real-time IGS-RTS PPP-based GPS positioning technique. It is shown that the availability of integrity of the real-time IGS-RTS PPP-based GPS solution is 100 % for all navigation phases and therefore fulfil the IMO integrity standards (99.8 % availability) immediately (after 1 second), after 2 minutes and after 42 minutes of convergence time for Ocean/Coastal/Port approach/Inland waterway, in port navigation and automatic docking, respectively. Moreover, the misleading information is about 2 % for all navigation phases that is considered less safe is not in immediate danger because the horizontal position error is less than the navigation alert limits.

GPS=A Good Candidate for Data Assimilation?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poli, P.; Joiner, J.; Kursinski, R.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) enables positioning anywhere about our planet. The microwave signals sent by the 24 transmitters are sensitive to the atmosphere. Using the radio occultation technique, it is possible to perform soundings, with a Low Earth Orbiter (700 km) GPS receiver. The insensitiveness to clouds and aerosols, the relatively high vertical resolution (1.5 km), the self-calibration and stability of the GPS make it a priori a potentially good observing system candidate for data assimilation. A low-computing cost simple method to retrieve both temperature and humidity will be presented. Comparisons with radiosonde show the capability of the GPS to resolve the tropopause. Options for using GPS for data assimilation and remaining issues will be discussed.

Modeling and Assessment of GPS/BDS Combined Precise Point Positioning.

PubMed

Chen, Junping; Wang, Jungang; Zhang, Yize; Yang, Sainan; Chen, Qian; Gong, Xiuqiang

2016-07-22

Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique enables stand-alone receivers to obtain cm-level positioning accuracy. Observations from multi-GNSS systems can augment users with improved positioning accuracy, reliability and availability. In this paper, we present and evaluate the GPS/BDS combined PPP models, including the traditional model and a simplified model, where the inter-system bias (ISB) is treated in different way. To evaluate the performance of combined GPS/BDS PPP, kinematic and static PPP positions are compared to the IGS daily estimates, where 1 month GPS/BDS data of 11 IGS Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) stations are used. The results indicate apparent improvement of GPS/BDS combined PPP solutions in both static and kinematic cases, where much smaller standard deviations are presented in the magnitude distribution of coordinates RMS statistics. Comparisons between the traditional and simplified combined PPP models show no difference in coordinate estimations, and the inter system biases between the GPS/BDS system are assimilated into receiver clock, ambiguities and pseudo-range residuals accordingly.

A demonstration of centimeter-level monitoring of polar motion with the Global Positioning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindqwister, U. J.; Freedman, A. P.; Blewitt, G.

1992-01-01

Daily estimates of the Earth's pole position were obtained with the Global Positioning System (GPS) by using measurements obtained during the GPS IERS (International Earth Rotation Service) and Geodynamics (GIG'91) experiment from 22 Jan. to 13 Feb. 1991. Data from a globally distributed network consisting of 21 Rogue GPS receivers were chosen for the analysis. A comparison of the GPS polar motion series with nine 24-hour very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) estimates yielded agreement in the day-to-day pole position of about 1.5 cm for both X and Y polar motion. A similar comparison of GPS and satellite laser ranging (SLR) data showed agreement to about 1.0 cm. These preliminary results indicate that polar motion can be determined by GPS independent of, and at a level comparable to, that which is obtained from either VLBI or SLR. Furthermore, GPS can provide these data with a daily frequency that neither alternative technique can readily achieve. Thus, GPS promises to be a powerful tool for determining high-frequency platform parameter variation, essential for the ultraprecise spacecraft-tracking requirements of the coming years.

Time Study of Harvesting Equipment Using GPS-Derived Positional Data

Treesearch

Tim McDonald

1999-01-01

The objectives in this study were to develop and test a data analysis system for calculating machine productivity from GPS-derived positional information alone. A technique was used where positions were `filtered' initially to locate specific events that were independent of what actually traveled the path, then these events were combined using user-specified rules...

Precise orbit determination for NASA's earth observing system using GPS (Global Positioning System)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, B. G.

1988-01-01

An application of a precision orbit determination technique for NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) using the Global Positioning System (GPS) is described. This technique allows the geometric information from measurements of GPS carrier phase and P-code pseudo-range to be exploited while minimizing requirements for precision dynamical modeling. The method combines geometric and dynamic information to determine the spacecraft trajectory; the weight on the dynamic information is controlled by adjusting fictitious spacecraft accelerations in three dimensions which are treated as first order exponentially time correlated stochastic processes. By varying the time correlation and uncertainty of the stochastic accelerations, the technique can range from purely geometric to purely dynamic. Performance estimates for this technique as applied to the orbit geometry planned for the EOS platforms indicate that decimeter accuracies for EOS orbit position may be obtainable. The sensitivity of the predicted orbit uncertainties to model errors for station locations, nongravitational platform accelerations, and Earth gravity is also presented.

Volcano monitoring using GPS: Developing data analysis strategies based on the June 2007 Kīlauea Volcano intrusion and eruption

USGS Publications Warehouse

Larson, Kristine M.; Poland, Michael; Miklius, Asta

2010-01-01

The global positioning system (GPS) is one of the most common techniques, and the current state of the art, used to monitor volcano deformation. In addition to slow (several centimeters per year) displacement rates, GPS can be used to study eruptions and intrusions that result in much larger (tens of centimeters over hours-days) displacements. It is challenging to resolve precise positions using GPS at subdaily time intervals because of error sources such as multipath and atmospheric refraction. In this paper, the impact of errors due to multipath and atmospheric refraction at subdaily periods is examined using data from the GPS network on Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i. Methods for filtering position estimates to enhance precision are both simulated and tested on data collected during the June 2007 intrusion and eruption. Comparisons with tiltmeter records show that GPS instruments can precisely recover the timing of the activity.

A New Position Location System Using DTV Transmitter Identification Watermark Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xianbin; Wu, Yiyan; Chouinard, Jean-Yves

2006-12-01

A new position location technique using the transmitter identification (TxID) RF watermark in the digital TV (DTV) signals is proposed in this paper. Conventional global positioning system (GPS) usually does not work well inside buildings due to the high frequency and weak field strength of the signal. In contrast to the GPS, the DTV signals are received from transmitters at relatively short distance, while the broadcast transmitters operate at levels up to the megawatts effective radiated power (ERP). Also the RF frequency of the DTV signal is much lower than the GPS, which makes it easier for the signal to penetrate buildings and other objects. The proposed position location system based on DTV TxID signal is presented in this paper. Practical receiver implementation issues including nonideal correlation and synchronization are analyzed and discussed. Performance of the proposed technique is evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations and compared with other existing position location systems. Possible ways to improve the accuracy of the new position location system is discussed.

Single-Frequency GPS Relative Navigation in a High Ionosphere Orbital Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conrad, Patrick R.; Naasz, Bo J.

2007-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a convenient source for space vehicle relative navigation measurements, especially for low Earth orbit formation flying and autonomous rendezvous mission concepts. For single-frequency GPS receivers, ionospheric path delay can be a significant error source if not properly mitigated. In particular, ionospheric effects are known to cause significant radial position error bias and add dramatically to relative state estimation error if the onboard navigation software does not force the use of measurements from common or shared GPS space vehicles. Results from GPS navigation simulations are presented for a pair of space vehicles flying in formation and using GPS pseudorange measurements to perform absolute and relative orbit determination. With careful measurement selection techniques relative state estimation accuracy to less than 20 cm with standard GPS pseudorange processing and less than 10 cm with single-differenced pseudorange processing is shown.

GPS-based satellite tracking system for precise positioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yunck, T. P.; Melbourne, W. G.; Thornton, C. L.

1985-01-01

NASA is developing a Global Positioning System (GPS) based measurement system to provide precise determination of earth satellite orbits, geodetic baselines, ionospheric electron content, and clock offsets between worldwide tracking sites. The system will employ variations on the differential GPS observing technique and will use a network of nine fixed ground terminals. Satellite applications will require either a GPS flight receiver or an on-board GPS beacon. Operation of the system for all but satellite tracking will begin by 1988. The first major satellite application will be a demonstration of decimeter accuracy in determining the altitude of TOPEX in the early 1990's. By then the system is expected to yield long-baseline accuracies of a few centimeters and instantaneous time synchronization to 1 ns.

Realtime mitigation of GPS SA errors using Loran-C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braasch, Soo Y.

1994-01-01

The hybrid use of Loran-C with the Global Positioning System (GPS) was shown capable of providing a sole-means of enroute air radionavigation. By allowing pilots to fly direct to their destinations, use of this system is resulting in significant time savings and therefore fuel savings as well. However, a major error source limiting the accuracy of GPS is the intentional degradation of the GPS signal known as Selective Availability (SA). SA-induced position errors are highly correlated and far exceed all other error sources (horizontal position error: 100 meters, 95 percent). Realtime mitigation of SA errors from the position solution is highly desirable. How that can be achieved is discussed. The stability of Loran-C signals is exploited to reduce SA errors. The theory behind this technique is discussed and results using bench and flight data are given.

Analysis of Vlbi, Slr and GPS Site Position Time Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angermann, D.; Krügel, M.; Meisel, B.; Müller, H.; Tesmer, V.

Conventionally the IERS terrestrial reference frame (ITRF) is realized by the adoption of a set of epoch coordinates and linear velocities for a set of global tracking stations. Due to the remarkable progress of the space geodetic observation techniques (e.g. VLBI, SLR, GPS) the accuracy and consistency of the ITRF increased continuously. The accuracy achieved today is mainly limited by technique-related systematic errors, which are often poorly characterized or quantified. Therefore it is essential to analyze the individual techniques' solutions with respect to systematic differences, models, parameters, datum definition, etc. Main subject of this presentation is the analysis of GPS, SLR and VLBI time series of site positions. The investigations are based on SLR and VLBI solutions computed at DGFI with the software systems DOGS (SLR) and OCCAM (VLBI). The GPS time series are based on weekly IGS station coordinates solutions. We analyze the time series with respect to the issues mentioned above. In particular we characterize the noise in the time series, identify periodic signals, and investigate non-linear effects that complicate the assignment of linear velocities for global tracking sites. One important aspect is the comparison of results obtained by different techniques at colocation sites.

Assessment of the Water Levels and Currents at the Mississippi Bight During Hurricane Katrina.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nwankwo, U. C.; Howden, S. D.; Dodd, D.; Wells, D. E.

2017-12-01

In an effort to extend the length of GPS baselines further offshore, the Hydrographic Science Research Center at the University of Southern Mississippi deployed a buoy which had a survey grade GPS receiver, an ADPC and a motion sensor unit in the Mississippi Bight in late 2004. The GPS data were initially processed using the Post Processed Kinematic technique with data from a nearby GPS base station on Horn Island. This processing technique discontinued when the storm (Hurricane Katrina) destroyed the base station in late August of 2005. However, since then a stand-alone positioning technique termed Precise Point Positioning (PPP) matured and allowed for the reprocessing of the buoy GPS data throughout Katrina. The processed GPS data were corrected for buoy angular motions using Tait Bryan transformation model. Tidal datums (Epoch 1983-2001) were transferred from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Water Level at Waveland, Mississippi (Station ID 8747766) to the buoy using the Modified Range Ratio method. The maximum water level during the storm was found to be about 3.578m, relative to the transferred Mean Sea Level datum. The storm surge built over more than 24 hours, but fell back to normal levels in less than 3 hours. The maximum speed of the current with respect to the seafloor was recorded to be about 4knots towards the southeast as the storm surge moved back offshore.

A design proposal of a certain missile tactical command system based on Beidou satellite communication and GPS positioning techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Jian; Hao, Yongsheng; Miao, Jian; Zhang, Jianmao

2007-11-01

This paper introduced a design proposal of tactical command system that applied to a kind of anti-tank missile carriers. The tactical command system was made up of embedded computer system based on PC104 bus, Linux operating system, digital military map, Beidou satellite communication equipments and GPS positioning equipments. The geographic coordinates was measured by the GPS receiver, the positioning data, commands and information were transmitted real-time between tactical command systems, tactical command systems and command center, by the Beidou satellite communication systems. The Beidou satellite communication equipments and GPS positioning equipments were integrated to an independent module, exchanging data with embedded computer through RS232 serial ports and USB ports. The decision support system software based on information fusion, calculates positioning data, geography information and battle field information synthetically, shows the position of allies and the position of enemy on the military map, and assesses the various threats of different enemy objects, educes a situation assessment and threat assessment.

Spacecraft applications of advanced global positioning system technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

This is the final report on the Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) simulations study of Spacecraft Application of Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology. This work was conducted for the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) under contract NAS9-17781. GPS, in addition to its baselined capability as a highly accurate spacecraft navigation system, can provide traffic control, attitude control, structural control, and uniform time base. In Phase 1 of this program, another contractor investigated the potential of GPS in these four areas and compared GPS to other techniques. This contract was for the Phase 2 effort, to study the performance of GPS for these spacecraft applications through computer simulations. TI had previously developed simulation programs for GPS differential navigation and attitude measurement. These programs were adapted for these specific spacecraft applications. In addition, TI has extensive expertise in the design and production of advanced GPS receivers, including space-qualified GPS receivers. We have drawn on this background to augment the simulation results in the system level overview, which is Section 2 of this report.

GPS Imaging of Time-Dependent Seasonal Strain in Central California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraner, M.; Hammond, W. C.; Kreemer, C.; Borsa, A. A.; Blewitt, G.

2016-12-01

Recently, studies are suggesting that crustal deformation can be time-dependent and nontectonic. Continuous global positioning system (cGPS) measurements are now showing how steady long-term deformation can be influenced by factors such as fluctuations in loading and temperature variations. Here we model the seasonal time-dependent dilatational and shear strain in Central California, specifically surrounding the Parkfield region and try to uncover the sources of these deformation patterns. We use 8 years of cGPS data (2008 - 2016) processed by the Nevada Geodetic Laboratory and carefully select the cGPS stations for our analysis based on the vertical position of cGPS time series during the drought period. In building our strain model, we first detrend the selected station time series using a set of velocities from the robust MIDAS trend estimator. This estimation algorithm is a robust approach that is insensitive to common problems such as step discontinuities, outliers, and seasonality. We use these detrended time series to estimate the median cGPS positions for each month of the 8-year period and filter displacement differences between these monthly median positions using a filtering technique called "GPS Imaging." This technique improves the overall robustness and spatial resolution of the input displacements for the strain model. We then model our dilatational and shear strain field for each month of time series. We also test a variety of a priori constraints, which controls the style of faulting within the strain model. Upon examining our strain maps, we find that a seasonal strain signal exists in Central California. We investigate how this signal compares to thermoelastic, hydrologic, and atmospheric loading models during the 8-year period. We additionally determine whether the drought played a role in influencing the seasonal signal.

A Comparative Study of the Ionospheric TEC Measurements Using Global Ionospheric Maps of GPS, TOPEX Radar and the Bent Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ho, C.; Wilson, B.; Mannucci, A.; Lindqwister, U.; Yuan, D.

1997-01-01

Global ionospheric mapping (GIM) is a new, emerging technique for determining global ionospheric TEC (total electron content) based on measurements from a worldwide network of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers.

Global Positioning System Time Transfer Receiver (GPS/TTR) prototype design and initial test evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oaks, J.; Frank, A.; Falvey, S.; Lister, M.; Buisson, J.; Wardrip, C.; Warren, H.

1982-01-01

Time transfer equipment and techniques used with the Navigation Technology Satellites were modified and extended for use with the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. A prototype receiver was built and field tested. The receiver uses the GPS L1 link at 1575 MHz with C/A code only to resolve a measured range to the satellite. A theoretical range is computed from the satellite ephemeris transmitted in the data message and the user's coordinates. Results of user offset from GPS time are obtained by differencing the measured and theoretical ranges and applying calibration corrections. Results of the first field test evaluation of the receiver are presented.

On principles, methods and recent advances in studies towards a GPS-based control system for geodesy and geodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delikaraoglou, Demitris

1989-01-01

Although Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) are becoming increasingly important tools for geodynamic studies, their future role may well be fulfilled by using alternative techniques such as those utilizing the signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS, without the full implementation of the system, already offers a favorable combination of cost and accuracy and has consistently demonstrated the capability to provide high precision densification control in the regional and local areas of the VLBI and SLR networks. This report reviews VLBI and SLR vis-a-vis GPS and outlines the capabilities and limitations of each technique and how their complementary application can be of benefit to geodetic and geodynamic operations. It demonstrates, albeit with a limited data set, that dual-frequency GPS observations and interferometric type analysis techniques make possible the modelling of the GPS orbits for several days with an accuracy of a few meters. The use of VLBI or SLR sites as fiducial stations together with refinements in the orbit determination procedures can greatly reduce the systematic errors in the GPS satellite orbits used to compute the positions of non-fiducial locations. In general, repeatability and comparison with VLBI of the GPS determined locations are of the order of between 2 parts in 10 to the 7th power and 5 parts in 10 to the 8th power for baseline lengths less than 2000 km. This report is mainly a synthesis of problems, assumptions, methods and recent advances in the studies towards the establishment of a GPS-based system for geodesy and geodynamics and is one phase in the continuing effort for the development of such a system. To some, including the author, it seems reasonable to expect within the next few years that more evidence will show GPS to be as a powerful and reliable a tool as mobile VLBI and SLR are today, but largely more economical.

Accuracy improvement techniques in Precise Point Positioning method using multiple GNSS constellations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasileios Psychas, Dimitrios; Delikaraoglou, Demitris

2016-04-01

The future Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including modernized GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, offer three or more signal carriers for civilian use and much more redundant observables. The additional frequencies can significantly improve the capabilities of the traditional geodetic techniques based on GPS signals at two frequencies, especially with regard to the availability, accuracy, interoperability and integrity of high-precision GNSS applications. Furthermore, highly redundant measurements can allow for robust simultaneous estimation of static or mobile user states including more parameters such as real-time tropospheric biases and more reliable ambiguity resolution estimates. This paper presents an investigation and analysis of accuracy improvement techniques in the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) method using signals from the fully operational (GPS and GLONASS), as well as the emerging (Galileo and BeiDou) GNSS systems. The main aim was to determine the improvement in both the positioning accuracy achieved and the time convergence it takes to achieve geodetic-level (10 cm or less) accuracy. To this end, freely available observation data from the recent Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service, as well as the open source program RTKLIB were used. Following a brief background of the PPP technique and the scope of MGEX, the paper outlines the various observational scenarios that were used in order to test various data processing aspects of PPP solutions with multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS systems. Results from the processing of multi-GNSS observation data from selected permanent MGEX stations are presented and useful conclusions and recommendations for further research are drawn. As shown, data fusion from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou systems is becoming increasingly significant nowadays resulting in a position accuracy increase (mostly in the less favorable East direction) and a large reduction of convergence time in PPP static and kinematic solutions compared to GPS-only PPP solutions for various observational session durations. However, this is mostly observed when the visibility of Galileo and BeiDou satellites is substantially long within an observational session. In GPS-only cases dealing with data from high elevation cut-off angles, the number of GPS satellites decreases dramatically, leading to a position accuracy and convergence time deviating from satisfactory geodetic thresholds. By contrast, respective multi-GNSS PPP solutions not only show improvement, but also lead to geodetic level accuracies even in 30° elevation cut-off. Finally, the GPS ambiguity resolution in PPP processing is investigated using the GPS satellite wide-lane fractional cycle biases, which are included in the clock products by CNES. It is shown that their addition shortens the convergence time and increases the position accuracy of PPP solutions, especially in kinematic mode. Analogous improvement is obtained in respective multi-GNSS solutions, even though the GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou ambiguities remain float, since information about them is not provided in the clock products available to date.

Investigation of Models and Estimation Techniques for GPS Attitude Determination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrick, J.

1996-01-01

Much work has been done in the Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch (FDAB) in developing algorithms to met the new and growing field of attitude determination using the Global Positioning SYstem (GPS) constellation of satellites. Flight Dynamics has the responsibility to investigate any new technology and incorporate the innovations in the attitude ground support systems developed to support future missions. The work presented here is an investigative analysis that will produce the needed adaptation to allow the Flight Dynamics Support System (FDSS) to incorporate GPS phase measurements and produce observation measurements compatible with the FDSS. A simulator was developed to produce the necessary measurement data to test the models developed for the different estimation techniques used by FDAB. This paper gives an overview of the current modeling capabilities of the simulator models and algorithms for the adaptation of GPS measurement data and results from each of the estimation techniques. Future analysis efforts to evaluate the simulator and models against inflight GPS measurement data are also outlined.

Discrete filtering techniques applied to sequential GPS range measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vangraas, Frank

1987-01-01

The basic navigation solution is described for position and velocity based on range and delta range (Doppler) measurements from NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellites. The application of discrete filtering techniques is examined to reduce the white noise distortions on the sequential range measurements. A second order (position and velocity states) Kalman filter is implemented to obtain smoothed estimates of range by filtering the dynamics of the signal from each satellite separately. Test results using a simulated GPS receiver show a steady-state noise reduction, the input noise variance divided by the output noise variance, of a factor of four. Recommendations for further noise reduction based on higher order Kalman filters or additional delta range measurements are included.

Evaluation of Two Computational Techniques of Calculating Multipath Using Global Positioning System Carrier Phase Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gomez, Susan F.; Hood, Laura; Panneton, Robert J.; Saunders, Penny E.; Adkins, Antha; Hwu, Shian U.; Lu, Ba P.

1996-01-01

Two computational techniques are used to calculate differential phase errors on Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier war phase measurements due to certain multipath-producing objects. The two computational techniques are a rigorous computati electromagnetics technique called Geometric Theory of Diffraction (GTD) and the other is a simple ray tracing method. The GTD technique has been used successfully to predict microwave propagation characteristics by taking into account the dominant multipath components due to reflections and diffractions from scattering structures. The ray tracing technique only solves for reflected signals. The results from the two techniques are compared to GPS differential carrier phase ns taken on the ground using a GPS receiver in the presence of typical International Space Station (ISS) interference structures. The calculations produced using the GTD code compared to the measured results better than the ray tracing technique. The agreement was good, demonstrating that the phase errors due to multipath can be modeled and characterized using the GTD technique and characterized to a lesser fidelity using the DECAT technique. However, some discrepancies were observed. Most of the discrepancies occurred at lower devations and were either due to phase center deviations of the antenna, the background multipath environment, or the receiver itself. Selected measured and predicted differential carrier phase error results are presented and compared. Results indicate that reflections and diffractions caused by the multipath producers, located near the GPS antennas, can produce phase shifts of greater than 10 mm, and as high as 95 mm. It should be noted tl the field test configuration was meant to simulate typical ISS structures, but the two environments are not identical. The GZ and DECAT techniques have been used to calculate phase errors due to multipath o the ISS configuration to quantify the expected attitude determination errors.

A comparison of mapped and measured total ionospheric electron content using global positioning system and beacon satellite observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanyi, Gabor E.; Roth, Titus

1988-01-01

Total ionospheric electron contents (TEC) were measured by global positioning system (GPS) dual-frequency receivers developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The measurements included P-code (precise ranging code) and carrier phase data for six GPS satellites during multiple five-hour observing sessions. A set of these GPS TEC measurements were mapped from the GPS lines of sight to the line of sight of a Faraday beacon satellite by statistically fitting the TEC data to a simple model of the ionosphere. The mapped GPS TEC values were compared with the Faraday rotation measurements. Because GPS transmitter offsets are different for each satellite and because some GPS receiver offsets were uncalibrated, the sums of the satellite and receiver offsets were estimated simultaneously with the TEC in a least squares procedure. The accuracy of this estimation procedure is evaluated indicating that the error of the GPS-determined line of sight TEC can be at or below 1 x 10 to the 16th el/sq cm. Consequently, the current level of accuracy is comparable to the Faraday rotation technique; however, GPS provides superior sky coverage.

Remote Sensing the Thermal and Humidity Structure of the Earth's Atmosphere Using the GPS Radio Occultation Technique: Applications in Climate Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vergados, P.; Mannucci, A. J.; Ao, C. O.; Verkhoglyadova, O. P.; Iijima, B.

2017-12-01

This presentation introduces the fundamentals of the Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPS RO) remote sensing technique in retrieving atmospheric temperature and humidity information and presents the use of these observations in climate research. Our objective is to demonstrate and establish the GPS RO remote sensing technique as a complementary data set to existing state-of-the-art space-based platforms for climate studies. We show how GPS RO measurements at 1.2-1.6 GHz frequency band can be used to infer the upper tropospheric water vapor and temperature feedbacks and we present a decade-long specific humidity (SH) record from January 2007 until December 2015. We cross-compare the GPS RO-estimated climate feedbacks and the SH long-record with independent data sets from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim), and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument. These cross-comparisons serve as a performance guide for the GPS-RO observations with respect to other data sets by providing an independent measure of climate feedbacks and humidity short-term trends.

Techniques for information extraction from compressed GPS traces : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-12-31

Developing techniques for extracting information requires a good understanding of methods used to compress the traces. Many techniques for compressing trace data : consisting of position (i.e., latitude/longitude) and time values have been developed....

Codeless GPS Applications to Multi-Path: CGAMP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macdoran, P. F.; Miller, R. B.; Jenkins, D.; Lemmon, J.; Gold, K.; Schreiner, W.; Snyder, G.

1990-01-01

Cordless Global Positioning System (GPS) Applications to Multi-Path (CGAMP) is meeting the challenge of exploiting the L-band signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites for the measurement of the impulse response of radio transmission channels over space-Earth paths. This approach was originally suggested by E. K. Smith and has been pursued by J. Lemmon, without an affordable implementation being identifiable. In addition to the high cost of a suitable P code correlating GPS receiver, there is also the major impediment of the often announced Department of Defense policy of selective availability/anti-spoof (SA/AS) that clouds reliable access to the wideband (20 MHz) P channel of the GPS signals without cryptographic access. A technique proposed by MacDoran utilizes codeless methods for exploiting the P channel signals implemented by the use of a pair of antennas and cross correlation signal detection.

Improving CAR Navigation with a Vision-Based System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H.; Choi, K.; Lee, I.

2015-08-01

The real-time acquisition of the accurate positions is very important for the proper operations of driver assistance systems or autonomous vehicles. Since the current systems mostly depend on a GPS and map-matching technique, they show poor and unreliable performance in blockage and weak areas of GPS signals. In this study, we propose a vision oriented car navigation method based on sensor fusion with a GPS and in-vehicle sensors. We employed a single photo resection process to derive the position and attitude of the camera and thus those of the car. This image georeferencing results are combined with other sensory data under the sensor fusion framework for more accurate estimation of the positions using an extended Kalman filter. The proposed system estimated the positions with an accuracy of 15 m although GPS signals are not available at all during the entire test drive of 15 minutes. The proposed vision based system can be effectively utilized for the low-cost but high-accurate and reliable navigation systems required for intelligent or autonomous vehicles.

Improving Car Navigation with a Vision-Based System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H.; Choi, K.; Lee, I.

2015-08-01

The real-time acquisition of the accurate positions is very important for the proper operations of driver assistance systems or autonomous vehicles. Since the current systems mostly depend on a GPS and map-matching technique, they show poor and unreliable performance in blockage and weak areas of GPS signals. In this study, we propose a vision oriented car navigation method based on sensor fusion with a GPS and in-vehicle sensors. We employed a single photo resection process to derive the position and attitude of the camera and thus those of the car. This image georeferencing results are combined with other sensory data under the sensor fusion framework for more accurate estimation of the positions using an extended Kalman filter. The proposed system estimated the positions with an accuracy of 15 m although GPS signals are not available at all during the entire test drive of 15 minutes. The proposed vision based system can be effectively utilized for the low-cost but high-accurate and reliable navigation systems required for intelligent or autonomous vehicles.

Accuracy assessment of high-rate GPS measurements for seismology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elosegui, P.; Davis, J. L.; Ekström, G.

2007-12-01

Analysis of GPS measurements with a controlled laboratory system, built to simulate the ground motions caused by tectonic earthquakes and other transient geophysical signals such as glacial earthquakes, enables us to assess the technique of high-rate GPS. The root-mean-square (rms) position error of this system when undergoing realistic simulated seismic motions is 0.05~mm, with maximum position errors of 0.1~mm, thus providing "ground truth" GPS displacements. We have acquired an extensive set of high-rate GPS measurements while inducing seismic motions on a GPS antenna mounted on this system with a temporal spectrum similar to real seismic events. We found that, for a particular 15-min-long test event, the rms error of the 1-Hz GPS position estimates was 2.5~mm, with maximum position errors of 10~mm, and the error spectrum of the GPS estimates was approximately flicker noise. These results may however represent a best-case scenario since they were obtained over a short (~10~m) baseline, thereby greatly mitigating baseline-dependent errors, and when the number and distribution of satellites on the sky was good. For example, we have determined that the rms error can increase by a factor of 2--3 as the GPS constellation changes throughout the day, with an average value of 3.5~mm for eight identical, hourly-spaced, consecutive test events. The rms error also increases with increasing baseline, as one would expect, with an average rms error for a ~1400~km baseline of 9~mm. We will present an assessment of the accuracy of high-rate GPS based on these measurements, discuss the implications of this study for seismology, and describe new applications in glaciology.

Improved treatment of global positioning system force parameters in precise orbit determination applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vigue, Y.; Lichten, S. M.; Muellerschoen, R. J.; Blewitt, G.; Heflin, M. B.

1993-01-01

Data collected from a worldwide 1992 experiment were processed at JPL to determine precise orbits for the satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). A filtering technique was tested to improve modeling of solar-radiation pressure force parameters for GPS satellites. The new approach improves orbit quality for eclipsing satellites by a factor of two, with typical results in the 25- to 50-cm range. The resultant GPS-based estimates for geocentric coordinates of the tracking sites, which include the three DSN sites, are accurate to 2 to 8 cm, roughly equivalent to 3 to 10 nrad of angular measure.

Precise estimation of tropospheric path delays with GPS techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lichten, S. M.

1990-01-01

Tropospheric path delays are a major source of error in deep space tracking. However, the tropospheric-induced delay at tracking sites can be calibrated using measurements of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. A series of experiments has demonstrated the high sensitivity of GPS to tropospheric delays. A variety of tests and comparisons indicates that current accuracy of the GPS zenith tropospheric delay estimates is better than 1-cm root-mean-square over many hours, sampled continuously at intervals of six minutes. These results are consistent with expectations from covariance analyses. The covariance analyses also indicate that by the mid-1990s, when the GPS constellation is complete and the Deep Space Network is equipped with advanced GPS receivers, zenith tropospheric delay accuracy with GPS will improve further to 0.5 cm or better.

Differential GPS for air transport: Status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hueschen, Richard M.

1993-01-01

The presentation presents background on what the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is, desired target dates for initial GNSS capabilities for aircraft operations, and a description of differential GPS (Global Positioning System). The presentation also presents an overview of joint flight tests conducted by LaRC and Honeywell on an integrated differential GPS/inertial reference unit (IRU) navigation system. The overview describes the system tested and the results of the flight tests. The last item presented is an overview of a current grant with Ohio University from LaRC which has the goal of developing a precision DGPS navigation system based on interferometry techniques. The fundamentals of GPS interferometry are presented and its application to determine attitude and heading and precision positioning are shown. The presentation concludes with the current status of the grant.

A Kalman Filter Implementation for Precision Improvement in Low-Cost GPS Positioning of Tractors

PubMed Central

Gomez-Gil, Jaime; Ruiz-Gonzalez, Ruben; Alonso-Garcia, Sergio; Gomez-Gil, Francisco Javier

2013-01-01

Low-cost GPS receivers provide geodetic positioning information using the NMEA protocol, usually with eight digits for latitude and nine digits for longitude. When these geodetic coordinates are converted into Cartesian coordinates, the positions fit in a quantization grid of some decimeters in size, the dimensions of which vary depending on the point of the terrestrial surface. The aim of this study is to reduce the quantization errors of some low-cost GPS receivers by using a Kalman filter. Kinematic tractor model equations were employed to particularize the filter, which was tuned by applying Monte Carlo techniques to eighteen straight trajectories, to select the covariance matrices that produced the lowest Root Mean Square Error in these trajectories. Filter performance was tested by using straight tractor paths, which were either simulated or real trajectories acquired by a GPS receiver. The results show that the filter can reduce the quantization error in distance by around 43%. Moreover, it reduces the standard deviation of the heading by 75%. Data suggest that the proposed filter can satisfactorily preprocess the low-cost GPS receiver data when used in an assistance guidance GPS system for tractors. It could also be useful to smooth tractor GPS trajectories that are sharpened when the tractor moves over rough terrain. PMID:24217355

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

PubMed Central

Tomkiewicz, Stanley M.; Fuller, Mark R.; Kie, John G.; Bates, Kirk K.

2010-01-01

Biologists can equip animals with global positioning system (GPS) technology to obtain accurate (less than or equal to 30 m) locations that can be combined with sensor data to study animal behaviour and ecology. We provide the background of GPS techniques that have been used to gather data for wildlife studies. We review how GPS has been integrated into functional systems with data storage, data transfer, power supplies, packaging and sensor technologies to collect temperature, activity, proximity and mortality data from terrestrial species and birds. GPS ‘rapid fixing’ technologies combined with sensors provide location, dive frequency and duration profiles, and underwater acoustic information for the study of marine species. We examine how these rapid fixing technologies may be applied to terrestrial and avian applications. We discuss positional data quality and the capability for high-frequency sampling associated with GPS locations. We present alternatives for storing and retrieving data by using dataloggers (biologging), radio-frequency download systems (e.g. very high frequency, spread spectrum), integration of GPS with other satellite systems (e.g. Argos, Globalstar) and potential new data recovery technologies (e.g. network nodes). GPS is one component among many rapidly evolving technologies. Therefore, we recommend that users and suppliers interact to ensure the availability of appropriate equipment to meet animal research objectives. PMID:20566494

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tomkiewicz, Stanley M.; Fuller, Mark R.; Kie, John G.; Bates, Kirk K.

2010-01-01

Biologists can equip animals with global positioning system (GPS) technology to obtain accurate (less than or equal to 30 m) locations that can be combined with sensor data to study animal behaviour and ecology. We provide the background of GPS techniques that have been used to gather data for wildlife studies. We review how GPS has been integrated into functional systems with data storage, data transfer, power supplies, packaging and sensor technologies to collect temperature, activity, proximity and mortality data from terrestrial species and birds. GPS 'rapid fixing' technologies combined with sensors provide location, dive frequency and duration profiles, and underwater acoustic information for the study of marine species. We examine how these rapid fixing technologies may be applied to terrestrial and avian applications. We discuss positional data quality and the capability for high-frequency sampling associated with GPS locations. We present alternatives for storing and retrieving data by using dataloggers (biologging), radio-frequency download systems (e.g. very high frequency, spread spectrum), integration of GPS with other satellite systems (e.g. Argos, Globalstar) and potential new data recovery technologies (e.g. network nodes). GPS is one component among many rapidly evolving technologies. Therefore, we recommend that users and suppliers interact to ensure the availability of appropriate equipment to meet animal research objectives.

Study of TEC and foF2 with the Help of GPS and Ionosonde Data over Maitri, Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khatarkar, Prakash; Gwal, Ashok Kumar

Prakash Khatarkar, Purusottam Bhaware, Azad Ahmad Mansoori, Varsha Kachneria, Shweta Thakur, and A. K. Gwal Abstract The behavior of ionosphere can be diagnosed by a number of techniques. The common techniques used are the space based Global Positioning System and the ground based Ionosonde. We have compared the variability of ionospheric parameters by using two different techniques GPS and Ionosonde, during December 2009 to November 2010 at the Indian base station Maitri (11.45E, 70.45S). The comparison between the measurements of two techniques was realized through the Total Electron Content (TEC) parameters derived by using different methods. The comparison was made diurnally, seasonally, polar day and polar night variations and the annually. From our analysis we found that a strong correlation exists between the GPS derived TEC and Ionosonde derived foF2 during the day period while during the night time the correlation is insignificant. At the same time we found that a strong correlation exists between the Ionosonde and GPS derived TEC. The pattern of variation of ionospheric parameters derived from two techniques is strikingly similar indicating that the high degree of synchronization between them. This has a practical applicability by allowing calculating the error in one technique by comparing with other. Keywords: Ionosphere, Ionosonde, GPS, foF2, TEC.

Evaluation of Airborne Remote Sensing Techniques for Predicting the Distribution of Energetic Compounds on Impact Areas

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-08-01

GPS) antennas. A fluxgate magnetometer is mounted in the forward assembly to compensate for the magnetic signature of the aircraft. A laser...recorded digitally on the ORAGS™ console (Figure 5) inside the helicopter in a binary format. The magnetometers are sampled at a 1200-Hz sample rate and...GPS. Accurate positioning requires a correction for this lag. Time lags among the magnetometers , fluxgate , and GPS signals were measured by a

Accuracy Enhancement of Inertial Sensors Utilizing High Resolution Spectral Analysis

PubMed Central

Noureldin, Aboelmagd; Armstrong, Justin; El-Shafie, Ahmed; Karamat, Tashfeen; McGaughey, Don; Korenberg, Michael; Hussain, Aini

2012-01-01

In both military and civilian applications, the inertial navigation system (INS) and the global positioning system (GPS) are two complementary technologies that can be integrated to provide reliable positioning and navigation information for land vehicles. The accuracy enhancement of INS sensors and the integration of INS with GPS are the subjects of widespread research. Wavelet de-noising of INS sensors has had limited success in removing the long-term (low-frequency) inertial sensor errors. The primary objective of this research is to develop a novel inertial sensor accuracy enhancement technique that can remove both short-term and long-term error components from inertial sensor measurements prior to INS mechanization and INS/GPS integration. A high resolution spectral analysis technique called the fast orthogonal search (FOS) algorithm is used to accurately model the low frequency range of the spectrum, which includes the vehicle motion dynamics and inertial sensor errors. FOS models the spectral components with the most energy first and uses an adaptive threshold to stop adding frequency terms when fitting a term does not reduce the mean squared error more than fitting white noise. The proposed method was developed, tested and validated through road test experiments involving both low-end tactical grade and low cost MEMS-based inertial systems. The results demonstrate that in most cases the position accuracy during GPS outages using FOS de-noised data is superior to the position accuracy using wavelet de-noising.

A GPS measurement system for precise satellite tracking and geodesy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yunck, T. P.; Wu, S.-C.; Lichten, S. M.

1985-01-01

NASA is pursuing two key applications of differential positioning with the Global Positioning System (GPS): sub-decimeter tracking of earth satellites and few-centimeter determination of ground-fixed baselines. Key requirements of the two applications include the use of dual-frequency carrier phase data, multiple ground receivers to serve as reference points, simultaneous solution for use position and GPS orbits, and calibration of atmospheric delays using water vapor radiometers. Sub-decimeter tracking will be first demonstrated on the TOPEX oceanographic satellite to be launched in 1991. A GPS flight receiver together with at least six ground receivers will acquire delta range data from the GPS carriers for non-real-time analysis. Altitude accuracies of 5 to 10 cm are expected. For baseline measurements, efforts will be made to obtain precise differential pseudorange by resolving the cycle ambiguity in differential carrier phase. This could lead to accuracies of 2 or 3 cm over a few thousand kilometers. To achieve this, a high-performance receiver is being developed, along with improved calibration and data processing techniques. Demonstrations may begin in 1986.

Reduced variability and execution time to reach a target with a needle GPS system: Comparison between physicians, residents and nurse anaesthetists.

PubMed

Fevre, Marie-Cécile; Vincent, Caroline; Picard, Julien; Vighetti, Arnaud; Chapuis, Claire; Detavernier, Maxime; Allenet, Benoît; Payen, Jean-François; Bosson, Jean-Luc; Albaladejo, Pierre

2018-02-01

Ultrasound (US) guided needle positioning is safer than anatomical landmark techniques for central venous access. Hand-eye coordination and execution time depend on the professional's ability, previous training and personal skills. Needle guidance positioning systems (GPS) may theoretically reduce execution time and facilitate needle positioning in specific targets, thus improving patient comfort and safety. Three groups of healthcare professionals (41 anaesthesiologists and intensivists, 41 residents in anaesthesiology and intensive care, 39 nurse anaesthetists) were included and required to perform 3 tasks (positioning the tip of a needle in three different targets in a silicon phantom) by using successively a conventional US-guided needle positioning and a needle GPS. We measured execution times to perform the tasks, hand-eye coordination and the number of repositioning occurrences or errors in handling the needle or the probe. Without the GPS system, we observed a significant inter-individual difference for execution time (P<0.05), hand-eye coordination and the number of errors/needle repositioning between physicians, residents and nurse anaesthetists. US training and video gaming were found to be independent factors associated with a shorter execution time. Use of GPS attenuated the inter-individual and group variability. We observed a reduced execution time and improved hand-eye coordination in all groups as compared to US without GPS. Neither US training, video gaming nor demographic personal or professional factors were found to be significantly associated with reduced execution time when GPS was used. US associated with GPS systems may improve safety and decrease execution time by reducing inter-individual variability between professionals for needle-handling procedures. Copyright © 2016 Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Comparison of a novel real-time SonixGPS needle-tracking ultrasound technique with traditional ultrasound for vascular access in a phantom gel model.

PubMed

Kopac, Daniel S; Chen, Jerry; Tang, Raymond; Sawka, Andrew; Vaghadia, Himat

2013-09-01

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous vascular access for endovascular procedures is well established in surgical practice. Despite this, rates of complications from venous and arterial access procedures remain a significant cause of morbidity. We hypothesized that the use of a new technique of vascular access using an ultrasound with a novel needle-guidance positioning system (GPS) would lead to improved success rates of vascular puncture for both in-plane and out-of-plane techniques compared with traditional ultrasound. A prospective, randomized crossover study of medical students from all years of medical school was conducted using a phantom gel model. Each medical student performed three ultrasound-guided punctures with each of the four modalities (in-plane no GPS, in-plane with GPS, out-of-plane no GPS, out-of-plane with GPS) for a total of 12 attempts. The success or failure was judged by the ability to aspirate a simulated blood solution from the model. The time to successful puncture was also recorded. A poststudy validated NASA Task Load Index workload questionnaire was conducted to assess the student's perceptions of the two different techniques. A total of 30 students completed the study. There was no significant difference seen in the mean times of vascular access for each of the modalities. Higher success rates for vascular access using the GPS for both the in-plane (94% vs 91%) and the out-of-plane (86% vs 70%) views were observed; however, this was not statistically significant. The students perceived the mental demand (median 12.0 vs 14.00; P = .035) and effort to be lower (mean 11.25 vs 14.00; P = .044) as well as the performance to be higher (mean 15.50 vs 14.00; P = .041) for the GPS vs the traditional ultrasound-guided technique. Students also perceived their ability to access vessels increased with the aid of the GPS (7.00 vs 6.50; P = .007). The majority of students expressed a preference for GPS (26/30, 87%) as opposed to the traditional counterpart. Use of the novel SonixGPS needle-tracking ultrasound system (UltraSonix, Richmond, BC, Canada) was not associated with a higher success rate of vascular puncture compared with the traditional ultrasound-guided technique. Assessment of mental task load significantly favored the use of the ultrasound GPS over the traditional ultrasound technique. Copyright © 2013 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Laser, GPS and absolute gravimetry vertical positioning time series comparison at the OCA observatory, France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolas, J.; Nocquet, J.; van Camp, M.; Coulot, D.

2003-12-01

Time-dependent displacements of stations usually have magnitude close to the accuracy of each individual technique, and it still remains difficult to separate the true geophysical motion from possible artifacts inherent to each space geodetic technique. The Observatoire de la C“te d'Azur (OCA), located at Grasse, France benefits from the collocation of several geodetic instruments and techniques (3 laser ranging stations, and a permanent GPS) what allows us to do a direct comparison of the time series. Moreover, absolute gravimetry measurement campaigns have also been regularly performed since 1997, first by the "Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (EOST) of Strasbourg, France, and more recently by the Royal Observatory of Belgium. This study presents a comparison between the positioning time series of the vertical component derived from the SLR and GPS analysis with the gravimetric results from 1997 to 2003. The laser station coordinates are based on a LAGEOS -1 and -2 combined solution using reference 10-day arc orbits, the ITRF2000 reference frame, and the IERS96 conventions. Different GPS weekly global solutions provided from several IGS are combined and compared to the SLR results. The absolute gravimetry measurements are converted into vertical displacements with a classical gradient. The laser time series indicate a strong annual signal at the level of about 3-4 cm peak to peak amplitude on the vertical component. Absolute gravimetry data agrees with the SLR results. GPS positioning solutions also indicate a significant annual term, but with a magnitude of only 50% of the one shown by the SLR solution and by the gravimetry measurements. Similar annual terms are also observed on other SLR sites we processed, but usually with! lower and various amplitudes. These annual signals are also compared to vertical positioning variations corresponding to an atmospheric loading model. We present the level of agreement between the different techniques and we discuss possible explanations for the discrepancy noted between the signals. At last, we expose explanations for the large annual term at Grasse: These annual variations could be partly due to an hydrological loading effect on the karstic massif on which the observatory is located.

Preliminary Comparison of Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer and GPS Common-View Time Transfer During the INTELSAT Field Trial

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, John A.; Lewandowski, W.; DeYoung, James A.; Kirchner, Dieter; Hetzel, Peter; deJong, Gerrit; Soering, A.; Baumont, F.; Klepczynski, William; McKinley, Angela Davis;

A Leo Satellite Navigation Algorithm Based on GPS and Magnetometer Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deutschmann, Julie; Harman, Rick; Bar-Itzhack, Itzhack

2001-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become a standard method for low cost onboard satellite orbit determination. The use of a GPS receiver as an attitude and rate sensor has also been developed in the recent past. Additionally, focus has been given to attitude and orbit estimation using the magnetometer, a low cost, reliable sensor. Combining measurements from both GPS and a magnetometer can provide a robust navigation system that takes advantage of the estimation qualities of both measurements. Ultimately, a low cost, accurate navigation system can result, potentially eliminating the need for more costly sensors, including gyroscopes. This work presents the development of a technique to eliminate numerical differentiation of the GPS phase measurements and also compares the use of one versus two GPS satellites.

Determination of GPS orbits to submeter accuracy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertiger, W. I.; Lichten, S. M.; Katsigris, E. C.

1988-01-01

Orbits for satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) were determined with submeter accuracy. Tests used to assess orbital accuracy include orbit comparisons from independent data sets, orbit prediction, ground baseline determination, and formal errors. One satellite tracked 8 hours each day shows rms error below 1 m even when predicted more than 3 days outside of a 1-week data arc. Differential tracking of the GPS satellites in high Earth orbit provides a powerful relative positioning capability, even when a relatively small continental U.S. fiducial tracking network is used with less than one-third of the full GPS constellation. To demonstrate this capability, baselines of up to 2000 km in North America were also determined with the GPS orbits. The 2000 km baselines show rms daily repeatability of 0.3 to 2 parts in 10 to the 8th power and agree with very long base interferometry (VLBI) solutions at the level of 1.5 parts in 10 to the 8th power. This GPS demonstration provides an opportunity to test different techniques for high-accuracy orbit determination for high Earth orbiters. The best GPS orbit strategies included data arcs of at least 1 week, process noise models for tropospheric fluctuations, estimation of GPS solar pressure coefficients, and combine processing of GPS carrier phase and pseudorange data. For data arc of 2 weeks, constrained process noise models for GPS dynamic parameters significantly improved the situation.

Simulating GPS radio signal to synchronize network--a new technique for redundant timing.

PubMed

Shan, Qingxiao; Jun, Yang; Le Floch, Jean-Michel; Fan, Yaohui; Ivanov, Eugene N; Tobar, Michael E

2014-07-01

Currently, many distributed systems such as 3G mobile communications and power systems are time synchronized with a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. If there is a GPS failure, it is difficult to realize redundant timing, and thus time-synchronized devices may fail. In this work, we develop time transfer by simulating GPS signals, which promises no extra modification to original GPS-synchronized devices. This is achieved by applying a simplified GPS simulator for synchronization purposes only. Navigation data are calculated based on a pre-assigned time at a fixed position. Pseudo-range data which describes the distance change between the space vehicle (SV) and users are calculated. Because real-time simulation requires heavy-duty computations, we use self-developed software optimized on a PC to generate data, and save the data onto memory disks while the simulator is operating. The radio signal generation is similar to the SV at an initial position, and the frequency synthesis of the simulator is locked to a pre-assigned time. A filtering group technique is used to simulate the signal transmission delay corresponding to the SV displacement. Each SV generates a digital baseband signal, where a unique identifying code is added to the signal and up-converted to generate the output radio signal at the centered frequency of 1575.42 MHz (L1 band). A prototype with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) has been built and experiments have been conducted to prove that we can realize time transfer. The prototype has been applied to the CDMA network for a three-month long experiment. Its precision has been verified and can meet the requirements of most telecommunication systems.

Comparison of Three Wind Measuring Systems for Flight Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teets, Edward H., Jr.; Harvey, Philip O.

2000-01-01

A preliminary field test of the accuracy of wind velocity measurements obtained using global positioning system-tracked rawinsonde balloons has been performed. Wind comparisons have been conducted using global positioning system (GPS) and radio automatic theodolite sounder (RATS) rawinsondes and a high-precision range instrumentation radar-tracked reflector. Wind velocity differences between the GPS rawinsondes and the radar were significantly less than between the RATS rawinsondes and the radar. These limited test results indicate a root-mean-square wind velocity difference from 4.98 kn (2.56 m/sec) for the radar and RATS to 1.09 kn (0.56 m/sec) for the radar and GPS. Differences are influenced by user reporting requirements, data processing techniques, and the inherent tracking accuracies of the system. This brief field test indicates that the GPS sounding system tracking data are more precise than the RATS system. When high-resolution wind data are needed, use of GPS rawinsonde systems can reduce the burden on range radar operations.

An Improved Map-Matching Technique Based on the Fréchet Distance Approach for Pedestrian Navigation Services

PubMed Central

Bang, Yoonsik; Kim, Jiyoung; Yu, Kiyun

2016-01-01

Wearable and smartphone technology innovations have propelled the growth of Pedestrian Navigation Services (PNS). PNS need a map-matching process to project a user’s locations onto maps. Many map-matching techniques have been developed for vehicle navigation services. These techniques are inappropriate for PNS because pedestrians move, stop, and turn in different ways compared to vehicles. In addition, the base map data for pedestrians are more complicated than for vehicles. This article proposes a new map-matching method for locating Global Positioning System (GPS) trajectories of pedestrians onto road network datasets. The theory underlying this approach is based on the Fréchet distance, one of the measures of geometric similarity between two curves. The Fréchet distance approach can provide reasonable matching results because two linear trajectories are parameterized with the time variable. Then we improved the method to be adaptive to the positional error of the GPS signal. We used an adaptation coefficient to adjust the search range for every input signal, based on the assumption of auto-correlation between consecutive GPS points. To reduce errors in matching, the reliability index was evaluated in real time for each match. To test the proposed map-matching method, we applied it to GPS trajectories of pedestrians and the road network data. We then assessed the performance by comparing the results with reference datasets. Our proposed method performed better with test data when compared to a conventional map-matching technique for vehicles. PMID:27782091

Comparative analysis of positioning and zenith total delay retrieval using GPS-, GLONASS-only, and GPS/GLONASS combined precise point positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Feng; Li, Xingxing; Cai, Miaomiao; Chen, Wen; Dong, Danan; Schuh, Harald

2017-04-01

Since October 2011, the Russian GLONASS has been revitalized and is now fully operational with 24 satellites in orbit. It is critical to assess the benefits and problems of using GLONASS observations (i.e. GLONASS-only or combined GPS/GLONASS) for precise positioning and zenith total delay (ZTD) retrieval on a global scale using the precise point positioning (PPP) technique. In this contribution, extensive evaluations are conducted with GNSS data sets collected from 251 globally distributed stations of the International GNSS Service (IGS) network in July 2016. The stations are divided into 30 groups by antenna/radome types to investigate whether there are antenna/radome-dependent biases in position and ZTD results derived from GLONASS-only PPP. The positioning results do not show obvious antenna/radome-dependent biases except the stations with JAV_RINGANT_G3T/NONE. The averaged biases of the stations with JAV_RINGANT_G3T/NONE in horizontal component especially in north component can even achieve -9.0 mm. The standard deviation (STD) and root mean square (RMS) are used as indicators of positioning repeatability and accuracy, respectively. Compared with GPS-only PPP, smaller averaged STD and RMS values of GLONASS-only PPP are achieved in horizontal component, while larger ones in vertical component. Furthermore, the STD and RMS values of GPS/GLONASS combined PPP solutions are the smallest in horizontal and vertical components, indicating that adding GLONASS observations can achieve better positioning performance than GPS-only PPP. Meanwhile, better positioning repeatability and accuracy are found in north component than that in east component, which may be caused by the configuration of GNSS satellite orbit. With respect to GPS-only PPP-derived ZTD, the ZTD biases, accuracy, and correlation derived from GLONASS-only and GPS/GLONASS PPP solutions are antenna/radome-independent, while the biases and accuracy are slightly latitude- or Geometric Dilution of Precisions (GDOP)-dependent, as well as the ZTD correlation are highly latitude- or GDOP-dependent. We also studied the impact of the chosen elevation cutoff angles on the positioning and ZTD retrieval. GLONASS-only PPP is found more sensitive with the elevation cutoff angles than GPS-only PPP.

A Mobile GPS Application: Mosque Tracking with Prayer Time Synchronization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashim, Rathiah; Ikhmatiar, Mohammad Sibghotulloh; Surip, Miswan; Karmin, Masiri; Herawan, Tutut

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a popular technology applied in many areas and embedded in many devices, facilitating end-users to navigate effectively to user's intended destination via the best calculated route. The ability of GPS to track precisely according to coordinates of specific locations can be utilized to assist a Muslim traveler visiting or passing an unfamiliar place to find the nearest mosque in order to perform his prayer. However, not many techniques have been proposed for Mosque tracking. This paper presents the development of GPS technology in tracking the nearest mosque using mobile application software embedded with the prayer time's synchronization system on a mobile application. The prototype GPS system developed has been successfully incorporated with a map and several mosque locations.

Reconstructing 3D coastal cliffs from airborne oblique photographs without ground control points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewez, T. J. B.

2014-05-01

Coastal cliff collapse hazard assessment requires measuring cliff face topography at regular intervals. Terrestrial laser scanner techniques have proven useful so far but are expensive to use either through purchasing the equipment or through survey subcontracting. In addition, terrestrial laser surveys take time which is sometimes incompatible with the time during with the beach is accessible at low-tide. By comparison, structure from motion techniques (SFM) are much less costly to implement, and if airborne, acquisition of several kilometers of coastline can be done in a matter of minutes. In this paper, the potential of GPS-tagged oblique airborne photographs and SFM techniques is examined to reconstruct chalk cliff dense 3D point clouds without Ground Control Points (GCP). The focus is put on comparing the relative 3D point of views reconstructed by Visual SFM with their synchronous Solmeta Geotagger Pro2 GPS locations using robust estimators. With a set of 568 oblique photos, shot from the open door of an airplane with a triplet of synchronized Nikon D7000, GPS and SFM-determined view point coordinates converge to X: ±31.5 m; Y: ±39.7 m; Z: ±13.0 m (LE66). Uncertainty in GPS position affects the model scale, angular attitude of the reference frame (the shoreline ends up tilted by 2°) and absolute positioning. Ground Control Points cannot be avoided to orient such models.

Error Analysis System for Spacecraft Navigation Using the Global Positioning System (GPS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, S. H.; Hart, R. C.; Hartman, K. R.; Tomcsik, T. L.; Searl, J. E.; Bernstein, A.

1997-01-01

The Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is currently developing improved space-navigation filtering algorithms to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) for autonomous real-time onboard orbit determination. In connection with a GPS technology demonstration on the Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI)/Lewis spacecraft, FDD analysts and programmers have teamed with the GSFC Guidance, Navigation, and Control Branch to develop the GPS Enhanced Orbit Determination Experiment (GEODE) system. The GEODE system consists of a Kalman filter operating as a navigation tool for estimating the position, velocity, and additional states required to accurately navigate the orbiting Lewis spacecraft by using astrodynamic modeling and GPS measurements from the receiver. A parallel effort at the FDD is the development of a GPS Error Analysis System (GEAS) that will be used to analyze and improve navigation filtering algorithms during development phases and during in-flight calibration. For GEAS, the Kalman filter theory is extended to estimate the errors in position, velocity, and other error states of interest. The estimation of errors in physical variables at regular intervals will allow the time, cause, and effect of navigation system weaknesses to be identified. In addition, by modeling a sufficient set of navigation system errors, a system failure that causes an observed error anomaly can be traced and accounted for. The GEAS software is formulated using Object Oriented Design (OOD) techniques implemented in the C++ programming language on a Sun SPARC workstation. The Phase 1 of this effort is the development of a basic system to be used to evaluate navigation algorithms implemented in the GEODE system. This paper presents the GEAS mathematical methodology, systems and operations concepts, and software design and implementation. Results from the use of the basic system to evaluate navigation algorithms implemented on GEODE are also discussed. In addition, recommendations for generalization of GEAS functions and for new techniques to optimize the accuracy and control of the GPS autonomous onboard navigation are presented.

GNSS Monitoring of Deformation within heavy civil infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montillet, Jean-Philippe; Melbourne, Timothy; Szeliga, Walter; Schrock, Gavin

2015-04-01

The steady increase in precision simultaneous with the decreasing of continuous GPS monitoring has enabled the deployment of receivers for a host of new activities. Here we discuss the precision obtained from several multi-station installations operated over a five-year period on several heavy civil-engineered structures, including two earthen-fill dams and subsiding highway overpass damaged by seismic shaking. In the past 5 years, the Cascadia Hazards Institute (Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array) at Central Washington University together with the Washington department of public utilities (Land Survey) have been monitoring several structures around Seattle area including two dams (Howard Hansen and Tolt). One aim of this study is to test the use of continuous GNSS in order to detect any deformations due to rapid pool level rises or to monitor the safety of a structure when an Earthquake strikes it. In this study, data is processed using Real Time Kinematic GPS with short baseline (d < 500 m) and GPS daily position (PPP). However, multipath is the most limiting factor on accuracy for very precise positioning applications with GPS. It is very often present indoors and outdoors, especially in narrow valleys with a limited view of the sky. As a result, multipath can amount to an error of a few centimetres. Unfortunately, the accuracy requirements of precision deformation monitoring are generally at the sub centimetre level, which is presently a big challenge on an epoch-by-epoch basis with regular, carrier phase techniques. Thus, it needs to be properly mitigated. In this study, several stations are set up on the dams (4 stations on the Tolt reservoir and 10 stations on the Howard Hansen dam), and spatial filtering can then be used to mitigate multipath. In addition, several signal processing techniques are also investigated (i.e. Empirical mode decomposition, sidereal filtering, adaptive filtering). RTK GPS should allow to monitor rapid deformations, whereas GPS daily position is used to detect long-term deformations such as the pool level rises due to the melting of ice cap on surrounding mountains. Note that RTK measurements are processed with the MIT software TRACK and the GPS daily positions estimated with GAMIT-GLOBK.

Cesium and Rubidium Frequency Standards Status and Performance on the GPS Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

VanMelle, M. J.

1996-01-01

This paper is an update of the on-orbit operational performance of the frequency standards on the last Block 1 Navstar satellite (GPS-10), the complete Block 2 Navstar satellites (GPS-13 to 21) and the Block 2A Navstar (GPS-22 to 40) satellites. Since the status of the GPS constellation is now at full operational capability (FOC), a minimum of twenty-four satellites are in position with all the necessary tests successfully completed. The evolution of frequency standards on board the GPS vehicles will be presented with corresponding results. Various methods and techniques will be presented to show on-orbit life time, down time, state of health telemetry, on-orbit trending and characterization of all the frequency standards. Other topics such as reliability, stability, clock quirks and idiosyncrasies of each vehicle will be covered.

Vertical land motion along the coast of Louisiana: Integrating satellite altimetry, tide gauge and GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixon, T. H.; A Karegar, M.; Uebbing, B.; Kusche, J.; Fenoglio-Marc, L.

2017-12-01

Coastal Louisiana is experiencing the highest rate of relative sea-level rise in North America due to the combination of sea-level rise and subsidence of the deltaic plain. The land subsidence in this region is studied using various techniques, with continuous GPS site providing high temporal resolution. Here, we use high resolution tide-gauge data and advanced processing of satellite altimetry to derive vertical displacements time series at NOAA tide-gauge stations along the coast (Figure 1). We apply state-of-the-art retracking techniques to process raw altimetry data, allowing high accuracy on range measurements close to the coast. Data from Jason-1, -2 and -3, Envisat, Saral and Cryosat-2 are used, corrected for solid Earth tide, pole tide and tidal ocean loading, using background models consistent with the GPS processing technique. We reprocess the available GPS data using precise point positioning and estimate the rate uncertainty accounting for correlated noise. The displacement time series are derived by directly subtracting tide-gauge data from the altimetry sea-level anomaly data. The quality of the derived displacement rates is evaluated in Grand Isle, Amerada Pass and Shell Beach where GPS data are available adjacent to the tide gauges. We use this technique to infer vertical displacement at tide gauges in New Orleans (New Canal Station) and Port Fourchon and Southwest Pass along the coastline.

Road Traffic Anomaly Detection via Collaborative Path Inference from GPS Snippets

PubMed Central

Wang, Hongtao; Wen, Hui; Yi, Feng; Zhu, Hongsong; Sun, Limin

2017-01-01

Road traffic anomaly denotes a road segment that is anomalous in terms of traffic flow of vehicles. Detecting road traffic anomalies from GPS (Global Position System) snippets data is becoming critical in urban computing since they often suggest underlying events. However, the noisy and sparse nature of GPS snippets data have ushered multiple problems, which have prompted the detection of road traffic anomalies to be very challenging. To address these issues, we propose a two-stage solution which consists of two components: a Collaborative Path Inference (CPI) model and a Road Anomaly Test (RAT) model. CPI model performs path inference incorporating both static and dynamic features into a Conditional Random Field (CRF). Dynamic context features are learned collaboratively from large GPS snippets via a tensor decomposition technique. Then RAT calculates the anomalous degree for each road segment from the inferred fine-grained trajectories in given time intervals. We evaluated our method using a large scale real world dataset, which includes one-month GPS location data from more than eight thousand taxicabs in Beijing. The evaluation results show the advantages of our method beyond other baseline techniques. PMID:28282948

Trend-Residual Dual Modeling for Detection of Outliers in Low-Cost GPS Trajectories.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaojian; Cui, Tingting; Fu, Jianhong; Peng, Jianwei; Shan, Jie

2016-12-01

Low-cost GPS (receiver) has become a ubiquitous and integral part of our daily life. Despite noticeable advantages such as being cheap, small, light, and easy to use, its limited positioning accuracy devalues and hampers its wide applications for reliable mapping and analysis. Two conventional techniques to remove outliers in a GPS trajectory are thresholding and Kalman-based methods, which are difficult in selecting appropriate thresholds and modeling the trajectories. Moreover, they are insensitive to medium and small outliers, especially for low-sample-rate trajectories. This paper proposes a model-based GPS trajectory cleaner. Rather than examining speed and acceleration or assuming a pre-determined trajectory model, we first use cubic smooth spline to adaptively model the trend of the trajectory. The residuals, i.e., the differences between the trend and GPS measurements, are then further modeled by time series method. Outliers are detected by scoring the residuals at every GPS trajectory point. Comparing to the conventional procedures, the trend-residual dual modeling approach has the following features: (a) it is able to model trajectories and detect outliers adaptively; (b) only one critical value for outlier scores needs to be set; (c) it is able to robustly detect unapparent outliers; and (d) it is effective in cleaning outliers for GPS trajectories with low sample rates. Tests are carried out on three real-world GPS trajectories datasets. The evaluation demonstrates an average of 9.27 times better performance in outlier detection for GPS trajectories than thresholding and Kalman-based techniques.

Better Aircraft Positioning for Airborne Gravimetry: Results from GRAV-D's "Kinematic GPS Challenge" Issued to the GPS Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diehl, T. M.; Mader, G. L.; Preaux, S. A.; Weil, C.

2011-12-01

The National Geodetic Survey's (NGS's) Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) program plans to collect airborne gravity data across the entire U.S. and its holdings over the next decade. The goal is to build a geoid accurate to 1-2 cm, for which the airborne gravity data is key. The first phase is underway, with > 13% of data collection already completed across the U.S. To achieve the best airborne gravity data accuracy possible, the GPS position solutions must provide not just accurate positions, but also accurate velocities and accelerations to be used in calculating the gravity corrections. However, to our knowledge, no comparison has been done of available kinematic GPS processing techniques as they pertain to producing accurate airborne gravity results. So, in Fall 2010, NGS issued the "Kinematic GPS Challenge" to the GPS processing community, soliciting position solutions for GPS data of two GRAV-D airborne gravity flights done in Louisiana in 2008. Of the four lines on these two flights, one of the lines on the first flight was noisy (due to excessive turbulence) and was reflown on the second flight. These two flights of data allow the Challenge results to be tested on both good-quality and noisy data, as well as to be compared for repeatability along the reflown line, the assumption being that the solution producing the best fit between the reflown gravity data is the best. Fifteen position results from nine contributors were submitted from the GPS community for each of the two flights. We will present the results of the Kinematic GPS Challenge in an anonymous manner, to provide information to the airborne gravity community while protecting the identities of the GPS contributors while they incorporate the results into their research projects. Initial analyses show that the submitted position solutions are somewhat different, usually by +/- 0.25 m or less in X, Y, and Z. The shape and structure of these differences indicate significant differences in the derived velocities and accelerations. Those differences are easily identifiable in the gravity anomalies calculated with those solutions. Several gravity solutions computed produce differences from the ensemble average of 2-3 mGal in places, though most were within +/- 1 mGal. An additional comparison was done with the current preferred NGS GPS+IMU solution (a loosely-coupled differential GPS+IMU solution from commercial software) versus the Challenge GPS-only solutions. The loosely coupled solution fared better in the noisy flight than the GPS only, but there was less significant difference in the calm weather flight. Our presentation will provide a comprehensive analysis of the Challenge results.

Simulation and analysis of differential global positioning system for civil helicopter operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denaro, R. P.; Cabak, A. R.

1983-01-01

A Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) computer simulation was developed, to provide a versatile tool for assessing DGPS referenced civil helicopter navigation. The civil helicopter community will probably be an early user of the GPS capability because of the unique mission requirements which include offshore exploration and low altitude transport into remote areas not currently served by ground based Navaids. The Monte Carlo simulation provided a sufficiently high fidelity dynamic motion and propagation environment to enable accurate comparisons of alternative differential GPS implementations and navigation filter tradeoffs. The analyst has provided the capability to adjust most aspects of the system, the helicopter flight profile, the receiver Kalman filter, and the signal propagation environment to assess differential GPS performance and parameter sensitivities. Preliminary analysis was conducted to evaluate alternative implementations of the differential navigation algorithm in both the position and measurement domain. Results are presented to show that significant performance gains are achieved when compared with conventional GPS but that differences due to DGPS implementation techniques were small. System performance was relatively insensitive to the update rates of the error correction information.

Dynamic strain and rotation ground motions of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake from dense high-rate GPS observations in Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, B. S.; Rau, R. J.; Lin, C. J.; Kuo, L. C.

2017-12-01

Seismic waves generated by the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku, Japan earthquake were well recorded by continuous GPS in Taiwan. Those GPS were operated in one hertz sampling rate and densely distributed in Taiwan Island. Those continuous GPS observations and the precise point positioning technique provide an opportunity to estimate spatial derivatives from absolute ground motions of this giant teleseismic event. In this study, we process and investigate more than one and half hundred high-rate GPS displacements and its spatial derivatives, thus strain and rotations, to compare to broadband seismic and rotational sensor observations. It is shown that continuous GPS observations are highly consistent with broadband seismic observations during its surface waves across Taiwan Island. Several standard Geodesy and seismic array analysis techniques for spatial gradients have been applied to those continuous GPS time series to determine its dynamic strain and rotation time histories. Results show that those derivate GPS vertical axis ground rotations are consistent to seismic array determined rotations. However, vertical rotation-rate observations from the R1 rotational sensors have low resolutions and could not compared with GPS observations for this special event. For its dese spatial distribution of GPS stations in Taiwan Island, not only wavefield gradient time histories at individual site was obtained but also 2-D spatial ground motion fields were determined in this study also. In this study, we will report the analyzed results of those spatial gradient wavefields of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake across Taiwan Island and discuss its geological implications.

Automated daily processing of more than 1000 ground-based GPS receivers for studying intense ionospheric storms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komjathy, Attila; Sparks, Lawrence; Wilson, Brian D.; Mannucci, Anthony J.

2005-12-01

As the number of ground-based and space-based receivers tracking the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites steadily increases, it is becoming possible to monitor changes in the ionosphere continuously and on a global scale with unprecedented accuracy and reliability. As of August 2005, there are more than 1000 globally distributed dual-frequency GPS receivers available using publicly accessible networks including, for example, the International GPS Service and the continuously operating reference stations. To take advantage of the vast amount of GPS data, researchers use a number of techniques to estimate satellite and receiver interfrequency biases and the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. Most techniques estimate vertical ionospheric structure and, simultaneously, hardware-related biases treated as nuisance parameters. These methods often are limited to 200 GPS receivers and use a sequential least squares or Kalman filter approach. The biases are later removed from the measurements to obtain unbiased TEC. In our approach to calibrating GPS receiver and transmitter interfrequency biases we take advantage of all available GPS receivers using a new processing algorithm based on the Global Ionospheric Mapping (GIM) software developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This new capability is designed to estimate receiver biases for all stations. We solve for the instrumental biases by modeling the ionospheric delay and removing it from the observation equation using precomputed GIM maps. The precomputed GIM maps rely on 200 globally distributed GPS receivers to establish the "background" used to model the ionosphere at the remaining 800 GPS sites.

Precision Time Protocol-Based Trilateration for Planetary Navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murdock, Ron

2015-01-01

Progeny Systems Corporation has developed a high-fidelity, field-scalable, non-Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system that offers precision localization over communications channels. The system is bidirectional, providing position information to both base and mobile units. It is the first-ever wireless use of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in a bidirectional trilateration navigation system. The innovation provides a precise and reliable navigation capability to support traverse-path planning systems and other mapping applications, and it establishes a core infrastructure for long-term lunar and planetary occupation. Mature technologies are integrated to provide navigation capability and to support data and voice communications on the same network. On Earth, the innovation is particularly well suited for use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as it offers a non-GPS precision navigation and location service for use in GPS-denied environments. Its bidirectional capability provides real-time location data to the UAV operator and to the UAV. This approach optimizes assisted GPS techniques and can be used to determine the presence of GPS degradation, spoofing, or jamming.

Mass balance assessment using GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hulbe, Christina L.

1993-01-01

Mass balance is an integral part of any comprehensive glaciological investigation. Unfortunately, it is hard to determine at remote locations where there is no fixed reference. The Global Positioning System (GPS) offers a solution. Simultaneous GPS observations at a known location and the remote field site, processed differentially, will accurately position the camp site. From there, a monument planted in the firn atop the ice can also be accurately positioned. Change in the monument's vertical position is a direct indicator of ice thickness change. Because the monument is not connected to the ice, its motion is due to both mass balance change and to the settling of firn as it densifies into ice. Observations of relative position change between the monument and anchors at various depths within the firn are used to remove the settling effect. An experiment to test this method has begun at Byrd Station on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the first epoch of observations was made. Analysis indicates that positioning errors will be very small. It appears likely that the largest errors involved with this technique will arise from ancillary data needed to determine firn settling.

Error modeling for differential GPS. M.S. Thesis - MIT, 12 May 1995

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blerman, Gregory S.

1995-01-01

Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) positioning is used to accurately locate a GPS receiver based upon the well-known position of a reference site. In utilizing this technique, several error sources contribute to position inaccuracy. This thesis investigates the error in DGPS operation and attempts to develop a statistical model for the behavior of this error. The model for DGPS error is developed using GPS data collected by Draper Laboratory. The Marquardt method for nonlinear curve-fitting is used to find the parameters of a first order Markov process that models the average errors from the collected data. The results show that a first order Markov process can be used to model the DGPS error as a function of baseline distance and time delay. The model's time correlation constant is 3847.1 seconds (1.07 hours) for the mean square error. The distance correlation constant is 122.8 kilometers. The total process variance for the DGPS model is 3.73 sq meters.

Reliable positioning in a sparse GPS network, eastern Ontario

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samadi Alinia, H.; Tiampo, K.; Atkinson, G. M.

2013-12-01

Canada hosts two regions that are prone to large earthquakes: western British Columbia, and the St. Lawrence River region in eastern Canada. Although eastern Ontario is not as seismically active as other areas of eastern Canada, such as the Charlevoix/Ottawa Valley seismic zone, it experiences ongoing moderate seismicity. In historic times, potentially damaging events have occurred in New York State (Attica, 1929, M=5.7; Plattsburg, 2002, M=5.0), north-central Ontario (Temiskaming, 1935, M=6.2; North Bay, 2000, M=5.0), eastern Ontario (Cornwall, 1944, M=5.8), Georgian Bay (2005, MN=4.3), and western Quebec (Val-Des-Bois,2010, M=5.0, MN=5.8). In eastern Canada, the analysis of detailed, high-precision measurements of surface deformation is a key component in our efforts to better characterize the associated seismic hazard. The data from precise, continuous GPS stations is necessary to adequately characterize surface velocities from which patterns and rates of stress accumulation on faults can be estimated (Mazzotti and Adams, 2005; Mazzotti et al., 2005). Monitoring of these displacements requires employing high accuracy GPS positioning techniques. Detailed strain measurements can determine whether the regional strain everywhere is commensurate with a large event occurring every few hundred years anywhere within this general area or whether large earthquakes are limited to specific areas (Adams and Halchuck, 2003; Mazzotti and Adams, 2005). In many parts of southeastern Ontario and western Québec, GPS stations are distributed quite sparsely, with spacings of approximately 100 km or more. The challenge is to provide accurate solutions for these sparse networks with an approach that is capable of achieving high-accuracy positioning. Here, various reduction techniques are applied to a sparse network installed with the Southern Ontario Seismic Network in eastern Ontario. Recent developments include the implementation of precise point positioning processing on acquired GPS raw data. These are based on precise GPS orbit and clock data products with centimeter accuracy computed beforehand. Here, the analysis of 1Hz GPS data is conducted in order to find the most reliable regional network from eight stations (STCO, TYNO, ACTO, INUQ, IVKQ, KLBO, MATQ and ALGO) that cover the study area in eastern Ontario. In this way, the estimated parameters are the total number of ambiguities and resolved ambiguities, posteriori rms of each baseline and the coordinates for each station and their differences with the known coordinates. The positioning accuracy, the corrections and the accuracy of interpolated corrections, and the initialization time required for precise positioning are presented for the various applications.

Local effects of redundant terrestrial and GPS-based tie vectors in ITRF-like combinations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbondanza, Claudio; Altamimi, Zuheir; Sarti, Pierguido; Negusini, Monia; Vittuari, Luca

2009-11-01

Tie vectors (TVs) between co-located space geodetic instruments are essential for combining terrestrial reference frames (TRFs) realised using different techniques. They provide relative positioning between instrumental reference points (RPs) which are part of a global geodetic network such as the international terrestrial reference frame (ITRF). This paper gathers the set of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)-global positioning system (GPS) local ties performed at the observatory of Medicina (Northern Italy) during the years 2001-2006 and discusses some important aspects related to the usage of co-location ties in the combinations of TRFs. Two measurement approaches of local survey are considered here: a GPS-based approach and a classical approach based on terrestrial observations (i.e. angles, distances and height differences). The behaviour of terrestrial local ties, which routinely join combinations of space geodetic solutions, is compared to that of GPS-based local ties. In particular, we have performed and analysed different combinations of satellite laser ranging (SLR), VLBI and GPS long term solutions in order to (i) evaluate the local effects of the insertion of the series of TVs computed at Medicina, (ii) investigate the consistency of GPS-based TVs with respect to space geodetic solutions, (iii) discuss the effects of an imprecise alignment of TVs from a local to a global reference frame. Results of ITRF-like combinations show that terrestrial TVs originate the smallest residuals in all the three components. In most cases, GPS-based TVs fit space geodetic solutions very well, especially in the horizontal components (N, E). On the contrary, the estimation of the VLBI RP Up component through GPS technique appears to be awkward, since the corresponding post fit residuals are considerably larger. Besides, combination tests including multi-temporal TVs display local effects of residual redistribution, when compared to those solutions where Medicina TVs are added one at a time. Finally, the combination of TRFs turns out to be sensitive to the orientation of the local tie into the global frame.

Precise Orbit Determination Of Low Earth Satellites At AIUB Using GPS And SLR Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaggi, A.; Bock, H.; Thaller, D.; Sosnica, K.; Meyer, U.; Baumann, C.; Dach, R.

2013-12-01

An ever increasing number of low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites is, or will be, equipped with retro-reflectors for Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and on-board receivers to collect observations from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian GLONASS and the European Galileo systems in the future. At the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB) LEO precise orbit determination (POD) using either GPS or SLR data is performed for a wide range of applications for satellites at different altitudes. For this purpose the classical numerical integration techniques, as also used for dynamic orbit determination of satellites at high altitudes, are extended by pseudo-stochastic orbit modeling techniques to efficiently cope with potential force model deficiencies for satellites at low altitudes. Accuracies of better than 2 cm may be achieved by pseudo-stochastic orbit modeling for satellites at very low altitudes such as for the GPS-based POD of the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE).

Co-location satellite GPS and SLR geodetic techniques at the Felix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory of San Juan, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podestá, R.; Pacheco, A. M.; Alvis Rojas, H.; Quinteros, J.; Podestá, F.; Albornoz, E.; Navarro, A.; Luna, M.

2018-01-01

This work shows the strategy followed for the co-location of the Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) ILRS 7406 telescope and the antenna of the permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) station, located at the Félix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory (OAFA) in San Juan, Argentina. The accomplishment of the co-location consisted in the design, construction, measurement, adjustment and compensation of a geodesic net between the stations SLR and GPS, securing support points solidly built in the soil. The co-location allows the coordinates of the station to be obtained by combining the data of both SLR and GPS techniques, achieving a greater degree of accuracy than individually. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) considers the co-located stations as the most valuable and important points for the maintenance of terrestrial reference systems and their connection with the celestial ones. The 3 mm precision required by the IERS has been successfully achieved.

Water vapour tomography using GPS phase observations: Results from the ESCOMPTE experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nilsson, T.; Gradinarsky, L.; Elgered, G.

2007-10-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) tomography is a technique for estimating the 3-D structure of the atmospheric water vapour using data from a dense local network of GPS receivers. Several current methods utilize estimates of slant wet delays between the GPS satellites and the receivers on the ground, which are difficult to obtain with millimetre accuracy from the GPS observations. We present results of applying a new tomographic method to GPS data from the Expériance sur site pour contraindre les modèles de pollution atmosphérique et de transport d'emissions (ESCOMPTE) experiment in southern France. This method does not rely on any slant wet delay estimates, instead it uses the GPS phase observations directly. We show that the estimated wet refractivity profiles estimated by this method is on the same accuracy level or better compared to other tomographic methods. The results are in agreement with earlier simulations, for example the profile information is limited above 4 km.

Shuttle GPS R/PA configuration and specification study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Booth, R. W. D.

1979-01-01

Changes in the technical specifications for a global positioning system (GPS) receiving system dedicated to space shuttle use are presented. Various hardware functions including acquisition, tracking, and measurement are emphasized. The anti-jam performance of the baseline GPS systems are evaluated. Other topics addressed include: the impact on R/PA design of the use of ground based transmitters; problems involved with the use of single channel tests sets; utility of various R/PA antenna interconnections topologies; the choice of the averaging interval for delta range measurements; and the use of interferometry techniques for the computation of orbiter attitude were undertaken.

A path reconstruction method integrating dead-reckoning and position fixes applied to humpback whales.

PubMed

Wensveen, Paul J; Thomas, Len; Miller, Patrick J O

2015-01-01

Detailed information about animal location and movement is often crucial in studies of natural behaviour and how animals respond to anthropogenic activities. Dead-reckoning can be used to infer such detailed information, but without additional positional data this method results in uncertainty that grows with time. Combining dead-reckoning with new Fastloc-GPS technology should provide good opportunities for reconstructing georeferenced fine-scale tracks, and should be particularly useful for marine animals that spend most of their time under water. We developed a computationally efficient, Bayesian state-space modelling technique to estimate humpback whale locations through time, integrating dead-reckoning using on-animal sensors with measurements of whale locations using on-animal Fastloc-GPS and visual observations. Positional observation models were based upon error measurements made during calibrations. High-resolution 3-dimensional movement tracks were produced for 13 whales using a simple process model in which errors caused by water current movements, non-location sensor errors, and other dead-reckoning errors were accumulated into a combined error term. Positional uncertainty quantified by the track reconstruction model was much greater for tracks with visual positions and few or no GPS positions, indicating a strong benefit to using Fastloc-GPS for track reconstruction. Compared to tracks derived only from position fixes, the inclusion of dead-reckoning data greatly improved the level of detail in the reconstructed tracks of humpback whales. Using cross-validation, a clear improvement in the predictability of out-of-set Fastloc-GPS data was observed compared to more conventional track reconstruction methods. Fastloc-GPS observation errors during calibrations were found to vary by number of GPS satellites received and by orthogonal dimension analysed; visual observation errors varied most by distance to the whale. By systematically accounting for the observation errors in the position fixes, our model provides a quantitative estimate of location uncertainty that can be appropriately incorporated into analyses of animal movement. This generic method has potential application for a wide range of marine animal species and data recording systems.

Global Positioning Svstem (GPS) on International Space Station (ISS) and Crew Return Vehicle (CRV)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gomez, Susan F.

2002-01-01

Both the International Space Station and Crew Return Vehicle desired to have GPS on their vehicles due to improve state determination over traditional ground tracking techniques used in the past for space vehicles. Both also opted to use GPS for attitude determination to save the expense of a star tracker. Both vehicles have stringent pointing requirements for roll, pitch, and heading, making a sun or earth sensor not a viable option since the heading is undetermined. This paper discusses the technical challenges associated with the implementation of GPS on both of these vehicles. ISS and CRY use the same GPS receiver, but have faced different challenges since the mission of each is di fferent. ISS will be discussed first, then CRY. The flight experiments flown on the Space Shuttle in support of these efforts is also discussed.

GPS PPP-derived precipitable water vapor retrieval based on Tm/Ps from multiple sources of meteorological data sets in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongxing; Yuan, Yunbin; Li, Wei; Ou, Jikun; Li, Ying; Zhang, Baocheng

2017-04-01

Weighted mean temperature (Tm) and pressure (Ps) are two parameters of great relevance to precipitable water vapor (PWV) retrieval from global positioning system (GPS) data. However, information about the Tm and Ps cannot be available for those GPS stations that are not colocated with meteorological sensors. To investigate the optimal GPS-PWV retrieval method for China, two enhanced Tm models, GM-Tm (temperature dependent) and GH-Tm (temperature independent), are developed. Additionally, the potentials of the Ps data from the two reanalysis data sets, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)-Department of Energy (DOE) Reanalysis II (NCEP II) and ERA-Interim, and from the empirical model GPT2w for GPS-PWV retrieval are investigated over China. To evaluate the performances of multisources Tm and Ps data for GPS-PWV retrieval, GPS data (2011-2013) collected from 22 stations of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) were processed by using the precise point positioning (PPP) technique, estimating the zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) so as to be subsequently converted to GPS-PWV. The retrieved GPS-PWVs are compared with their counterparts derived from NCEP II and radiosonde data over China. The results show that (1) the GM-Tm model consistently shows the highest accuracy (with root mean square error of 2.3 K), and the GH-Tm model should be selected when temperature observations are not available, and that (2) the performances of Ps from NCEP II and ERA-Interim differ marginally for GPS-PWV retrieval, and significant seasonal variations are found in the agreement between the GPS-PWVs and the PWVs derived from NCEP II and radiosonde data over China.

Multipath calibration in GPS pseudorange measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kee, Changdon (Inventor); Parkinson, Bradford W. (Inventor)

1998-01-01

Novel techniques are disclosed for eliminating multipath errors, including mean bias errors, in pseudorange measurements made by conventional global positioning system receivers. By correlating the multipath signals of different satellites at their cross-over points in the sky, multipath mean bias errors are effectively eliminated. By then taking advantage of the geometrical dependence of multipath, a linear combination of spherical harmonics are fit to the satellite multipath data to create a hemispherical model of the multipath. This calibration model can then be used to compensate for multipath in subsequent measurements and thereby obtain GPS positioning to centimeter accuracy.

Adaptive Resampling Particle Filters for GPS Carrier-Phase Navigation and Collision Avoidance System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Soon Sik

This dissertation addresses three problems: 1) adaptive resampling technique (ART) for Particle Filters, 2) precise relative positioning using Global Positioning System (GPS) Carrier-Phase (CP) measurements applied to nonlinear integer resolution problem for GPS CP navigation using Particle Filters, and 3) collision detection system based on GPS CP broadcasts. First, Monte Carlo filters, called Particle Filters (PF), are widely used where the system is non-linear and non-Gaussian. In real-time applications, their estimation accuracies and efficiencies are significantly affected by the number of particles and the scheduling of relocating weights and samples, the so-called resampling step. In this dissertation, the appropriate number of particles is estimated adaptively such that the error of the sample mean and variance stay in bounds. These bounds are given by the confidence interval of a normal probability distribution for a multi-variate state. Two required number of samples maintaining the mean and variance error within the bounds are derived. The time of resampling is determined when the required sample number for the variance error crosses the required sample number for the mean error. Second, the PF using GPS CP measurements with adaptive resampling is applied to precise relative navigation between two GPS antennas. In order to make use of CP measurements for navigation, the unknown number of cycles between GPS antennas, the so called integer ambiguity, should be resolved. The PF is applied to this integer ambiguity resolution problem where the relative navigation states estimation involves nonlinear observations and nonlinear dynamics equation. Using the PF, the probability density function of the states is estimated by sampling from the position and velocity space and the integer ambiguities are resolved without using the usual hypothesis tests to search for the integer ambiguity. The ART manages the number of position samples and the frequency of the resampling step for real-time kinematics GPS navigation. The experimental results demonstrate the performance of the ART and the insensitivity of the proposed approach to GPS CP cycle-slips. Third, the GPS has great potential for the development of new collision avoidance systems and is being considered for the next generation Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The current TCAS equipment, is capable of broadcasting GPS code information to nearby airplanes, and also, the collision avoidance system using the navigation information based on GPS code has been studied by researchers. In this dissertation, the aircraft collision detection system using GPS CP information is addressed. The PF with position samples is employed for the CP based relative position estimation problem and the same algorithm can be used to determine the vehicle attitude if multiple GPS antennas are used. For a reliable and enhanced collision avoidance system, three dimensional trajectories are projected using the estimates of the relative position, velocity, and the attitude. It is shown that the performance of GPS CP based collision detecting algorithm meets the accuracy requirements for a precise approach of flight for auto landing with significantly less unnecessary collision false alarms and no miss alarms.

Trend-Residual Dual Modeling for Detection of Outliers in Low-Cost GPS Trajectories

PubMed Central

Chen, Xiaojian; Cui, Tingting; Fu, Jianhong; Peng, Jianwei; Shan, Jie

2016-01-01

Low-cost GPS (receiver) has become a ubiquitous and integral part of our daily life. Despite noticeable advantages such as being cheap, small, light, and easy to use, its limited positioning accuracy devalues and hampers its wide applications for reliable mapping and analysis. Two conventional techniques to remove outliers in a GPS trajectory are thresholding and Kalman-based methods, which are difficult in selecting appropriate thresholds and modeling the trajectories. Moreover, they are insensitive to medium and small outliers, especially for low-sample-rate trajectories. This paper proposes a model-based GPS trajectory cleaner. Rather than examining speed and acceleration or assuming a pre-determined trajectory model, we first use cubic smooth spline to adaptively model the trend of the trajectory. The residuals, i.e., the differences between the trend and GPS measurements, are then further modeled by time series method. Outliers are detected by scoring the residuals at every GPS trajectory point. Comparing to the conventional procedures, the trend-residual dual modeling approach has the following features: (a) it is able to model trajectories and detect outliers adaptively; (b) only one critical value for outlier scores needs to be set; (c) it is able to robustly detect unapparent outliers; and (d) it is effective in cleaning outliers for GPS trajectories with low sample rates. Tests are carried out on three real-world GPS trajectories datasets. The evaluation demonstrates an average of 9.27 times better performance in outlier detection for GPS trajectories than thresholding and Kalman-based techniques. PMID:27916944

Gravity field error analysis: Applications of GPS receivers and gradiometers on low orbiting platforms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schrama, E.

1990-01-01

The concept of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver as a tracking facility and a gradiometer as a separate instrument on a low orbiting platform offers a unique tool to map the Earth's gravitational field with unprecedented accuracies. The former technique allows determination of the spacecraft's ephemeris at any epoch to within 3 to 10 cm, the latter permits the measurement of the tensor of second order derivatives of the gravity field to within 0.01 to 0.0001 Eotvos units depending on the type of gradiometer. First, a variety of error sources in gradiometry where emphasis is placed on the rotational problem pursuing as well a static as a dynamic approach is described. Next, an analytical technique is described and applied for an error analysis of gravity field parameters from gradiometer and GPS observation types. Results are discussed for various configurations proposed on Topex/Poseidon, Gravity Probe-B, and Aristoteles, indicating that GPS only solutions may be computed up to degree and order 35, 55, and 85 respectively, whereas a combined GPS/gradiometer experiment on Aristoteles may result in an acceptable solution up to degree and order 240.

Road Traffic Anomaly Detection via Collaborative Path Inference from GPS Snippets.

PubMed

Wang, Hongtao; Wen, Hui; Yi, Feng; Zhu, Hongsong; Sun, Limin

2017-03-09

Road traffic anomaly denotes a road segment that is anomalous in terms of traffic flow of vehicles. Detecting road traffic anomalies from GPS (Global Position System) snippets data is becoming critical in urban computing since they often suggest underlying events. However, the noisy ands parse nature of GPS snippets data have ushered multiple problems, which have prompted the detection of road traffic anomalies to be very challenging. To address these issues, we propose a two-stage solution which consists of two components: a Collaborative Path Inference (CPI) model and a Road Anomaly Test (RAT) model. CPI model performs path inference incorporating both static and dynamic features into a Conditional Random Field (CRF). Dynamic context features are learned collaboratively from large GPS snippets via a tensor decomposition technique. Then RAT calculates the anomalous degree for each road segment from the inferred fine-grained trajectories in given time intervals. We evaluated our method using a large scale real world dataset, which includes one-month GPS location data from more than eight thousand taxi cabs in Beijing. The evaluation results show the advantages of our method beyond other baseline techniques.

Is missing geographic positioning system data in accelerometry studies a problem, and is imputation the solution?

PubMed Central

Meseck, Kristin; Jankowska, Marta M.; Schipperijn, Jasper; Natarajan, Loki; Godbole, Suneeta; Carlson, Jordan; Takemoto, Michelle; Crist, Katie; Kerr, Jacqueline

2016-01-01

The main purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of global positioning system (GPS) signal lapse on physical activity analyses, discover any existing associations between missing GPS data and environmental and demographics attributes, and to determine whether imputation is an accurate and viable method for correcting GPS data loss. Accelerometer and GPS data of 782 participants from 8 studies were pooled to represent a range of lifestyles and interactions with the built environment. Periods of GPS signal lapse were identified and extracted. Generalised linear mixed models were run with the number of lapses and the length of lapses as outcomes. The signal lapses were imputed using a simple ruleset, and imputation was validated against person-worn camera imagery. A final generalised linear mixed model was used to identify the difference between the amount of GPS minutes pre- and post-imputation for the activity categories of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Over 17% of the dataset was comprised of GPS data lapses. No strong associations were found between increasing lapse length and number of lapses and the demographic and built environment variables. A significant difference was found between the pre- and post-imputation minutes for each activity category. No demographic or environmental bias was found for length or number of lapses, but imputation of GPS data may make a significant difference for inclusion of physical activity data that occurred during a lapse. Imputing GPS data lapses is a viable technique for returning spatial context to accelerometer data and improving the completeness of the dataset. PMID:27245796

Non-GPS full position and angular orientation onboard sensors for moving and stationary platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhadwal, Harbans S.; Rastegar, Jahangir; Feng, Dake; Kwok, Philip; Pereira, Carlos M.

2016-05-01

Angular orientation of both mobile and stationary objects continues to be an ongoing topic of interest for guidance and control as well as for non-GPS based solutions for geolocations of assets in any environment. Currently available sensors, which include inertia devices such as accelerometers and gyros; magnetometers; surface mounted antennas; radars; GPS; and optical line of sight devices, do not provide an acceptable solution for many applications, particularly for gun-fired munitions and for all-weather and all environment scenarios. A robust onboard full angular orientation sensor solution, based on a scanning polarized reference source and a polarized geometrical cavity orientation sensor, is presented. The full position of the object, in the reference source coordinate system, is determined by combining range data obtained using established time-of-flight techniques, with the angular orientation information.

Determination of Earth orientation using the Global Positioning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freedman, A. P.

1989-01-01

Modern spacecraft tracking and navigation require highly accurate Earth-orientation parameters. For near-real-time applications, errors in these quantities and their extrapolated values are a significant error source. A globally distributed network of high-precision receivers observing the full Global Positioning System (GPS) configuration of 18 or more satellites may be an efficient and economical method for the rapid determination of short-term variations in Earth orientation. A covariance analysis using the JPL Orbit Analysis and Simulation Software (OASIS) was performed to evaluate the errors associated with GPS measurements of Earth orientation. These GPS measurements appear to be highly competitive with those from other techniques and can potentially yield frequent and reliable centimeter-level Earth-orientation information while simultaneously allowing the oversubscribed Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas to be used more for direct project support.

Estimation of shoreline position and change using airborne topographic lidar data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stockdon, H.F.; Sallenger, A.H.; List, J.H.; Holman, R.A.

2002-01-01

A method has been developed for estimating shoreline position from airborne scanning laser data. This technique allows rapid estimation of objective, GPS-based shoreline positions over hundreds of kilometers of coast, essential for the assessment of large-scale coastal behavior. Shoreline position, defined as the cross-shore position of a vertical shoreline datum, is found by fitting a function to cross-shore profiles of laser altimetry data located in a vertical range around the datum and then evaluating the function at the specified datum. Error bars on horizontal position are directly calculated as the 95% confidence interval on the mean value based on the Student's t distribution of the errors of the regression. The technique was tested using lidar data collected with NASA's Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) in September 1997 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Estimated lidar-based shoreline position was compared to shoreline position as measured by a ground-based GPS vehicle survey system. The two methods agreed closely with a root mean square difference of 2.9 m. The mean 95% confidence interval for shoreline position was ?? 1.4 m. The technique has been applied to a study of shoreline change on Assateague Island, Maryland/Virginia, where three ATM data sets were used to assess the statistics of large-scale shoreline change caused by a major 'northeaster' winter storm. The accuracy of both the lidar system and the technique described provides measures of shoreline position and change that are ideal for studying storm-scale variability over large spatial scales.

Comparisons of ionospheric electron density distributions reconstructed by GPS computerized tomography, backscatter ionograms, and vertical ionograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chen; Lei, Yong; Li, Bofeng; An, Jiachun; Zhu, Peng; Jiang, Chunhua; Zhao, Zhengyu; Zhang, Yuannong; Ni, Binbin; Wang, Zemin; Zhou, Xuhua

2015-12-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) computerized ionosphere tomography (CIT) and ionospheric sky wave ground backscatter radar are both capable of measuring the large-scale, two-dimensional (2-D) distributions of ionospheric electron density (IED). Here we report the spatial and temporal electron density results obtained by GPS CIT and backscatter ionogram (BSI) inversion for three individual experiments. Both the GPS CIT and BSI inversion techniques demonstrate the capability and the consistency of reconstructing large-scale IED distributions. To validate the results, electron density profiles obtained from GPS CIT and BSI inversion are quantitatively compared to the vertical ionosonde data, which clearly manifests that both methods output accurate information of ionopsheric electron density and thereby provide reliable approaches to ionospheric soundings. Our study can improve current understanding of the capability and insufficiency of these two methods on the large-scale IED reconstruction.

GTAG: architecture and design of miniature transmitter with position logging for radio telemetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Řeřucha, Šimon; Bartonička, Tomáš; Jedlička, Petr

2011-10-01

The radio telemetry is a well-known technique used within zoological research to exploit the behaviour of animal species. A usage of GPS for a frequent and precise position recording gives interesting possibility for a further enhancement of this method. We present our proposal of an architecture and design concepts of telemetry transmitter with GPS module, called GTAG, that is suited for study of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). The model group we study set particular constrains, especially the weight limit (9 g) and prevention of any power resources recharging technique. We discuss the aspect of physical realization and the energyconsumption issues. We have developed a reference implementation that has been already deployed during telemetry sessions and we evaluate the experience and compare the estimated performance of our device to a real data.

Global Geodesy Using GPS Without Fiducial Sites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heflin, Michael B.; Blewitt, Geoffrey

1994-01-01

Global Positioning System, GPS, used to make global geodetic measurements without use of fiducial site coordinates. Baseline lengths and geocentric radii for each site determined without having to fix any site coordinates. Given n globally distributed sites, n baseline lengths and n geocentric radii form polyhedron with each site at vertex and with geocenter at intersection of all radii. Geodetic information derived from structure of polyhedron and its change with time. Approach applied to any global geodetic technique.

Link calibration against receiver calibration: an assessment of GPS time transfer uncertainties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rovera, G. D.; Torre, J.-M.; Sherwood, R.; Abgrall, M.; Courde, C.; Laas-Bourez, M.; Uhrich, P.

2014-10-01

We present a direct comparison between two different techniques for the relative calibration of time transfer between remote time scales when using the signals transmitted by the Global Positioning System (GPS). Relative calibration estimates the delay of equipment or the delay of a time transfer link with respect to reference equipment. It is based on the circulation of some travelling GPS equipment between the stations in the network, against which the local equipment is measured. Two techniques can be considered: first a station calibration by the computation of the hardware delays of the local GPS equipment; second the computation of a global hardware delay offset for the time transfer between the reference points of two remote time scales. This last technique is called a ‘link’ calibration, with respect to the other one, which is a ‘receiver’ calibration. The two techniques require different measurements on site, which change the uncertainty budgets, and we discuss this and related issues. We report on one calibration campaign organized during Autumn 2013 between Observatoire de Paris (OP), Paris, France, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA), Calern, France, and NERC Space Geodesy Facility (SGF), Herstmonceux, United Kingdom. The travelling equipment comprised two GPS receivers of different types, along with the required signal generator and distribution amplifier, and one time interval counter. We show the different ways to compute uncertainty budgets, leading to improvement factors of 1.2 to 1.5 on the hardware delay uncertainties when comparing the relative link calibration to the relative receiver calibration.

Detecting grizzly bear use of ungulate carcasses using global positioning system telemetry and activity data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ebinger, Michael R.; Haroldson, Mark A.; van Manen, Frank T.; Costello, Cecily M.; Bjornlie, Daniel D.; Thompson, Daniel J.; Gunther, Kerry A.; Fortin, Jennifer K.; Teisberg, Justin E.; Pils, Shannon R; White, P J; Cain, Steven L.; Cross, Paul C.

2016-01-01

Global positioning system (GPS) wildlife collars have revolutionized wildlife research. Studies of predation by free-ranging carnivores have particularly benefited from the application of location clustering algorithms to determine when and where predation events occur. These studies have changed our understanding of large carnivore behavior, but the gains have concentrated on obligate carnivores. Facultative carnivores, such as grizzly/brown bears (Ursus arctos), exhibit a variety of behaviors that can lead to the formation of GPS clusters. We combined clustering techniques with field site investigations of grizzly bear GPS locations (n = 732 site investigations; 2004–2011) to produce 174 GPS clusters where documented behavior was partitioned into five classes (large-biomass carcass, small-biomass carcass, old carcass, non-carcass activity, and resting). We used multinomial logistic regression to predict the probability of clusters belonging to each class. Two cross-validation methods—leaving out individual clusters, or leaving out individual bears—showed that correct prediction of bear visitation to large-biomass carcasses was 78–88%, whereas the false-positive rate was 18–24%. As a case study, we applied our predictive model to a GPS data set of 266 bear-years in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (2002–2011) and examined trends in carcass visitation during fall hyperphagia (September–October). We identified 1997 spatial GPS clusters, of which 347 were predicted to be large-biomass carcasses. We used the clustered data to develop a carcass visitation index, which varied annually, but more than doubled during the study period. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness and utility of identifying GPS clusters associated with carcass visitation by a facultative carnivore.

Detecting grizzly bear use of ungulate carcasses using global positioning system telemetry and activity data.

PubMed

Ebinger, Michael R; Haroldson, Mark A; van Manen, Frank T; Costello, Cecily M; Bjornlie, Daniel D; Thompson, Daniel J; Gunther, Kerry A; Fortin, Jennifer K; Teisberg, Justin E; Pils, Shannon R; White, P J; Cain, Steven L; Cross, Paul C

2016-07-01

Global positioning system (GPS) wildlife collars have revolutionized wildlife research. Studies of predation by free-ranging carnivores have particularly benefited from the application of location clustering algorithms to determine when and where predation events occur. These studies have changed our understanding of large carnivore behavior, but the gains have concentrated on obligate carnivores. Facultative carnivores, such as grizzly/brown bears (Ursus arctos), exhibit a variety of behaviors that can lead to the formation of GPS clusters. We combined clustering techniques with field site investigations of grizzly bear GPS locations (n = 732 site investigations; 2004-2011) to produce 174 GPS clusters where documented behavior was partitioned into five classes (large-biomass carcass, small-biomass carcass, old carcass, non-carcass activity, and resting). We used multinomial logistic regression to predict the probability of clusters belonging to each class. Two cross-validation methods-leaving out individual clusters, or leaving out individual bears-showed that correct prediction of bear visitation to large-biomass carcasses was 78-88 %, whereas the false-positive rate was 18-24 %. As a case study, we applied our predictive model to a GPS data set of 266 bear-years in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (2002-2011) and examined trends in carcass visitation during fall hyperphagia (September-October). We identified 1997 spatial GPS clusters, of which 347 were predicted to be large-biomass carcasses. We used the clustered data to develop a carcass visitation index, which varied annually, but more than doubled during the study period. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness and utility of identifying GPS clusters associated with carcass visitation by a facultative carnivore.

Refinement of Earth's gravity field with Topex GPS measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Sien-Chong; Wu, Jiun-Tsong

1989-01-01

The NASA Ocean Topography Experiment satellite TOPEX will carry a microwave altimeter accurate to a few centimeters for the measurement of ocean height. The capability can be fully exploited only if TOPEX altitude can be independently determined to 15 cm or better. This in turn requires an accurate gravity model. The gravity will be tuned with selected nine 10-day arcs of laser ranging, which will be the baseline tracking data type, collected in the first six months of TOPEX flight. TOPEX will also carry onboard an experimental Global Positioning System (GPS) flight receiver capable of simultaneously observing six GPS satellites above its horizon to demonstrate the capability of GPS carrier phase and P-code pseudorange for precise determination of the TOPEX orbit. It was found that subdecimeter orbit accuracy can be achieved with a mere two-hour arc of GPS tracking data, provided that simultaneous measurements are also made at six of more ground tracking sites. The precision GPS data from TOPEX are also valuable for refining the gravity model. An efficient technique is presented for gravity tuning using GPS measurements. Unlike conventional global gravity tuning, this technique solves for far fewer gravity parameters in each filter run. These gravity parameters yield local gravity anomalies which can later be combined with the solutions over other parts of the earth to generate a global gravity map. No supercomputing power will be needed for such combining. The approaches used in this study are described and preliminary results of a covariance analysis presented.

[Plot analysis in the dark coniferous ecosystem using GPS and GIS techniques].

PubMed

Guan, Wenbin; Xie, Chunhua; Wu, Jian'an; Yu, Xinxiao; Chen, Gengwei; Li, Tongyang

2002-07-01

It is generally difficult to survey in primary forests located on high-altitude region. However, it is convenient to identify and to recognize plots accompanied by GPS and GIS techniques, which can also display the spatial pattern of arbors precisely. Using the method of rapid-static positioning cooperated with tape-measure, it is concluded that except some points, the positioning was relatively precise, the average value of RMS was 2.84, variance was 2.96, and delta B, delta L, and delta H were 1.2, 1.2, and 4.3 m with their variances being +/- 0.6, +/- 1.1, and +/- 21.1, respectively, which could meet the needs of forestry management sufficiently. Accompanied by some other models, many ecological processes under small and even medium scale, such as the dynamics of gap succession, could also be simulated visually by GIS. Therefore, the techniques of "2S" were patent for forest ecosystem management under the fine scale, especially in the area of high altitude.

A study of the application of differential techniques to the global positioning system for a helicopter precision approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccall, D. L.

1984-01-01

The results of a simulation study to define the functional characteristics of a airborne and ground reference GPS receiver for use in a Differential GPS system are doumented. The operations of a variety of receiver types (sequential-single channel, continuous multi-channel, etc.) are evaluated for a typical civil helicopter mission scenario. The math model of each receiver type incorporated representative system errors including intentional degradation. The results include the discussion of the receiver relative performance, the spatial correlative properties of individual range error sources, and the navigation algorithm used to smooth the position data.

Efficient GPS Position Determination Algorithms

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

provides two types of services. The Standard Positioning Service (SPS) is designated for the civilian users. The Precise Positioning Service (PPS) is...meters RMS. Military receivers utilized de -encryption techniques to remove SA and provide position accuracy of 10-meters root-mean-square (RMS) [1...difficulties. This type of scenario can be expected in test range applications ([20] and [21]). In this dissertation, the experimental test environment

Integrating GPS, GYRO, vehicle speed sensor, and digital map to provide accurate and real-time position in an intelligent navigation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingquan; Fang, Zhixiang; Li, Hanwu; Xiao, Hui

2005-10-01

The global positioning system (GPS) has become the most extensively used positioning and navigation tool in the world. Applications of GPS abound in surveying, mapping, transportation, agriculture, military planning, GIS, and the geosciences. However, the positional and elevation accuracy of any given GPS location is prone to error, due to a number of factors. The applications of Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning is more and more popular, especially the intelligent navigation system which relies on GPS and Dead Reckoning technology is developing quickly for future huge market in China. In this paper a practical combined positioning model of GPS/DR/MM is put forward, which integrates GPS, Gyro, Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) and digital navigation maps to provide accurate and real-time position for intelligent navigation system. This model is designed for automotive navigation system making use of Kalman filter to improve position and map matching veracity by means of filtering raw GPS and DR signals, and then map-matching technology is used to provide map coordinates for map displaying. In practical examples, for illustrating the validity of the model, several experiments and their results of integrated GPS/DR positioning in intelligent navigation system will be shown for the conclusion that Kalman Filter based GPS/DR integrating position approach is necessary, feasible and efficient for intelligent navigation application. Certainly, this combined positioning model, similar to other model, can not resolve all situation issues. Finally, some suggestions are given for further improving integrated GPS/DR/MM application.

The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull and 2011 Grimsvötn ash plumes as seen by GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grapenthin, R.; Hreinsdottir, S.; Gudmundsson, M. T.

2015-12-01

The injection of a volcanic plume introduces a dynamic, localized, short-term heterogeneity in the atmosphere. Satellite-imagery based remote sensing techniques provide good spatial coverage for the detection of such plumes, but slow satellite repeat times (>30 minutes) and cloud cover can delay, if not entirely prevent, the detection. GPS, in turn, provides excellent temporal coverage, but requires favorable satellite-station-geometry such that the signal propagates through the plume if it is to be used for plume detection and analysis. Two methods exist to detect / analyze ash plumes with GPS: (a) Ash-heavy plumes result in signal dispersion and hence a lowered signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A lowered SNR, recorded by some receivers, can provide useful information about the plume, such as location and velocity of ascent. These data can be evaluated directly as they are recorded by the receiver; without the need of solving for a receiver's position. (b) Wet plumes refract the GPS signals piercing the plume and hence induce a propagation delay. When solving for a receiver position GPS analysis tools do not model this localized phase delay effect and solutions for plume-piercing satellites do not fit the data well. This can be exploited for plume analysis such as the estimation of changes to the atmospheric refractivity index. We analyze GPS data of the ~2 month 2010 Eyafjallajökull erption and the week-long 2011 Grímsvötn eruption to infer a first order estimate of plume geometry and its progression. Using SNR and phase delay information, we evaluate the evolution of the partitioning of wet versus dry parts of the plume. During the GPS processing we iteratively solve for phase-delay and position and fix other parameters, hence reducing the mapping of least-squares misfit into position estimates and other parameters. Nearly continuous webcam imagery provides independent observations of first-order plume characteristics for the Eyafjallajökull event.

Sensor-based animal tracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunter, Andrew

The advent of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies has provided wildlife researchers with new insights into the movement and habitat utilization patterns of wildlife species by being able to provide vast quantities of detailed location data. However, current wildlife tracking techniques have numerous limitations, as GPS locations can be biased to an unknown extent because animals move through habitats that are often denied GPS signals. This can result in some habitat types being under sampled or not sampled at all. Additionally, researchers using GPS tracking systems cannot understand what behaviour an animal is exhibiting at each GPS position without either relying on extensive field data or statistical techniques that may infer behaviour. Overall these issues, and others, limit the knowledge that can be derived from the data currently being collected by GPS collars alone. To address these limitations, a dead reckoning solution (called the NavAid) has been developed to augment GPS tracking collars, which enables both the acquisition of continuous movement trajectories for animals under study, and the collection of digital images on a user-defined schedule along travel routes. Analysis of an animal's velocity allows one to identify different types of movement behaviours that can be associated with foraging, searching for food, and locomotion between patches. In addition, the ability to capture continuous paths allows researchers to identify habitat that is important to a species, and habitat that is not---something that is not possible when relying solely on GPS. This new system weighs approximately 220 g and can be deployed on most conventional collar systems for a wide range of species. This thesis presents the research and development of this new system over the past four years, along with preliminary findings from field work carried out on grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Analysis of tracking data suggests that animals select different types of habitat for different purposes, that foraging occurs at movement rates of less than 52m/minute, searching for food between movement rates of 52 m/minute and 223 m/minute and locomotion, or active walking between foraging sites at movement rates greater than 223 m/minute.

Miltipath measurements for land mobile satellite service using global positioning system signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lemmon, John J.

1988-01-01

A proposed multipath system for the land mobile satellite radio channel using the Global Positioning System (GPS) is presented. The measurement technique and equipment used to make multipath measurements on communications links are briefly described. The system configuration and performance specifications of the proposed measurement system are discussed.

GPS for low-cost attitude determination. A review of concepts, in-flight experiences, and current developments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Q. P.; Van Woerkom, P. Th. L. M.

The Global Positioning System or GPS has been developed for the purpose of enabling accurate positioning and navigation anywhere on or near the surface of the Earth. In addition to the US system GPS-NAVSTAR, the Russian GLONASS system is also in place and operational. Other such systems are under study. The key measurement involved is the time of travel of signals from a particular GPS spacecraft to the navigating receiver. Navigation accuracies of the order of tenths of meters are achievable, and accuracies at the centimeter level can also be obtained with special enhancement techniques. In recent years spacecraft have already been exploring the use of GPS for in-orbit navigation. As the receiver is solid state, rugged, power-lean, and cheap, GPS for autonomous navigation will be an objective even for low-cost spacecraft of only modest sophistication. When the GPS receiver is equipped with multiple antennas with baselines even as low as about one meter, it can also give attitude information. In this case, the position of the spacecraft needs to be known with only very moderate accuracy. However, the phase differences between signals received by the different antennas now constitute the key measurements. In this case a centimeter level accuracy of range difference can be obtained. Receivers carrying out the processing of such measurements are already on the market, even in space-qualified versions. For spacecraft maneuvering at low rates, accuracies of the order of tenths of a degree are achievable. There are reasons for maintaining classical attitude sensor suites on a spacecraft even when a GPS receiver is added. In this case the classical sensors may be allowed to be of modest quality only, as subsequent fusion of their data with those from the GPS receiver may restore the accuracy of the final estimate again to an acceptable level. Hence, low-cost attitude sensors combined with a low-cost GPS receiver can still satisfy non-trivial attitude reconstitution accuracy requirements. As carrier phase difference measurements are ambiguous because of the unknown number of GPS signal cycles received, the estimated attitude is in principle ambiguous as well. Therefore, resolution of the GPS signal cycle ambiguity becomes a necessary task before determining the attitude for a stand-alone GPS attitude sensing system. This problem may be solved by introducing additional low-cost reference attitude sensors like three-axis magnetometers. This is also one of the advantages of integrated sensor systems. The paper is organized as follows. Global Positioning System and GPS observables are described in the first two sections. The main attitude determination concepts are presented in the next section. For small spacecraft, GPS integrated with other low-cost attitude sensors results in a data fusion concept, to be discussed next. The last section highlights experiences and on-going projects related to the spacecraft attitude determination using GPS.

The key technique study of a kind of personal navigation oriented LBS system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Lei; Zheng, Jianghua; Zhang, Xin; Peng, Chunhua; He, Lina

2005-11-01

With the integration of GIS, IT technology and wireless communication techniques, LBS is fast developing and caused wide concern. Personal navigation is the critical application of LBS. It has higher requirement of data quality, positioning accuracy and multi-model services. The study discusses the key techniques of a personal navigation oriented LBS system. As an example for service platform of China Unicom, NAVISTAR especially emphasizes the importance of spatial data organization. Based-on CDMA1X network, it adopts gpsOne\\MS-Assisted dynamic positioning technique, and puts forward a data organization solution to realize multi-scale representation.

Tightly-Coupled Integration of Multi-GNSS Single-Frequency RTK and MEMS-IMU for Enhanced Positioning Performance

PubMed Central

Li, Tuan; Zhang, Hongping; Niu, Xiaoji; Gao, Zhouzheng

2017-01-01

Dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) Real-time Kinematics (RTK) has been proven in the past few years to be a reliable and efficient technique to obtain high accuracy positioning. However, there are still challenges for GPS single-frequency RTK, such as low reliability and ambiguity resolution (AR) success rate, especially in kinematic environments. Recently, multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (multi-GNSS) has been applied to enhance the RTK performance in terms of availability and reliability of AR. In order to further enhance the multi-GNSS single-frequency RTK performance in terms of reliability, continuity and accuracy, a low-cost micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is adopted in this contribution. We tightly integrate the single-frequency GPS/BeiDou/GLONASS and MEMS-IMU through the extended Kalman filter (EKF), which directly fuses the ambiguity-fixed double-differenced (DD) carrier phase observables and IMU data. A field vehicular test was carried out to evaluate the impacts of the multi-GNSS and IMU on the AR and positioning performance in different system configurations. Test results indicate that the empirical success rate of single-epoch AR for the tightly-coupled single-frequency multi-GNSS RTK/INS integration is over 99% even at an elevation cut-off angle of 40°, and the corresponding position time series is much more stable in comparison with the GPS solution. Besides, GNSS outage simulations show that continuous positioning with certain accuracy is possible due to the INS bridging capability when GNSS positioning is not available. PMID:29077070

Tightly-Coupled Integration of Multi-GNSS Single-Frequency RTK and MEMS-IMU for Enhanced Positioning Performance.

PubMed

Li, Tuan; Zhang, Hongping; Niu, Xiaoji; Gao, Zhouzheng

2017-10-27

Dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) Real-time Kinematics (RTK) has been proven in the past few years to be a reliable and efficient technique to obtain high accuracy positioning. However, there are still challenges for GPS single-frequency RTK, such as low reliability and ambiguity resolution (AR) success rate, especially in kinematic environments. Recently, multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (multi-GNSS) has been applied to enhance the RTK performance in terms of availability and reliability of AR. In order to further enhance the multi-GNSS single-frequency RTK performance in terms of reliability, continuity and accuracy, a low-cost micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is adopted in this contribution. We tightly integrate the single-frequency GPS/BeiDou/GLONASS and MEMS-IMU through the extended Kalman filter (EKF), which directly fuses the ambiguity-fixed double-differenced (DD) carrier phase observables and IMU data. A field vehicular test was carried out to evaluate the impacts of the multi-GNSS and IMU on the AR and positioning performance in different system configurations. Test results indicate that the empirical success rate of single-epoch AR for the tightly-coupled single-frequency multi-GNSS RTK/INS integration is over 99% even at an elevation cut-off angle of 40°, and the corresponding position time series is much more stable in comparison with the GPS solution. Besides, GNSS outage simulations show that continuous positioning with certain accuracy is possible due to the INS bridging capability when GNSS positioning is not available.

A processing centre for the CNES CE-GPS experimentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suard, Norbert; Durand, Jean-Claude

1994-01-01

CNES is involved in a GPS (Global Positioning System) geostationary overlay experimentation. The purpose of this experimentation is to test various new techniques in order to select the optimal station synchronization method, as well as the geostationary spacecraft orbitography method. These new techniques are needed to develop the Ranging GPS Integrity Channel services. The CNES experimentation includes three transmitting/receiving ground stations (manufactured by IN-SNEC), one INMARSAT 2 C/L band transponder and a processing center named STE (Station de Traitements de l'Experimentation). Not all the techniques to be tested are implemented, but the experimental system has to include several functions; part of the future system simulation functions, such as a servo-loop function, and in particular a data collection function providing for rapid monitoring of system operation, analysis of existing ground station processes, and several weeks of data coverage for other scientific studies. This paper discusses system architecture and some criteria used in its design, as well as the monitoring function, the approach used to develop a low-cost and short-life processing center in collaboration with a CNES sub-contractor (ATTDATAID), and some results.

77 FR 56254 - 89th Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-12

... 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the eighty-ninth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS). DATES... 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department...

78 FR 13396 - 90th Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-27

... 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the eighty-ninth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS). DATES... 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department...

76 FR 33022 - Eighty-Sixth Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-07

... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159 meeting: Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is...), notice is hereby given for a Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) meeting. The agenda...

Mapping invasive weeds and their control with spatial information technologies

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We discuss applications of airborne multispectral digital imaging systems, imaging processing techniques, global positioning systems (GPS), and geographic information systems (GIS) for mapping the invasive weeds giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and fo...

Spatial interpolation of GPS PWV and meteorological variables over the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia during 2013 Klang Valley Flash Flood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suparta, Wayan; Rahman, Rosnani

2016-02-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers are widely installed throughout the Peninsular Malaysia, but the implementation for monitoring weather hazard system such as flash flood is still not optimal. To increase the benefit for meteorological applications, the GPS system should be installed in collocation with meteorological sensors so the precipitable water vapor (PWV) can be measured. The distribution of PWV is a key element to the Earth's climate for quantitative precipitation improvement as well as flash flood forecasts. The accuracy of this parameter depends on a large extent on the number of GPS receiver installations and meteorological sensors in the targeted area. Due to cost constraints, a spatial interpolation method is proposed to address these issues. In this paper, we investigated spatial distribution of GPS PWV and meteorological variables (surface temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall) by using thin plate spline (tps) and ordinary kriging (Krig) interpolation techniques over the Klang Valley in Peninsular Malaysia (longitude: 99.5°-102.5°E and latitude: 2.0°-6.5°N). Three flash flood cases in September, October, and December 2013 were studied. The analysis was performed using mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2) to determine the accuracy and reliability of the interpolation techniques. Results at different phases (pre, onset, and post) that were evaluated showed that tps interpolation technique is more accurate, reliable, and highly correlated in estimating GPS PWV and relative humidity, whereas Krig is more reliable for predicting temperature and rainfall during pre-flash flood events. During the onset of flash flood events, both methods showed good interpolation in estimating all meteorological parameters with high accuracy and reliability. The finding suggests that the proposed method of spatial interpolation techniques are capable of handling limited data sources with high accuracy, which in turn can be used to predict future floods.

Preliminary GPS orbit determination results for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gold, Kenn; Bertiger, Willy; Wu, Sien; Yunck, Tom

1993-01-01

A single-frequency Motorola Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was launched with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer mission in June 1992. The receiver utilizes dual GPS antennas placed on opposite sides of the satellite to obtain full GPS coverage as it rotates during its primary scanning mission. A data set from this GPS experiment has been processed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with the GIPSY-OASIS 2 software package. The single-frequency, dual antenna approach and the low altitude (approximately 500 km) orbit of the satellite create special problems for the GPS orbit determination analysis. The low orbit implies that the dynamics of the spacecraft will be difficult to model, and that atmospheric drag will be an important error source. A reduced-dynamic solution technique was investigated in which ad hoc accelerations were estimated at each time step to absorb dynamic model error. In addition, a single-frequency ionospheric correction was investigated, and a cycle-slip detector was written. Orbit accuracy is currently better than 5 m. Further optimization should improve this to about 1 m.

Investigating Atmospheric Rivers using GPS TPW during CalWater 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almanza, V.; Foster, J. H.; Businger, S.

2015-12-01

Ship-based Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers have been successful in obtaining millimeter accuracy total precipitable water (TPW). We apply this technique with a field experiment using a GPS meteorology system installed on board the R/V Ronald Brown during the CalWater 2015 project. The goal of CalWater is to monitor atmospheric river (AR) events over the Eastern Pacific Ocean and improve forecasting of the extreme precipitation events they can produce. During the 30-day cruise, TPW derived from radiosonde balloons released from the Ron Brown are used to verify the accuracy of shipboard GPS TPW. The results suggest that ship-based GPS TPW offers a cost-effective approach for acquiring accurate real-time meteorological observations of TPW in AR's over remote oceans, as well as near the coastlines where satellites algorithms have limited accuracy. The results have implications for augmenting operational observing networks to improve weather prediction and nowcasting of ARs, thereby supporting hazard response and mitigation efforts associated with coastal flooding events.

Performance Evaluation of Block Acquisition and Tracking Algorithms Using an Open Source GPS Receiver Platform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramachandran, Ganesh K.; Akopian, David; Heckler, Gregory W.; Winternitz, Luke B.

2011-01-01

Location technologies have many applications in wireless communications, military and space missions, etc. US Global Positioning System (GPS) and other existing and emerging Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are expected to provide accurate location information to enable such applications. While GNSS systems perform very well in strong signal conditions, their operation in many urban, indoor, and space applications is not robust or even impossible due to weak signals and strong distortions. The search for less costly, faster and more sensitive receivers is still in progress. As the research community addresses more and more complicated phenomena there exists a demand on flexible multimode reference receivers, associated SDKs, and development platforms which may accelerate and facilitate the research. One of such concepts is the software GPS/GNSS receiver (GPS SDR) which permits a facilitated access to algorithmic libraries and a possibility to integrate more advanced algorithms without hardware and essential software updates. The GNU-SDR and GPS-SDR open source receiver platforms are such popular examples. This paper evaluates the performance of recently proposed block-corelator techniques for acquisition and tracking of GPS signals using open source GPS-SDR platform.

Match-play demands of elite youth Gaelic football using global positioning system tracking.

PubMed

Reilly, Brian; Akubat, Ibrahim; Lyons, Mark; Collins, D Kieran

2015-04-01

Global positioning systems (GPS) technology has made athlete-tracking a convenient and accepted technique to specify movement patterns and physical demands in sport. The purpose of this study was to examine positional demands of elite youth Gaelic football match-play using portable GPS technology to examine movement patterns and heart rates across match periods. Fifty-six elite youth male Gaelic footballers (age, 15 ± 0.66 years) fitted with portable 4-Hz GPS units were observed during 6 competitive matches (60 minutes). Data provided from the GPS unit included total distance, high-intensity (≥17·km·h(-1)) distance, sprint (≥22 km·h(-1)) distance, and total number of sprints. Heart rate was monitored continuously throughout the games. Players covered a mean distance of 5732 ± 1047 m, and the mean intensity of match-play was 85% of the peak heart rate. There was a significant (p = 0.028) drop in the total distance covered in the second half (2783 ± 599 m) compared with the first half (2948 ± 580 m). In particular, there is a noticeable drop in the distance covered in the third quarter of the game (after half-time), which has implications for re-warming up at the end of the half-time interval. There was a highly significant (p < .001) difference in the distance traveled across the 5 positional groups with midfielders covering the greatest total distance (6740 ± 384 m). The significant differences found with respect to positional groups support the implementation of individual, position-specific strength and conditioning programs.

76 FR 67019 - Eighty-Seventh: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-28

... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) 87th meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held November 14-18... Committee 159, Global Positioning System (GPS). The agenda will include the following: November 14-17, 2011... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S...

Gps monitoring of the la valette landslide (french alps) with two mono-frequency receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Squarzoni, C.; Delacourt, C.; Allemand, P.

2003-04-01

In the last years, the Global Positioning System techniques have been more and more employed in landslide monitoring. Here we present an application of the GPS techniques on the La Valette landslide, located in the Ubaye Valley in the southern French Alps. This complex landslide is composed by an upper part affected essentially by rotational mechanism, a central part with a generally translational movement and a lower part, occasionally transforming in mud flow in coincidence with strong rainfall events. Displacement rates are in average of a few centimetres per month and can reach one centimetre per day during spring. GPS data presented in this study have been acquired with a couple of mono-frequency GPS receivers Magellan ProMARK X-CM associated with multipath-resistant antennas and processed with the Magellan post-processing software MSTAR. Nine points have been set in the whole zone, seven of them in the moving area, one in a stable area near the landslide and one on the facing slope, used as reference point. For each measure, one GPS receiver is placed on the base point and the second one is placed on each monitored point for one-hour sessions. The baseline between base and monitored point ranges from 480 and 1660 m. Nine campaigns of measure have been made between October 2000 and October 2002, to follow the evolution of the surface displacements. The GPS results have been compared with the distance-meter measurements achieved on the same site by RTM Service (Restauration des Terrains de Montagne). The velocities obtained by the two methods are similar. The advantage of the GPS technique is the obtention of the real 3D displacement vector. These measurements have been combined with SAR interferometric data in order to derive a 3D map of the deformation.

Development of a GPS buoy system for monitoring tsunami, sea waves, ocean bottom crustal deformation and atmospheric water vapor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Teruyuki; Terada, Yukihiro; Nagai, Toshihiko; Koshimura, Shun'ichi

2010-05-01

We have developed a GPS buoy system for monitoring tsunami for over 12 years. The idea was that a buoy equipped with a GPS antenna and placed offshore may be an effective way of monitoring tsunami before its arrival to the coast and to give warning to the coastal residents. The key technology for the system is real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS technology. We have successfully developed the system; we have detected tsunamis of about 10cm in height for three large earthquakes, namely, the 23 June 2001 Peru earthquake (Mw8.4), the 26 September 2003 Tokachi earthquake (Mw8.3) and the 5 September 2004 earthquake (Mw7.4). The developed GPS buoy system is also capable of monitoring sea waves that are mainly caused by winds. Only the difference between tsunami and sea waves is their frequency range and can be segregated each other by a simple filtering technique. Given the success of GPS buoy experiments, the system has been adopted as a part of the Nationwide Ocean Wave information system for Port and HArborS (NOWPHAS) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. They have established more than eight GPS buoys along the Japanese coasts and the system has been operated by the Port and Airport Research Institute. As a future scope, we are now planning to implement some other additional facilities for the GPS buoy system. The first application is a so-called GPS/Acoustic system for monitoring ocean bottom crustal deformation. The system requires acoustic waves to detect ocean bottom reference position, which is the geometrical center of an array of transponders, by measuring distances between a position at the sea surface (vessel) and ocean bottom equipments to return the received sonic wave. The position of the vessel is measured using GPS. The system was first proposed by a research group at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in early 1980's. The system was extensively developed by Japanese researchers and is now capable of detecting ocean bottom positions with a few centimeters in accuracy. The system is now operational for more than ten sites along the Japanese coasts. Currently, however, the measurements are not continuous but have been done once to several times a year using a boat. If a GPS and acoustic system is placed on a buoy, ocean bottom position could be monitored in near real-time and continuous manner. This will allow us to monitor more detailed and short term crustal deformations at the sea bottom. Another application plan is for an atmospheric research. Previous researchers have shown that GPS is capable of measuring atmospheric water vapor through estimating tropospheric zenith delay measurements of GPS at the sea surface. Information of water vapor content and its temporal variation over sea surface will much contribute to weather forecast on land which has mostly been conducted only by land observations. Considering that the atmospheric mass moves from west to east in general in and around Japanese islands, information of water vapor together with other atmospheric data from an array of GPS buoy placed in the west of Japanese Islands, will much improve weather forecast. We try to examine if this is also feasible. As a conclusion of a series of GPS buoy experiments, we could assert that GPS buoy system will be a powerful tool to monitor ocean surface and much contribute to provide safe and secure life of people.

Advances in structural monitoring with Global Positioning System technology: 1997-2006

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogaja, Clement; Li, Xiaojing; Rizos, Chris

2007-11-01

Over the last decade, users of the Global Positioning System (GPS) have developed the technology capable of meeting stringent requirements to study the dynamics of tall buildings, towers, and bridges during earthquakes, wind-induced deformation and traffic loading. Dynamic measurements of relative displacements of structures is currently possible using real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning techniques, now advanced to record typically at 10-20 Hz (or higher - e.g., 100 Hz) with an accuracy of ±1 cm horizontally and ±2 cm vertically. With further advances in the technology and improvements in sampling capability, it is possible to meet the needs of real-time displacement information for the structural engineering community. After a decade of great strides in proving the feasibility of the technology, focus is moving to sensor integration and operational systems. Several investigators are now routinely researching the integration of GPS with other sensors (accelerometers, fibre optics, pseudolites, etc.) to utilise the complementary benefits and overcome limitations of the individual systems. Examples of real-time operational systems exist to demonstrate the significance of GPS technology in measuring the dynamic behaviour of large engineering structures.

Indoor/Outdoor Seamless Positioning Using Lighting Tags and GPS Cellular Phones for Personal Navigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Namie, Hiromune; Morishita, Hisashi

The authors focused on the development of an indoor positioning system which is easy to use, portable and available for everyone. This system is capable of providing the correct position anywhere indoors, including onboard ships, and was invented in order to evaluate the availability of GPS indoors. Although the performance of GPS is superior outdoors, there has been considerable research regarding indoor GPS involving sensitive GPS, pseudolites (GPS pseudo satellite), RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tags, and wireless LAN .However, the positioning rate and the precision are not high enough for general use, which is the reason why these technologies have not yet spread to personal navigation systems. In this regard, the authors attempted to implement an indoor positioning system using cellular phones with built-in GPS and infrared light data communication functionality, which are widely used in Japan. GPS is becoming increasingly popular, where GPGGS sentences of the NMEA outputted from the GPS receiver provide spatiotemporal information including latitude, longitude, altitude, and time or ECEF xyz coordinates. As GPS applications grow rapidly, spatiotemporal data becomes key to the ubiquitous outdoor and indoor seamless positioning services at least for the entire area of Japan, as well as to becoming familiar with satellite positioning systems (e.g. GPS). Furthermore, the authors are also working on the idea of using PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), as cellular phones with built-in GPS and PDA functionality are also becoming increasingly popular.

GPS Recovery of Daily Hydrologic and Atmospheric Mass Variation: A Methodology and Results From the Australian Continent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Shin-Chan; Razeghi, S. Mahdiyeh

2017-11-01

We present a methodology to invert a regional set of vertical displacement data from Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the surface mass redistribution. It is assumed that GPS deformation is a result of the Earth's elastic response to the surface mass load of hydrology, atmosphere, and/or ocean. We develop an algorithm to estimate the spectral information of displacements from "regional" GPS data through regional spherical (Slepian) basis functions and apply the load Love numbers to estimate the mass load. The same approach is applied to determine global mass changes from "global" geopotential change data of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). We rigorously examine all systematic errors caused by various truncations (spherical harmonic series and Slepian series) and the smoothing constraint applied to the GPS inversion. We demonstrate the technique by processing 16 years of daily vertical motions determined from 114 GPS stations in Australia. The GPS-inverted surface mass changes are validated against GRACE data, atmosphere and ocean models, and a land surface model. Seasonal and interannual terrestrial mass variations from GPS are in good agreement with GRACE data and the water storage models. The GPS recovery compares better with the water storage model around the smaller coastal basins than two different GRACE solutions. The submonthly mass changes from GPS provide meaningful results agreeing with atmospheric mass changes in central Australia. Finally, it is suggested to integrate GPS and GRACE data to draw a comprehensive picture of daily mass changes on different continents.

A Simple Method to Improve Autonomous GPS Positioning for Tractors

PubMed Central

Gomez-Gil, Jaime; Alonso-Garcia, Sergio; Gómez-Gil, Francisco Javier; Stombaugh, Tim

2011-01-01

Error is always present in the GPS guidance of a tractor along a desired trajectory. One way to reduce GPS guidance error is by improving the tractor positioning. The most commonly used ways to do this are either by employing more precise GPS receivers and differential corrections or by employing GPS together with some other local positioning systems such as electronic compasses or Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). However, both are complex and expensive solutions. In contrast, this article presents a simple and low cost method to improve tractor positioning when only a GPS receiver is used as the positioning sensor. The method is based on placing the GPS receiver ahead of the tractor, and on applying kinematic laws of tractor movement, or a geometric approximation, to obtain the midpoint position and orientation of the tractor rear axle more precisely. This precision improvement is produced by the fusion of the GPS data with tractor kinematic control laws. Our results reveal that the proposed method effectively reduces the guidance GPS error along a straight trajectory. PMID:22163917

77 FR 12106 - 88th Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-28

... 159, Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The..., Global Positioning System (GPS). DATES: The meeting will be held March 13-16, 2012, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m...

Airborne gravimetry, altimetry, and GPS navigation errors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colombo, Oscar L.

1992-01-01

Proper interpretation of airborne gravimetry and altimetry requires good knowledge of aircraft trajectory. Recent advances in precise navigation with differential GPS have made it possible to measure gravity from the air with accuracies of a few milligals, and to obtain altimeter profiles of terrain or sea surface correct to one decimeter. These developments are opening otherwise inaccessible regions to detailed geophysical mapping. Navigation with GPS presents some problems that grow worse with increasing distance from a fixed receiver: the effect of errors in tropospheric refraction correction, GPS ephemerides, and the coordinates of the fixed receivers. Ionospheric refraction and orbit error complicate ambiguity resolution. Optimal navigation should treat all error sources as unknowns, together with the instantaneous vehicle position. To do so, fast and reliable numerical techniques are needed: efficient and stable Kalman filter-smoother algorithms, together with data compression and, sometimes, the use of simplified dynamics.

An Optical Frequency Comb Tied to GPS for Laser Frequency/Wavelength Calibration

PubMed Central

Stone, Jack A.; Egan, Patrick

2010-01-01

Optical frequency combs can be employed over a broad spectral range to calibrate laser frequency or vacuum wavelength. This article describes procedures and techniques utilized in the Precision Engineering Division of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) for comb-based calibration of laser wavelength, including a discussion of ancillary measurements such as determining the mode order. The underlying purpose of these calibrations is to provide traceable standards in support of length measurement. The relative uncertainty needed to fulfill this goal is typically 10−8 and never below 10−12, very modest requirements compared to the capabilities of comb-based frequency metrology. In this accuracy range the Global Positioning System (GPS) serves as an excellent frequency reference that can provide the traceable underpinning of the measurement. This article describes techniques that can be used to completely characterize measurement errors in a GPS-based comb system and thus achieve full confidence in measurement results. PMID:27134794

Monitoring and understanding crustal deformation by means of GPS and InSAR data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zerbini, Susanna; Prati, Claudio; Bruni, Sara; Errico, Maddalena; Musicò, Elvira; Novali, Fabrizio; Santi, Efisio

2014-05-01

Monitoring deformation of the Earth's crust by using data acquired by both the GNSS and SAR techniques allows describing crustal movements with high spatial and temporal resolution. This is a key contribution for achieving a deeper and better insight of geodynamic processes. Combination of the two techniques provides a very powerful means, however, before combing the different data sets it is important to properly understand their respective contribution. For this purpose, strictly simultaneous and long time series would be necessary. This is not, in general, a common case due to the relatively long SAR satellites revisit time. A positive exception is represented by the data set of COSMO SKYMed (CSK) images made available for this study by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The flyover area encompass the city of Bologna and the smaller nearby town of Medicina where permanent GPS stations are operational. At the times of the CSK flyovers, we compared the GPS and SAR Up and East coordinates of a few stations as well as differential tropospheric delays derived by both techniques. The GPS time series were carefully screened and corrected for the presence of discontinuities by adopting a dedicated statistical procedure. The comparisons of both the estimated deformation and the tropospheric delays are encouraging and highlight the need for having available a more evenly sampled SAR data set.

Recovery of surface mass redistribution from a joint inversion of GPS and GRACE data - A methodology and results from the Australian and other continents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, S. C.; Tangdamrongsub, N.; Razeghi, S. M.

2017-12-01

We present a methodology to invert a regional set of vertical displacement data from Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine surface mass redistribution. It is assumed that GPS deformation is a result of the Earth's elastic response to the surface mass load of hydrology, atmosphere, and ocean. The identical assumption is made when global geopotential change data from Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) are used to determine surface mass changes. We developed an algorithm to estimate the spectral information of displacements from "regional" GPS data through regional spherical (Slepian) basis functions and apply the load Love numbers to estimate the mass load. We rigorously examine all systematic errors caused by various truncations (spherical harmonic series and Slepian series) and the smoothing constraint applied to the GPS-only inversion. We demonstrate the technique by processing 16 years of daily vertical motions determined from 114 GPS stations in Australia. The GPS inverted surface mass changes are validated against GRACE data, atmosphere and ocean models, and a land surface model. Seasonal and inter-annual terrestrial mass variations from GPS are in good agreement with GRACE data and the water storage models. The GPS recovery compares better with the water storage model around the smaller coastal basins of Australia than two different GRACE solutions. The sub-monthly mass changes from GPS provide meaningful results agreeing with atmospheric mass changes in central Australia. Finally, we integrate GPS data from different continents with GRACE in the least-square normal equations and solve for the global surface mass changes by jointly inverting GPS and GRACE data. We present the results of surface mass changes from the GPS-only inversion and from the joint GPS-GRACE inversion.

Emergency information systems for cars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thirunavukkarasu, M.; Vani Manasa, N.; Kumar, K. Rajesh; Sundar, S.

2017-11-01

The main objective of this work is to create a Health Care monitoring and Guidance system for persons who are travelling in outdoor environments like cars. GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPS (Global Positioning System) technologies are separately and combined today in many applications in our day to day life. The GSM module will send a message along with the GPS location to the end user through text, and a call is initiated to the user for further instructions. The Global Positioning System (GPS) will give the location of the interested vehicle. This system helps the doctor or anyone to monitor the accident who is outdoor and has less help. This will help the hospital to monitor the accident as well as guide the injured through difficult situations. Using a buzzer, the persons nearby will come to know that the person is in danger or in poor health conditions. This project provides a good two-way communication with the injured and the hospital to assist them to give first aid before an ambulance arrives. So, this paper devices a novel technique to assist the people who just met with accident through GPS and GSM.

Time and position accuracy using codeless GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, C. E.; Jefferson, D. C.; Lichten, S. M.; Thomas, J. B.; Vigue, Y.; Young, L. E.

1994-01-01

The Global Positioning System has allowed scientists and engineers to make measurements having accuracy far beyond the original 15 meter goal of the system. Using global networks of P-Code capable receivers and extensive post-processing, geodesists have achieved baseline precision of a few parts per billion, and clock offsets have been measured at the nanosecond level over intercontinental distances. A cloud hangs over this picture, however. The Department of Defense plans to encrypt the P-Code (called Anti-Spoofing, or AS) in the fall of 1993. After this event, geodetic and time measurements will have to be made using codeless GPS receivers. However, there appears to be a silver lining to the cloud. In response to the anticipated encryption of the P-Code, the geodetic and GPS receiver community has developed some remarkably effective means of coping with AS without classified information. We will discuss various codeless techniques currently available and the data noise resulting from each. We will review some geodetic results obtained using only codeless data, and discuss the implications for time measurements. Finally, we will present the status of GPS research at JPL in relation to codeless clock measurements.

Satellite time-transfer: recent developments and projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewandowski, W.; Nawrocki, J.

2006-10-01

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) keep a central role in the international timekeeping. American Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system that has proven itself to be a reliable source of positioning for both the military community and the civilian community. But, little known by many, is the fact that GPS has proven itself to be an important and valuable utility to the timekeeping community (Lewandowski et al. 1999). GPS is a versatile and global tool which can be used to both distribute time to an arbitrary number of users and synchronise clocks over large distances with a high degree of precision and accuracy. Similar performance can be obtained with Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). It is expected in the near future satellites of a new European navigation system GALILEO might bring some important opportunities for international timekeeping. This paper after a brief introduction to international timekeeping focuses on the description of recent progress in time transfer techniques using GNSS satellites.

Global Positioning System Bibliography

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-01

Nev., November, pp. 110-121. Chrzanowski, A. (1987). " Experiencias con GPS en mediciones de deformaciones." Presented at: Workshop on New Techniques...Material Placed in Open Waters Area 2 - Material Properties Related to Navigation and Dredging Area 3 - Dredge Plant Equipment and Systems Processes Area 4...Positioning System." Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Problems Related to the Redefinintion of North American Geodetic Networks

A resampling strategy based on bootstrap to reduce the effect of large blunders in GPS absolute positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angrisano, Antonio; Maratea, Antonio; Gaglione, Salvatore

2018-01-01

In the absence of obstacles, a GPS device is generally able to provide continuous and accurate estimates of position, while in urban scenarios buildings can generate multipath and echo-only phenomena that severely affect the continuity and the accuracy of the provided estimates. Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) techniques are able to reduce the negative consequences of large blunders in urban scenarios, but require both a good redundancy and a low contamination to be effective. In this paper a resampling strategy based on bootstrap is proposed as an alternative to RAIM, in order to estimate accurately position in case of low redundancy and multiple blunders: starting with the pseudorange measurement model, at each epoch the available measurements are bootstrapped—that is random sampled with replacement—and the generated a posteriori empirical distribution is exploited to derive the final position. Compared to standard bootstrap, in this paper the sampling probabilities are not uniform, but vary according to an indicator of the measurement quality. The proposed method has been compared with two different RAIM techniques on a data set collected in critical conditions, resulting in a clear improvement on all considered figures of merit.

A new global approach to obtain three-dimensional displacement maps by integrating GPS and DInSAR data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guglielmino, F.; Nunnari, G.; Puglisi, G.; Spata, A.

2009-04-01

We propose a new technique, based on the elastic theory, to efficiently produce an estimate of three-dimensional surface displacement maps by integrating sparse Global Position System (GPS) measurements of deformations and Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) maps of movements of the Earth's surface. The previous methodologies known in literature, for combining data from GPS and DInSAR surveys, require two steps: the first, in which sparse GPS measurements are interpolated in order to fill in GPS displacements at the DInSAR grid, and the second, to estimate the three-dimensional surface displacement maps by using a suitable optimization technique. One of the advantages of the proposed approach is that both these steps are unified. We propose a linear matrix equation which accounts for both GPS and DInSAR data whose solution provide simultaneously the strain tensor, the displacement field and the rigid body rotation tensor throughout the entire investigated area. The mentioned linear matrix equation is solved by using the Weighted Least Square (WLS) thus assuring both numerical robustness and high computation efficiency. The proposed methodology was tested on both synthetic and experimental data, these last from GPS and DInSAR measurements carried out on Mt. Etna. The goodness of the results has been evaluated by using standard errors. These tests also allow optimising the choice of specific parameters of this algorithm. This "open" structure of the method will allow in the near future to take account of other available data sets, such as additional interferograms, or other geodetic data (e.g. levelling, tilt, etc.), in order to achieve even higher accuracy.

Techniques for monitoring and controlling yaw attitude of a GPS satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lichten, Stephen M. (Inventor); Bar-Sever, Yoaz (Inventor); Zumberge, James (Inventor); Bertiger, William I. (Inventor); Muellerschoen, Ronald J. (Inventor); Wu, Sien-Chong (Inventor); Hurst, Kenneth (Inventor); Blewitt, Geoff (Inventor); Yunck, Thomas (Inventor); Thornton, Catherine (Inventor)

2001-01-01

Techniques for monitoring and controlling yawing of a GPS satellite in an orbit that has an eclipsing portion out of the sunlight based on the orbital conditions of the GPS satellite. In one embodiment, a constant yaw bias is generated in the attitude control system of the GPS satellite to control the yawing of the GPS satellite when it is in the shadow of the earth.

Real-time estimation of ionospheric delay using GPS measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Lao-Sheng

1997-12-01

When radio waves such as the GPS signals propagate through the ionosphere, they experience an extra time delay. The ionospheric delay can be eliminated (to the first order) through a linear combination of L1 and L2 observations from dual-frequency GPS receivers. Taking advantage of this dispersive principle, one or more dual- frequency GPS receivers can be used to determine a model of the ionospheric delay across a region of interest and, if implemented in real-time, can support single-frequency GPS positioning and navigation applications. The research objectives of this thesis were: (1) to develop algorithms to obtain accurate absolute Total Electron Content (TEC) estimates from dual-frequency GPS observables, and (2) to develop an algorithm to improve the accuracy of real-time ionosphere modelling. In order to fulfil these objectives, four algorithms have been proposed in this thesis. A 'multi-day multipath template technique' is proposed to mitigate the pseudo-range multipath effects at static GPS reference stations. This technique is based on the assumption that the multipath disturbance at a static station will be constant if the physical environment remains unchanged from day to day. The multipath template, either single-day or multi-day, can be generated from the previous days' GPS data. A 'real-time failure detection and repair algorithm' is proposed to detect and repair the GPS carrier phase 'failures', such as the occurrence of cycle slips. The proposed algorithm uses two procedures: (1) application of a statistical test on the state difference estimated from robust and conventional Kalman filters in order to detect and identify the carrier phase failure, and (2) application of a Kalman filter algorithm to repair the 'identified carrier phase failure'. A 'L1/L2 differential delay estimation algorithm' is proposed to estimate GPS satellite transmitter and receiver L1/L2 differential delays. This algorithm, based on the single-site modelling technique, is able to estimate the sum of the satellite and receiver L1/L2 differential delay for each tracked GPS satellite. A 'UNSW grid-based algorithm' is proposed to improve the accuracy of real-time ionosphere modelling. The proposed algorithm is similar to the conventional grid-based algorithm. However, two modifications were made to the algorithm: (1) an 'exponential function' is adopted as the weighting function, and (2) the 'grid-based ionosphere model' estimated from the previous day is used to predict the ionospheric delay ratios between the grid point and reference points. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

What do general practitioners think about an online self-regulation programme for health promotion? Focus group interviews.

PubMed

Plaete, Jolien; Crombez, Geert; DeSmet, Ann; Deveugele, Myriam; Verloigne, Maïté; De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse

2015-01-22

Chronic diseases may be prevented through programmes that promote physical activity and healthy nutrition. Computer-tailoring programmes are effective in changing behaviour in the short- and long-term. An important issue is the implementation of these programmes in general practice. However, there are several barriers that hinder the adoption of eHealth programmes in general practice. This study explored the feasibility of an eHealth programme that was designed, using self-regulation principles. Seven focus group interviews (a total of 62 GPs) were organized to explore GPs' opinions about the feasibility of the eHealth programme for prevention in general practice. At the beginning of each focus group, GPs were informed about the principles of the self-regulation programme 'My Plan'. Open-ended questions were used to assess the opinion of GPs about the content and the use of the programme. The focus groups discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and thematically analysed via NVivo software. The majority of the GPs was positive about the use of self-regulation strategies and about the use of computer-tailored programmes in general practice. There were contradictory results about the delivery mode of the programme. GPs also indicated that the programme might be less suited for patients with a low educational level or for old patients. Overall, GPs are positive about the adoption of self-regulation techniques for health promotion in their practice. However, they raised doubts about the adoption in general practice. This barrier may be addressed (1) by offering various ways to deliver the programme, and (2) by allowing flexibility to match different work flow systems. GPs also believed that the acceptability and usability of the programme was low for patients who are old or with low education. The issues raised by GPs will need to be taken into account when developing and implementing an eHealth programme in general practice.

Compact Integration of a GSM-19 Magnetic Sensor with High-Precision Positioning using VRS GNSS Technology

PubMed Central

Martín, Angel; Padín, Jorge; Anquela, Ana Belén; Sánchez, Juán; Belda, Santiago

2009-01-01

Magnetic data consists of a sequence of collected points with spatial coordinates and magnetic information. The spatial location of these points needs to be as exact as possible in order to develop a precise interpretation of magnetic anomalies. GPS is a valuable tool for accomplishing this objective, especially if the RTK approach is used. In this paper the VRS (Virtual Reference Station) technique is introduced as a new approach for real-time positioning of magnetic sensors. The main advantages of the VRS approach are, firstly, that only a single GPS receiver is needed (no base station is necessary), reducing field work and equipment costs. Secondly, VRS can operate at distances separated 50–70 km from the reference stations without degrading accuracy. A compact integration of a GSM-19 magnetometer sensor with a geodetic GPS antenna is presented; this integration does not diminish the operational flexibility of the original magnetometer and can work with the VRS approach. The coupled devices were tested in marshlands around Gandia, a city located approximately 100 km South of Valencia (Spain), thought to be the site of a Roman cemetery. The results obtained show adequate geometry and high-precision positioning for the structures to be studied (a comparison with the original low precision GPS of the magnetometer is presented). Finally, the results of the magnetic survey are of great interest for archaeological purposes. PMID:22574055

Decadal changes of surface elevation over permafrost area estimated using reflected GPS signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lin; Larson, Kristine M.

2018-02-01

Conventional benchmark-based survey and Global Positioning System (GPS) have been used to measure surface elevation changes over permafrost areas, usually once or a few times a year. Here we use reflected GPS signals to measure temporal changes of ground surface elevation due to dynamics of the active layer and near-surface permafrost. Applying the GPS interferometric reflectometry technique to the multipath signal-to-noise ratio data collected by a continuously operating GPS receiver mounted deep in permafrost in Barrow, Alaska, we can retrieve the vertical distance between the antenna and reflecting surface. Using this unique kind of observables, we obtain daily changes of surface elevation during July and August from 2004 to 2015. Our results show distinct temporal variations at three timescales: regular thaw settlement within each summer, strong interannual variability that is characterized by a sub-decadal subsidence trend followed by a brief uplift trend, and a secular subsidence trend of 0.26 ± 0.02 cm year-1 during 2004 and 2015. This method provides a new way to fully utilize data from continuously operating GPS sites in cold regions for studying dynamics of the frozen ground consistently and sustainably over a long time.

2001 GPS and Classical Survey at Medicina Observatory: Local Tie and VLBI Antenna's Reference Point Determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vittuari, Luca; Sarti, Pierguido; Tomasi, Paolo

2001-12-01

During a 6 days campaign in June 2001, we have performed a local survey at Medicina Observatory using classical geodesy and GPS techniques in order to determine the effects of an undergone track repair. We have determined the position of the reference point P within a local and ITRF2000 (epoch 1997.0) reference frames using trilateration and triangulation: Pclas_{loc}^{2001}=(21.580pm0.001,45.536pm0.001,17.699pm0.001) Pclas_{loc}^{2001}=(21.580pm0.001,45.536pm0.001,17.699pm0.001) Pclas_{ITRF2000}^{1997.0}=(4461369.982pm0.001,919596.818pm0.001,4449559.207pm0.001) Kinematic GPS has also given interesting results:

Global navigation satellite sounding of the atmosphere and GNSS altimetry : prospects for geosciences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yunck, Tom P.; Hajj, George A.

2003-01-01

The vast illuminating power of the Global Positioning System (GPS), which transformed space geodesy in the 199Os, is now serving to probe the earth's fluid envelope in unique ways. Three distinct techniques have emerged: ground-based sensing of the integrated atmospheric moisture; space-based profiling of atmospheric refractivity, pressure, temperature, moisture, and other properties by active limb sounding; and surface (ocean and ice) altimetry and scatterometry with reflected signals detected from space. Ground-based GPS moisture sensing is already in provisional use for numerical weather prediction. Limb sounding, while less mature, offers a bevy of attractions, including high accuracy, stability, and vertical resolution; all-weather operation; and exceptionally low cost. GPS bistatic radar, r 'reflectometry,' is the least advanced but shows promise for a number of niche applications.

Using GPS radio occultation data in the study of tropical cyclogenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Didlake, A. C., Jr.; Kuo, Y. B.; Metcalfe, T.

2005-12-01

Numerous studies have examined atmospheric conditions and patterns in tropical cyclogenesis. Although much has been accomplished, a complete understanding of tropical cyclogenesis is hindered by the lack of data in the regions where formation occurs. The GPS (Global Positioning System) radio occultation technique can provide valuable data in key areas. In GPS radio occultation, GPS satellites emit radio signals through the atmosphere that are received by another satellite in a low Earth orbit. Various atmospheric properties are calculated based on the alteration of the signal. This study assessed the value of GPS radio occultation data in the study of tropical cyclogenesis by examining storms of the 2002 Western North Pacific typhoon season. The signature of precursor disturbances to tropical cyclogenesis was determined by analyzing composites of data from the NCEP Aviation (AVN) analysis over four days. Similar composites of GPS radio occultation data were produced. The AVN analysis showed strong signals of precursor disturbances in the low-level wind fields and atmospheric refractivity. The GPS radio occultation data detected similarly increased refractivity values in corresponding regions, but had sizeable measurement differences with the AVN analysis. These differences were attributed to AVN analysis error due to the lack of input observational data and the high accuracy of GPS radio occultation measurements. Further comparisons showed that with the limited quantity of data currently available, GPS radio occultation by itself was not sufficient to detect precursor disturbances. It can best be used in data assimilation to improve the analysis and forecasts of tropical storms.

Nanosecond-level time synchronization of autonomous radio detector stations for extensive air showers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The Pierre Auger Collaboration

2016-01-01

To exploit the full potential of radio measurements of cosmic-ray air showers at MHz frequencies, a detector timing synchronization within 1 ns is needed. Large distributed radio detector arrays such as the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) rely on timing via the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the synchronization of individual detector station clocks. Unfortunately, GPS timing is expected to have an accuracy no better than about 5 ns. In practice, in particular in AERA, the GPS clocks exhibit drifts on the order of tens of ns. We developed a technique to correct for the GPS drifts, and an independent method is used to cross-check that indeed we reach a nanosecond-scale timing accuracy by this correction. First, we operate a ``beacon transmitter'' which emits defined sine waves detected by AERA antennas recorded within the physics data. The relative phasing of these sine waves can be used to correct for GPS clock drifts. In addition to this, we observe radio pulses emitted by commercial airplanes, the position of which we determine in real time from Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcasts intercepted with a software-defined radio. From the known source location and the measured arrival times of the pulses we determine relative timing offsets between radio detector stations. We demonstrate with a combined analysis that the two methods give a consistent timing calibration with an accuracy of 2 ns or better. Consequently, the beacon method alone can be used in the future to continuously determine and correct for GPS clock drifts in each individual event measured by AERA.

Nanosecond-level time synchronization of autonomous radio detector stations for extensive air showers

DOE PAGES

Aab, Alexander

2016-01-29

To exploit the full potential of radio measurements of cosmic-ray air showers at MHz frequencies, a detector timing synchronization within 1 ns is needed. Large distributed radio detector arrays such as the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) rely on timing via the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the synchronization of individual detector station clocks. Unfortunately, GPS timing is expected to have an accuracy no better than about 5 ns. In practice, in particular in AERA, the GPS clocks exhibit drifts on the order of tens of ns. We developed a technique to correct for the GPS drifts, and an independentmore » method used for cross-checks that indeed we reach nanosecond-scale timing accuracy by this correction. First, we operate a “beacon transmitter” which emits defined sine waves detected by AERA antennas recorded within the physics data. The relative phasing of these sine waves can be used to correct for GPS clock drifts. In addition to this, we observe radio pulses emitted by commercial airplanes, the position of which we determine in real time from Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcasts intercepted with a software-defined radio. From the known source location and the measured arrival times of the pulses we determine relative timing offsets between radio detector stations. We demonstrate with a combined analysis that the two methods give a consistent timing calibration with an accuracy of 2 ns or better. Consequently, the beacon method alone can be used in the future to continuously determine and correct for GPS clock drifts in each individual event measured by AERA.« less

The Global Positioning System: a high-tech success story

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashby, Neil

2002-03-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of 24 or more satellites in twelve-hour orbits, each carrying atomic clocks and transmitting synchronized time and position information. The satellite system is supported by time referencing and processing centers, and data collection stations around the world. The signals make possible accurate navigation anywhere in the vicinity of Earth. There is probably no other large engineering system that relies on a broader range of applications of fundamental modern physics, such as special and general relativity, and atomic physics. Atomic clocks only a few inches on a side have been developed to an almost incredible stage of reliability and stability. Modern circuit fabrication techniques produce GPS receivers on a chip at cost comparable to that of handheld cell phones. Widespread availability and low cost in the civilian sector has led to a host of interesting applications. The economic impact of GPS is in the billions of dollars annually and is increasing. A comparable system, currently with only a few satellites, is the Soviet GLONASS. Europeans are developing another competitor, GALILEO, and have plans to place Hydrogen masers in space. These systems are changing the way we determine where we are and are revolutionizing many fields of scientific research.

The application of spaceborne GPS to atmospheric limb sounding and global change monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melbourne, W. G.; Davis, E. S.; Duncan, C. B.; Hajj, G. A.; Hardy, K. R.; Kursinski, E. R.; Meehan, T. K.; Young, L. E.; Yunck, T. P.

1994-01-01

This monograph is intended for readers with minimal background in radio science who seek a relatively comprehensive treatment of the mission and technical aspects of an Earth-orbiting radio occultation satellite. Part 1 (chapters 1-6) describes mission concepts and programmatic information; Part 2 (chapters 7-12) deals with the theoretical aspects of analyzing and interpreting radio occultation measurements. In this mission concept the navigation signals from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite that is being occulted by the Earth's limb are observed by a GPS flight receiver on board a low Earth orbiter (LEO) satellite. This technique can be used to recover profiles of the Earth's atmospheric refractivity, pressure, and temperature using small, dedicated, and relatively low-cost space systems. Chapter 2 summarizes the basic space system concepts of the limb-sounding technique and describes a low-cost strawman demonstration mission. Chapter 3 discusses some of the scientific benefits of using radio occultation on a suite of small satellites. Chapter 4 provides a more detailed discussion of several system elements in a radio occultation mission, including the launch system for small payloads, the LEO microsat, the GPS constellation, the GPS flight receiver payload, the mission operations ground control and data receiving system, the ground-based GPS global tracking network for precision orbit determination, and the central data processing and archive system. Chapter 5 addresses the various technology readiness questions that invariably arise. Chapter 6 discusses the overall costs of a demonstration mission such as GPS/MET (meteorological) proposed by the University Navstar Consortium (UNAVCO). Chapter 7 describes a geometrical optics approach to coplanar atmospheric occultation. Chapter 8 addresses major questions regarding accuracy of the occultation techniques. Chapter 9 describes some simulations that have been performed to evaluate the sensitivity of the recovered profiles of atmospheric parameters to different error sources, such as departure from spherical symmetry, water vapor, etc. Chapter 10 discusses horizontal and vertical resolution associated with limb sounders in general. Chapter 11 treats selected Fresnel diffraction techniques that can be used in radio occultation measurements to sharpen resolution. Chapter 12 provides brief discussions on selected special topics, such as strategies for handling interference and multipath processes that may arise for rays traveling in the lower troposphere.

TOPEX/POSEIDON operational orbit determination results using global positioning satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guinn, J.; Jee, J.; Wolff, P.; Lagattuta, F.; Drain, T.; Sierra, V.

1994-01-01

Results of operational orbit determination, performed as part of the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) Global Positioning System (GPS) demonstration experiment, are presented in this article. Elements of this experiment include the GPS satellite constellation, the GPS demonstration receiver on board T/P, six ground GPS receivers, the GPS Data Handling Facility, and the GPS Data Processing Facility (GDPF). Carrier phase and P-code pseudorange measurements from up to 24 GPS satellites to the seven GPS receivers are processed simultaneously with the GDPF software MIRAGE to produce orbit solutions of T/P and the GPS satellites. Daily solutions yield subdecimeter radial accuracies compared to other GPS, LASER, and DORIS precision orbit solutions.

Atmospheric profiles from active space-based radio measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardy, Kenneth R.; Hinson, David P.; Tyler, G. L.; Kursinski, E. R.

1992-01-01

The paper describes determinations of atmospheric profiles from space-based radio measurements and the retrieval methodology used, with special attention given to the measurement procedure and the characteristics of the soundings. It is speculated that reliable profiles of the terrestrial atmosphere can be obtained by the occultation technique from the surface to a height of about 60 km. With the full complement of 21 the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and one GPS receiver in sun synchronous polar orbit, a maximum of 42 soundings could be obtained for each complete orbit or about 670 per day, providing almost uniform global coverage.

76 FR 27744 - Eighty-Fifth Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-12

... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159 meeting: Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning...

75 FR 28318 - Eighty-Second Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-20

... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159 meeting: Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning...

75 FR 2581 - Eighty-First Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-15

... Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159 meeting: Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning...

sUAS Position Estimation and Fusion in GPS-Degraded and GPS-Denied Environments using an ADS-B Transponder and Local Area Multilateration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, Robert Sherman

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a manned aircraft are tracked using ADS-B transponders and the Local Area Multilateration System (LAMS) in simulated GPS-degraded and GPS-denied environments. Several position estimation and fusion algorithms are developed for use with the Autonomous Flight Systems Laboratory (AFSL) TRansponder based Position Information System (TRAPIS) software. At the lowest level, these estimation and fusion algorithms use raw information from ADS-B and LAMS data streams to provide aircraft position estimates to the ground station user. At the highest level, aircraft position is estimated using a discrete time Kalman filter with real-time covariance updates and fusion involving weighted averaging of ADS-B and LAMS positions. Simulation and flight test results are provided, demonstrating the feasibility of incorporating an ADS-B transponder on a commercially-available UAS and maintaining situational awareness of aircraft positions in GPS-degraded and GPS-denied environments.

Measuring precise sea level from a buoy using the Global Positioning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rocken, Christian; Kelecy, Thomas M.; Born, George H.; Young, Larry E.; Purcell, George H., Jr.; Wolf, Susan Kornreich

1990-01-01

The feasibility of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for accurate sea surface positioning was examined. An experiment was conducted on the Scripps pier at La Jolla, California from December 13-15, 1989. A GPS-equipped buoy was deployed about 100 m off the pier. Two fixed reference GPS receivers, located on the pier and about 80 km away on Monument Peak, were used to estimate the relative position of the floater. Kinematic GPS processing software, developed at the National Geodetic Survey, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's GPS Infrared Processing System software were used to determine the floater position relative to land-fixing receivers. Calculations were made of sea level and ocean wave spectra from GPS measurements. It is found that the GPS sea level for the short 100 m baseline agrees with the PPT sea level at the 1 cm level and has an rms variation of 5 mm over a period of 4 hours.

Global Positioning System (GPS) survey of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, August 3-8, 2000: data processing, geodetic coordinates and comparison with prior geodetic surveys

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pauk, Benjamin A.; Power, John A.; Lisowski, Mike; Dzurisin, Daniel; Iwatsubo, Eugene Y.; Melbourne, Tim

2001-01-01

Between August 3 and 8,2000,the Alaska Volcano Observatory completed a Global Positioning System (GPS) survey at Augustine Volcano, Alaska. Augustine is a frequently active calcalkaline volcano located in the lower portion of Cook Inlet (fig. 1), with reported eruptions in 1812, 1882, 1909?, 1935, 1964, 1976, and 1986 (Miller et al., 1998). Geodetic measurements using electronic and optical surveying techniques (EDM and theodolite) were begun at Augustine Volcano in 1986. In 1988 and 1989, an island-wide trilateration network comprising 19 benchmarks was completed and measured in its entirety (Power and Iwatsubo, 1998). Partial GPS surveys of the Augustine Island geodetic network were completed in 1992 and 1995; however, neither of these surveys included all marks on the island.Additional GPS measurements of benchmarks A5 and A15 (fig. 2) were made during the summers of 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996. The goals of the 2000 GPS survey were to:1) re-measure all existing benchmarks on Augustine Island using a homogeneous set of GPS equipment operated in a consistent manner, 2) add measurements at benchmarks on the western shore of Cook Inlet at distances of 15 to 25 km, 3) add measurements at an existing benchmark (BURR) on Augustine Island that was not previously surveyed, and 4) add additional marks in areas of the island thought to be actively deforming. The entire survey resulted in collection of GPS data at a total of 24 sites (fig. 1 and 2). In this report we describe the methods of GPS data collection and processing used at Augustine during the 2000 survey. We use this data to calculate coordinates and elevations for all 24 sites surveyed. Data from the 2000 survey is then compared toelectronic and optical measurements made in 1988 and 1989. This report also contains a general description of all marks surveyed in 2000 and photographs of all new marks established during the 2000 survey (Appendix A).

Novel Hybrid of LS-SVM and Kalman Filter for GPS/INS Integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhenkai; Li, Yong; Rizos, Chris; Xu, Xiaosu

Integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) technologies can overcome the drawbacks of the individual systems. One of the advantages is that the integrated solution can provide continuous navigation capability even during GPS outages. However, bridging the GPS outages is still a challenge when Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) inertial sensors are used. Methods being currently explored by the research community include applying vehicle motion constraints, optimal smoother, and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. In the research area of AI, the neural network (NN) approach has been extensively utilised up to the present. In an NN-based integrated system, a Kalman filter (KF) estimates position, velocity and attitude errors, as well as the inertial sensor errors, to output navigation solutions while GPS signals are available. At the same time, an NN is trained to map the vehicle dynamics with corresponding KF states, and to correct INS measurements when GPS measurements are unavailable. To achieve good performance it is critical to select suitable quality and an optimal number of samples for the NN. This is sometimes too rigorous a requirement which limits real world application of NN-based methods.The support vector machine (SVM) approach is based on the structural risk minimisation principle, instead of the minimised empirical error principle that is commonly implemented in an NN. The SVM can avoid local minimisation and over-fitting problems in an NN, and therefore potentially can achieve a higher level of global performance. This paper focuses on the least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM), which can solve highly nonlinear and noisy black-box modelling problems. This paper explores the application of the LS-SVM to aid the GPS/INS integrated system, especially during GPS outages. The paper describes the principles of the LS-SVM and of the KF hybrid method, and introduces the LS-SVM regression algorithm. Field test data is processed to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach.

Integrating remote sensing, geographic information systems and global positioning system techniques with hydrological modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, Jay Krishna; Singh, Sudhir Kumar; Ekanthalu, Vicky Shettigondahalli

2017-07-01

Integration of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) are emerging research areas in the field of groundwater hydrology, resource management, environmental monitoring and during emergency response. Recent advancements in the fields of RS, GIS, GPS and higher level of computation will help in providing and handling a range of data simultaneously in a time- and cost-efficient manner. This review paper deals with hydrological modeling, uses of remote sensing and GIS in hydrological modeling, models of integrations and their need and in last the conclusion. After dealing with these issues conceptually and technically, we can develop better methods and novel approaches to handle large data sets and in a better way to communicate information related with rapidly decreasing societal resources, i.e. groundwater.

Mapping the Future Today: The Community College of Baltimore County Geospatial Applications Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jeffrey, Scott; Alvarez, Jaime

2010-01-01

The Geospatial Applications Program at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), located five miles west of downtown Baltimore, Maryland, provides comprehensive instruction in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and global positioning systems (GPS). Geospatial techniques, which include computer-based mapping and remote…

Assessment of NASA Airborne Laser Altimetry Data Using Ground-Based GPS Data near Summit Station, Greenland

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brunt, Kelly M.; Hawley, Robert L.; Lutz, Eric R.; Studinger, Michael; Sonntag, John G.; Hofton, Michelle A.; Andrews, Lauren C.; Neumann, Thomas A.

2017-01-01

A series of NASA airborne lidars have been used in support of satellite laser altimetry missions. These airbornelaser altimeters have been deployed for satellite instrument development, for spaceborne data validation, and to bridge the data gap between satellite missions. We used data from ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys of an 11 km long track near Summit Station, Greenland, to assess the surface elevation bias and measurement precision of three airborne laser altimeters including the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM), the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS), and the Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar (MABEL). Ground-based GPS data from the monthly ground-based traverses, which commenced in 2006, allowed for the assessment of nine airborne lidar surveys associated with ATM and LVIS between 2007 and 2016. Surface elevation biases for these altimeters over the flat, ice-sheet interior are less than 0.12 m, while assessments of measurement precision are 0.09 m or better. Ground-based GPS positions determined both with and without differential post-processing techniques provided internally consistent solutions. Results from the analyses of ground-based and airborne data provide validation strategy guidance for the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) elevation and elevation-change data products.

Assessment of NASA airborne laser altimetry data using ground-based GPS data near Summit Station, Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunt, Kelly M.; Hawley, Robert L.; Lutz, Eric R.; Studinger, Michael; Sonntag, John G.; Hofton, Michelle A.; Andrews, Lauren C.; Neumann, Thomas A.

2017-03-01

A series of NASA airborne lidars have been used in support of satellite laser altimetry missions. These airborne laser altimeters have been deployed for satellite instrument development, for spaceborne data validation, and to bridge the data gap between satellite missions. We used data from ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys of an 11 km long track near Summit Station, Greenland, to assess the surface-elevation bias and measurement precision of three airborne laser altimeters including the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM), the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS), and the Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar (MABEL). Ground-based GPS data from the monthly ground-based traverses, which commenced in 2006, allowed for the assessment of nine airborne lidar surveys associated with ATM and LVIS between 2007 and 2016. Surface-elevation biases for these altimeters - over the flat, ice-sheet interior - are less than 0.12 m, while assessments of measurement precision are 0.09 m or better. Ground-based GPS positions determined both with and without differential post-processing techniques provided internally consistent solutions. Results from the analyses of ground-based and airborne data provide validation strategy guidance for the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) elevation and elevation-change data products.

Feature Orientation and Positional Accuracy Assessment of Digital Orthophoto and Line Map for Large Scale Mapping: the Case Study on Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sisay, Z. G.; Besha, T.; Gessesse, B.

2017-05-01

This study used in-situ GPS data to validate the accuracy of horizontal coordinates and orientation of linear features of orthophoto and line map for Bahir Dar city. GPS data is processed using GAMIT/GLOBK and Lieca GeoOfice (LGO) in a least square sense with a tie to local and regional GPS reference stations to predict horizontal coordinates at five checkpoints. Real-Time-Kinematic GPS measurement technique is used to collect the coordinates of road centerline to test the accuracy associated with the orientation of the photogrammetric line map. The accuracy of orthophoto was evaluated by comparing with in-situ GPS coordinates and it is in a good agreement with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 12.45 cm in x- and 13.97 cm in y-coordinates, on the other hand, 6.06 cm with 95 % confidence level - GPS coordinates from GAMIT/GLOBK. Whereas, the horizontal coordinates of the orthophoto are in agreement with in-situ GPS coordinates at an accuracy of 16.71 cm and 18.98 cm in x and y-directions respectively and 11.07 cm with 95 % confidence level - GPS data is processed by LGO and a tie to local GPS network. Similarly, the accuracy of linear feature is in a good fit with in-situ GPS measurement. The GPS coordinates of the road centerline deviates from the corresponding coordinates of line map by a mean value of 9.18 cm in x- direction and -14.96 cm in y-direction. Therefore, it can be concluded that, the accuracy of the orthophoto and line map is within the national standard of error budget ( 25 cm).

Combined GPS/GLONASS Precise Point Positioning with Fixed GPS Ambiguities

PubMed Central

Pan, Lin; Cai, Changsheng; Santerre, Rock; Zhu, Jianjun

2014-01-01

Precise point positioning (PPP) technology is mostly implemented with an ambiguity-float solution. Its performance may be further improved by performing ambiguity-fixed resolution. Currently, the PPP integer ambiguity resolutions (IARs) are mainly based on GPS-only measurements. The integration of GPS and GLONASS can speed up the convergence and increase the accuracy of float ambiguity estimates, which contributes to enhancing the success rate and reliability of fixing ambiguities. This paper presents an approach of combined GPS/GLONASS PPP with fixed GPS ambiguities (GGPPP-FGA) in which GPS ambiguities are fixed into integers, while all GLONASS ambiguities are kept as float values. An improved minimum constellation method (MCM) is proposed to enhance the efficiency of GPS ambiguity fixing. Datasets from 20 globally distributed stations on two consecutive days are employed to investigate the performance of the GGPPP-FGA, including the positioning accuracy, convergence time and the time to first fix (TTFF). All datasets are processed for a time span of three hours in three scenarios, i.e., the GPS ambiguity-float solution, the GPS ambiguity-fixed resolution and the GGPPP-FGA resolution. The results indicate that the performance of the GPS ambiguity-fixed resolutions is significantly better than that of the GPS ambiguity-float solutions. In addition, the GGPPP-FGA improves the positioning accuracy by 38%, 25% and 44% and reduces the convergence time by 36%, 36% and 29% in the east, north and up coordinate components over the GPS-only ambiguity-fixed resolutions, respectively. Moreover, the TTFF is reduced by 27% after adding GLONASS observations. Wilcoxon rank sum tests and chi-square two-sample tests are made to examine the significance of the improvement on the positioning accuracy, convergence time and TTFF. PMID:25237901

Lane Level Localization; Using Images and HD Maps to Mitigate the Lateral Error

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosseinyalamdary, S.; Peter, M.

2017-05-01

In urban canyon where the GNSS signals are blocked by buildings, the accuracy of measured position significantly deteriorates. GIS databases have been frequently utilized to improve the accuracy of measured position using map matching approaches. In map matching, the measured position is projected to the road links (centerlines) in this approach and the lateral error of measured position is reduced. By the advancement in data acquision approaches, high definition maps which contain extra information, such as road lanes are generated. These road lanes can be utilized to mitigate the positional error and improve the accuracy in position. In this paper, the image content of a camera mounted on the platform is utilized to detect the road boundaries in the image. We apply color masks to detect the road marks, apply the Hough transform to fit lines to the left and right road boundaries, find the corresponding road segment in GIS database, estimate the homography transformation between the global and image coordinates of the road boundaries, and estimate the camera pose with respect to the global coordinate system. The proposed approach is evaluated on a benchmark. The position is measured by a smartphone's GPS receiver, images are taken from smartphone's camera and the ground truth is provided by using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technique. Results show the proposed approach significantly improves the accuracy of measured GPS position. The error in measured GPS position with average and standard deviation of 11.323 and 11.418 meters is reduced to the error in estimated postion with average and standard deviation of 6.725 and 5.899 meters.

Working together--primary care doctors' and nurses' attitudes to collaboration.

PubMed

Hansson, Anders; Arvemo, Tobias; Marklund, Bertil; Gedda, Birgitta; Mattsson, Bengt

2010-02-01

Multidisciplinary teamwork is recommended for various disorders and it has been suggested that it is a way to meet the new challenges and demands facing general practitioners (GPs) in modern society. Attempts to introduce the method in primary care have failed partly due to GPs' unwillingness to participate. The aim of this study was to measure attitudes towards collaboration among GPs and district nurses (DN) and to investigate whether there is a correlation between a positive attitude toward collaboration and high self-esteem in the professional role. The Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Physician Nurse Collaboration and the Professional Self-Description Form (PSDF) was used to study a cohort of 600 GPs and DNs in Västra Götaland region. The purpose was to map differences and correlations of attitude between DNs and GPs, between male and female GPs, and between older and younger DNs and GPs. Four hundred and one answers were received. DNs (mean 51.7) were significantly more positive about collaboration than GPs (mean 49.4). There was no difference between younger and older, male and female GPs. DNs scored higher on the PSDF-scale than GPs. DNs were slightly more positive about collaboration than GPs. A positive attitude towards collaboration did not seem to be a part of the GPs' professional role to the same extent as it is for DNs. Professional norms seem to have more influence on attitudes than do gender roles. DNs seem more confident in their profession than GPs.

Subsidence and Fault Displacement Along the Long Point Fault Derived from Continuous GPS Observations (2012-2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsibanos, V.; Wang, G.

2017-12-01

The Long Point Fault located in Houston Texas is a complex system of normal faults which causes significant damage to urban infrastructure on both private and public property. This case study focuses on the 20-km long fault using high accuracy continuously operating global positioning satellite (GPS) stations to delineate fault movement over five years (2012 - 2017). The Long Point Fault is the longest active fault in the greater Houston area that damages roads, buried pipes, concrete structures and buildings and creates a financial burden for the city of Houston and the residents who live in close vicinity to the fault trace. In order to monitor fault displacement along the surface 11 permanent and continuously operating GPS stations were installed 6 on the hanging wall and 5 on the footwall. This study is an overview of the GPS observations from 2013 to 2017. GPS positions were processed with both relative (double differencing) and absolute Precise Point Positioning (PPP) techniques. The PPP solutions that are referred to IGS08 reference frame were transformed to the Stable Houston Reference Frame (SHRF16). Our results show no considerable horizontal displacements across the fault, but do show uneven vertical displacement attributed to regional subsidence in the range of (5 - 10 mm/yr). This subsidence can be associated to compaction of silty clays in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers whose water depths are approximately 50m and 80m below the land surface (bls). These levels are below the regional pre-consolidation head that is about 30 to 40m bls. Recent research indicates subsidence will continue to occur until the aquifer levels reach the pre-consolidation head. With further GPS observations both the Long Point Fault and regional land subsidence can be monitored providing important geological data to the Houston community.

Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) clock program: Present and future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tennant, D. M.

1981-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) program status are discussed and plans for ensuring the long term continuation of the program are presented. Performance of GPS clocks is presented in terms of on orbit data as portrayed by GPS master control station kalman filter processing. The GPS Clock reliability program is reviewed in depth and future plans fo the overall clock program are published.

The Evolution of Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kumar, Sameer; Moore, Kevin B.

2002-01-01

Describes technological advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is also known as the NAVSTAR GPS satellite constellation program developed in 1937, and changes in the nature of our world by GPS in the areas of agriculture, health, military, transportation, environment, wildlife biology, surveying and mapping, space applications, and…

Subnanosecond GPS-based clock synchronization and precision deep-space tracking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, C. E.; Lichten, S. M.; Jefferson, D. C.; Border, J. S.

1992-01-01

Interferometric spacecraft tracking is accomplished by the Deep Space Network (DSN) by comparing the arrival time of electromagnetic spacecraft signals at ground antennas separated by baselines on the order of 8000 km. Clock synchronization errors within and between DSN stations directly impact the attainable tracking accuracy, with a 0.3-nsec error in clock synchronization resulting in an 11-nrad angular position error. This level of synchronization is currently achieved by observing a quasar which is angularly close to the spacecraft just after the spacecraft observations. By determining the differential arrival times of the random quasar signal at the stations, clock offsets and propagation delays within the atmosphere and within the DSN stations are calibrated. Recent developments in time transfer techniques may allow medium accuracy (50-100 nrad) spacecraft tracking without near-simultaneous quasar-based calibrations. Solutions are presented for a worldwide network of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers in which the formal errors for DSN clock offset parameters are less than 0.5 nsec. Comparisons of clock rate offsets derived from GPS measurements and from very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), as well as the examination of clock closure, suggest that these formal errors are a realistic measure of GPS-based clock offset precision and accuracy. Incorporating GPS-based clock synchronization measurements into a spacecraft differential ranging system would allow tracking without near-simultaneous quasar observations. The impact on individual spacecraft navigation-error sources due to elimination of quasar-based calibrations is presented. System implementation, including calibration of station electronic delays, is discussed.

A novel behavioral model of the pasture-based dairy cow from GPS data using data mining and machine learning techniques.

PubMed

Williams, M L; Mac Parthaláin, N; Brewer, P; James, W P J; Rose, M T

2016-03-01

A better understanding of the behavior of individual grazing dairy cattle will assist in improving productivity and welfare. Global positioning systems (GPS) applied to cows could provide a means of monitoring grazing herds while overcoming the substantial efforts required for manual observation. Any model of behavioral prediction using GPS needs to be accurate and robust by accounting for inter-cow variation as well as atmospheric effects. We evaluated the performance using a series of machine learning algorithms on GPS data collected from 40 pasture-based dairy cows over 4 mo. A feature extraction step was performed on the collected raw GPS data, which resulted in 43 different attributes. The evaluated behaviors were grazing, resting, and walking. Classifier learners were built using 10 times 10-fold cross validation and tested on an independent test set. Results were evaluated using a variety of statistical significance tests across all parameters. We found that final model selection depended upon level of performance and model complexity. The classifier learner deemed most suitable for this particular problem was JRip, a rule-based learner (classification accuracy=0.85; false positive rate=0.10; F-measure=0.76; area under the receiver operating curve=0.87). This model will be used in further studies to assess the behavior and welfare of pasture-based dairy cows. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Methods and Apparatus for Reducing Multipath Signal Error Using Deconvolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Rajendra (Inventor); Lau, Kenneth H. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A deconvolution approach to adaptive signal processing has been applied to the elimination of signal multipath errors as embodied in one preferred embodiment in a global positioning system receiver. The method and receiver of the present invention estimates then compensates for multipath effects in a comprehensive manner. Application of deconvolution, along with other adaptive identification and estimation techniques, results in completely novel GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver architecture.

On the enhanced detectability of GPS anomalous behavior with relative entropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Jeongho

2016-10-01

A standard receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) technique for the global positioning system (GPS) has been dedicated to provide an integrity monitoring capability for safety-critical GPS applications, such as in civil aviation for the en-route (ER) through non-precision approach (NPA) or lateral navigation (LNAV). The performance of the existing RAIM method, however, may not meet more stringent aviation requirements for availability and integrity during the precision approach and landing phases of flight due to insufficient observables and/or untimely warning to the user beyond a specified time-to-alert in the event of a significant GPS failure. This has led to an enhanced RAIM architecture ensuring stricter integrity requirement by greatly decreasing the detection time when a satellite failure or a measurement error has occurred. We thus attempted to devise a user integrity monitor which is capable of identifying the GPS failure more rapidly than a standard RAIM scheme by incorporating the RAIM with the relative entropy, which is a likelihood ratio approach to assess the inconsistence between two data streams, quite different from a Euclidean distance. In addition, the delay-coordinate embedding technique needs to be considered and preprocessed to associate the discriminant measure obtained from the RAIM with the relative entropy in the new RAIM design. In simulation results, we demonstrate that the proposed user integrity monitor outperforms the standard RAIM with a higher level of detection rate of anomalies which could be hazardous to the users in the approach or landing phase and is a very promising alternative for the detection of deviations in GPS signal. The comparison also shows that it enables to catch even small anomalous gradients more rapidly than a typical user integrity monitor.

A simultaneously calibration approach for installation and attitude errors of an INS/GPS/LDS target tracker.

PubMed

Cheng, Jianhua; Chen, Daidai; Sun, Xiangyu; Wang, Tongda

2015-02-04

To obtain the absolute position of a target is one of the basic topics for non-cooperated target tracking problems. In this paper, we present a simultaneously calibration method for an Inertial navigation system (INS)/Global position system (GPS)/Laser distance scanner (LDS) integrated system based target positioning approach. The INS/GPS integrated system provides the attitude and position of observer, and LDS offers the distance between the observer and the target. The two most significant errors are taken into jointly consideration and analyzed: (1) the attitude measure error of INS/GPS; (2) the installation error between INS/GPS and LDS subsystems. Consequently, a INS/GPS/LDS based target positioning approach considering these two errors is proposed. In order to improve the performance of this approach, a novel calibration method is designed to simultaneously estimate and compensate these two main errors. Finally, simulations are conducted to access the performance of the proposed target positioning approach and the designed simultaneously calibration method.

High rate GPS positioning , JASON altimetry and marine gravimetry : monitoring the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) through the DRAKE campaigns.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melachroinos, S. A.; Biancale, R.; Menard, Y.; Sarrailh, M.

2008-12-01

The Drake campaign which took place from Jan 14, 2006 - 08 Feb, 2006 has been a very successful mission in collecting a wide range of GPS and marine gravity data all along JASON altimetry ground track n° 104. The same campaign will be repeated in 2009 along 028 and 104 JASON-2 ground track. The Drake Passage (DP) chokepoint is not only well suited geographically, as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is constricted to its narrowest extent of 700 km, but observations and models suggest that dynamical balances are particular effective in this area. Furthermore the space geodesy observations and their products provided from several altimetry missions (currently operating ENVISAT, JASON 1 and 2, GFO, ERS and other plannified for the future such as Altika, SWOT) require the cross comparison with independent geodetic techniques at the DP. The current experiment comprises a kinematic GPS and marine gravimetry Cal/Val geodetic approach and it aims to : validate with respect to altimetry data and surface models such a kinematic high frequency GPS technique for measuring sea state and sea surface height (SSH), compare the GPS SSH profiles with altimetry mean dynamic topography (MDT) and mean sea surface (MSS) models, give recommendations for future "offshore" Cal/Val activities on the ground tracks of altimeter satellites such as JASON-2, GFO, Altika using the GNSS technology etc. The GPS observations are collected from GPS antennas installed on a wave-rider buoy , aboard the R/V "Polarstern" and from continuous geodetic reference stations in the proximity. We also analyse problems related to the ship's attitude variations in roll, pitch and yaw and a way to correct them. We also give emphasis on the impact of the ship's acceleration profiles on the so called "squat effect" and ways to deal with it. The project will in particular benefit the GOCE mission by proposing to integrate GOCE in the ocean circulation study and validate GOCE products with our independent geodetic data set. The high rate GPS SSH solutions are derived using two different GPS kinematic software, GINS (CNES) and TRACK (MIT).

A comparison between different error modeling of MEMS applied to GPS/INS integrated systems.

PubMed

Quinchia, Alex G; Falco, Gianluca; Falletti, Emanuela; Dovis, Fabio; Ferrer, Carles

2013-07-24

Advances in the development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have made possible the fabrication of cheap and small dimension accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are being used in many applications where the global positioning system (GPS) and the inertial navigation system (INS) integration is carried out, i.e., identifying track defects, terrestrial and pedestrian navigation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stabilization of many platforms, etc. Although these MEMS sensors are low-cost, they present different errors, which degrade the accuracy of the navigation systems in a short period of time. Therefore, a suitable modeling of these errors is necessary in order to minimize them and, consequently, improve the system performance. In this work, the most used techniques currently to analyze the stochastic errors that affect these sensors are shown and compared: we examine in detail the autocorrelation, the Allan variance (AV) and the power spectral density (PSD) techniques. Subsequently, an analysis and modeling of the inertial sensors, which combines autoregressive (AR) filters and wavelet de-noising, is also achieved. Since a low-cost INS (MEMS grade) presents error sources with short-term (high-frequency) and long-term (low-frequency) components, we introduce a method that compensates for these error terms by doing a complete analysis of Allan variance, wavelet de-nosing and the selection of the level of decomposition for a suitable combination between these techniques. Eventually, in order to assess the stochastic models obtained with these techniques, the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) of a loosely-coupled GPS/INS integration strategy is augmented with different states. Results show a comparison between the proposed method and the traditional sensor error models under GPS signal blockages using real data collected in urban roadways.

A Comparison between Different Error Modeling of MEMS Applied to GPS/INS Integrated Systems

PubMed Central

Quinchia, Alex G.; Falco, Gianluca; Falletti, Emanuela; Dovis, Fabio; Ferrer, Carles

2013-01-01

Advances in the development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have made possible the fabrication of cheap and small dimension accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are being used in many applications where the global positioning system (GPS) and the inertial navigation system (INS) integration is carried out, i.e., identifying track defects, terrestrial and pedestrian navigation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stabilization of many platforms, etc. Although these MEMS sensors are low-cost, they present different errors, which degrade the accuracy of the navigation systems in a short period of time. Therefore, a suitable modeling of these errors is necessary in order to minimize them and, consequently, improve the system performance. In this work, the most used techniques currently to analyze the stochastic errors that affect these sensors are shown and compared: we examine in detail the autocorrelation, the Allan variance (AV) and the power spectral density (PSD) techniques. Subsequently, an analysis and modeling of the inertial sensors, which combines autoregressive (AR) filters and wavelet de-noising, is also achieved. Since a low-cost INS (MEMS grade) presents error sources with short-term (high-frequency) and long-term (low-frequency) components, we introduce a method that compensates for these error terms by doing a complete analysis of Allan variance, wavelet de-nosing and the selection of the level of decomposition for a suitable combination between these techniques. Eventually, in order to assess the stochastic models obtained with these techniques, the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) of a loosely-coupled GPS/INS integration strategy is augmented with different states. Results show a comparison between the proposed method and the traditional sensor error models under GPS signal blockages using real data collected in urban roadways. PMID:23887084

A signal strength priority based position estimation for mobile platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalgikar, Bhargav; Akopian, David; Chen, Philip

2010-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) products help to navigate while driving, hiking, boating, and flying. GPS uses a combination of orbiting satellites to determine position coordinates. This works great in most outdoor areas, but the satellite signals are not strong enough to penetrate inside most indoor environments. As a result, a new strain of indoor positioning technologies that make use of 802.11 wireless LANs (WLAN) is beginning to appear on the market. In WLAN positioning the system either monitors propagation delays between wireless access points and wireless device users to apply trilateration techniques or it maintains the database of location-specific signal fingerprints which is used to identify the most likely match of incoming signal data with those preliminary surveyed and saved in the database. In this paper we investigate the issue of deploying WLAN positioning software on mobile platforms with typically limited computational resources. We suggest a novel received signal strength rank order based location estimation system to reduce computational loads with a robust performance. The proposed system performance is compared to conventional approaches.

Regional model-based computerized ionospheric tomography using GPS measurements: IONOLAB-CIT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuna, Hakan; Arikan, Orhan; Arikan, Feza

2015-10-01

Three-dimensional imaging of the electron density distribution in the ionosphere is a crucial task for investigating the ionospheric effects. Dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite signals can be used to estimate the slant total electron content (STEC) along the propagation path between a GPS satellite and ground-based receiver station. However, the estimated GPS-STEC is very sparse and highly nonuniformly distributed for obtaining reliable 3-D electron density distributions derived from the measurements alone. Standard tomographic reconstruction techniques are not accurate or reliable enough to represent the full complexity of variable ionosphere. On the other hand, model-based electron density distributions are produced according to the general trends of ionosphere, and these distributions do not agree with measurements, especially for geomagnetically active hours. In this study, a regional 3-D electron density distribution reconstruction method, namely, IONOLAB-CIT, is proposed to assimilate GPS-STEC into physical ionospheric models. The proposed method is based on an iterative optimization framework that tracks the deviations from the ionospheric model in terms of F2 layer critical frequency and maximum ionization height resulting from the comparison of International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model-generated STEC and GPS-STEC. The suggested tomography algorithm is applied successfully for the reconstruction of electron density profiles over Turkey, during quiet and disturbed hours of ionosphere using Turkish National Permanent GPS Network.

Measuring the Earth to within an inch using GPS satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blewitt, Geoffrey

1992-01-01

A recently developed technique for “measuring the Earth” was demonstrated in 1991 using data from an experiment involving a world-wide network of receivers that track satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Recent results indicate that distances between points separated by as much as 10,000 km on the surface of the Earth can be determined at the 2 cm level, and that the position of the pole of rotation at the Earth's surface can be estimated daily to better than 2 cm. Achieving this level of accuracy in a reliable, economical way is an important step towards building our understanding of the Earth as a rotating, deforming body.Funded by NASA's Solid Earth Science Program, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory coordinated participation of many international institutions in a 3-week experiment in January-February 1991 called GPS for International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) and Geodynamics '91 (GIG'91). Twenty-one receivers developed by J PL and scores of commercial receivers were simultaneously deployed. Several independent groups around the world analyzed the data and presented results at meetings in the summer and fall of 1991.

High-resolution forest mapping for behavioural studies in the Nature Reserve ‘Les Nouragues’, French Guiana

PubMed Central

Ringler, Max; Mangione, Rosanna; Pašukonis, Andrius; Rainer, Gerhard; Gyimesi, Kristin; Felling, Julia; Kronaus, Hannes; Réjou-Méchain, Maxime; Chave, Jérôme; Reiter, Karl; Ringler, Eva

2015-01-01

For animals with spatially complex behaviours at relatively small scales, the resolution of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver location is often below the resolution needed to correctly map animals’ spatial behaviour. Natural conditions such as canopy cover, canyons or clouds can further degrade GPS receiver reception. Here we present a detailed, high-resolution map of a 4.6 ha Neotropical river island and a 8.3 ha mainland plot with the location of every tree >5 cm DBH and all structures on the forest floor, which are relevant to our study species, the territorial frog Allobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae). The map was derived using distance- and compass-based survey techniques, rooted on dGPS reference points, and incorporates altitudinal information based on a LiDAR survey of the area. PMID:27053943

A New Technique to Observe ENSO Activity via Ground-Based GPS Receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suparta, Wayan; Iskandar, Ahmad; Singh, Mandeep Singh Jit

In an attempt to study the effects of global climate change in the tropics for improving global climate model, this paper aims to detect the ENSO events, especially El Nino phase by using ground-based GPS receivers. Precipitable water vapor (PWV) obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology measurements in line with the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa) are used to connect their response to El Niño activity. The data gathered from four selected stations over the Southeast Asia, namely PIMO (Philippines), KUAL (Malaysia), NTUS (Singapore) and BAKO (Indonesia) for the year of 2009/2010 were processed. A strong correlation was observed for PIMO station with a correlation coefficient of -0.90, significantly at the 99 % confidence level. In general, the relationship between GPS PWV and SSTa at all stations on a weekly basis showed with a negative correlation. The negative correlation indicates that during the El Niño event, the PWV variation was in decreased trend. Decreased trend of PWV value is caused by a dry season that affected the GPS signals in the ocean-atmospheric coupling. Based on these promising results, we can propose that the ground-based GPS receiver is capable used to monitor ENSO activity and this is a new prospective method that previously unexplored.

GPs' considerations in multimorbidity management: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Luijks, Hilde D; Loeffen, Maartje J W; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine L; van Weel, Chris; Lucassen, Peter L; Schermer, Tjard R

2012-07-01

Scientific evidence on how to manage multimorbidity is limited, but GPs have extensive practical experience with multimorbidity management. To explore GPs' considerations and main objectives in the management of multimorbidity and to explore factors influencing their management of multimorbidity. Focus group study of Dutch GPs; with heterogeneity in characteristics such as sex, age and urbanisation. The moderator used an interview guide in conducting the interviews. Two researchers performed the analysis as an iterative process, based on verbatim transcripts and by applying the technique of constant comparative analysis. Data collection proceeded until saturation was reached. Five focus groups were conducted with 25 participating GPs. The main themes concerning multimorbidity management were individualisation, applying an integrated approach, medical considerations placed in perspective, and sharing decision making and responsibility. A personal patient-doctor relationship was considered a major factor positively influencing the management of multimorbidity. Mental-health problems and interacting conditions were regarded as major barriers in this respect and participants experienced several practical problems. The concept of patient-centredness overarches the participants' main objectives. GPs' main objective in multimorbidity management is applying a patient-centred approach. This approach is welcomed since it counteracts some potential pitfalls of multimorbidity. Further research should include a similar design in a different setting and should aim at developing best practice in multimorbidity management.

A New Indoor Positioning System Architecture Using GPS Signals.

PubMed

Xu, Rui; Chen, Wu; Xu, Ying; Ji, Shengyue

2015-04-29

The pseudolite system is a good alternative for indoor positioning systems due to its large coverage area and accurate positioning solution. However, for common Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, the pseudolite system requires some modifications of the user terminals. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a new pseudolite-based indoor positioning system architecture. The main idea is to receive real-world GPS signals, repeat each satellite signal and transmit those using indoor transmitting antennas. The transmitted GPS-like signal can be processed (signal acquisition and tracking, navigation data decoding) by the general receiver and thus no hardware-level modification on the receiver is required. In addition, all Tx can be synchronized with each other since one single clock is used in Rx/Tx. The proposed system is simulated using a software GPS receiver. The simulation results show the indoor positioning system is able to provide high accurate horizontal positioning in both static and dynamic situations.

Navigation: National Plans; NAVSTAR-GPS; Laser Gyros

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-31

REFERENC-~CP STER . TECHNICAL REPORT ! "NO. 12686,-’-. - NAVIGATION: NATIONAL PLANS ; NAVSTAR-GPS; LASER GYROS CONTRACT NO. DAAK30-80-C-0073 31 AUGUST...Technical ReportAW Ng. riiNational Plans ; Navstar-GPS; S... : NavstarGPS; a3 Sept 1980 - 31 Aug 1982 ....Lasr Gyros. 6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER PRA...identify by block number) Navigation Navigation Satellites Laser Gyros Position-Location . NAVSTAR-GPS Fiberoptic Gyros Planning Global Positioning System

Continuous monitoring of surface deformation at Long Valley Caldera, California, with GPS

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dixon, T.H.; Mao, A.; Bursik, M.; Heflin, M.; Langbein, J.; Stein, R.; Webb, F.

1997-01-01

Continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements at Long Valley Caldera, an active volcanic region in east central California, have been made on the south side of the resurgent dome since early 1993. A site on the north side of the dome was added in late 1994. Special adaptations for autonomous operation in remote regions and enhanced vertical precision were made. The data record ongoing volcanic deformation consistent with uplift and expansion of the surface above a shallow magma chamber. Measurement precisions (1 standard error) for "absolute" position coordinates, i.e., relative to a global reference frame, are 3-4 mm (north), 5-6 mm (east), and 10-12 mm (vertical) using 24 hour solutions. Corresponding velocity uncertainties for a 12 month period are about 2 mm/yr in the horizontal components and 3-4 mm/yr in the vertical component. High precision can also be achieved for relative position coordinates on short (<10 km) baselines using broadcast ephemerides and observing times as short as 3 hours, even when data are processed rapidly on site. Comparison of baseline length changes across the resurgent dome between the two GPS sites and corresponding two-color electronic distance measurements indicates similar extension rates within error (???2 mm/yr) once we account for a random walk noise component in both systems that may reflect spurious monument motion. Both data sets suggest a pause in deformation for a 3.5 month period in mid-1995, when the extension rate across the dome decreased essentially to zero. Three dimensional positioning data from the two GPS stations suggest a depth (5.8??1.6 km) and location (west side of the resurgent dome) of a major inflation center, in agreement with other geodetic techniques, near the top of a magma chamber inferred from seismic data. GPS systems similar to those installed at Long Valley can provide a practical method for near real-time monitoring and hazard assessment on many active volcanoes.

Analysis of meteorological variables in the Australasian region using ground- and space-based GPS techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuleshov, Yuriy; Choy, Suelynn; Fu, Erjiang Frank; Chane-Ming, Fabrice; Liou, Yuei-An; Pavelyev, Alexander G.

2016-07-01

Results of analysis of meteorological variables (temperature and moisture) in the Australasian region using the global positioning system (GPS) radio occultation (RO) and GPS ground-based observations verified with in situ radiosonde (RS) data are presented. The potential of using ground-based GPS observations for retrieving column integrated precipitable water vapour (PWV) over the Australian continent has been demonstrated using the Australian ground-based GPS reference stations network. Using data from the 15 ground-based GPS stations, the state of the atmosphere over Victoria during a significant weather event, the March 2010 Melbourne storm, has been investigated, and it has been shown that the GPS observations has potential for monitoring the movement of a weather front that has sharp moisture contrast. Temperature and moisture variability in the atmosphere over various climatic regions (the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, the Antarctic and Australia) has been examined using satellite-based GPS RO and in situ RS observations. Investigating recent atmospheric temperature trends over Antarctica, the time series of the collocated GPS RO and RS data were examined, and strong cooling in the lower stratosphere and warming through the troposphere over Antarctica has been identified, in agreement with outputs of climate models. With further expansion of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) system, it is expected that GNSS satellite- and ground-based measurements would be able to provide an order of magnitude larger amount of data which in turn could significantly advance weather forecasting services, climate monitoring and analysis in the Australasian region.

Mapping the Coastline Limits of the Mexican State Sinaloa Using GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vazquez, G. E.

2007-12-01

This research work presents the delimitation of the coastline limits of Sinaloa (one of the richest states of northwestern Mexico). In order to achieve this big task, it was required to use GPS (Global Positioning System) together with leveling spirit measurements. Based on the appropriate selection of the cited measurement techniques, the objective was to map the Sinaloa's state coastline to have the cartography of approximate 1600 km of littoral. The GPS measurements were performed and referred with respect to a GPS network located across the state. This GPS network consists of at least one first-order-site at each of the sixteen counties that constitute the state, and three to four second-order-sites of the ten counties of the state surrounded by sea. The leveling spirit measurements were referred to local benchmarks pre-established by the Mexican agency SEMARNAT (SEcretaría Del Medio Ambiente y Recursos NATurales). Within the main specifications of the GPS measurements and equipment, we used geodetic-dual-frequency GPS receivers in kinematic mode for both base stations (first and second order sites of the GPS state network) and rover stations (points forming the state littoral) with 5-sec log-rate interval and 10 deg cut-off angle. The GPS data processing was performed using the commercial software Trimble Geomatics Office (TGO) with Double Differences (DD) in post-processing mode. To this point, the field measurements had been totally covered including the cartography (scale 1:1000) and this includes the specifications and appropriate labeling according to the Mexican norm NOM-146-SEMARNAT-2005.

Analysis of High Temporal and Spatial Observations of Hurricane Joaquin During TCI-15

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Creasey, Robert; Elsberry, Russell L.; Velden, Chris; Cecil, Daniel J.; Bell, Michael; Hendricks, Eric A.

2016-01-01

Objectives: Provide an example of why analysis of high density soundings across Hurricane Joaquin also require highly accurate center positions; Describe technique for calculating 3-D zero-wind center positions from the highly accurate GPS positions of sequences of High-Density Sounding System (HDSS) soundings as they fall from 10 km to the ocean surface; Illustrate the vertical tilt of the vortex above 4-5 km during two center passes through Hurricane Joaquin on 4 October 2015.

Accuracy of velocities from repeated GPS surveys: relative positioning is concerned

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duman, Huseyin; Ugur Sanli, D.

2016-04-01

Over more than a decade, researchers have been interested in studying the accuracy of GPS positioning solutions. Recently, reporting the accuracy of GPS velocities has been added to this. Researchers studying landslide motion, tectonic motion, uplift, sea level rise, and subsidence still report results from GPS experiments in which repeated GPS measurements from short sessions are used. This motivated some other researchers to study the accuracy of GPS deformation rates/velocities from various repeated GPS surveys. In one of the efforts, the velocity accuracy was derived from repeated GPS static surveys using short observation sessions and Precise Point Positioning mode of GPS software. Velocities from short GPS sessions were compared with the velocities from 24 h sessions. The accuracy of velocities was obtained using statistical hypothesis testing and quantifying the accuracy of least squares estimation models. The results reveal that 45-60 % of the horizontal and none of the vertical solutions comply with the results from 24 h solutions. We argue that this case in which the data was evaluated using PPP should also apply to the case in which the data belonging to long GPS base lengths is processed using fundamental relative point positioning. To test this idea we chose the two IGS stations ANKR and NICO and derive their velocities from the reference stations held fixed in the stable EURASIAN plate. The University of Bern's GNSS software BERNESE was used to produce relative positioning solutions, and the results are compared with those of GIPSY/OASIS II PPP results. First impressions indicate that it is worth designing a global experiment and test these ideas in detail.

An Interdisciplinary Approach at Studying the Earth-Sun System with GPS/GNSS and GPS-like Signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zuffada, Cinzia; Hajj, George; Mannucci, Anthony J.; Chao, Yi; Ao, Chi; Zumberge, James

2005-01-01

The value of Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) measurements to atmospheric science, space physics, and ocean science, is now emerging or showing a potential to play a major role in the evolving programs of NASA, NSF and NOAA. The objective of this communication is to identify and articulate the key scientific questions that are optimally, or perhaps uniquely, addressed by GPS or GPS-like observations, and discuss their relevance to existing or planned national Earth-science research programs. The GPS-based ocean reflection experiments performed to date have demonstrated the precision and spatial resolution suitable to altimetric applications that require higher spatial resolution and more frequent repeat than the current radar altimeter satellites. GPS radio occultation is promising as a climate monitoring tool because of its benchmark properties: its raw observable is based on extremely accurate timing measurements. GPS-derived temperature profiles can provide meaningful climate trend information over decadal time scales without the need for overlapping missions or mission-to-mission calibrations. By acquiring data as GPS satellites occult behind the Earth's limb, GPS also provides high vertical resolution information on the vertical structure of electron density with global coverage. New experimental techniques will create more comprehensive TEC maps by using signals reflected from the oceans and received in orbit. This communication will discuss a potential future GNSS Earth Observing System project which would deploy a constellation of satellites using GPS and GPS-like measurements, to obtain a) topography measurements based on GPS reflections with an accuracy and horizontal resolution suitable for eddy monitoring, and h) climate-records quality atmospheric temperature profiles. The constellation would also provide for measurements of ionospheric elec tron density. This is a good example of an interdisciplinary mission concept, with broad science objectives of high societal relevance, al l resting on common cost-effective technology.

Dynamic Positioning at Sea Using the Global Positioning System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

the Global Positioning System (GPS) acquired in Phase II of the Seafloor Benchmark Experiment on R/V Point Sur in August 1986. CPS position...data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) acquired in Phase 11 of the Seafloor Benchmark Experiment on R,:V Point Sur in August 1986. GPS position...The Seafloor Benchmark Experiment, a project of the Hydrographic Sciences Group of the Oceanography Department at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS

GPS dependencies in the transportation sector : an inventory of Global Positioning System dependencies in the transportation sector, best practices for improved robustness of GPS devices, and potential alternative solutions for positioning, navigation and

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

The John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) was asked by the NOAA Office of Space Commercialization to analyze dependencies on Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services within the U...

USGS Menlo Park GPS Data Processing Techniques and Derived North America Velocity Field (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svarc, J. L.; Murray-Moraleda, J. R.; Langbein, J. O.

2010-12-01

The U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park routinely conducts repeated GPS surveys of geodetic markers throughout the western United States using dual-frequency geodetic GPS receivers. We combine campaign, continuous, and semi-permanent data to present a North America fixed velocity field for regions in the western United States. Mobile campaign-based surveys require less up-front investment than permanently monumented and telemetered GPS systems, and hence have achieved a broad and dense spatial coverage. The greater flexibility and mobility comes at the cost of greater uncertainties in individual daily position solutions. We also routinely process continuous GPS data collected at PBO stations operated by UNAVCO along with data from other continuous GPS networks such as BARD, PANGA, and CORS operated by other agencies. We have broken the Western US into several subnetworks containing approximately 150-250 stations each. The data are processed using JPL’s GIPSY-OASIS II release 5.0 software using a modified precise positioning strategy (Zumberge and others, 1997). We use the “ambizap” code provided by Geoff Blewitt (Blewitt, 2008) to fix phase ambiguities in continuous networks. To mitigate the effect of common mode noise we use the positions of stations in the network with very long, clean time series (i.e. those with no large outliers or offsets) to transform all position estimates into “regionally filtered” results following the approach of Hammond and Thatcher (2007). Velocity uncertainties from continuously operated GPS stations tend to be about 3 times smaller than those from campaign data. Langbein (2004) presents a maximum likelihood method for fitting a time series employing a variety of temporal noise models. We assume that GPS observations are contaminated by a combination of white, flicker, and random walk noise. For continuous and semi-permanent time series longer than 2 years we estimate these values, otherwise we fix the amplitudes of these processes to 0.85 mm, 1.7 mm/yr1/4, and 0.4 mm/yr1/2 respectively for the north components, 0.84 mm, 1.4 mm/yr1/4, and 0.6 mm/yr1/2 respectively for the east components and 3.2 mm, 6.4 mm/yr1/4, and 0.0 mm/yr1/2 respectively for the vertical. We have also deployed “semi-permanent” stations in selected regions of California. Semi-permanent stations have the advantage of increasing the density of coverage without the high cost of monumentation and telemetry associated with continuous GPS stations. Also, because of the increased temporal coverage of these stations, accurate estimates of station velocities can be achieved in a far shorter time period than from campaign mode surveys.

Analysis of Site Position Time Series Derived From Space Geodetic Solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angermann, D.; Meisel, B.; Kruegel, M.; Tesmer, V.; Miller, R.; Drewes, H.

2003-12-01

This presentation deals with the analysis of station coordinate time series obtained from VLBI, SLR, GPS and DORIS solutions. We also present time series for the origin and scale derived from these solutions and discuss their contribution to the realization of the terrestrial reference frame. For these investigations we used SLR and VLBI solutions computed at DGFI with the software systems DOGS (SLR) and OCCAM (VLBI). The GPS and DORIS time series were obtained from weekly station coordinates solutions provided by the IGS, and from the joint DORIS analysis center (IGN-JPL). We analysed the time series with respect to various aspects, such as non-linear motions, periodic signals and systematic differences (biases). A major focus is on a comparison of the results at co-location sites in order to identify technique- and/or solution related problems. This may also help to separate and quantify possible effects, and to understand the origin of still existing discrepancies. Technique-related systematic effects (biases) should be reduced to the highest possible extent, before using the space geodetic solutions for a geophysical interpretation of seasonal signals in site position time series.

Precise Point Positioning Based on BDS and GPS Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, ZhouZheng; Zhang, Hongping; Shen, Wenbin

2014-05-01

BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has obtained the ability applying initial navigation and precise point services for the Asian-Pacific regions at the end of 2012 with the constellation of 5 Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), 5 Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO) and 4 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). Till 2020, it will consist with 5 GEO, 3 IGSO and 27 MEO, and apply global navigation service similar to GPS and GLONASS. As we known, GPS precise point positioning (PPP) is a powerful tool for crustal deformation monitoring, GPS meteorology, orbit determination of low earth orbit satellites, high accuracy kinematic positioning et al. However, it accuracy and convergence time are influenced by the quality of pseudo-range observations and the observing geometry between user and Global navigation satellites system (GNSS) satellites. Usually, it takes more than 30 minutes even hours to obtain centimeter level position accuracy for PPP while using GPS dual-frequency observations only. In recent years, many researches have been done to solve this problem. One of the approaches is smooth pseudo-range by carrier-phase observations to improve pseudo-range accuracy. By which can improve PPP initial position accuracy and shorten PPP convergence time. Another sachems is to change position dilution of precision (PDOP) with multi-GNSS observations. Now, BDS has the ability to service whole Asian-Pacific regions, which make it possible to use GPS and BDS for precise positioning. In addition, according to researches on GNSS PDOP distribution, BDS can improve PDOP obviously. Therefore, it necessary to do some researches on PPP performance using both GPS observations and BDS observations, especially in Asian-Pacific regions currently. In this paper, we focus on the influences of BDS to GPS PPP mainly in three terms including BDS PPP accuracy, PDOP improvement and convergence time of PPP based on GPS and BDS observations. Here, the GPS and BDS two-constellation data are collected from BeiDou experimental tracking stations (BETS) built by Wuhan University. And BDS precise orbit and precise clock products are applied by GNSS center, Wuhan University. After an introduction about GPS+BDS PPP mathematical and the error correction modes, we analyze the influence of BDS to GPS PPP carefully with calculating results. The statistics results show that BDS PPP can reach centimeter level and BDS can improve PDOP obviously. Moreover, the convergence time and position stability of GPS+BDS PPP is better than that of GPS PPP.

Precision Farming and Precision Pest Management: The Power of New Crop Production Technologies

PubMed Central

Strickland, R. Mack; Ess, Daniel R.; Parsons, Samuel D.

1998-01-01

The use of new technologies including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Global Positioning System (GPS), Variable Rate Technology (VRT), and Remote Sensing (RS) is gaining acceptance in the present high-technology, precision agricultural industry. GIS provides the ability to link multiple data values for the same geo-referenced location, and provides the user with a graphical visualization of such data. When GIS is coupled with GPS and RS, management decisions can be applied in a more precise "micro-managed" manner by using VRT techniques. Such technology holds the potential to reduce agricultural crop production costs as well as crop and environmental damage. PMID:19274236

The application of GPS precise point positioning technology in aerial triangulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Xiuxiao; Fu, Jianhong; Sun, Hongxing; Toth, Charles

In traditional GPS-supported aerotriangulation, differential GPS (DGPS) positioning technology is used to determine the 3-dimensional coordinates of the perspective centers at exposure time with an accuracy of centimeter to decimeter level. This method can significantly reduce the number of ground control points (GCPs). However, the establishment of GPS reference stations for DGPS positioning is not only labor-intensive and costly, but also increases the implementation difficulty of aerial photography. This paper proposes aerial triangulation supported with GPS precise point positioning (PPP) as a way to avoid the use of the GPS reference stations and simplify the work of aerial photography. Firstly, we present the algorithm for GPS PPP in aerial triangulation applications. Secondly, the error law of the coordinate of perspective centers determined using GPS PPP is analyzed. Thirdly, based on GPS PPP and aerial triangulation software self-developed by the authors, four sets of actual aerial images taken from surveying and mapping projects, different in both terrain and photographic scale, are given as experimental models. The four sets of actual data were taken over a flat region at a scale of 1:2500, a mountainous region at a scale of 1:3000, a high mountainous region at a scale of 1:32000 and an upland region at a scale of 1:60000 respectively. In these experiments, the GPS PPP results were compared with results obtained through DGPS positioning and traditional bundle block adjustment. In this way, the empirical positioning accuracy of GPS PPP in aerial triangulation can be estimated. Finally, the results of bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from GPS PPP are analyzed in detail. The empirical results show that GPS PPP applied in aerial triangulation has a systematic error of half-meter level and a stochastic error within a few decimeters. However, if a suitable adjustment solution is adopted, the systematic error can be eliminated in GPS-supported bundle block adjustment. When four full GCPs are emplaced in the corners of the adjustment block, then the systematic error is compensated using a set of independent unknown parameters for each strip, the final result of the bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from PPP is the same as that of bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from DGPS. Although the accuracy of the former is a little lower than that of traditional bundle block adjustment with dense GCPs, it can still satisfy the accuracy requirement of photogrammetric point determination for topographic mapping at many scales.

The Global Positioning System and Its Integration into College Geography Curricula.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wikle, Thomas A.; Lambert, Dean P.

1996-01-01

Introduces global positioning system (GPS) technology to nonspecialist geographers and recommends a framework for implementing GPS instructional modules in college geography courses. GPS was developed as a worldwide satellite-based system by the U.S. Department of Defense to simplify and improve military and civilian navigation and positioning.…

Evaluation of the Time and Frequency Transfer Capabilities of a Network of GNSS Receivers Located in Timing Laboratories

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

metrology, different techniques are used for time and frequency transfer, basically TWSTFT (Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer), GPS CV (Common...traditional GPS/GLONASS CV/AV receivers and TWSTFT equipment. Time and frequency transfer using GPS code and carrier-phase is an important...or mixing GPS geodetic results with other independent techniques, such as the TWSTFT . 41 st Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI

Precise Positioning of Uavs - Dealing with Challenging Rtk-Gps Measurement Conditions during Automated Uav Flights

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, F.; Eling, C.; Klingbeil, L.; Kuhlmann, H.

2017-08-01

For some years now, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are commonly used for different mobile mapping applications, such as in the fields of surveying, mining or archeology. To improve the efficiency of these applications an automation of the flight as well as the processing of the collected data is currently aimed at. One precondition for an automated mapping with UAVs is that the georeferencing is performed directly with cm-accuracies or better. Usually, a cm-accurate direct positioning of UAVs is based on an onboard multi-sensor system, which consists of an RTK-capable (real-time kinematic) GPS (global positioning system) receiver and additional sensors (e.g. inertial sensors). In this case, the absolute positioning accuracy essentially depends on the local GPS measurement conditions. Especially during mobile mapping applications in urban areas, these conditions can be very challenging, due to a satellite shadowing, non-line-of sight receptions, signal diffraction or multipath effects. In this paper, two straightforward and easy to implement strategies will be described and analyzed, which improve the direct positioning accuracies for UAV-based mapping and surveying applications under challenging GPS measurement conditions. Based on a 3D model of the surrounding buildings and vegetation in the area of interest, a GPS geometry map is determined, which can be integrated in the flight planning process, to avoid GPS challenging environments as far as possible. If these challenging environments cannot be avoided, the GPS positioning solution is improved by using obstruction adaptive elevation masks, to mitigate systematic GPS errors in the RTK-GPS positioning. Simulations and results of field tests demonstrate the profit of both strategies.

A simplex method for the orbit determination of maneuvering satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, JianRong; Li, JunFeng; Wang, XiJing; Zhu, Jun; Wang, DanNa

2018-02-01

A simplex method of orbit determination (SMOD) is presented to solve the problem of orbit determination for maneuvering satellites subject to small and continuous thrust. The objective function is established as the sum of the nth powers of the observation errors based on global positioning satellite (GPS) data. The convergence behavior of the proposed method is analyzed using a range of initial orbital parameter errors and n values to ensure the rapid and accurate convergence of the SMOD. For an uncontrolled satellite, the orbit obtained by the SMOD provides a position error compared with GPS data that is commensurate with that obtained by the least squares technique. For low Earth orbit satellite control, the precision of the acceleration produced by a small pulse thrust is less than 0.1% compared with the calibrated value. The orbit obtained by the SMOD is also compared with weak GPS data for a geostationary Earth orbit satellite over several days. The results show that the position accuracy is within 12.0 m. The working efficiency of the electric propulsion is about 67% compared with the designed value. The analyses provide the guidance for subsequent satellite control. The method is suitable for orbit determination of maneuvering satellites subject to small and continuous thrust.

The Performance Analysis of a Real-Time Integrated INS/GPS Vehicle Navigation System with Abnormal GPS Measurement Elimination

PubMed Central

Chiang, Kai-Wei; Duong, Thanh Trung; Liao, Jhen-Kai

2013-01-01

The integration of an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) is common in mobile mapping and navigation applications to seamlessly determine the position, velocity, and orientation of the mobile platform. In most INS/GPS integrated architectures, the GPS is considered to be an accurate reference with which to correct for the systematic errors of the inertial sensors, which are composed of biases, scale factors and drift. However, the GPS receiver may produce abnormal pseudo-range errors mainly caused by ionospheric delay, tropospheric delay and the multipath effect. These errors degrade the overall position accuracy of an integrated system that uses conventional INS/GPS integration strategies such as loosely coupled (LC) and tightly coupled (TC) schemes. Conventional tightly coupled INS/GPS integration schemes apply the Klobuchar model and the Hopfield model to reduce pseudo-range delays caused by ionospheric delay and tropospheric delay, respectively, but do not address the multipath problem. However, the multipath effect (from reflected GPS signals) affects the position error far more significantly in a consumer-grade GPS receiver than in an expensive, geodetic-grade GPS receiver. To avoid this problem, a new integrated INS/GPS architecture is proposed. The proposed method is described and applied in a real-time integrated system with two integration strategies, namely, loosely coupled and tightly coupled schemes, respectively. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, field tests with various scenarios are conducted and the results are compared with a reliable reference system. PMID:23955434

Global Positioning System: Observations on Quarterly Reports from the Air Force

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-17

Positioning System : Observations on Quarterly Reports from the Air Force The satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) provides positioning, navigation...infrastructure, and transportation safety. The Department of Defense (DOD)—specifically, the Air Force—develops and operates the GPS system , which...programs, including the most recent detailed assessment of the next generation operational control system (OCX) and development of military GPS

Validation of ionospheric electron density profiles inferred from GPS occultation observations of the GPS/MET experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawakami, Todd Mori

In April of 1995, the launch of the GPS Meteorology Experiment (GPS/MET) onboard the Orbview-1 satellite, formerly known as Microlab-1, provided the first technology demonstration of active limb sounding of the Earth's atmosphere with a low Earth orbiting spacecraft utilizing the signals transmitted by the satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Though the experiment's primary mission was to probe the troposphere and stratosphere, GPS/MET was also capable of making radio occultation observations of the ionosphere. The application of the GPS occultation technique to the upper atmosphere created a unique opportunity to conduct ionospheric research with an unprecedented global distribution of observations. For operational support requirements, the Abel transform could be employed to invert the horizontal TEC profiles computed from the L1 and L2 phase measurements observed by GPS/MET into electron density profiles versus altitude in near real time. The usefulness of the method depends on how effectively the TEC limb profiles can be transformed into vertical electron density profiles. An assessment of GPS/MET's ability to determine electron density profiles needs to be examined to validate the significance of the GPS occultation method as a new and complementary ionospheric research tool to enhance the observational databases and improve space weather modeling and forecasting. To that end, simulations of the occultation observations and their inversions have been conducted to test the Abel transform algorithm and to provide qualitative information about the type and range of errors that might be experienced during the processing of real data. Comparisons of the electron density profiles inferred from real GPS/MET observations are then compared with coincident in situ measurements from the satellites of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and ground-based remote sensing from digisonde and incoherent scatter radar facilities. The principal focus of this study is the validation of the electron density profiles inferred from GPS occultation observations using the Abel transform.

Phase Correction for GPS Antenna with Nonunique Phase Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, Patrick W.; Dobbins, Justin

2005-01-01

A method of determining the position and attitude of a body equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver includes an accounting for the location of the nonunique phase center of a distributed or wraparound GPS antenna. The method applies, more specifically, to the case in which (1) the GPS receiver utilizes measurements of the phases of GPS carrier signals in its position and attitude computations and (2) the body is axisymmetric (e.g., spherical or round cylindrical) and wrapped at its equator with a single- or multiple-element antenna, the radiation pattern of which is also axisymmetric with the same axis of symmetry as that of the body.

Improvements in GPS precision: 10 Hz to one day

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Kyuhong

Seeking to understand Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements and the positioning solutions in various time intervals, this dissertation improves the consistency of pseudorange measurements from different receiver types, processes 30 s interval data with optimized filtering techniques, and analyzes very-high-rate data with short arc lengths and baseline noise. The first project studies satellite-dependent biases between C/A and P1 codes. Calibrating these biases reduces the inconsistency of satellite clocks, improving the ambiguity resolution which allows for higher position precision. Receiver-dependent biases for two receivers are compared with the bias products of Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE). Baseline lengths ranging up to ˜2,100km are tested with the receiver-specific biases; they resolve more phase ambiguity by 4.3% than using CODE's products. The second project analyzes 1 s and 30 s interval GPS data of the 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake. For 1 Hz positioning, Iterative Tropospheric Estimation (ITE) method improves vertical precision. While equalized sidereal filtering reduces noise for multipath-dominant 30--300 s periods, it can cause long-term drifts in the timeseries. A study of postseismic deformation after the Tokachi-Oki earthquake uses 30 s interval position estimations to test multiple filtering strategies to maximize precision using lower-rate data. On top of the residual stacking, estimation of a random walk constraint of sigmaDelta = 1.80 cm/ hr shows maximum noise reduction capability while retaining the real deformation signal. These techniques enhance our grasp of fault response in the aftermath of great earthquakes. The third project probes noise floor characteristics of very-high-rate (> 1 Hz) GPS data. A hybrid method, designed and tested to resolve phase biases, minimizes computational burdens while keeping the quality of ambiguity-fixed solutions. Noise characteristics are compared after an analysis of 5 and 10 Hz Ashtech MicroZ and ZFX as well as Trimble NetRS receivers. The Trimble NetRS receiver noise has a timeseries standard deviation double that of Ashtech MicroZ receivers. Also, the power spectral density function has a 0.1 Hz peak. Noise power shows white noise for the frequency range from 2 Hz and higher. Each research project assesses the methods to reduce the noises and/or biases in various time intervals. Each method considered in this dissertation will fulfill the needs for scientific applications.

Retained satellite information influences performance of GPS devices in a forested ecosystem

Treesearch

Katie M. Moriarty; Clinton W. Epps

2015-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) units used in animal telemetry often suffer from nonrandom data loss and location error. GPS units use stored satellite information to estimate locations, including almanac and ephemeris data reflecting satellite positions at weekly and at <4-hr temporal scales, respectively. Using the smallest GPS collars (45–51 g) available for...

Positioning performance of the NTCM model driven by GPS Klobuchar model parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoque, Mohammed Mainul; Jakowski, Norbert; Berdermann, Jens

2018-03-01

Users of the Global Positioning System (GPS) utilize the Ionospheric Correction Algorithm (ICA) also known as Klobuchar model for correcting ionospheric signal delay or range error. Recently, we developed an ionosphere correction algorithm called NTCM-Klobpar model for single frequency GNSS applications. The model is driven by a parameter computed from GPS Klobuchar model and consecutively can be used instead of the GPS Klobuchar model for ionospheric corrections. In the presented work we compare the positioning solutions obtained using NTCM-Klobpar with those using the Klobuchar model. Our investigation using worldwide ground GPS data from a quiet and a perturbed ionospheric and geomagnetic activity period of 17 days each shows that the 24-hour prediction performance of the NTCM-Klobpar is better than the GPS Klobuchar model in global average. The root mean squared deviation of the 3D position errors are found to be about 0.24 and 0.45 m less for the NTCM-Klobpar compared to the GPS Klobuchar model during quiet and perturbed condition, respectively. The presented algorithm has the potential to continuously improve the accuracy of GPS single frequency mass market devices with only little software modification.

Mapping stream habitats with a global positioning system: Accuracy, precision, and comparison with traditional methods

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dauwalter, D.C.; Fisher, W.L.; Belt, K.C.

2006-01-01

We tested the precision and accuracy of the Trimble GeoXT??? global positioning system (GPS) handheld receiver on point and area features and compared estimates of stream habitat dimensions (e.g., lengths and areas of riffles and pools) that were made in three different Oklahoma streams using the GPS receiver and a tape measure. The precision of differentially corrected GPS (DGPS) points was not affected by the number of GPS position fixes (i.e., geographic location estimates) averaged per DGPS point. Horizontal error of points ranged from 0.03 to 2.77 m and did not differ with the number of position fixes per point. The error of area measurements ranged from 0.1% to 110.1% but decreased as the area increased. Again, error was independent of the number of position fixes averaged per polygon corner. The estimates of habitat lengths, widths, and areas did not differ when measured using two methods of data collection (GPS and a tape measure), nor did the differences among methods change at three stream sites with contrasting morphologies. Measuring features with a GPS receiver was up to 3.3 times faster on average than using a tape measure, although signal interference from high streambanks or overhanging vegetation occasionally limited satellite signal availability and prolonged measurements with a GPS receiver. There were also no differences in precision of habitat dimensions when mapped using a continuous versus a position fix average GPS data collection method. Despite there being some disadvantages to using the GPS in stream habitat studies, measuring stream habitats with a GPS resulted in spatially referenced data that allowed the assessment of relative habitat position and changes in habitats over time, and was often faster than using a tape measure. For most spatial scales of interest, the precision and accuracy of DGPS data are adequate and have logistical advantages when compared to traditional methods of measurement. ?? 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Positional and Dimensional Accuracy Assessment of Drone Images Geo-referenced with Three Different GPSs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, C.; Lee, X.; Xu, J.

2017-12-01

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones have been widely used in environmental, ecological and engineering applications in recent years. These applications require assessment of positional and dimensional accuracy. In this study, positional accuracy refers to the accuracy of the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of locations on the mosaicked image in reference to the coordinates of the same locations measured by a Global Positioning System (GPS) in a ground survey, and dimensional accuracy refers to length and height of a ground target. Here, we investigate the effects of the number of Ground Control Points (GCPs) and the accuracy of the GPS used to measure the GCPs on positional and dimensional accuracy of a drone 3D model. Results show that using on-board GPS and a hand-held GPS produce a positional accuracy on the order of 2-9 meters. In comparison, using a differential GPS with high accuracy (30 cm) improves the positional accuracy of the drone model by about 40 %. Increasing the number of GCPs can compensate for the uncertainty brought by the GPS equipment with low accuracy. In terms of the dimensional accuracy of the drone model, even with the use of a low resolution GPS onboard the vehicle, the mean absolute errors are only 0.04 m for height and 0.10 m for length, which are well suited for some applications in precision agriculture and in land survey studies.

Carrier phase ambiguity resolution for the Global Positioning System applied to geodetic baselines up to 2000 km

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blewitt, Geoffrey

1989-01-01

A technique for resolving the ambiguities in the GPS carrier phase data (which are biased by an integer number of cycles) is described which can be applied to geodetic baselines up to 2000 km in length and can be used with dual-frequency P code receivers. The results of such application demonstrated that a factor of 3 improvement in baseline accuracy could be obtained, giving centimeter-level agreement with coordinates inferred by very-long-baseline interferometry in the western United States. It was found that a method using pseudorange data is more reliable than one using ionospheric constraints for baselines longer than 200 km. It is recommended that future GPS networks have a wide spectrum of baseline lengths (ranging from baselines shorter than 100 km to those longer than 1000 km) and that GPS receivers be used which can acquire dual-frequency P code data.

Unprecented syntonization and syncronization accuracy via simultaneous viewing with GPS receivers: Construction characteristics of an NBS/GPS receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, D. D.; Weiss, M.; Clements, A.; Allan, D. W.

1982-01-01

The National Bureau of Standards/Global Positioning System (NBS/GPS) receiver is discussed. It is designed around the concept of obtaining high accuracy, low cost time and frequency comparisons between remote frequency standards and clocks with the intent to aid international time and frequency coordination. Preliminary tests of this comparison technique between Boulder, CO and Washington, D.C indicate the ability to do accurate time transfer to better that 10 ns, and frequency measurements to better than 1 part in 10 to the 14th power. The hardware and software of the receiver is detailed. The receiver is fully automatic with a built-in 0.1 ns resolution time interval counter. A microprocessor does data processing. Satellite signal stabilities are routinely at the 5 ns level for 15 s averages, and the internal receiver stabilities are at the 1 ns level.

Safety Arguments for Next Generation, Location Aware Computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, C. W.; Holloway, C. M.

2010-01-01

Concerns over accuracy, availability, integrity, and continuity have limited the integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) for safety-critical applications. More recent augmentation systems, such as the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and the North American Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) have begun to address these concerns. Augmentation architectures build on the existing GPS/GLONASS infrastructures to support location based services in Safety of Life (SoL) applications. Much of the technical development has been directed by air traffic management requirements, in anticipation of the more extensive support to be offered by GPS III and Galileo. WAAS has already been approved to provide vertical guidance for aviation applications. During the next twelve months, the full certification of EGNOS for SoL applications is expected. This paper discusses similarities and differences between the safety assessment techniques used in Europe and North America.

Improvement of the Asia-Pacific TWSTFT network solutions by using DPN results.

PubMed

Lin, Huang-Tien; Huang, Yi-Jiun; Liao, Chia-Shu; Chu, Fang-Dar; Tseng, Wen-Hung

2012-03-01

Two major time and frequency transfer techniques, two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS: GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, etc.), are used for the generation of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)/International Atomic Time (TAI). These time and frequency transfer links comprise a worldwide network and the utilization of the highly redundant time and frequency data is an important topic. Two methods, either TW-only network (i.e., TWSTFT) or single-link combination of TW and Global Positioning System (GPS), have been developed for combining the redundant data from different techniques. In our previous study, we have proposed a feasible method, utilizing full time-transfer network data, to improve the results of TWSTFT network. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has recently developed a software-based two-way time-transfer modem using a dual pseudo-random noise (DPN) signal. The first international DPN TWSTFT experiment, using these modems, was performed between NICT (Japan) and Telecommunication Laboratories (TL; Taiwan)and its ability to improve the time transfer precision was demonstrated. In comparison with the conventional NICT–TLTWSTFT link, the DPN time transfer results have higher precision and lower diurnal effects. The estimation also shows that DPN is comparable to GPS precise point positioning (PPP).Because the DPN results show better performance than the conventional TWSTFT results, we would adopt the DPN data for the NICT–TL link and solve the TW+DPN network solutions by using our proposed method. The concept of this application is similar to the so-called multi-technique-network time/frequency transfer. The encouraging results confirm that the TWSTFT network performance can benefit from DPN data by improving short-term stabilities and reducing diurnal effects.The results of TW+PPP network solutions are also illustrated.

Lessons Learned from Two Years of On-Orbit Global Positioning System Experience on International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gomez, Susan F.; Lammers, Michael L.

2004-01-01

The Global Positioning System Subsystem (GPS) for International Space Station (ISS) was activated April 12,2002 following the installation of the SO truss segment that included the GPS antennas on Shuttle mission STS-110. The ISS GPS receiver became the primary source for position, velocity, and attitude information for ISS two days after activation. The GPS receiver also provides a time reference for manual control of ISS time, and will be used for automatic time updates after problems are resolved with the output from the receiver. After two years of on-orbit experience, the GPS continues to be used as the primary navigation source for ISS; however, enough problems have surfaced that the firmware in the GPS attitude code has had to be totally rewritten and new algorithms developed, the firmware that processed the time output from the GPS receiver had to be rewritten, while the GPS navigation code has had minor revisions. The factors contributing to the delivery of a GPS receiver for use on ISS that requires extensive operator intervention to function are discussed. Observations from two years worth of GPS solutions will also be discussed. The technical solutions to the anomalous GPS receiver behavior will be discussed.

Global Positioning System (GPS) civil signal monitoring (CSM) trade study report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-03-07

This GPS Civil Signal Monitoring (CSM) Trade Study has been performed at the direction of DOT/FAA Navigation Programs as the agency of reference for consolidating civil monitoring requirements on the Global Positioning System (GPS). The objective of ...

A Comparison of Off-Level Correction Techniques for Airborne Gravity using GRAV-D Re-Flights

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preaux, S. A.; Melachroinos, S.; Diehl, T. M.

2011-12-01

The airborne gravity data collected for the GRAV-D project contain a number of tracks which have been flown multiple times, either by design or due to data collection issues. Where viable data can be retrieved, these re-flights are a valuable resource not only for assessing the quality of the data but also for evaluating the relative effectiveness of various processing techniques. Correcting for the instantaneous misalignment of the gravimeter sensitive axis with local vertical has been a long standing challenge for stable platform airborne gravimetry. GRAV-D re-flights are used to compare the effectiveness of existing methods of computing this off-level correction (Valliant 1991, Peters and Brozena 1995, Swain 1996, etc.) and to assess the impact of possible modifications to these methods including pre-filtering accelerations, use of IMU horizontal accelerations in place of those derived from GPS positions and accurately compensating for GPS lever-arm and attitude effects prior to computing accelerations from the GPS positions (Melachroinos et al. 2010, B. de Saint-Jean, et al. 2005). The resulting corrected gravity profiles are compared to each other and to EGM08 in order to assess the accuracy and precision of each method. Preliminary results indicate that the methods presented in Peters & Brozena 1995 and Valliant 1991 completely correct the off-level error some of the time but only partially correct it others, while introducing an overall bias to the data of -0.5 to -2 mGal.

Geodetic point positioning with GPS (Global Positioning System) carrier beat phase data from the CASA (Central and South America) Uno experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Malys, S.; Jensen, P.A.

1990-04-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier beat phase data collected by the TI4100 GPS receiver has been successfully utilized by the US Defense Mapping Agency in an algorithm which is designed to estimate individual absolute geodetic point positions from data collected over a few hours. The algorithm uses differenced data from one station and two to four GPS satellites at a series of epochs separated by 30 second intervals. The precise GPS ephemerides and satellite clock states, held fixed in the estimation process, are those estimated by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). Broadcast ephemerides and clock states are alsomore » utilized for comparative purposes. An outline of the data corrections applied, the mathematical model and the estimation algorithm are presented. Point positioning results and statistics are presented for a globally-distributed set of stations which contributed to the CASA Uno experiment. Statistical assessment of 114 GPS point positions at 11 CASA Uno stations indicates that the overall standard deviation of a point position component, estimated from a few hours of data, is 73 centimeters. Solution of the long line geodetic inverse problem using repeated point positions such as these can potentially offer a new tool for those studying geodynamics on a global scale.« less

A mobile mapping system for spatial information based on DGPS/EGIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Ling; Wang, Qing; Gu, Juan

2007-11-01

With the rapid developments of mobile device and wireless communication, it brings a new challenge for acquiring the spatial information. A mobile mapping system based on differential global position system (DGPS) integrated with embedded geographic information system (EGIS) is designed. A mobile terminal adapts to various GPS differential environments such as single base mode and network GPS mode like Virtual Reference Station (VRS) and Master- Auxiliary Concept (MAC) by the mobile communication technology. The spatial information collected through DGPS is organized in an EGIS running in the embedded device. A set of mobile terminal in real-time DGPS based on GPRS adopting multithreading technique of serial port in manner of simulating overlapped I/O operating is developed, further more, the GPS message analysis and checkout based on Strategy Pattern for various receivers are included in the process of development. A mobile terminal accesses to the GPS network successfully by NTRIP (Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol) compliance. Finally, the accuracy and reliability of the mobile mapping system are proved by a lot of testing in 9 provinces all over the country.

Performance Analysis of Web-Based Ppp Services with DİFFERENT Visibility Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albayrak, M.; Erkaya, H.; Ozludemir, M. T.; Ocalan, T.

2016-12-01

GNSS is being used effectively to precise position for many measuring and geodetic purposes at the present time. There is an increasing variety of these systems including the post-processing calculations in terms of number, quality and features and many different techniques are developed to determine position. Precise positioning intend to derive requires user experience and scientific or commercial software with costly license fees. However, in recent years important alternatives to this software that are user friendly and offer free web-based online precise point positioning service have become widely used in geodetic applications. The aim of this study is to test the performance of PPP techniques on ground control points with different visibility conditions. Within this framework, static observations were carried out for three hours a day repeatedly for six days, in YTU Davutpasa Campus on three different ground control points. The locations of these stations were selected by taking into account the impact of natural (trees, etc.) and artificial (buildings, etc.) obstacles. In order to compare the obtained GPS observations with PPP performances, first of all the accurate coordinates of the control points were computed with relative positioning technique in connection with the IGS stations using Bernese v5.0 software. Afterwards, three different web-based positioning services (CSRS-PPP, magicGNSS, GAPS) were used to analyze the GPS observations via PPP technique. To compare all of the obtained results, ITRF2008 datum measurement epoch coordinates were preferred by taking the service result criteria into consideration. In coordinate comparison, for the first station located nearby a building and possibly subjected to multipath effect horizontal discrepancies vary between 2-14.5 cm while vertical differences are between 3.5-16 cm. For the second point located partly in a forestry area, the discrepancies have been obtained as 1.5-8 cm and 2-10 cm for horizontal and vertical components, respectively. For the third point located in an area with no obstacles, 1.5-7 cm horizontal and 1-7 cm vertical differences have been obtained. The results show that the PPP technique could be used effectively in several positioning applications.

Nearshore Sea Clutter Measurements from a Fixed Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-01

Water (MLL W) datum. 7. GPS Two differential GPS units, Magellan ProMark 3.0, were utilized to determine precise differences in position between the...8 Figure 8. (a) Trihedral configuration on the small boat and position of the GPS and IMU sensors. (b) Profile view of...SIO Miniature Directional Wave Buoys The Scripps Institution of Oceanography designs and manufactures GPS -based miniature directional wave buoys

Anchor Node Localization for Wireless Sensor Networks Using Video and Compass Information Fusion

PubMed Central

Pescaru, Dan; Curiac, Daniel-Ioan

2014-01-01

Distributed sensing, computing and communication capabilities of wireless sensor networks require, in most situations, an efficient node localization procedure. In the case of random deployments in harsh or hostile environments, a general localization process within global coordinates is based on a set of anchor nodes able to determine their own position using GPS receivers. In this paper we propose another anchor node localization technique that can be used when GPS devices cannot accomplish their mission or are considered to be too expensive. This novel technique is based on the fusion of video and compass data acquired by the anchor nodes and is especially suitable for video- or multimedia-based wireless sensor networks. For these types of wireless networks the presence of video cameras is intrinsic, while the presence of digital compasses is also required for identifying the cameras' orientations. PMID:24594614

Relative Attitude Determination of Earth Orbiting Formations Using GPS Receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lightsey, E. Glenn

2004-01-01

Satellite formation missions require the precise determination of both the position and attitude of multiple vehicles to achieve the desired objectives. In order to support the mission requirements for these applications, it is necessary to develop techniques for representing and controlling the attitude of formations of vehicles. A generalized method for representing the attitude of a formation of vehicles has been developed. The representation may be applied to both absolute and relative formation attitude control problems. The technique is able to accommodate formations of arbitrarily large number of vehicles. To demonstrate the formation attitude problem, the method is applied to the attitude determination of a simple leader-follower along-track orbit formation. A multiplicative extended Kalman filter is employed to estimate vehicle attitude. In a simulation study using GPS receivers as the attitude sensors, the relative attitude between vehicles in the formation is determined 3 times more accurately than the absolute attitude.

Design Document for Differential GPS Ground Reference Station Pseudorange Correction Generation Algorithm

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-12-01

The algorithms described in this report determine the differential corrections to be broadcast to users of the Global Positioning System (GPS) who require higher accuracy navigation or position information than the 30 to 100 meters that GPS normally ...

Application of DGPS for Collision Avoidance in Intelligent Transportation Systems In a Wireless Environment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-02-19

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite based radio-navigation system. A relatively large number of vehicles are already equipped with GPS devices. This project evaluated the application of Global Positing System (GPS) technology in collis...

A Multi-Sensor Fusion MAV State Estimation from Long-Range Stereo, IMU, GPS and Barometric Sensors.

PubMed

Song, Yu; Nuske, Stephen; Scherer, Sebastian

2016-12-22

State estimation is the most critical capability for MAV (Micro-Aerial Vehicle) localization, autonomous obstacle avoidance, robust flight control and 3D environmental mapping. There are three main challenges for MAV state estimation: (1) it can deal with aggressive 6 DOF (Degree Of Freedom) motion; (2) it should be robust to intermittent GPS (Global Positioning System) (even GPS-denied) situations; (3) it should work well both for low- and high-altitude flight. In this paper, we present a state estimation technique by fusing long-range stereo visual odometry, GPS, barometric and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) measurements. The new estimation system has two main parts, a stochastic cloning EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) estimator that loosely fuses both absolute state measurements (GPS, barometer) and the relative state measurements (IMU, visual odometry), and is derived and discussed in detail. A long-range stereo visual odometry is proposed for high-altitude MAV odometry calculation by using both multi-view stereo triangulation and a multi-view stereo inverse depth filter. The odometry takes the EKF information (IMU integral) for robust camera pose tracking and image feature matching, and the stereo odometry output serves as the relative measurements for the update of the state estimation. Experimental results on a benchmark dataset and our real flight dataset show the effectiveness of the proposed state estimation system, especially for the aggressive, intermittent GPS and high-altitude MAV flight.

Components of spatial information management in wildlife ecology: Software for statistical and modeling analysis [Chapter 14

Treesearch

Hawthorne L. Beyer; Jeff Jenness; Samuel A. Cushman

2010-01-01

Spatial information systems (SIS) is a term that describes a wide diversity of concepts, techniques, and technologies related to the capture, management, display and analysis of spatial information. It encompasses technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and relational database management systems (...

System using leo satellites for centimeter-level navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabinowitz, Matthew (Inventor); Parkinson, Bradford W. (Inventor); Cohen, Clark E. (Inventor); Lawrence, David G. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

Disclosed herein is a system for rapidly resolving position with centimeter-level accuracy for a mobile or stationary receiver [4]. This is achieved by estimating a set of parameters that are related to the integer cycle ambiguities which arise in tracking the carrier phase of satellite downlinks [5,6]. In the preferred embodiment, the technique involves a navigation receiver [4] simultaneously tracking transmissions [6] from Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOS) [2] together with transmissions [5] from GPS navigation satellites [1]. The rapid change in the line-of-sight vectors from the receiver [4] to the LEO signal sources [2], due to the orbital motion of the LEOS, enables the resolution with integrity of the integer cycle ambiguities of the GPS signals [5] as well as parameters related to the integer cycle ambiguity on the LEOS signals [6]. These parameters, once identified, enable real-time centimeter-level positioning of the receiver [4]. In order to achieve high-precision position estimates without the use of specialized electronics such as atomic clocks, the technique accounts for instabilities in the crystal oscillators driving the satellite transmitters, as well as those in the reference [3] and user [4] receivers. In addition, the algorithm accommodates as well as to LEOS that receive signals from ground-based transmitters, then re-transmit frequency-converted signals to the ground.

The application of NAVSTAR Differential GPS to civil helicopter operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beser, J.; Parkinson, B. W.

1981-01-01

Principles concerning the operation of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are discussed. Selective availability issues concerning NAVSTAR GPS and differential GPS concepts are analyzed. Civil support and market potential for differential GPS are outlined. It is concluded that differential GPS provides a variation on the baseline GPS system, and gives an assured, uninterrupted level of accuracy for the civilian community.

Precipitable Water Vapor Characterization In The Gulf Of Cadiz Region (Southwestern Spain) Based On Sun Photometer, GPS And Radiosonde Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torres, B.; Cachorro, V. E.; Toledano, C.

2010-09-16

Column integrated water vapor (IWV) data in the Gulf of Cádiz area (Southwestern Spain) are analyzed during the period 2001 to 2005 with two aims: 1) to establish the climatology over this area using three different techniques, such as Sun-Photometer (SP), Global Position System (GPS) and Radiosondes, and 2) to take advantage of this comparative process to assess the quality of radiometric IWV data collected at the RIMA-AERONET station. The 5 years of climatological series gives a mean value of about 2 cm (STD=0.72) and a clear seasonal behavior as a general feature, with the highest values in summer andmore » the lowest in winter. In the multi-annual monthly means basis, the highest values are reached in August-September, with a mean value of 2.5-2.6 cm, whereas the lowest are obtained in January-February, with an average of 1.4-24 1.5. However the most relevant results for this area is the observed local minimum in July, occurring during the maximum of desert dust intrusions in the southern Iberian Peninsula. A comparison process allows us to evaluate the agreement of IWV data sets between these three different techniques at different temporal scales because of different time sampling. On a daily basis and taking GPS as the reference value we have a bias or difference between Radiosonde and GPS measurements for the entire data base of 0.07 cm (relative bias of 3%) and RMSE of 0.33. For SP-GPS we have a bias of 0.14 cm (about 7%) and RMSE of 0.37. On a monthly basis the differences between Radiosonde and GPS values varies from summer with 2% to winter with -8% and between SP and GPS values from 3% in summer to -14% in winter. The observed bias between GPS and SP varies during each SP operational period, with lower values at the beginning of the measurements and increasing until the end of its measurement term and with the bias values being quite dependent on each individual SP. The observed differences highlight the importance of drift in each Sun-Photometer, because of filter aging or other calibration problems. Hence the comparison with GPS appears to be a powerful tool to assess the quality of Sun-Photometer for IWV retrieval.« less

Intercontinental time and frequency transfer using a global positioning system timing receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clements, P. A.

1983-01-01

The Deep Space Network (DSN) has a requirement to maintain knowledge of the frequency offset between DSN stations within 3 x 10 to the -13th power and time offset within 10 microseconds. It is further anticipated that in the 1987-1990 era the requirement for knowledge of time offset between DSN stations will be less than 10 nanoseconds. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Space Vehicles, as a development project, to transfer time and frequency over intercontinental distances between stations of the DSN and between the DSN and other agencies. JPL has installed GPS timing receivers at its tracking station near Barstow, California and at its tracking station near Madrid, Spain. The details of the experiment and the data are reported. There is a discussion of the ultimate capabilities of these techniques for meeting the functional requirements of the DSN.

Applications of GPS technologies to field sports.

PubMed

Aughey, Robert J

2011-09-01

Global positioning system (GPS) technology was made possible after the invention of the atomic clock. The first suggestion that GPS could be used to assess the physical activity of humans followed some 40 y later. There was a rapid uptake of GPS technology, with the literature concentrating on validation studies and the measurement of steady-state movement. The first attempts were made to validate GPS for field sport applications in 2006. While GPS has been validated for applications for team sports, some doubts continue to exist on the appropriateness of GPS for measuring short high-velocity movements. Thus, GPS has been applied extensively in Australian football, cricket, hockey, rugby union and league, and soccer. There is extensive information on the activity profile of athletes from field sports in the literature stemming from GPS, and this includes total distance covered by players and distance in velocity bands. Global positioning systems have also been applied to detect fatigue in matches, identify periods of most intense play, different activity profiles by position, competition level, and sport. More recent research has integrated GPS data with the physical capacity or fitness test score of athletes, game-specific tasks, or tactical or strategic information. The future of GPS analysis will involve further miniaturization of devices, longer battery life, and integration of other inertial sensor data to more effectively quantify the effort of athletes.

Performance Assessment of Bridges Using GPS: The Juarez Bridge in Culiacan, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vazquez, G. E.; Gaxiola-Camacho, J. R.; Trejo, M.; Echagaray, J.; Guzman, G. M.

2015-12-01

Performance assessment of bridges has become very important during recent years. Bridges around the world are aging, leading to the incorporation of efficient, reliable, and economic evaluation procedures. These techniques must assess properly the performance of bridges under several loading conditions in a real manner, representing the physics of the problem. Among several approaches, Global Positioning System (GPS) can be intelligently used for the performance evaluation of bridges. We focused on GPS, since it naturally produces position estimates as compared to seismic instruments that record either velocity or acceleration, and thus require an integration. There are several reasons that make the Juarez Bridge a case of study for evaluation: it is approximately 45 years old, it is a reinforced concrete structure, it connects two significant zones of the city, and its spans is closely to 200 meters long. In addition, thousands of vehicles and pedestrians use the Juarez Bridge every day, which make feasible the GPS performance assessment. Hence, in order to produce optimal position estimates, GPS data were collected during two consecutive hours at three different periods of the day for a whole week (Monday through Sunday), to represent three critical limit states of the bridge (mid-span and end-spans). GPS data were processed using the GAMIT/GLOBK software, considering 1-second sampling rate, 15-degree cutoff angle, ionosphere-free double-differenced (DD) carrier phase method, and precise final orbits disseminated by IGS (International GNSS Service). The displacements obtained from the above discussed procedure are compared with allowable values documented in bridge construction manuals. Reliability theory was used to evaluate the probability of failure of the bridge for the three periods of the day. In addition, a conclusion was made about the most risky day of the week for the use of the Juarez Bridge. It is expected that the results from the proposed research will provide enough information to document non-permissible movements of the Juarez Bridge. Finally, guidance for future retrofit of the structure will be fully available.

Nutation determination using the Global Positioning System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Kunliang; Capitaine, Nicole; Umnig, Elke; Weber, Robert

2012-08-01

VLBI observation of extragalactic radio sources is the only technique that allows high accuracy determination of nutation on a regular basis. However, this is limited to periods of nutation greater than about 30 days due to the current resolution of VL BI estimation. It is there fore important to use another technique to improve nutation at shorter periods. It has been shown by Rothacher et al. (1999) and Weber & Rothacher (2001) that GPS is a potential technique for the determination of the short period terms of nutation. The met hod, which is based on the estimation of nutation rates with respect to an a priori model, is limited to nutation terms in the higher frequency range (with periods up to about 21 days) due to deficiencies in the modeling of the satellite orbits. The high accuracy and high time resolution of the GPS observations that are now achieved give us the possibility to estimate the nutation variations with respect to the IAU2000A nutation, with an expected precision of 10 microarcseconds (μas ). The purpose of our study is to use recent GPS observations obtained by 140 IGS stations (IGS08 Core Reference Frame sites included) to estimate the short period nutations. Two methods are applied: one is to investigate the retrograde diurnal term of polar motion with nutation fixed to the IAU 2006/2000 precession - nutation, using CNES/GRGS software GINS/DYNAMO at Observatoire de Paris; another one is to investigate the nutation time derivative, with polar motion fixed, using Bernese GPS software at University of Technology in Vienna. In this poster, we report on our preliminary results with data set covering a period of 3 years (2009 - 2011), with appropriate time resolutions and on the comparison between the two approaches.

Application of GPS attitude determination to gravity gradient stabilized spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lightsey, E. G.; Cohen, Clark E.; Parkinson, Bradford W.

1993-01-01

Recent advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology have initiated a new era in aerospace navigation and control. GPS receivers have become increasingly compact and affordable, and new developments have made attitude determination using subcentimeter positioning among two or more antennas feasible for real-time applications. GPS-based attitude control systems will become highly portable packages which provide time, navigation, and attitude information of sufficient accuracy for many aerospace needs. A typical spacecraft application of GPS attitude determination is a gravity gradient stabilized satellite in low Earth orbit that employs a GPS receiver and four body mounted patch antennas. The coupled, linearized equations of motion enable complete position and attitude information to be extracted from only two antennas. A discussion of the various error sources for spaceborne GPS attitude measurement systems is included. Attitude determination of better than 0.3 degrees is possible for 1 meter antenna separation. Suggestions are provided to improve the accuracy of the attitude solution.

An Artificial Neural Network Embedded Position and Orientation Determination Algorithm for Low Cost MEMS INS/GPS Integrated Sensors

PubMed Central

Chiang, Kai-Wei; Chang, Hsiu-Wen; Li, Chia-Yuan; Huang, Yun-Wen

2009-01-01

Digital mobile mapping, which integrates digital imaging with direct geo-referencing, has developed rapidly over the past fifteen years. Direct geo-referencing is the determination of the time-variable position and orientation parameters for a mobile digital imager. The most common technologies used for this purpose today are satellite positioning using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). They are usually integrated in such a way that the GPS receiver is the main position sensor, while the IMU is the main orientation sensor. The Kalman Filter (KF) is considered as the optimal estimation tool for real-time INS/GPS integrated kinematic position and orientation determination. An intelligent hybrid scheme consisting of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and KF has been proposed to overcome the limitations of KF and to improve the performance of the INS/GPS integrated system in previous studies. However, the accuracy requirements of general mobile mapping applications can’t be achieved easily, even by the use of the ANN-KF scheme. Therefore, this study proposes an intelligent position and orientation determination scheme that embeds ANN with conventional Rauch-Tung-Striebel (RTS) smoother to improve the overall accuracy of a MEMS INS/GPS integrated system in post-mission mode. By combining the Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) INS/GPS integrated system and the intelligent ANN-RTS smoother scheme proposed in this study, a cheaper but still reasonably accurate position and orientation determination scheme can be anticipated. PMID:22574034

Benefit of Complete State Monitoring For GPS Realtime Applications With Geo++ Gnsmart

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wübbena, G.; Schmitz, M.; Bagge, A.

Today, the demand for precise positioning at the cm-level in realtime is worldwide growing. An indication for this is the number of operational RTK network installa- tions, which use permanent reference station networks to derive corrections for dis- tance dependent GPS errors and to supply corrections to RTK users in realtime. Gen- erally, the inter-station distances in RTK networks are selected at several tens of km in range and operational installations cover areas of up to 50000 km x km. However, the separation of the permanent reference stations can be increased to sev- eral hundred km, while a correct modeling of all error components is applied. Such networks can be termed as sparse RTK networks, which cover larger areas with a reduced number of stations. The undifferenced GPS observable is best suited for this task estimating the complete state of a permanent GPS network in a dynamic recursive Kalman filter. A rigorous adjustment of all simultaneous reference station data is re- quired. The sparse network design essentially supports the state estimation through its large spatial extension. The benefit of the approach and its state modeling of all GPS error components is a successful ambiguity resolution in realtime over long distances. The above concepts are implemented in the operational GNSMART (GNSS State Monitoring and Representation Technique) software of Geo++. It performs a state monitoring of all error components at the mm-level, because for RTK networks this accuracy is required to sufficiently represent the distance dependent errors for kine- matic applications. One key issue of the modeling is the estimation of clocks and hard- ware delays in the undifferenced approach. This pre-requisite subsequently allows for the precise separation and modeling of all other error components. Generally most of the estimated parameters are considered as nuisance parameters with respect to pure positioning tasks. As the complete state vector of GPS errors is available in a GPS realtime network, additional information besides position can be derived e.g. regional precise satellite clocks, orbits, total ionospheric electron content, tropospheric water vapor distribution, and also dynamic reference station movements. The models of GNSMART are designed to work with regional, continental or even global data. Results from GNSMART realtime networks with inter-station distances of several hundred km are presented to demonstrate the benefits of the operational implemented concepts.

Frequency of GP communication addressing the patient's resources and coping strategies in medical interviews: a video-based observational study.

PubMed

Mjaaland, Trond A; Finset, Arnstein

2009-07-01

There is increasing focus on patient-centred communicative approaches in medical consultations, but few studies have shown the extent to which patients' positive coping strategies and psychological assets are addressed by general practitioners (GPs) on a regular day at the office. This study measures the frequency of GPs' use of questions and comments addressing their patients' coping strategies or resources. Twenty-four GPs were video-recorded in 145 consultations. The consultations were coded using a modified version of the Roter Interaction Analysis System. In this study, we also developed four additional coding categories based on cognitive therapy and solution-focused therapy: attribution, resources, coping, and solution-focused techniques.The reliability between coders was established, a factor analysis was applied to test the relationship between the communication categories, and a tentative validating exercise was performed by reversed coding. Cohen's kappa was 0.52 between coders. Only 2% of the utterances could be categorized as resource or coping oriented. Six GPs contributed 59% of these utterances. The factor analysis identified two factors, one task oriented and one patient oriented. The frequency of communication about coping and resources was very low. Communication skills training for GPs in this field is required. Further validating studies of this kind of measurement tool are warranted.

Utilization of GPS Tropospheric Delays for Climate Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suparta, Wayan

2017-05-01

The tropospheric delay is one of the main error sources in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and its impact plays a crucial role in near real-time weather forecasting. Accessibility and accurate estimation of this parameter are essential for weather and climate research. Advances in GPS application has allowed the measurements of zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) in all weather conditions and on a global scale with fine temporal and spatial resolution. In addition to the rapid advancement of GPS technology and informatics and the development of research in the field of Earth and Planetary Sciences, the GPS data has been available free of charge. Now only required sophisticated processing techniques but user friendly. On the other hand, the ZTD parameter obtained from the models or measurements needs to be converted into precipitable water vapor (PWV) to make it more useful as a component of weather forecasting and analysis atmospheric hazards such as tropical storms, flash floods, landslide, pollution, and earthquake as well as for climate change studies. This paper addresses the determination of ZTD as a signal error or delay source during the propagation from the satellite to a receiver on the ground and is a key driving force behind the atmospheric events. Some results in terms of ZTD and PWV will be highlighted in this paper.

Accuracy Analysis of Precise Point Positioning of Compass Navigation System Applied to Crustal Motion Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yuebing

2017-04-01

Based on the observation data of Compass/GPSobserved at five stations, time span from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016. UsingPPP positioning model of the PANDA software developed by Wuhan University,Analyzedthe positioning accuracy of single system and Compass/GPS integrated resolving, and discussed the capability of Compass navigation system in crustal motion monitoring. The results showed that the positioning accuracy in the east-west directionof the Compass navigation system is lower than the north-south direction (the positioning accuracy de 3 times RMS), in general, the positioning accuracyin the horizontal direction is about 1 2cm and the vertical direction is about 5 6cm. The GPS positioning accuracy in the horizontal direction is better than 1cm and the vertical direction is about 1 2cm. The accuracy of Compass/GPS integrated resolving is quite to GPS. It is worth mentioning that although Compass navigation system precision point positioning accuracy is lower than GPS, two sets of velocity fields obtained by using the Nikolaidis (2002) model to analyze the Compass and GPS time series results respectively, the results showed that the maximum difference of the two sets of velocity field in horizontal directions is 1.8mm/a. The Compass navigation system can now be used to monitor the crustal movement of the large deformation area, based on the velocity field in horizontal direction.

The Utility and Validity of Kinematic GPS Positioning for the Geosar Airborne Terrain Mapping Radar System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freedman, Adam; Hensley, Scott; Chapin, Elaine; Kroger, Peter; Hussain, Mushtaq; Allred, Bruce

1999-01-01

GeoSAR is an airborne, interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) system for terrain mapping, currently under development by a consortium including NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Calgis, Inc., a California mapping sciences company, and the California Department of Conservation (CaIDOC), with funding provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). IFSAR data processing requires high-accuracy platform position and attitude knowledge. On 9 GeoSAR, these are provided by one or two Honeywell Embedded GPS Inertial Navigation Units (EGI) and an Ashtech Z12 GPS receiver. The EGIs provide real-time high-accuracy attitude and moderate-accuracy position data, while the Ashtech data, post-processed differentially with data from a nearby ground station using Ashtech PNAV software, provide high-accuracy differential GPS positions. These data are optimally combined using a Kalman filter within the GeoSAR motion measurement software, and the resultant position and orientation information are used to process the dual frequency (X-band and P-band) radar data to generate high-accuracy, high -resolution terrain imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs). GeoSAR requirements specify sub-meter level planimetric and vertical accuracies for the resultant DEMS. To achieve this, platform positioning errors well below one meter are needed. The goal of GeoSAR is to obtain 25 cm or better 3-D positions from the GPS systems on board the aircraft. By imaging a set of known point target corner-cube reflectors, the GeoSAR system can be calibrated. This calibration process yields the true position of the aircraft with an uncertainty of 20- 50 cm. This process thus allows an independent assessment of the accuracy of our GPS-based positioning systems. We will present an overview of the GeoSAR motion measurement system, focusing on the use of GPS and the blending of position data from the various systems. We will present the results of our calibration studies that relate to the accuracy the GPS positioning. We will discuss the effects these positioning, errors have on the resultant DEM products and imagery.

76 FR 30202 - National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board; Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-24

.... ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463... Positioning System (GPS) modernization. Explore opportunities for enhancing the interoperability of GPS with.... Prioritize current and planned GPS capabilities and services while assessing future PNT architecture options...

Comparison of Ground Deformation Measurements and Atmospheric Artifacts Using Insar Cosmo-Skymed and GPS Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zerbini, S.; Prati, C.; Errico, M.; Novali, F.; Santi, E.

2012-12-01

Integrating and exploiting the synergetic combination of the InSAR and GPS techniques allows overcoming the limitations inherent in the use of each technique alone. GPS-based estimates of tropospheric delays may contribute in obtaining better corrections of the wet tropospheric path delay in InSAR signals. This will enhance the coherence and will allow the application of InSAR in a wider range of applications. The test area chosen for the comparison between InSAR and GPS data is in northeastern Italy, in particular, in the city of Bologna (urbanized area) and in the surroundings of Medicina (agricultural area). In these sites, two permanent GPS stations (EUREF EPN sites) of the University of Bologna are operational since mid 1999 (BOLG) and 1996 (MSEL) respectively. The InSAR data used are the COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) images made available by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The Permanent Scatterers (PS) technique was applied to a number of repeated CSK strip map SAR images acquired over a 40x40 square km area encompassing the two towns mentioned above. The results of this work demonstrate, on the one hand, the CSK capabilities to operate in a repeated interferometric survey mode for measuring ground deformation with millimeter accuracy in different environments. On the other, the comparison of the differential height between the two stations derived with the GPS and the InSAR data, using both acquisition geometries, is satisfactory. Elevation, ground deformation and atmospheric artifacts were estimated in correspondence of the identified PS and compared with the GPS measurements carried out at the same acquisition time by the permanent stations at Bologna and Medicina. The comparison of the differential height between the two stations shows the sensitivity of the GPS height solution to the length of the observation interval. The vertical dispersion achieved by GPS is higher than that achieved by PS InSAR, as expected; however, a similar linear trend appears in the results of both techniques. For the comparison of differential tropospheric delays, two GPS solutions derived with different session length and data acquisition rate were considered. The InSAR results are those relevant to two PSs located at very close distance from the GPS stations. These are representative of the majority of PSs identified around the two stations. A similar behavior is present in the results achieved by both GPS and PS-InSAR techniques, despite of expected differences due to the almost instantaneous nature of the PS-InSAR estimates compared to the GPS 5-minute averaged results.

Observing crustal deformation and atmospheric signals from COSMO-SKYMED and GPS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zerbini, S.; Prati, C.; Cappello, G.; Errico, M.; Novali, F.

2012-04-01

The combined use of InSAR and GPS allows for the full exploitation of the complementary aspects of the two techniques by overcoming the limitations inherent in the use of each technique alone. Additionally, GPS-based estimates of tropospheric delays may contribute in obtaining better corrections of the wet tropospheric path delay in InSAR signals. This will enhance the coherence and will allow the application of InSAR in a wider range of applications. We have compared the InSAR and GPS data at Bologna (urbanized area) and Medicina (agricultural area), in northeastern Italy, where two permanent GPS stations of the University of Bologna are operational since mid 1999 and 1996 respectively. The InSAR data used are the COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) images made available by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in the framework of the research contract AO-1140. The Permanent Scatterers (PS) technique was applied to a number of repeated CSK strip map SAR images acquired over a 40x40 square km area encompassing the two towns mentioned above. The results of this work demonstrate on the one hand the CSK capabilities to operate in a repeated interferometric survey mode for measuring ground deformation with millimeter accuracy in different environments. On the other, the comparison of the differential height between the two stations derived with the GPS and the InSAR data, using both acquisition geometries, is satisfactory. Elevation, ground deformation and atmospheric artifacts were estimated in correspondence of the identified PS and compared with the GPS measurements carried out at the same acquisition time by the permanent stations at Bologna and Medicina. The comparison of the differential height between the two stations shows the sensitivity of the GPS height solution to the length of the observation interval. The vertical dispersion achieved by GPS is higher than that achieved by PS InSAR, as expected; however, a similar linear trend appears in the results of both techniques. The comparison of differential tropospheric delays has been carried out. Two GPS solutions derived with different session length and data acquisition rate were considered. The InSAR results were those relevant to two PS located at a very close distance from the GPS stations. These are representative of the majority of PSs identified around the two stations. A similar behavior is present in the results achieved by both GPS and PS-InSAR techniques, despite of expected differences due to the almost instantaneous nature of the PS-InSAR estimates compared to the GPS 5-min averaged results.

Anti-Jam GPS Antennas for Wearable Dismounted Soldier Navigation Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. Citation...Approaches for the design and fabrication of a wearable anti-jam global positioning system (GPS) antenna are explored to support accurate and uninterrupted...including GPS antenna element and array designs , and algorithms for jammer mitigation, and the candidate technologies best fit for wearable anti-jam GPS

Tightly-coupled real-time analysis of GPS and accelerometer data for translational and rotational ground motions and application to earthquake and tsunami early warning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, J.; Bock, Y.; Melgar, D.; Hasse, J.; Crowell, B. W.

2013-12-01

High-rate GPS can play an important role in earthquake early warning (EEW) systems for large (>M6) events by providing permanent displacements immediately as they are achieved, to be used in source inversions that can be repeatedly updated as more information becomes available. This is most valuable to implement at a site very near the potential source rupture, where broadband seismometers are likely to clip, and accelerometer data cannot be objectively integrated to produce reliable displacements in real time. At present, more than 525 real-time GPS stations have been established in western North America, which are being integrated into EEW systems. Our analysis technique relies on a tightly-coupled combination of GPS and accelerometer data, an extension of precise point positioning with ambiguity resolution (PPP-AR). We operate a PPP service based on North American stations available through the IGS and UNAVCO/PBO. The service provides real-time satellite clock and fractional-cycle bias products that allow us to position individual client stations in the zone of deformation. The service reference stations are chosen to be further than 200 km from the primary zones of tectonic deformation in the western U.S. to avoid contamination of the satellite products during a large seismic event. At client stations, accelerometer data are applied as tight constraints on the positions between epochs in PPP-AR, which improves cycle-slip repair and rapid ambiguity resolution after GPS outages. Furthermore, we estimate site displacements, seismic velocities, and coseismic ground tilts to facilitate the analysis of ground motion characteristics and the inversion for source mechanisms. The seismogeodetic displacement and velocity waveforms preserves the detection of P wave arrivals, and provides P-wave arrival displacement that is key new information for EEW. Our innovative solution method for coseismic tilts mitigates an error source that has continually plagued strong motion data analysis, and has a resolution of about 0.01 degrees. At present, there are few collocations of GPS and accelerometers in western North America (the exception being the BARD network in northern California) so we have developed a cost-effective way to upgrade existing real-time GPS stations with low-cost MEMS accelerometers; fifteen PBO and SCIGN stations in southern California have already been upgraded. We demonstrate our method of recovering broadband displacement and tilt waveforms using 13 experiments from the single-axis George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table at the University of California San Diego. Then we apply the method to data from the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake and the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake to illustrate the improvement over standard base-line correction acceleration techniques and to demonstrate the order of magnitude of tilt errors present in typical observations.

How and Why to Do VLBI on GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dickey, J. M.

2010-01-01

In order to establish the position of the center of mass of the Earth in the International Celestial Reference Frame, observations of the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) constellation using the IVS network are important. With a good frame-tie between the coordinates of the IVS telescopes and nearby GPS receivers, plus a common local oscillator reference signal, it should be possible to observe and record simultaneously signals from the astrometric calibration sources and the GPS satellites. The standard IVS solution would give the atmospheric delay and clock offsets to use in analysis of the GPS data. Correlation of the GPS signals would then give accurate orbital parameters of the satellites in the ICRF reference frame, i.e., relative to the positions of the astrometric sources. This is particularly needed to determine motion of the center of mass of the earth along the rotation axis.

General practitioners' attitudes toward reporting and learning from adverse events: results from a survey.

PubMed

Mikkelsen, Thorbjørn H; Sokolowski, Ineta; Olesen, Frede

2006-03-01

To investigate GPs' attitudes to and willingness to report and learn from adverse events and to study how a reporting system should function. Survey. General practice in Denmark. GPs' attitudes to exchange of experience with colleagues and others, and circumstances under which such exchange is accepted. A structured questionnaire sent to 1198 GPs of whom 61% responded. RESULTS. GPs had a positive attitude towards discussing adverse events in the clinic with colleagues and staff and in their continuing medical education groups. The GPs had a positive attitude to reporting adverse events to a database if the system granted legal and administrative immunity to reporters. The majority preferred a reporting system located at a research institute. GPs have a very positive attitude towards discussing and reporting adverse events. This project encourages further research and pilot projects testing concrete reporting systems.

Autonomous Navigation Improvements for High-Earth Orbiters Using GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Long, Anne; Kelbel, David; Lee, Taesul; Garrison, James; Carpenter, J. Russell; Bauer, F. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

The Goddard Space Flight Center is currently developing autonomous navigation systems for satellites in high-Earth orbits where acquisition of the GPS signals is severely limited This paper discusses autonomous navigation improvements for high-Earth orbiters and assesses projected navigation performance for these satellites using Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS) measurements. Navigation performance is evaluated as a function of signal acquisition threshold, measurement errors, and dynamic modeling errors using realistic GPS signal strength and user antenna models. These analyses indicate that an autonomous navigation position accuracy of better than 30 meters root-mean-square (RMS) can be achieved for high-Earth orbiting satellites using a GPS receiver with a very stable oscillator. This accuracy improves to better than 15 meters RMS if the GPS receiver's signal acquisition threshold can be reduced by 5 dB-Hertz to track weaker signals.

Global climatology of planetary boundary layer top obtained from multi-satellite GPS RO observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basha, Ghouse; Kishore, P.; Ratnam, M. Venkat; Ravindra Babu, S.; Velicogna, Isabella; Jiang, Jonathan H.; Ao, Chi O.

2018-05-01

Accurate estimation of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) top is essential for air quality prediction, weather forecast, and assessment of regional and global climate models. In this article, the long-term climatology of seasonal, global distribution of PBL is presented by using global positioning system radio occultation (GPSRO) based payloads such as Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC), Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS), TerraSAR-X, and The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) from the year 2006-2015. We used Wavelet Covariance Transform (WCT) technique for precise PBL top identification. The derived PBL top from GPSRO data is rigorously evaluated with GPS radiosonde data over Gadanki. Significant seasonal variation is noticed in both radiosonde and GPSRO observations. Further, we compared the PBL obtained GPS RO with global radiosonde network and observed very good correlation. The number of occultations reaching down to 500 m and retrieval rate of PBL top from WCT method is very high in mid-latitudes compared to tropical latitudes. The global distribution of PBL top shows significant seasonal variation with higher during summer followed by spring, fall, and minimum in winter. In the vicinity of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the PBL top is high over eastern Pacific compared to other regions. The ERA-Interim reanalysis data underestimate the PBL top compared to GPS RO observations due to different measurement techniques. The seasonal variation of global averaged PBL top over land and ocean shows contrasting features at different latitude bands.

High accuracy autonomous navigation using the global positioning system (GPS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, Son H.; Hart, Roger C.; Shoan, Wendy C.; Wood, Terri; Long, Anne C.; Oza, Dipak H.; Lee, Taesul

1997-01-01

The application of global positioning system (GPS) technology to the improvement of the accuracy and economy of spacecraft navigation, is reported. High-accuracy autonomous navigation algorithms are currently being qualified in conjunction with the GPS attitude determination flyer (GADFLY) experiment for the small satellite technology initiative Lewis spacecraft. Preflight performance assessments indicated that these algorithms are able to provide a real time total position accuracy of better than 10 m and a velocity accuracy of better than 0.01 m/s, with selective availability at typical levels. It is expected that the position accuracy will be increased to 2 m if corrections are provided by the GPS wide area augmentation system.

US-TEC: A new data assimilation product from the Space Environment Center characterizing the ionospheric total electron content using real-time GPS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuller-Rowell, Tim; Araujo-Pradere, Eduardo; Minter, Cliff; Codrescu, Mihail; Spencer, Paul; Robertson, Doug; Jacobson, Abram R.

2006-12-01

The potential of data assimilation for operational numerical weather forecasting has been appreciated for many years. For space weather it is a new path that we are just beginning to explore. With the emergence of satellite constellations and the networks of ground-based observations, sufficient data sources are now available to make the application of data assimilation techniques a viable option. The first space weather product at Space Environment Center (SEC) utilizing data assimilation techniques, US-TEC, was launched as a test operational product in November 2004. US-TEC characterizes the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) over the continental United States (CONUS) every 15 min with about a 15-min latency. US-TEC is based on a Kalman filter data assimilation scheme driven by a ground-based network of real-time GPS stations. The product includes a map of the vertical TEC, an estimate of the uncertainty in the map, and the departure of the TEC from a 10-day average at that particular universal time. In addition, data files are provided for vertical TEC and the line-of-sight electron content to all GPS satellites in view over the CONUS at that time. The information can be used to improve single-frequency GPS positioning by providing more accurate corrections for the ionospheric signal delay, or it can be used to initialize rapid integer ambiguity resolution schemes for dual-frequency GPS systems. Validation of US-TEC indicates an accuracy of the line-of-sight electron content of between 2 and 3 TEC units (1 TECU = 1016 el m-2), equivalent to less than 50 cm signal delay at L1 frequencies, which promises value for GPS users. This is the first step along a path that will likely lead to major improvement in space weather forecasting, paralleling the advances achieved in meteorological weather forecasting.

Autonomous Relative Navigation for Formation-Flying Satellites Using GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gramling, Cheryl; Carpenter, J. Russell; Long, Anne; Kelbel, David; Lee, Taesul

2000-01-01

The Goddard Space Flight Center is currently developing advanced spacecraft systems to provide autonomous navigation and control of formation flyers. This paper discusses autonomous relative navigation performance for a formation of four eccentric, medium-altitude Earth-orbiting satellites using Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and "GPS-like " intersatellite measurements. The performance of several candidate relative navigation approaches is evaluated. These analyses indicate that an autonomous relative navigation position accuracy of 1meter root-mean-square can be achieved by differencing high-accuracy filtered solutions if only measurements from common GPS space vehicles are used in the independently estimated solutions.

Modeling tropospheric wet delays with national GNSS reference network in China for BeiDou precise point positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Fu; Lou, Yidong; Gu, Shengfeng; Gong, Xiaopeng; Shi, Chuang

2017-10-01

During past decades, precise point positioning (PPP) has been proven to be a well-known positioning technique for centimeter or decimeter level accuracy. However, it needs long convergence time to get high-accuracy positioning, which limits the prospects of PPP, especially in real-time applications. It is expected that the PPP convergence time can be reduced by introducing high-quality external information, such as ionospheric or tropospheric corrections. In this study, several methods for tropospheric wet delays modeling over wide areas are investigated. A new, improved model is developed, applicable in real-time applications in China. Based on the GPT2w model, a modified parameter of zenith wet delay exponential decay wrt. height is introduced in the modeling of the real-time tropospheric delay. The accuracy of this tropospheric model and GPT2w model in different seasons is evaluated with cross-validation, the root mean square of the zenith troposphere delay (ZTD) is 1.2 and 3.6 cm on average, respectively. On the other hand, this new model proves to be better than the tropospheric modeling based on water-vapor scale height; it can accurately express tropospheric delays up to 10 km altitude, which potentially has benefits in many real-time applications. With the high-accuracy ZTD model, the augmented PPP convergence performance for BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) and GPS is evaluated. It shows that the contribution of the high-quality ZTD model on PPP convergence performance has relation with the constellation geometry. As BDS constellation geometry is poorer than GPS, the improvement for BDS PPP is more significant than that for GPS PPP. Compared with standard real-time PPP, the convergence time is reduced by 2-7 and 20-50% for the augmented BDS PPP, while GPS PPP only improves about 6 and 18% (on average), in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. When GPS and BDS are combined, the geometry is greatly improved, which is good enough to get a reliable PPP solution, the augmentation PPP improves insignificantly comparing with standard PPP.

GPS Water Vapor Tomography Based on Accurate Estimations of the GPS Tropospheric Parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Champollion, C.; Masson, F.; Bock, O.; Bouin, M.; Walpersdorf, A.; Doerflinger, E.; van Baelen, J.; Brenot, H.

2003-12-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is now a common technique for the retrieval of zenithal integrated water vapor (IWV). Further applications in meteorology need also slant integrated water vapor (SIWV) which allow to precisely define the high variability of tropospheric water vapor at different temporal and spatial scales. Only precise estimations of IWV and horizontal gradients allow the estimation of accurate SIWV. We present studies developed to improve the estimation of tropospheric water vapor from GPS data. Results are obtained from several field experiments (MAP, ESCOMPTE, OHM-CV, IHOP, .). First IWV are estimated using different GPS processing strategies and results are compared to radiosondes. The role of the reference frame and the a priori constraints on the coordinates of the fiducial and local stations is generally underestimated. It seems to be of first order in the estimation of the IWV. Second we validate the estimated horizontal gradients comparing zenith delay gradients and single site gradients. IWV, gradients and post-fit residuals are used to construct slant integrated water delays. Validation of the SIWV is under progress comparing GPS SIWV, Lidar measurements and high resolution meteorological models (Meso-NH). A careful analysis of the post-fit residuals is needed to separate tropospheric signal from multipaths. The slant tropospheric delays are used to study the 3D heterogeneity of the troposphere. We develop a tomographic software to model the three-dimensional distribution of the tropospheric water vapor from GPS data. The software is applied to the ESCOMPTE field experiment, a dense network of 17 dual frequency GPS receivers operated in southern France. Three inversions have been successfully compared to three successive radiosonde launches. Good resolution is obtained up to heights of 3000 m.

Development of a High Precision Displacement Measurement System by Fusing a Low Cost RTK-GPS Sensor and a Force Feedback Accelerometer for Infrastructure Monitoring.

PubMed

Koo, Gunhee; Kim, Kiyoung; Chung, Jun Yeon; Choi, Jaemook; Kwon, Nam-Yeol; Kang, Doo-Young; Sohn, Hoon

2017-11-28

A displacement measurement system fusing a low cost real-time kinematic global positioning system (RTK-GPS) receiver and a force feedback accelerometer is proposed for infrastructure monitoring. The proposed system is composed of a sensor module, a base module and a computation module. The sensor module consists of a RTK-GPS rover and a force feedback accelerometer, and is installed on a target structure like conventional RTK-GPS sensors. The base module is placed on a rigid ground away from the target structure similar to conventional RTK-GPS bases, and transmits observation messages to the sensor module. Then, the initial acceleration, velocity and displacement responses measured by the sensor module are transmitted to the computation module located at a central monitoring facility. Finally, high precision and high sampling rate displacement, velocity, and acceleration are estimated by fusing the acceleration from the accelerometer, the velocity from the GPS rover, and the displacement from RTK-GPS. Note that the proposed displacement measurement system can measure 3-axis acceleration, velocity as well as displacement in real time. In terms of displacement, the proposed measurement system can estimate dynamic and pseudo-static displacement with a root-mean-square error of 2 mm and a sampling rate of up to 100 Hz. The performance of the proposed system is validated under sinusoidal, random and steady-state vibrations. Field tests were performed on the Yeongjong Grand Bridge and Yi Sun-sin Bridge in Korea, and the Xihoumen Bridge in China to compare the performance of the proposed system with a commercial RTK-GPS sensor and other data fusion techniques.

GPS Position Time Series @ JPL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Owen, Susan; Moore, Angelyn; Kedar, Sharon; Liu, Zhen; Webb, Frank; Heflin, Mike; Desai, Shailen

2013-01-01

Different flavors of GPS time series analysis at JPL - Use same GPS Precise Point Positioning Analysis raw time series - Variations in time series analysis/post-processing driven by different users. center dot JPL Global Time Series/Velocities - researchers studying reference frame, combining with VLBI/SLR/DORIS center dot JPL/SOPAC Combined Time Series/Velocities - crustal deformation for tectonic, volcanic, ground water studies center dot ARIA Time Series/Coseismic Data Products - Hazard monitoring and response focused center dot ARIA data system designed to integrate GPS and InSAR - GPS tropospheric delay used for correcting InSAR - Caltech's GIANT time series analysis uses GPS to correct orbital errors in InSAR - Zhen Liu's talking tomorrow on InSAR Time Series analysis

Seasonal and circadian biases in bird tracking with solar GPS-tags.

PubMed

Silva, Rafa; Afán, Isabel; Gil, Juan A; Bustamante, Javier

2017-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) tags are nowadays widely used in wildlife tracking. This geolocation technique can suffer from fix loss biases due to poor satellite GPS geometry, that result in tracking data gaps leading to wrong research conclusions. In addition, new solar-powered GPS tags deployed on birds can suffer from a new "battery drain bias" currently ignored in movement ecology analyses. We use a GPS tracking dataset of bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus), tracked for several years with solar GPS tags, to evaluate the causes and triggers of fix and data retrieval loss biases. We compare two models of solar GPS tags using different data retrieval systems (Argos vs GSM-GPRS), and programmed with different duty cycles. Neither of the models was able to accomplish the duty cycle programed initially. Fix and data retrieval loss rates were always greater than expected, and showed non-random gaps in GPS locations. Number of fixes per month of tracking was a bad criterion to identify tags with smaller biases. Fix-loss rates were four times higher due to battery drain than due to poor GPS satellite geometry. Both tag models were biased due to the uneven solar energy available for the recharge of the tag throughout the annual cycle, resulting in greater fix-loss rates in winter compared to summer. In addition, we suggest that the bias found along the diurnal cycle is linked to a complex three-factor interaction of bird flight behavior, topography and fix interval. More fixes were lost when vultures were perching compared to flying, in rugged versus flat topography. But long fix-intervals caused greater loss of fixes in dynamic (flying) versus static situations (perching). To conclude, we emphasize the importance of evaluating fix-loss bias in current tracking projects, and deploying GPS tags that allow remote duty cycle updates so that the most appropriate fix and data retrieval intervals can be selected.

Precision assessment of the orthometric heights determination in northern part of Algeria by combining the GPS data and the local geoid model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benahmed Daho, Sid Ahmed

2010-02-01

The main purpose of this article is to discuss the use of GPS positioning together with a gravimetrically determined geoid, for deriving orthometric heights in the North of Algeria, for which a limited number of GPS stations with known orthometric heights are available, and to check, by the same opportunity, the possibility of substituting the classical spirit levelling. For this work, 247 GPS stations which are homogeneously distributed and collected from the international TYRGEONET project, as well as the local GPS/Levelling surveys, have been used. The GPS/Levelling geoidal heights are obtained by connecting the points to the levelling network while gravimetric geoidal heights were interpolated from the geoid model computed by the Geodetic Laboratory of the National Centre of Spatial Techniques from gravity data supplied by BGI. However, and in order to minimise the discordances, systematic errors and datum inconsistencies between the available height data sets, we have tested two parametric models of corrector surface: a four parameter transformation and a third polynomial model are used to find the adequate functional representation of the correction that should be applied to the gravimetric geoid. The comparisons based on these GPS campaigns prove that a good fit between the geoid model and GPS/levelling data has been reached when the third order polynomial was used as corrector surface and that the orthometric heights can be deducted from GPS observations with an accuracy acceptable for the low order levelling network densification. In addition, the adopted methodology has been also applied for the altimetric auscultation of a storage reservoir situated at 40 km from the town of Oran. The comparison between the computed orthometric heights and observed ones allowed us to affirm that the alternative of levelling by GPS is attractive for this auscultation.

Seasonal and circadian biases in bird tracking with solar GPS-tags

PubMed Central

Afán, Isabel; Gil, Juan A.; Bustamante, Javier

2017-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) tags are nowadays widely used in wildlife tracking. This geolocation technique can suffer from fix loss biases due to poor satellite GPS geometry, that result in tracking data gaps leading to wrong research conclusions. In addition, new solar-powered GPS tags deployed on birds can suffer from a new “battery drain bias” currently ignored in movement ecology analyses. We use a GPS tracking dataset of bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus), tracked for several years with solar GPS tags, to evaluate the causes and triggers of fix and data retrieval loss biases. We compare two models of solar GPS tags using different data retrieval systems (Argos vs GSM-GPRS), and programmed with different duty cycles. Neither of the models was able to accomplish the duty cycle programed initially. Fix and data retrieval loss rates were always greater than expected, and showed non-random gaps in GPS locations. Number of fixes per month of tracking was a bad criterion to identify tags with smaller biases. Fix-loss rates were four times higher due to battery drain than due to poor GPS satellite geometry. Both tag models were biased due to the uneven solar energy available for the recharge of the tag throughout the annual cycle, resulting in greater fix-loss rates in winter compared to summer. In addition, we suggest that the bias found along the diurnal cycle is linked to a complex three-factor interaction of bird flight behavior, topography and fix interval. More fixes were lost when vultures were perching compared to flying, in rugged versus flat topography. But long fix-intervals caused greater loss of fixes in dynamic (flying) versus static situations (perching). To conclude, we emphasize the importance of evaluating fix-loss bias in current tracking projects, and deploying GPS tags that allow remote duty cycle updates so that the most appropriate fix and data retrieval intervals can be selected. PMID:29020062

Age-related differences in working hours among male and female GPs: an SMS-based time use study.

PubMed

van Hassel, Daniël; van der Velden, Lud; de Bakker, Dinny; Batenburg, Ronald

2017-12-19

In several countries, the number of hours worked by general practitioners (GPs) has decreased, raising concern about current and impending workforce shortages. This shorter working week has been ascribed both to the feminisation of the workforce and to a younger generation of GPs who prefer more flexible working arrangements. There is, however, limited insight into how the impact of these determinants interact. We investigated the relative importance of differences in GPs' working hours in relation to gender, age, and employment position. An analysis was performed on real-time monitoring data collected by sending SMS text messages to 1051 Dutch GPs, who participated during a 1-week time use study. We used descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA analysis to compare the working time of different GP groups. A path analysis was conducted to examine the difference in working time by gender, age, employment position, and their combinations. Female GPs worked significantly fewer hours than their male peers. GPs in their 50s worked the highest number of hours, followed by GPs age 60 and older. GPs younger than 40 worked the lowest number of hours. This relationship between working hours and age was not significantly different for women and men. As shown by path analysis, female GPs consistently worked fewer hours than their male counterparts, regardless of their age and employment position. The relationship between age and working hours was largely influenced by gender and employment position. The variation in working hours among GPs can be explained by the combination of gender, age, and employment position. Gender appears to be the most important predictor as the largest part of the variation in working hours is explained by a direct effect of this variable. It has previously been reported that the difference in working hours between male and female GPs had decreased over time. However, our findings suggest that gender remains a critical factor for variation in time use and for policy instruments such as health workforce planning.

Measuring precise sea level from a buoy using the global positioning system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rocken, C.; Kelecy, T.M.; Born, G.H.

1990-11-01

High-accuracy sea surface positioning is required for sea floor geodesy, satellite altimeter verification, and the study of sea level. An experiment to study the feasibility of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for accurate sea surface positioning was conducted. A GPS-equipped buoy (floater) was deployed off the Scripps pier at La Jolla, California during December 13-15, 1989. Two reference GPS receivers were placed on land, one within {approximately}100 m of the floater, and the other about 80 km inland at the laser ranging site on Monument Peak. The position of the floater was determined relative to the land-fixed receivers using:more » (a) kinematic GPS processing software developed at the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and (b) the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's GIPSY (GPS Inferred Positioning SYstem) software. Sea level and ocean wave spectra were calculated from GPPS measurements. These results were compared to measurements made with a NOAA tide gauge and a Paros{trademark} pressure transducer (PPT). GPS sea level for the short 100-m baseline agrees with the PPT sea level at the 1-cm level and has an rms variation of 5 mm over a period of 4 hours. Agreement between results with the two independent GPS analyses is on the order of a few millimeters. Processing of the longer Monument Peak - floater baseline is in progress and will require orbit adjustments and tropospheric modeling to obtain results comparable to the short baseline.« less

Spaceborne GPS Current Status and Future Visions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, Frank H.; Hartman, Kate; Lightsey, E. Glenn

1998-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS), developed by the Department of Defense, is quickly revolutionizing the architecture of future spacecraft and spacecraft systems. Significant savings in spacecraft life cycle cost, in power, and in mass can be realized by exploiting Global Positioning System (GPS) technology in spaceborne vehicles. These savings are realized because GPS is a systems sensor-it combines the ability to sense space vehicle trajectory, attitude, time, and relative ranging between vehicles into one package. As a result, a reduced spacecraft sensor complement can be employed on spacecraft and significant reductions in space vehicle operations cost can be realized through enhanced on- board autonomy. This paper provides an overview of the current status of spaceborne GPS, a description of spaceborne GPS receivers available now and in the near future, a description of the 1997-1999 GPS flight experiments and the spaceborne GPS team's vision for the future.

75 FR 8928 - Announcement of IS-GPS-200, IS-GPS-705, IS-GPS-800 Interface Control Working Group (ICWG...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-26

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Air Force Announcement of IS-GPS-200, IS-GPS-705, IS-GPS-800Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) Teleconference Meeting AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DoD... Positioning Systems Wing will be hosting an Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) teleconference meeting for...

Cross-cultural differences in GPs' attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine: a survey comparing regions of the UK and Germany.

PubMed

Schmidt, K; Jacobs, P A; Barton, A

2002-09-01

To investigate whether there is a difference in general practitioners' attitudes towards CAM in the UK and Germany. A descriptive questionnaire was developed and sent to 97 GPs in the UK and 99 GPs in Germany. The overall response rate was 68%. German GPs showed a (non-significant) overall more positive attitude towards CAM than did British GPs. British GPs made more referrals to complementary practitioners. The most popular CAM therapies that UK GPs referred their patients to were chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and osteopathy. German GPs referred their patients mainly to acupuncture treatment, chiropractic treatment and herbal medicine. A significantly higher number of German GPs reported having practised as a CAM practitioner before and having personally used CAM themselves. Seventy percent of British GPs and 76% of German GPs thought it is safe to prescribe complementary medicine and therapies to patients. There are small national differences in referring patients to various CAM modalities. Both nations have an overall positive attitude toward and a high interest in CAM. Lack of scientific evidence and information on training opportunities were important points that were continuously raised by GPs in both countries.

MINOS Timing and GPS Precise Point Positioning

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

Minos Timing Spec • Neutrinos created in bunches separated by 19 ns • ~ 1 neutrino/day detected in Soudan Mine – 2 milliseconds travel time...calibration – No low-cost Fermilab to Soudan Mine connections known – Not yet tested for operational time transfer Clock Options • High-Performance... UNDERGROUND LABORATORY •;, ~ (((ft.F ~’: · GPS PRECISE POINT POSITIONING A Brief Overview What is GPS PPP? • GPS PPP is a way to use precise ephemerides

Testing the Dependence of Airborne Gravity Results on Three Variables in Kinematic GPS Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weil, C.; Diehl, T. M.

2011-12-01

The National Geodetic Survey's Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) program plans to collect airborne gravity data across the entire U.S. and its holdings over the next decade. The goal is to build a geoid accurate to 1-2 cm, for which the airborne gravity data is key. The first phase is underway, with > 13% of data collection completed in: parts of Alaska, parts of California, most of the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Obtaining accurate airborne gravity survey results depends on the quality of the GPS/IMU position solution used in the processing. There are many factors that could have an influence on the positioning results. First, we will investigate how an increased data sampling rate for the GPS/IMU affects the position solution and accelerations derived from those positions. Second we will test the hypothesis that, for differential kinematic processing a better solution is obtained using both a base and a rover GPS unit that contain an additional rubidium clock that is reported to sync better with GPS time. Finally, we will look at a few different GPS+IMU processing methods available in commercial software. This includes comparing GPS-only solutions with loosely coupled GPS/IMU solutions from the Applanix POSAV-510 system and tightly coupled solutions with our newly-acquired NovAtel SPAN system (micro-IRS IMU). Differential solutions are compared with PPP (Precise Point Positioning) solutions along with multi-pass and advanced tropospheric corrections available with the NovAtel Inertial Explorer software. Based on preliminary research, we expect that the tightly-coupled solutions with either better troposphere and/or multi-pass solutions will provide superior position (and gravity) results.

Characterization of the Ionospheric Scintillations at High Latitude using GPS Signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mezaoui, H.; Hamza, A. M.; Jayachandran, P. T.

2013-12-01

Transionospheric radio signals experience both amplitude and phase variations as a result of propagation through a turbulent ionosphere; this phenomenon is known as ionospheric scintillations. As a result of these fluctuations, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers lose track of signals and consequently induce position and navigational errors. Therefore, there is a need to study these scintillations and their causes in order to not only resolve the navigational problem but in addition develop analytical and numerical radio propagation models. In order to quantify and qualify these scintillations, we analyze the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of L1 GPS signals at 50 Hz sampling rate using the Canadian High arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) measurements. The raw GPS signal is detrended using a wavelet-based technique and the detrended amplitude and phase of the signal are used to construct probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the scintillating signal. The resulting PDFs are non-Gaussian. From the PDF functional fits, the moments are estimated. The results reveal a general non-trivial parabolic relationship between the normalized fourth and third moments for both the phase and amplitude of the signal. The calculated higher-order moments of the amplitude and phase distribution functions will help quantify some of the scintillation characteristics and in the process provide a base for forecasting, i.e. develop a scintillation climatology model. This statistical analysis, including power spectra, along with a numerical simulation will constitute the backbone of a high latitude scintillation model.

Real-Time seismic waveforms monitoring with BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) observations for the 2015 Mw 7.8 Nepal earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, T.

2015-12-01

Nowadays more and more high-rate Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data become available in real time, which provide more opportunities to monitor the seismic waveforms. China's GNSS, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), has already satisfied the requirement of stand-alone precise positioning in Asia-Pacific region with 14 in-orbit satellites, which promisingly suggests that BDS could be applied to the high-precision earthquake monitoring as GPS. In the present paper, real-time monitoring of seismic waveforms using BDS measurements is assessed. We investigate a so-called "variometric" approach to measure real-time seismic waveforms with high-rate BDS observations. This approach is based on time difference technique and standard broadcast products which are routinely available in real time. The 1HZ BDS data recorded by Beidou Experimental Tracking Stations (BETS) during the 2015 Mw 7.8 Nepal earthquake is analyzed. The results indicate that the accuracies of velocity estimation from BDS are 2-3 mm/s in horizontal components and 8-9 mm/s in vertical component, respectively, which are consistent with GPS. The seismic velocity waveforms during earthquake show good agreement between BDS and GPS. Moreover, the displacement waveforms is reconstructed by an integration of velocity time series with trend removal. The displacement waveforms with the accuracy of 1-2 cm are derived by comparing with post-processing GPS precise point positioning (PPP).

Receivers Gather Data for Climate, Weather Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2012-01-01

Signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites are now being used for more than just location and navigation information. By looking at the radio waves from GPS satellites, a technology developed at NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) not only precisely calculates its position, but can also use a technique known as radio occultation to help scientists study the Earth s atmosphere and gravity field to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate change, and enhance space weather research. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit group of universities in Boulder, Colorado, compares radio occultation to the appearance of a pencil when viewed though a glass of water. The water molecules change the path of visible light waves so that the pencil appears bent, just like molecules in the air bend GPS radio signals as they pass through (or are occulted by) the atmosphere. Through measurements of the amount of bending in the signals, scientists can construct detailed images of the ionosphere (the energetic upper part of the atmosphere) and also gather information about atmospheric density, pressure, temperature, and moisture. Once collected, this data can be input into weather forecasting and climate models for weather prediction and climate studies. Traditionally, such information is obtained through the use of weather balloons. In 1998, JPL started developing a new class of GPS space science receivers, called Black Jack, that could take precise measurements of how GPS signals are distorted or delayed along their way to the receiver. By 2006, the first demonstration of a GPS radio occultation constellation was launched through a collaboration among Taiwan s National Science Council and National Space Organization, the U.S. National Science Foundation, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other Federal entities. Called the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC), JPL was responsible for designing COSMIC s primary instrument - based on its revolutionary Black Jack receiver.

Formal methods demonstration project for space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Divito, Ben L.

1995-01-01

The Space Shuttle program is cooperating in a pilot project to apply formal methods to live requirements analysis activities. As one of the larger ongoing shuttle Change Requests (CR's), the Global Positioning System (GPS) CR involves a significant upgrade to the Shuttle's navigation capability. Shuttles are to be outfitted with GPS receivers and the primary avionics software will be enhanced to accept GPS-provided positions and integrate them into navigation calculations. Prior to implementing the CR, requirements analysts at Loral Space Information Systems, the Shuttle software contractor, must scrutinize the CR to identify and resolve any requirements issues. We describe an ongoing task of the Formal Methods Demonstration Project for Space Applications whose goal is to find an effective way to use formal methods in the GPS CR requirements analysis phase. This phase is currently under way and a small team from NASA Langley, ViGYAN Inc. and Loral is now engaged in this task. Background on the GPS CR is provided and an overview of the hardware/software architecture is presented. We outline the approach being taken to formalize the requirements, only a subset of which is being attempted. The approach features the use of the PVS specification language to model 'principal functions', which are major units of Shuttle software. Conventional state machine techniques form the basis of our approach. Given this background, we present interim results based on a snapshot of work in progress. Samples of requirements specifications rendered in PVS are offered to illustration. We walk through a specification sketch for the principal function known as GPS Receiver State processing. Results to date are summarized and feedback from Loral requirements analysts is highlighted. Preliminary data is shown comparing issues detected by the formal methods team versus those detected using existing requirements analysis methods. We conclude by discussing our plan to complete the remaining activities of this task.

GPS meteorology - Remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor using the Global Positioning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bevis, Michael; Businger, Steven; Herring, Thomas A.; Rocken, Christian; Anthes, Richard A.; Ware, Randolph H.

1992-01-01

We present a new approach to remote sensing of water vapor based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). Geodesists and geophysicists have devised methods for estimating the extent to which signals propagating from GPS satellites to ground-based GPS receivers are delayed by atmospheric water vapor. This delay is parameterized in terms of a time-varying zenith wet delay (ZWD) which is retrieved by stochastic filtering of the GPS data. Given surface temperature and pressure readings at the GPS receiver, the retrieved ZWD can be transformed with very little additional uncertainty into an estimate of the integrated water vapor (IWV) overlying that receiver. Networks of continuously operating GPS receivers are being constructed by geodesists, geophysicists, and government and military agencies, in order to implement a wide range of positioning capabilities. These emerging GPS networks offer the possibility of observing the horizontal distribution of IWV or, equivalently, precipitate water with unprecedented coverage and a temporal resolution of the order of 10 min. These measurements could be utilized in operational weather forecasting and in fundamental research into atmospheric storm systems, the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric chemistry, and global climate change.

Study of Ground Subsidence in North West Houston using GPS, LiDAR and InSAR techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karacay, A.; Khan, S. D.

2012-12-01

Land subsidence can be caused by natural or human activities, such as carbonate dissolution, extraction of material from mines, soil compaction and fluid withdrawal. This phenomenon affects many cities around the world, such as Nagoya-Japan, Venice-Italy, San Joaquin Valley and Long Beach in California. Recent work by Engelkemeir et al, (2010), suggested that subsidence occurred as high as 5.6 cm/year in northwest Houston. The processes that may contribute to land subsidence in the Houston-Galveston area includes faulting, soil compaction, salt tectonic, water pumping and hydrocarbon extraction. This study aims to assess the possible role of water pumping on subsidence. Northwest Houston has two aquifer systems, the Evangeline and Chicot aquifers that dip in the southeast direction. The effect of water pumping on subsidence from these two aquifers was monitored using InSAR, GPS and LiDAR data. The data from eleven GPS stations were processed using Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) of National Geodetic Survey (NGS). Three of these GPS stations are Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and eight are Port-A-Measure (PAM) sites. All the GPS data were obtained from Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD). CORS sites were used as reference stations for processing GPS data from the PAM stations. GPS data show that subsidence rate in northwest Houston decreased to approximately 2 cm/year. In addition, the surface deformation is also estimated using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technique. For this purpose, raw LiDAR (LAS-Long ASCII Standart) files of 2001 and 2008 were processed. The subsidence rate near the Hockley Fault was calculated by applying zonal statistics method on LiDAR data which shows about 10 cm of subsidence in nine years. This result is supported by processed GPS data from PAM site 48 that show subsidence rate of 1.3 cm/yr. For the InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technique, an image pair of PALSAR (The Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) for 2008 was processed using Sarscape ENVI. The result demonstrates both uplift (approximately 5 mm near the Tomball salt dome) and subsidence (approximately 5.3 mm on the west part of Tomball region). In order to improve results, other image pairs from PALSAR, ERS1/2 and ENVISAT are being processed to monitor surface changes before and after 2000. Changes of groundwater level in the study area were observed, in order to distinguish the amount of land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal. The groundwater historical observation data were taken from The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). The results of the groundwater level between 1990 and 2011 show approximately 0.5 m per year of water decline in the study area. Results of these complementary techniques will help in assessing the possible role of the water pumping from the subsurface on the subsidence in the area.

GPS/INS Sensor Fusion Using GPS Wind up Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williamson, Walton R. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A method of stabilizing an inertial navigation system (INS), includes the steps of: receiving data from an inertial navigation system; and receiving a finite number of carrier phase observables using at least one GPS receiver from a plurality of GPS satellites; calculating a phase wind up correction; correcting at least one of the finite number of carrier phase observables using the phase wind up correction; and calculating a corrected IMU attitude or velocity or position using the corrected at least one of the finite number of carrier phase observables; and performing a step selected from the steps consisting of recording, reporting, or providing the corrected IMU attitude or velocity or position to another process that uses the corrected IMU attitude or velocity or position. A GPS stabilized inertial navigation system apparatus is also described.

An introduction to the global positioning system and some geological applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dixon, T. H.

1991-01-01

The fundamental principles of the global positioning system (GPS) are reviewed, with consideration given to geological and geophysical applications and related accuracy requirements. Recent improvements are emphasized which relate to areas such as equipment cost, limitations in the GPS satellite constellation, data analysis, uncertainties in satellite orbits and propagation delays, and problems in resolving carrier phase cycle ambiguities. Earthquake processes and near-fault crustal deformation monitoring have been facilitated by advances in GPS data acquisition and analysis. Horizontal positioning capability has been improved by new satellite constellation, better models, and global tracking networks. New classes of tectonic problems may now be studied through GPS, such as kinematic descriptions of crustal deformation and the measurement of relative plate motion at convergent boundaries. Continued improvements in the GPS are foreseen.

An investigation into the performance of real-time GPS+GLONASS Precise Point Positioning (PPP) in New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harima, Ken; Choy, Suelynn; Rizos, Chris; Kogure, Satoshi

2017-09-01

This paper presents an investigation into the performance of real-time Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) in New Zealand. The motivation of the research is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPP technique and a satellite based augmentation system such as the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) to deliver a real-time precise positioning solution in support of a nation-wide high accuracy GNSS positioning coverage in New Zealand. Two IGS real-time correction streams are evaluated alongside with the PPP correction messages transmitted by the QZSS satellite known as MDC1. MDC1 corrections stream is generated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) using the Multi-GNSS Advanced Demonstration tool for Orbit and Clock Analysis (MADOCA) software and are currently transmitted in test mode by the QZSS satellite. The IGS real-time streams are the CLK9B real-time corrections stream generated by the French Centre National D'études Spatiales (CNES) using the PPP-Wizard software, and the CLK81 real-time corrections stream produced by GMV using their MagicGNSS software. GNSS data is collected from six New Zealand CORS stations operated by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) over a one-week period in 2015. GPS and GLONASS measurements are processed in a real-time PPP mode using the satellite orbit and clock corrections from the real-time streams. The results show that positioning accuracies of 6 cm in horizontal component and 15 cm in vertical component can be achieved in real-time PPP. The real-time GPS+GLONASS PPP solution required 30 minutes to converge to within 10 cm horizontal positioning accuracy.

Development of GPS survey data management protocols/policy.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

This project developed a statewide policy and criteria for collecting, analyzing, and managing global position system (GPS) survey data. The research project determined the needs of the Department in adopting the GPS real time kinetic (GPS RTK) stake...

Shuttle Global Positioning System (GPS) system design study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nilsen, P. W.

1979-01-01

The various integration problems in the Shuttle GPS system were investigated. The analysis of the Shuttle GPS link was studied. A preamplifier was designed since the Shuttle GPS antennas must be located remotely from the receiver. Several GPS receiver architecture trade-offs were discussed. The Shuttle RF harmonics and intermode that fall within the GPS receiver bandwidth were analyzed. The GPS PN code acquisition was examined. Since the receiver clock strongly affects both GPS carrier and code acquisition performance, a clock model was developed.

A Multi-Sensor Fusion MAV State Estimation from Long-Range Stereo, IMU, GPS and Barometric Sensors

PubMed Central

Song, Yu; Nuske, Stephen; Scherer, Sebastian

2016-01-01

State estimation is the most critical capability for MAV (Micro-Aerial Vehicle) localization, autonomous obstacle avoidance, robust flight control and 3D environmental mapping. There are three main challenges for MAV state estimation: (1) it can deal with aggressive 6 DOF (Degree Of Freedom) motion; (2) it should be robust to intermittent GPS (Global Positioning System) (even GPS-denied) situations; (3) it should work well both for low- and high-altitude flight. In this paper, we present a state estimation technique by fusing long-range stereo visual odometry, GPS, barometric and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) measurements. The new estimation system has two main parts, a stochastic cloning EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) estimator that loosely fuses both absolute state measurements (GPS, barometer) and the relative state measurements (IMU, visual odometry), and is derived and discussed in detail. A long-range stereo visual odometry is proposed for high-altitude MAV odometry calculation by using both multi-view stereo triangulation and a multi-view stereo inverse depth filter. The odometry takes the EKF information (IMU integral) for robust camera pose tracking and image feature matching, and the stereo odometry output serves as the relative measurements for the update of the state estimation. Experimental results on a benchmark dataset and our real flight dataset show the effectiveness of the proposed state estimation system, especially for the aggressive, intermittent GPS and high-altitude MAV flight. PMID:28025524

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Technology to Study Vector-Pathogen-Host Interactions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

Award Number: W81XWH-11-2-0175 TITLE: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Technology to Study Vector-Pathogen-Host Interactions PRINCIPAL...Positioning Systems (GPS) Technology to Study Vector-Pathogen-Host Interactions 5b. GRANT NUMBER W81XWH-11-2-0175 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S...objective of this project is to examine the evolutionary consequences of introducing a tetravalent live- attenuated dengue virus vaccine into children in

Evaluating elk habitat interactions with GPS collars

Treesearch

Mark A. Rumble; Lakhdar Benkobi; Fredrick Lindzey; R. Scott Gamo

2001-01-01

Global positioning systems (GPS) are likely to revolutionize animal telemetry studies. GPS collars allow biologists to collect systematically scheduled data when VHF telemetry data is difficult or impossible to collect. Past studies have shown that the success of GPS telemetry is greater when animals are standing, or in open habitats. To make effective use of GPS...

BDS/GPS Dual Systems Positioning Based on the Modified SR-UKF Algorithm

PubMed Central

Kong, JaeHyok; Mao, Xuchu; Li, Shaoyuan

2016-01-01

The Global Navigation Satellite System can provide all-day three-dimensional position and speed information. Currently, only using the single navigation system cannot satisfy the requirements of the system’s reliability and integrity. In order to improve the reliability and stability of the satellite navigation system, the positioning method by BDS and GPS navigation system is presented, the measurement model and the state model are described. Furthermore, the modified square-root Unscented Kalman Filter (SR-UKF) algorithm is employed in BDS and GPS conditions, and analysis of single system/multi-system positioning has been carried out, respectively. The experimental results are compared with the traditional estimation results, which show that the proposed method can perform highly-precise positioning. Especially when the number of satellites is not adequate enough, the proposed method combine BDS and GPS systems to achieve a higher positioning precision. PMID:27153068

Modular Software for Spacecraft Navigation Using the Global Positioning System (GPS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, S. H.; Hartman, K. R.; Weidow, D. A.; Berry, D. L.; Oza, D. H.; Long, A. C.; Joyce, E.; Steger, W. L.

1996-01-01

The Goddard Space Flight Center Flight Dynamics and Mission Operations Divisions have jointly investigated the feasibility of engineering modular Global Positioning SYSTEM (GPS) navigation software to support both real time flight and ground postprocessing configurations. The goals of this effort are to define standard GPS data interfaces and to engineer standard, reusable navigation software components that can be used to build a broad range of GPS navigation support applications. The paper discusses the GPS modular software (GMOD) system and operations concepts, major requirements, candidate software architecture, feasibility assessment and recommended software interface standards. In additon, ongoing efforts to broaden the scope of the initial study and to develop modular software to support autonomous navigation using GPS are addressed,

Myth Busted: Civilian GPS Receivers Actually do have Access to the L2 Frequency

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

2011 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED 00-00-2011 to 00-00-2011 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Myth Busted: Civilian GPS Receivers Actually do Have Access...matter experts on Position, Navigation and Timing and on the Global Positioning System ( GPS ) constellation. In the course of educat- ing FA40s in...the Space Operations Officer Qualification Course, in less than three months, students receive as many as six briefs dealing with GPS . These briefs

Effect of forest canopy on GPS-based movement data

Treesearch

Nicholas J. DeCesare; John R. Squires; Jay A. Kolbe

2005-01-01

The advancing role of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology in ecology has made studies of animal movement possible for larger and more vagile species. A simple field test revealed that lengths of GPS-based movement data were strongly biased (P<0.001) by effects of forest canopy. Global Positioning System error added an average of 27.5% additional...

Is Pattern of Life Size-Invariant? Recovering the Underlying Intent of a Walker from Human Walking Trajectory Data

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-01

scripted walking actions were recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled BlackBerry (BB) smartphone. GPS data, consisting of latitude and...2014-1239; Cleared 26 March 2014   LIST OF ACRONYMS     AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory BB BlackBerry GPS Global Positioning System

Getting from Here to There and Knowing Where: Teaching Global Positioning Systems to Students with Visual Impairments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Craig L.

2011-01-01

Global Positioning Systems' (GPS) technology is available for individuals with visual impairments to use in wayfinding and address Lowenfeld's "three limitations of blindness." The considerations and methodologies for teaching GPS usage have developed over time as GPS information and devices have been integrated into orientation and mobility…

Assessment of 3D hydrologic deformation using GRACE and GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, C. S.; Tregoning, P.; Fleming, K.; Burgette, R. J.; Featherstone, W. E.; Awange, J.; Kuhn, M.; Ramillien, G.

2009-12-01

Hydrological processes cause variations in gravitational potential and surface deformations, both of which are detectable with ever increasing precision using space geodetic techniques. By comparing the elastic deformation computed from continental water load estimates derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), with three-dimensional surface deformation derived from GPS observations, there is clear potential to better understand global to regional hydrological processes, in addition to acquiring further insight into the systematic error contributions affecting each space geodetic technique. In this study, we compare elastic deformation derived from water load estimates taken from the CNES, CSR, GFZ and JPL time variable GRACE fields. We compare these surface displacements with those derived at a global network of GPS sites that have been homogeneously reprocessed in the GAMIT/GLOBK suite. We extend our comparison to include a series of different GPS solutions, with each solution only subtly different based on the methodology used to down weight the height component in realizing site coordinates on the terrestrial reference frame. Each of the GPS solutions incorporate modeling of atmospheric loading and utilization of the VMF1 and a priori zenith hydrostatic delays derived via ray tracing through ECMWF meteorological fields. The agreement between GRACE and GPS derived deformations is not limited to the vertical component, with excellent agreement in the horizontal component across areas where large hydrologic signals occur over broad spatial scales (with correlation in horizontal components as high as 0.9). Agreement is also observed at smaller scales, including across Europe. These comparisons assist in understanding the magnitude of current error contributions within both space geodetic techniques. With the emergence of homogeneously reprocessed GPS time series spanning the GRACE mission, this technique offers one possible means of validating the amplitude and phase of quasi-periodic signals present in GPS time series.

Review of research methodologies for tigers: telemetry.

PubMed

Miller, Clayton S; Hebblewhite, Mark; Goodrich, John M; Miquelle, Dale G

2010-12-01

Over the past half century, wildlife research has relied on technological advances to gain additional insight into the secretive lives of animals. This revolution started in the 1960s with the development of radio telemetry and continues today with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS)-based research techniques. In the present paper we review the history of radio telemetry from its origins with grizzly bears in Yellowstone to its early applications in tiger research and conservation in Asia. We address the different types of data that are available using radio telemetry as opposed to using other research techniques, such as behavioral observations, camera trapping, DNA analysis and scat analysis. In the late 1990s, the rapid development of GPS collar technology revolutionized wildlife research. This new technology has enabled researchers to dramatically improve their ability to gather data on animal movements and ecology. Despite the ecological and conservation benefits of radio telemetry, there have been few telemetry studies of tigers in the wild, and most have been on the Bengal or Amur subspecies. We close with an assessment of the current tiger conservation efforts using GPS technology and discuss how this new information can help to preserve tigers for future generations. © 2010 ISZS, Blackwell Publishing and IOZ/CAS.

Detection of the Equatorial Ionospheric Irregularities Using the POD GPS Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakharenkova, I.; Astafyeva, E.; Cherniak, I.

2015-12-01

By making use of GPS measurements from Precise Orbit Determination (POD) GPS antenna onboard Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites we present results of the equatorial irregularities/plasma bubbles detection. For a given research we use data from a multi-satellite constellation consisting of the three Swarm satellites and the TerraSAR-X satellite. The major advantage of such LEO constellation is rather similar orbit altitude of ~500 km. The GPS-based indices, characterizing the occurrence and the strength of the ionospheric irregularities, were derived from the LEO GPS observations of a zenith-looking onboard GPS antenna. To study GPS fluctuation activity at the topside equatorial ionosphere we used TEC-based indices ROT (rate of TEC change) and ROTI (rate of TEC Index), proposed by Pi et al. (1997). We demonstrate a successful implementation of this technique for several case studies of the equatorial plasma bubbles occurrence in the post-midnight and morning LT hours during the year 2014. The ionospheric irregularities detected with GPS technique in Swarm/TerrasSAR-X data are consistent with the in situ plasma density variations registered by the three Swarm satellites (PLP measurements), as well as by three DMSP satellites at ~840 km orbital height, which indicate a large altitudinal extent of the observed phenomenon. Also we analyzed the global/seasonal distribution of the ionospheric irregularities at the topside equatorial region caused the phase fluctuations in GPS measurements onboard LEO satellite. We demonstrate that ROT/ROTI technique can be applied to LEO GPS data for geomagnetically quiet and disturbed conditions, as well as detection of the storm-induced equatorial irregularities in the morning local time.

An Investigation on the Crustal Deformations in Istanbul after Eastern Marmara Earthquakes in 1999

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozludemir, M.; Ozyasar, M.

2008-12-01

Since the introduction of the GPS technique in mid 1970's there has been great advances in positioning activities. Today such Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) based positioning techniques are widely used in daily geodetic applications. High order geodetic network measurements are one of such geodetic applications. Such networks are established to provide reliable infrastructures for all kind of geodetic work from the production of cadastral plans to the surveying processes during the construction of engineering structures. In fact such positional information obtained in such engineering surveys could be useful for other studies as well. One of such fields is geodynamic studies where such positional information could be valuable to understand the characteristics of tectonic movements. In Turkey being located in a tectonically active zones and having major earthquakes quite frequently, the positional information obtained in engineering surveys could be very useful for earthquake related studies. In this paper an example of such engineering surveys is discussed. This example is the Istanbul GPS (Global Positioning System) Network, first established in 1997 and remeasured in 2005. Between these two measurement processes two major earthquakes took place, on August 17 and November 12, 1999 with magnitudes of 7.4 and 7.2, respectively. In the first measurement campaign in 1997, a network of about 700 points was measured, while in the second campaign in 2005 more than 1800 points were positioned. In these two campaigns are existing common points. The network covers the whole Istanbul area of about 6000 km2. All network points are located on the Eurasian plate to the north of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. In this study, the horizontal and vertical movements are presented and compared with the results obtained in geodynamic studies.

Tectonic deformation in southern California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, David D.

1993-01-01

Our objectives were to use modem geodetic data, especially those derived from space techniques like Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), and the Global Positioning System (GPS) to infer crustal deformation in southern California and relate it to plate tectonics and earthquake hazard. To do this, we needed to collect some original data, write computer programs to determine positions of survey markers from geodetic observables, interpret time dependent positions in terms of velocity and earthquake caused episodic displacements, and construct a model to explain these velocities and displacements in terms of fault slip and plate movements.

Accuracy and reliability of multi-GNSS real-time precise positioning: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xingxing; Ge, Maorong; Dai, Xiaolei; Ren, Xiaodong; Fritsche, Mathias; Wickert, Jens; Schuh, Harald

2015-06-01

In this contribution, we present a GPS+GLONASS+BeiDou+Galileo four-system model to fully exploit the observations of all these four navigation satellite systems for real-time precise orbit determination, clock estimation and positioning. A rigorous multi-GNSS analysis is performed to achieve the best possible consistency by processing the observations from different GNSS together in one common parameter estimation procedure. Meanwhile, an efficient multi-GNSS real-time precise positioning service system is designed and demonstrated by using the multi-GNSS Experiment, BeiDou Experimental Tracking Network, and International GNSS Service networks including stations all over the world. The statistical analysis of the 6-h predicted orbits show that the radial and cross root mean square (RMS) values are smaller than 10 cm for BeiDou and Galileo, and smaller than 5 cm for both GLONASS and GPS satellites, respectively. The RMS values of the clock differences between real-time and batch-processed solutions for GPS satellites are about 0.10 ns, while the RMS values for BeiDou, Galileo and GLONASS are 0.13, 0.13 and 0.14 ns, respectively. The addition of the BeiDou, Galileo and GLONASS systems to the standard GPS-only processing, reduces the convergence time almost by 70 %, while the positioning accuracy is improved by about 25 %. Some outliers in the GPS-only solutions vanish when multi-GNSS observations are processed simultaneous. The availability and reliability of GPS precise positioning decrease dramatically as the elevation cutoff increases. However, the accuracy of multi-GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) is hardly decreased and few centimeter are still achievable in the horizontal components even with 40 elevation cutoff. At 30 and 40 elevation cutoffs, the availability rates of GPS-only solution drop significantly to only around 70 and 40 %, respectively. However, multi-GNSS PPP can provide precise position estimates continuously (availability rate is more than 99.5 %) even up to 40 elevation cutoff (e.g., in urban canyons).

Continued study of NAVSTAR/GPS for general aviation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alberts, R. D.; Ruedger, W. H.

1979-01-01

A conceptual approach for examining the full potential of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for the general aviation community is presented. Aspects of an experimental program to demonstrate these concepts are discussed. The report concludes with the observation that the true potential of GPS can only be exploited by utilization in concert with a data link. The capability afforded by the combination of position location and reporting stimulates the concept of GPS providing the auxiliary functions of collision avoidance, and approach and landing guidance. A series of general recommendations for future NASA and civil community efforts in order to continue to support GPS for general aviation are included.

Perceived future career prospects in general practice: quantitative results from questionnaire surveys of UK doctors

PubMed Central

Lambert, Trevor W; Smith, Fay; Goldacre, Michael J

2016-01-01

Background There are more studies of current job satisfaction among GPs than of their views about their future career prospects, although both are relevant to commitment to careers in general practice. Aim To report on the views of GPs compared with clinicians in other specialties about their future career prospects. Design and setting Questionnaire surveys were sent to UK medical doctors who graduated in selected years between 1974 and 2008. Method Questionnaires were sent to the doctors at different times after graduation, ranging from 3 to 24 years. Results Based on the latest survey of each graduation year of the 20 940 responders, 66.2% of GPs and 74.2% of hospital doctors were positive about their prospects and 9.7% and 8.3%, respectively, were negative. However, with increasing time since graduation and increasing levels of seniority, GPs became less positive about their prospects; by contrast, over time, surgeons became more positive. Three to 5 years after graduation, 86.3% of those training in general practice were positive about their prospects compared with 52.9% of surgical trainees: in surveys conducted 12–24 years after graduation, 60.2% of GPs and 76.6% of surgeons were positive about their prospects. Conclusion GPs held broadly positive views of their career prospects, as did other doctors. However, there was an increase in negativity with increasing time since graduation that was not seen in hospital doctors. Research into the causes of this negativity and policy measures to ameliorate it would contribute to the continued commitment of GPs and may help to reduce attrition. PMID:27578813

GPS-aided gravimetry at 30 km altitude from a balloon-borne platform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lazarewicz, Andrew R.; Evans, Alan G.

1989-01-01

A balloon-borne experiment, flown at 30 km altitude over New Mexico, was used to test dynamic differential Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking in support of gravimetry at high-altitudes. The experiment package contained a gravimeter (Vibrating String Accelerometer), a full complement of inertial instruments, a TI-4100 GPS receiver and a radar transponder. The flight was supported by two GPS receivers on the ground near the flight path. From the 8 hour flight, about a forty minute period was selected for analysis. Differential GPS phase measurements were used to estimate changes in position over the sample time interval, or average velocity. In addition to average velocity, differential positions and numerical averages of acceleration were obtained in three components. Gravitational acceleration was estimated by correcting for accelerations due to translational motion, ignoring all rotational effects.

Using continuous GPS and absolute gravity to separate vertical land movements and changes in sea-level at tide-gauges in the UK.

PubMed

Teferle, F N; Bingley, R M; Williams, S D P; Baker, T F; Dodson, A H

2006-04-15

Researchers investigating climate change have used historical tide-gauge measurements from all over the world to investigate the changes in sea-level that have occurred over the last century or so. However, such estimates are a combination of any true sea-level variations and any vertical movements of the land at the specific tide-gauge. For a tide- gauge record to be used to determine the climate related component of changes in sea-level, it is therefore necessary to correct for the vertical land movement component of the observed change in sea-level.In 1990, the Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy and Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory started developing techniques based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for measuring vertical land movements (VLM) at tide-gauges in the UK. This paper provides brief details of these early developments and shows how they led to the establishment of continuous GPS (CGPS) stations at a number of tide-gauges. The paper then goes on to discuss the use of absolute gravity (AG), as an independent technique for measuring VLM at tide-gauges. The most recent results, from CGPS time-series dating back to 1997 and AG time-series dating back to 1995/1996, are then used to demonstrate the complementarity of these two techniques and their potential for providing site-specific estimates of VLM at tide-gauges in the UK.

A Tightly-Coupled GPS/INS/UWB Cooperative Positioning Sensors System Supported by V2I Communication

PubMed Central

Wang, Jian; Gao, Yang; Li, Zengke; Meng, Xiaolin; Hancock, Craig M.

2016-01-01

This paper investigates a tightly-coupled Global Position System (GPS)/Ultra-Wideband (UWB)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) cooperative positioning scheme using a Robust Kalman Filter (RKF) supported by V2I communication. The scheme proposes a method that uses range measurements of UWB units transmitted among the terminals as augmentation inputs of the observations. The UWB range inputs are used to reform the GPS observation equations that consist of pseudo-range and Doppler measurements and the updated observation equation is processed in a tightly-coupled GPS/UWB/INS integrated positioning equation using an adaptive Robust Kalman Filter. The result of the trial conducted on the roof of the Nottingham Geospatial Institute (NGI) at the University of Nottingham shows that the integrated solution provides better accuracy and improves the availability of the system in GPS denied environments. RKF can eliminate the effects of gross errors. Additionally, the internal and external reliabilities of the system are enhanced when the UWB observables received from the moving terminals are involved in the positioning algorithm. PMID:27355947

4D computerized ionospheric tomography by using GPS measurements and IRI-Plas model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuna, Hakan; Arikan, Feza; Arikan, Orhan

2016-07-01

Ionospheric imaging is an important subject in ionospheric studies. GPS based TEC measurements provide very accurate information about the electron density values in the ionosphere. However, since the measurements are generally very sparse and non-uniformly distributed, computation of 3D electron density estimation from measurements alone is an ill-defined problem. Model based 3D electron density estimations provide physically feasible distributions. However, they are not generally compliant with the TEC measurements obtained from GPS receivers. In this study, GPS based TEC measurements and an ionosphere model known as International Reference Ionosphere Extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) are employed together in order to obtain a physically accurate 3D electron density distribution which is compliant with the real measurements obtained from a GPS satellite - receiver network. Ionospheric parameters input to the IRI-Plas model are perturbed in the region of interest by using parametric perturbation models such that the synthetic TEC measurements calculated from the resultant 3D electron density distribution fit to the real TEC measurements. The problem is considered as an optimization problem where the optimization parameters are the parameters of the parametric perturbation models. Proposed technique is applied over Turkey, on both calm and storm days of the ionosphere. Results show that the proposed technique produces 3D electron density distributions which are compliant with IRI-Plas model, GPS TEC measurements and ionosonde measurements. The effect of the GPS receiver station number on the performance of the proposed technique is investigated. Results showed that 7 GPS receiver stations in a region as large as Turkey is sufficient for both calm and storm days of the ionosphere. Since the ionization levels in the ionosphere are highly correlated in time, the proposed technique is extended to the time domain by applying Kalman based tracking and smoothing approaches onto the obtained results. Combining Kalman methods with the proposed 3D CIT technique creates a robust 4D ionospheric electron density estimation model, and has the advantage of decreasing the computational cost of the proposed method. Results applied on both calm and storm days of the ionosphere show that, new technique produces more robust solutions especially when the number of GPS receiver stations in the region is small. This study is supported by TUBITAK 114E541, 115E915 and Joint TUBITAK 114E092 and AS CR 14/001 projects.

Where in the world are my field plots? Using GPS effectively in environmental field studies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, Chris E.; Barton, Christopher C.

2004-01-01

Global positioning system (GPS) technology is rapidly replacing tape, compass, and traditional surveying instruments as the preferred tool for estimating the positions of environmental research sites. One important problem, however, is that it can be difficult to estimate the uncertainty of GPS-derived positions. Sources of error include various satellite- and site-related factors, such as forest canopy and topographic obstructions. In a case study from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, hand-held, mapping-grade GPS receivers generally estimated positions with 1–5 m precision in open, unobstructed settings, and 20–30 m precision under forest canopy. Surveying-grade receivers achieved precisions of 10 cm or less, even in challenging terrain. Users can maximize the quality of their GPS measurements by “mission planning” to take advantage of high-quality satellite conditions. Repeated measurements and simultaneous data collection at multiple points can be used to assess accuracy and precision.

Evaluation of Relative Navigation Algorithms for Formation-Flying Satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelbel, David; Lee, Taesul; Long, Anne; Carpenter, J. Russell; Gramling, Cheryl

2001-01-01

Goddard Space Flight Center is currently developing advanced spacecraft systems to provide autonomous navigation and control of formation flyers. This paper discusses autonomous relative navigation performance for formations in eccentric, medium, and high-altitude Earth orbits using Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and intersatellite range measurements. The performance of several candidate relative navigation approaches is evaluated. These analyses indicate that the relative navigation accuracy is primarily a function of the frequency of acquisition and tracking of the GPS signals. A relative navigation position accuracy of 0.5 meters root-mean-square (RMS) can be achieved for formations in medium-attitude eccentric orbits that can continuously track at least one GPS signal. A relative navigation position accuracy of better than 75 meters RMS can be achieved for formations in high-altitude eccentric orbits that have sparse tracking of the GPS signals. The addition of round-trip intersatellite range measurements can significantly improve relative navigation accuracy for formations with sparse tracking of the GPS signals.

Comparison between multi-constellation ambiguity-fixed PPP and RTK for maritime precise navigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tegedor, Javier; Liu, Xianglin; Ørpen, Ole; Treffers, Niels; Goode, Matthew; Øvstedal, Ola

2015-06-01

In order to achieve high-accuracy positioning, either Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) or Precise Point Positioning (PPP) techniques can be used. While RTK normally delivers higher accuracy with shorter convergence times, PPP has been an attractive technology for maritime applications, as it delivers uniform positioning performance without the direct need of a nearby reference station. Traditional PPP has been based on ambiguity-­float solutions using GPS and Glonass constellations. However, the addition of new satellite systems, such as Galileo and BeiDou, and the possibility of fixing integer carrier-phase ambiguities (PPP-AR) allow to increase PPP accuracy. In this article, a performance assessment has been done between RTK, PPP and PPP-AR, using GNSS data collected from two antennas installed on a ferry navigating in Oslo (Norway). RTK solutions have been generated using short, medium and long baselines (up to 290 km). For the generation of PPP-AR solutions, Uncalibrated Hardware Delays (UHDs) for GPS, Galileo and BeiDou have been estimated using reference stations in Oslo and Onsala. The performance of RTK and multi-­constellation PPP and PPP-AR are presented.

Relative Navigation of Formation-Flying Satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Long, Anne; Kelbel, David; Lee, Taesul; Leung, Dominic; Carpenter, J. Russell; Grambling, Cheryl

2002-01-01

This paper compares autonomous relative navigation performance for formations in eccentric, medium and high-altitude Earth orbits using Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS), crosslink, and celestial object measurements. For close formations, the relative navigation accuracy is highly dependent on the magnitude of the uncorrelated measurement errors. A relative navigation position accuracy of better than 10 centimeters root-mean-square (RMS) can be achieved for medium-altitude formations that can continuously track at least one GPS signal. A relative navigation position accuracy of better than 15 meters RMS can be achieved for high-altitude formations that have sparse tracking of the GPS signals. The addition of crosslink measurements can significantly improve relative navigation accuracy for formations that use sparse GPS tracking or celestial object measurements for absolute navigation.

Detection test of wireless network signal strength and GPS positioning signal in underground pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Li; Zhang, Yunwei; Chen, Ling

2018-03-01

In order to solve the problem of selecting positioning technology for inspection robot in underground pipeline environment, the wireless network signal strength and GPS positioning signal testing are carried out in the actual underground pipeline environment. Firstly, the strength variation of the 3G wireless network signal and Wi-Fi wireless signal provided by China Telecom and China Unicom ground base stations are tested, and the attenuation law of these wireless signals along the pipeline is analyzed quantitatively and described. Then, the receiving data of the GPS satellite signal in the pipeline are tested, and the attenuation of GPS satellite signal under underground pipeline is analyzed. The testing results may be reference for other related research which need to consider positioning in pipeline.

Operation of a single-channel, sequential Navstar GPS receiver in a helicopter mission environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, F. G.; Hamlin, J. R.

1984-01-01

It is pointed out that the future utilization of the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) by civil helicopters will provide an enhanced performance not obtainable with current navigations systems. GPS will supply properly equipped users with extremely accurate three-dimensional position and velocity information anywhere in the world. Preliminary studies have been conducted to investigate differential GPS concept mechanizations and cost, and to theoretically predict navigation performance and the impact of degradation of the GPS C/A code for national security considerations. The obtained results are encouraging, but certain improvements are needed. As a second step in the program, a single-channel sequential GPS navigator was installed and operated in the NASA SH-3G helicopter. A series of flight tests were conducted. It is found that performance of the Navstar GPS Z-set is quite acceptable to support area navigation and nonprecision approach operations.

The Mathematics of the Global Positioning System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nord, Gail D.; Jabon, David; Nord, John

1997-01-01

Presents an activity that illustrates the application of mathematics to modern navigation and utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites that enables receivers to compute their position anywhere on the earth with great accuracy. (DDR)

Demonstration of precise estimation of polar motion parameters with the global positioning system: Initial results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lichten, S. M.

1991-01-01

Data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) were used to determine precise polar motion estimates. Conservatively calculated formal errors of the GPS least squares solution are approx. 10 cm. The GPS estimates agree with independently determined polar motion values from very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) at the 5 cm level. The data were obtained from a partial constellation of GPS satellites and from a sparse worldwide distribution of ground stations. The accuracy of the GPS estimates should continue to improve as more satellites and ground receivers become operational, and eventually a near real time GPS capability should be available. Because the GPS data are obtained and processed independently from the large radio antennas at the Deep Space Network (DSN), GPS estimation could provide very precise measurements of Earth orientation for calibration of deep space tracking data and could significantly relieve the ever growing burden on the DSN radio telescopes to provide Earth platform calibrations.

Operational GPS Imaging System at Multiple Scales for Earth Science and Monitoring of Geohazards

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blewitt, Geoffrey; Hammond, William; Kreemer, Corné

2016-04-01

Toward scientific targets that range from slow deep Earth processes to geohazard rapid response, our operational GPS data analysis system produces smooth, yet detailed maps of 3-dimensional land motion with respect to our Earth's center of mass at multiple spatio-temporal scales with various latencies. "GPS Imaging" is implemented operationally as a back-end processor to our GPS data processing facility, which uses JPL's GIPSY OASIS II software to produce positions from 14,000 GPS stations in ITRF every 5 minutes, with coordinate precision that gradually improves as latency increases upward from 1 hour to 2 weeks. Our GPS Imaging system then applies sophisticated signal processing and image filtering techniques to generate images of land motion covering our Earth's continents with high levels of robustness, accuracy, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution. Techniques employed by our GPS Imaging system include: (1) similarity transformation of polyhedron coordinates to ITRF with optional common-mode filtering to enhance local transient signal to noise ratio, (2) a comprehensive database of ~100,000 potential step events based on earthquake catalogs and equipment logs, (3) an automatic, robust, and accurate non-parametric estimator of station velocity that is insensitive to prevalent step discontinuities, outliers, seasonality, and heteroscedasticity; (4) a realistic estimator of velocity error bars based on subsampling statistics; (5) image processing to create a map of land motion that is based on median spatial filtering on the Delauney triangulation, which is effective at despeckling the data while faithfully preserving edge features; (6) a velocity time series estimator to assist identification of transient behavior, such as unloading caused by drought, and (7) a method of integrating InSAR and GPS for fine-scale seamless imaging in ITRF. Our system is being used to address three main scientific focus areas, including (1) deep Earth processes, (2) anthropogenic lithospheric processes, and (3) dynamic solid Earth events. Our prototype images show that the striking, first-order signal in North America and Europe is large scale uplift and subsidence from mantle flow driven by Glacial Isostatic Adjustment. At regional scales, the images reveal that anthropogenic lithospheric processes can dominate vertical land motion in extended regions, such as the rapid subsidence of California's Central Valley (CV) exacerbated by drought. The Earth's crust is observed to rebound elastically as evidenced by uplift of surrounding mountain ranges. Images also reveal natural uplift of mountains, mantle relaxation associated with earthquakes over the last century, and uplift at plate boundaries driven by interseismic locking. Using the high-rate positions at low latency, earthquake events can be rapidly imaged, modeled, and monitored for afterslip, potential aftershocks, and subsequent deeper relaxation. Thus we are imaging deep Earth processes with unprecedented scope, resolution and accuracy. In addition to supporting these scientific focus areas, the data products are also being used to support the global reference frame (ITRF), and show potential to enhance missions such as GRACE and NISAR by providing complementary information on Earth processes.

Coastal sea level measurements using a single geodetic GPS receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, Kristine M.; Löfgren, Johan S.; Haas, Rüdiger

2013-04-01

This paper presents a method to derive local sea level variations using data from a single geodetic-quality Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver using GPS (Global Positioning System) signals. This method is based on multipath theory for specular reflections and the use of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) data. The technique could be valuable for altimeter calibration and validation. Data from two test sites, a dedicated GPS tide gauge at the Onsala Space Observatory (OSO) in Sweden and the Friday Harbor GPS site of the EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) in USA, are analyzed. The sea level results are compared to independently observed sea level data from nearby and in situ tide gauges. For OSO, the Root-Mean-Square (RMS) agreement is better than 5 cm, while it is in the order of 10 cm for Friday Harbor. The correlation coefficients are better than 0.97 for both sites. For OSO, the SNR-based results are also compared with results from a geodetic analysis of GPS data of a two receivers/antennae tide gauge installation. The SNR-based analysis results in a slightly worse RMS agreement with respect to the independent tide gauge data than the geodetic analysis (4.8 cm and 4.0 cm, respectively). However, it provides results even for rough sea surface conditions when the two receivers/antennae installation no longer records the necessary data for a geodetic analysis.

Real-time GPS seismology using a single receiver: method comparison, error analysis and precision validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xingxing

2014-05-01

Earthquake monitoring and early warning system for hazard assessment and mitigation has traditional been based on seismic instruments. However, for large seismic events, it is difficult for traditional seismic instruments to produce accurate and reliable displacements because of the saturation of broadband seismometers and problematic integration of strong-motion data. Compared with the traditional seismic instruments, GPS can measure arbitrarily large dynamic displacements without saturation, making them particularly valuable in case of large earthquakes and tsunamis. GPS relative positioning approach is usually adopted to estimate seismic displacements since centimeter-level accuracy can be achieved in real-time by processing double-differenced carrier-phase observables. However, relative positioning method requires a local reference station, which might itself be displaced during a large seismic event, resulting in misleading GPS analysis results. Meanwhile, the relative/network approach is time-consuming, particularly difficult for the simultaneous and real-time analysis of GPS data from hundreds or thousands of ground stations. In recent years, several single-receiver approaches for real-time GPS seismology, which can overcome the reference station problem of the relative positioning approach, have been successfully developed and applied to GPS seismology. One available method is real-time precise point positioning (PPP) relied on precise satellite orbit and clock products. However, real-time PPP needs a long (re)convergence period, of about thirty minutes, to resolve integer phase ambiguities and achieve centimeter-level accuracy. In comparison with PPP, Colosimo et al. (2011) proposed a variometric approach to determine the change of position between two adjacent epochs, and then displacements are obtained by a single integration of the delta positions. This approach does not suffer from convergence process, but the single integration from delta positions to displacements is accompanied by a drift due to the potential uncompensated errors. Li et al. (2013) presented a temporal point positioning (TPP) method to quickly capture coseismic displacements with a single GPS receiver in real-time. The TPP approach can overcome the convergence problem of precise point positioning (PPP), and also avoids the integration and de-trending process of the variometric approach. The performance of TPP is demonstrated to be at few centimeters level of displacement accuracy for even twenty minutes interval with real-time precise orbit and clock products. In this study, we firstly present and compare the observation models and processing strategies of the current existing single-receiver methods for real-time GPS seismology. Furthermore, we propose several refinements to the variometric approach in order to eliminate the drift trend in the integrated coseismic displacements. The mathematical relationship between these methods is discussed in detail and their equivalence is also proved. The impact of error components such as satellite ephemeris, ionospheric delay, tropospheric delay, and geometry change on the retrieved displacements are carefully analyzed and investigated. Finally, the performance of these single-receiver approaches for real-time GPS seismology is validated using 1 Hz GPS data collected during the Tohoku-Oki earthquake (Mw 9.0, March 11, 2011) in Japan. It is shown that few centimeters accuracy of coseismic displacements is achievable. Keywords: High-rate GPS; real-time GPS seismology; a single receiver; PPP; variometric approach; temporal point positioning; error analysis; coseismic displacement; fault slip inversion;

Tracking the movement of Hawaiian volcanoes; Global Positioning System (GPS) measurement

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dvorak, J.J.

1992-01-01

At some well-studied volcanoes, surface movements of at least several centimeters take place out to distances of about 10 km from the summit of the volcano. Widespread deformation of this type is relatively easy to monitor, because the necessary survey stations can be placed at favorable sites some distance from the summit of the volcano. Examples of deformation of this type include Kilauea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii, Krafla in Iceland, Long Valley in California, Camp Flegrei in Italy, and Sakurajima in Japan. In contrast, surface movement at some other volcanoes, usually volcanoes with steep slopes, is restricted to places within about 1 km of their summits. Examples of this class of volcanoes include Mount St. Helens in Washington, Etna in Italy, and Tangkuban Parahu in Indonesia. Local movement on remote, rugged volcanoes of this type is difficult to observe using conventional methods of measuring ground movement, which generally require a clear line-of-sight between points of interest. However, a revolutionary new technique, called the Global Positional System (GPS), provides a very efficient, alternative method of making such measurements. GPS, which uses satellites and ground-based receivers to accurately record slight crustal movements, is rapidly becoming the method of choice to measure deformation at volcanoes. 

Global positioning system for general aviation: Joint FAA-NASA Seminar. [conferences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

Programs to examine and develop means to utilize the global positioning system (GPS) for civil aviation functions are described. User requirements in this regard are discussed, the development of technologies in the areas of antennas, receivers, and signal processors for the GPS are examined, and modifications to the GPS to fit operational and design criteria are evaluated.

Integration of the B-52G Offensive Avionics System (OAS) with the Global Positioning System (GPS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foote, A. L.; Pluntze, S. C.

Integration of the B-52G OAS with the GPS has been accomplished by modification of existing OAS software. GPS derived position and velocity data are used to enhance the quality of the OAS inertial and dead reckoning navigation systems. The engineering design and the software development process used to implement this design are presented.

Application of GPS Technology to Monitor Traffic Intensity and Soil Impacts in a Forest Harvest Operation

Treesearch

Emily A. Carter; Timothy P. McDonald; John L. Torbert

1999-01-01

A study was initiated in the Winter of 1998 to examine the utility of employing Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to monitor harvest traffic throughout a loblolly pine plantation and utilize traffic intensity information to assess impacts of select soil physical properties. Traffic maps prepared from GPS positional data indicated the highest concentration of traffic...

A simulation of GPS and differential GPS sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rankin, James M.

1993-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a revolutionary advance in navigation. Users can determine latitude, longitude, and altitude by receiving range information from at least four satellites. The statistical accuracy of the user's position is directly proportional to the statistical accuracy of the range measurement. Range errors are caused by clock errors, ephemeris errors, atmospheric delays, multipath errors, and receiver noise. Selective Availability, which the military uses to intentionally degrade accuracy for non-authorized users, is a major error source. The proportionality constant relating position errors to range errors is the Dilution of Precision (DOP) which is a function of the satellite geometry. Receivers separated by relatively short distances have the same satellite and atmospheric errors. Differential GPS (DGPS) removes these errors by transmitting pseudorange corrections from a fixed receiver to a mobile receiver. The corrected pseudorange at the moving receiver is now corrupted only by errors from the receiver clock, multipath, and measurement noise. This paper describes a software package that models position errors for various GPS and DGPS systems. The error model is used in the Real-Time Simulator and Cockpit Technology workstation simulations at NASA-LaRC. The GPS/DGPS sensor can simulate enroute navigation, instrument approaches, or on-airport navigation.

Multi-technique combination of space geodesy observations: Impact of the Jason-2 satellite on the GPS satellite orbits estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoulida, Myriam; Pollet, Arnaud; Coulot, David; Perosanz, Félix; Loyer, Sylvain; Biancale, Richard; Rebischung, Paul

2016-10-01

In order to improve the Precise Orbit Determination (POD) of the GPS constellation and the Jason-2 Low Earth Orbiter (LEO), we carry out a simultaneous estimation of GPS satellite orbits along with Jason-2 orbits, using GINS software. Along with GPS station observations, we use Jason-2 GPS, SLR and DORIS observations, over a data span of 6 months (28/05/2011-03/12/2011). We use the Geophysical Data Records-D (GDR-D) orbit estimation standards for the Jason-2 satellite. A GPS-only solution is computed as well, where only the GPS station observations are used. It appears that adding the LEO GPS observations results in an increase of about 0.7% of ambiguities fixed, with respect to the GPS-only solution. The resulting GPS orbits from both solutions are of equivalent quality, agreeing with each other at about 7 mm on Root Mean Square (RMS). Comparisons of the resulting GPS orbits to the International GNSS Service (IGS) final orbits show the same level of agreement for both the GPS-only orbits, at 1.38 cm in RMS, and the GPS + Jason2 orbits at 1.33 cm in RMS. We also compare the resulting Jason-2 orbits with the 3-technique Segment Sol multi-missions d'ALTimétrie, d'orbitographie et de localisation précise (SSALTO) POD products. The orbits show good agreement, with 2.02 cm of orbit differences global RMS, and 0.98 cm of orbit differences RMS on the radial component.

Combined cGPS and InSAR time series for observing subsidence in the southern Central Valley due to groundwater exploitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neely, W.; Borsa, A. A.; Silverii, F.

2017-12-01

Recent droughts have increased reliance on groundwater for agricultural production in California's Central Valley. Using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), we observe upwards of 25 cm/yr of subsidence from November 2014 to February 2017 due to intense pumping. However, these observations are contaminated by atmospheric noise and orbital errors. We present a novel method for correcting long wavelength errors in InSAR deformation estimates using time series from continuous Global Positioning System (cGPS) stations within the SAR footprint, which we apply to C-band data from the Sentinel mission. We test our method using 49 SAR acquisitions from the Sentinel 1 satellites and 107 cGPS times series from the Geodesy Advancing Geoscience and EarthScope (GAGE) network in southern Central Valley. We correct each interferogram separately, implementing an intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS) technique to produce a time series of line-of-sight surface motion from 276 InSAR pairs. To estimate the vertical component of this motion, we remove horizontal tectonic displacements predicted by the Southern California Earthquake Center's (SCEC) Community Geodetic Model. We validate our method by comparing the corrected InSAR results with independent cGPS data and find a marked improvement in agreement between the two data sets, particularly in the deformation rates. Using this technique, we characterize the time evolution of surface vertical deformation in the southern Central Valley related to human exploitation of local groundwater resources. This methodology is applicable to data from other SAR satellites, including ALOS-2 and the upcoming US-India NISAR mission.

Recent Advances in Remote Sensing of Natural Hazards-Induced Atmospheric and Ionospheric Perturbations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Y. M.; Komjathy, A.; Meng, X.; Verkhoglyadova, O. P.; Langley, R. B.; Mannucci, A. J.

2015-12-01

Traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) induced by acoustic-gravity waves in the neutral atmosphere have significant impact on trans-ionospheric radio waves such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, including Global Position System (GPS)) measurements. Natural hazards and solid Earth events, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are actual sources that may trigger acoustic and gravity waves resulting in traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) in the upper atmosphere. Trans-ionospheric radio wave measurements sense the total electron content (TEC) along the signal propagation path. In this research, we introduce a novel GPS-based detection and estimation technique for remote sensing of atmospheric wave-induced TIDs including space weather phenomena induced by major natural hazard events, using TEC time series collected from worldwide ground-based dual-frequency GNSS (including GPS) receiver networks. We demonstrate the ability of using ground- and space-based dual-frequency GPS measurements to detect and monitor tsunami wave propagation from the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake and tsunami. Major wave trains with different propagation speeds and wavelengths were identified through analysis of the GPS remote sensing observations. Dominant physical characteristics of atmospheric wave-induced TIDs are found to be associated with specific tsunami propagations and oceanic Rayleigh waves. In this research, we compared GPS-based observations, corresponding model simulations and tsunami wave propagation. Results are shown to lead to a better understanding of the tsunami-induced ionosphere responses. Based on current distribution of Plate Boundary Observatory GPS stations, the results indicate that tsunami-induced TIDs may be detected about 60 minutes prior to tsunamis arriving at the U.S. west coast. It is expected that this GNSS-based technology will become an integral part of future early-warning systems.

The Influence of COSMIC Satellite Data on Regional Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Y.

2006-12-01

The atmospheric limb sounding technique making use of radio signals transmitted by the Global Position System (GPS) has emerged as a promising approach for global atmospheric measurements. As demonstrated by the proof-of-concept GPS Meteorology (GPS/MET) experiment and more recently by the CHAMP and SAC-C missions, the GPS radio occultation (RO) sounding data are of high accuracy and high vertical resolution. On 15 April 2006, the joint U.S.-Taiwan COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 mission, a constellation of six microsatellites, was launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base. These satellites are being deployed to their final orbits, which would take about a year. During the early phase of the deployment, the satellites are closely located. This offers a unique opportunity to examine the precision of the GPS RO measurements. The COSMIC data are available in near real-time for global weather analysis and prediction and for climate monitoring. Currently, COSMIC is producing approximately 1300 GPS RO soundings per day at the end of August 2006. This number will be increased as the satellites are further separated through the deployment process. Radio occultation measures phase and amplitude of the microwave signals emitted from GPS. These signals are inverted to obtain profiles of signal bending, atmospheric refractivity, pressure temperature and water vapor. The main objective of the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 mission is to demonstrate the value of these radio occultation products for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, ionospheric research and space weather prediction. This presentation will provide an overview of the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 program. We will present results on the influence of COSMIC data on the regional analysis over the data void regions, particularly over the tropics and high latitudes. For further information on the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3, please refer to http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/.

Detection of Geomagnetic Pulsations of the Earth Using GPS-TEC Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koroglu, Ozan; Arikan, Feza; Köroǧlu, Meltem; Sabri Ozkazanc, Yakup

2016-07-01

The magnetosphere of the Earth is made up of both magnetic fields and plasma. In this layer, plasma waves propagate as Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves having mHz scale frequencies. ULF waves are produced due to complicated solar-geomagnetic interactions. In the literature, these ULF waves are defined as pulsations. The geomagnetic pulsations are classified into main two groups as continuous pulsations (Pc) and irregular pulsations (Pi). These pulsations can be determined by ionospheric parameters due to the complex lithosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling processes. Total Electron Content (TEC) is one of the most important parameters for investigating the variability of ionosphere. Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a cost-effective means for estimating TEC from GPS satellite orbital height of 20,000 km to the ground based receivers. Therefore, the time series of GPS-TEC inherently contains the above mentioned ULF waves. In this study, time series analysis of GPS-TEC is carried out by applying periodogram method to the mid-latitude annual TEC data. After the analysis of GPS-TEC data obtained for GPS stations located in Central Europe and Turkey for 2011, it is observed that some of the fundamental frequencies that are indicators of Pc waves, diurnal and semi-diurnal periodicity and earth-free oscillations can be identified. These results will be used in determination of low frequency trend structure of magnetosphere and ionosphere. Further investigation of remaining relatively low magnitude frequencies, all Pi and Pc can be identified by using time and frequency domain techniques such as wavelet analysis. This study is supported by the joint TUBITAK 115E915 and joint TUBITAK114E092 and AS CR 14/001 projects.

GPS Eye-in-the-Sky Software Takes Closer Look Below

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2006-01-01

At NASA, GPS is a vital resource for scientific research aimed at understanding and protecting Earth. The Agency employs the band of GPS satellites for such functions as mapping Earth s ionosphere and developing earthquake-prediction tools. Extending this worldly wisdom beyond Earth, NASA researchers are even discussing the possibility of developing global positioning satellites around Mars, in anticipation of future manned missions. Despite all of its terrestrial accomplishments, traditional GPS still has its limitations. The Space Agency is working to address these with many new advances, including a "Global Differential GPS" technology that instantaneously provides a position to within 4 inches horizontally and 8 inches vertically, anywhere on Earth. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, no other related system provides the same combination of accuracy and coverage. Furthermore, traditional GPS cannot communicate beyond latitudes of 75deg. That means that most of Greenland and Antarctica cannot receive GPS signals. The Global Differential GPS technology approaches this area of the world using several different GPS signals. These signals overlap to compensate for the gaps in coverage. Now, scientists working in the extreme northernmost and southernmost areas of the world can have access to the same GPS technology that other scientists around the world rely on.

Global positioning system : challenges in sustaining and upgrading capabilities persist.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data to users worldwide. The U.S. Air Force, which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of modernizing the system. Last year GAO reported that it ...

Overview of GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-09-18

January 13, 2012 National SpaceBased Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee (EXCOM) cochair letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) proposed to draft new Global Positioning System (GPS)...

Performance assessment of multi-GNSS real-time PPP over Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdi, Naser; Ardalan, Alireza A.; Karimi, Roohollah; Rezvani, Mohammad-Hadi

2017-06-01

With the advent of multi-GNSS constellations and thanks to providing the real-time precise products by IGS, multi-GNSS Real-Time PPP has been of special interest to the geodetic community. These products stream in the form of RTCM-SSR through NTRIP broadcaster. In this contribution, we aim at assessing the convergence time and positioning accuracy of Real-Time PPP over Iran by means of GPS, GPS + GLONASS, GPS + BeiDou, and GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou configurations. To this end, RINEX observations of six GNSS stations, within Iranian Permanent GNSS Network (IPGN), over consecutive sixteen days were processed via BKG NTRIP Client (BNC, v 2.12). In the processing steps, the IGS-MGEX broadcast ephemerides (BRDM, provided by TUM/DLR) and the pre-saved CLK93 broadcast corrections stream (provided by CNES) have been used as the satellites known information. The numerical results were compared against the station coordinates obtained from the double-difference solutions by Bernese GPS Software v 5.0. Accordingly, we have found that GPS + BeiDou combination can reduce the convergence time by 27%, 16% and 10% and improve the positioning accuracy by 22%, 18% and 2%, in the north, east and up components, respectively, as compared with the GPS PPP. Additionally, in comparison to the GPS + GLONASS results, GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou combination speeds up the convergence time by 9%, 8% and 9% and enhance the positioning accuracy by 8%, 5% and 6%, in the north, east and up components, respectively. Overall, thanks to the availability of the current BeiDou constellation observations, the considerable decrease in the convergence time on one hand, and the improvement in the positioning accuracy on the other, can verify the efficiency of utilizing multi-GNSS PPP for real-time applications over Iran.

Ppp Analisys with GPS and Glonass Integration in Periods Under Ionospheric Scintillation Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, H. A. S.

2015-12-01

The GNSS is widely used nowadays either for geodetic positioning or scientific purposes. The GNSS currently includes GPS, GLONASS, Galileo among other emerging systems. The GPS and GLONASS are currently operational with a full satellite constellation. The GPS is still the most used nowadays and both GPS and GLONASS are under a modernization process. The geodetic positioning by using data from multi-constellation can provide better accuracy in positioning and also more reliability. The PPP is benefited once the satellite geometry is crucial in this method, mainly for kinematic scenarios. The satellite geometry can change suddenly for data collected in urban areas or in conditions of strong atmospheric effects such as Ionospheric Scintillation (IS) that causes weakening of signals with cycle slips and even loss of lock. The IS is caused by small irregularities in the ionosphere layer and is characterized by rapid change in amplitude and phase of the signal being stronger in equatorial and high latitudes regions. In this work the PPP is evaluated with GPS and GLONASS data collected by monitoring receivers from Brazilian CIGALA/CALIBRA network under IS conditions. The PPP processing was accomplished by using the GPSPPP software provided by Natural Resources Canadian (NRCAN). The IS effects were analyzed taking account the S4 and PHI60 indices. Considering periods with moderate IS effects, the use of only GPS data in the PPP presented several peaks in the coordinate time series due to cycle slips and loos of lock. In cycle slip conditions the ambiguity parameter are reinitialized by GPSPPP and considering loss of lock few satellites can be available in some epochs affecting the positioning geometry and consequently decreasing accuracy. In such situations, the PPP using GPS and GLONASS data presented improvements in positioning accuracy of the order to 70% in height component when compared with PPP using only GPS data. Analyses of GDOP and ambiguities parameters were also performed.

Navigation and Positioning System Using High Altitude Platforms Systems (HAPS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsujii, Toshiaki; Harigae, Masatoshi; Harada, Masashi

Recently, some countries have begun conducting feasibility studies and R&D projects on High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). Japan has been investigating the use of an airship system that will function as a stratospheric platform for applications such as environmental monitoring, communications and broadcasting. If pseudolites were mounted on the airships, their GPS-like signals would be stable augmentations that would improve the accuracy, availability, and integrity of GPS-based positioning systems. Also, the sufficient number of HAPS can function as a positioning system independent of GPS. In this paper, a system design of the HAPS-based positioning system and its positioning error analyses are described.

A low-cost and reliable technique to monitor the spread of an invasive seagrass in the Caribbean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jobsis, D.; Wyllie-Echeverria, S.

2016-02-01

In 2002 the seagrass Halophila stipulacea was observed in Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. Since then this invasive species has spread northward through the Lesser Antilles and Leeward Islands into the US Virgin Islands. There are native Halophila species as well as other seagrass species in Eastern Caribbean therefore it is essential to accurately identify H. stipulacea before an invasion event is reported. Moreover, because the consequences of H. stipulaceapresence and spread are not known in many locations, after accurate identification is made it is also important to map patch expansion as a first step in process studies designed to determine impact. We now report a low-cost (<$1000) and reliable technique to produce species specific, geo-referenced maps that can be used to track invasion spread. System components are: a GoPro video camera placed inside underwater housing, a weighted towfish and a GPS tracking device. The camera, set in the time-lapse mode, is fixed to the towfish; Afterward using a series of straight line transects, our array is towed at low speeds while synched to GPS. The accuracy of an underwater video system is based on knowing the accurate position of seagrass on the seafloor during filming (Norris et al. 1997). After sampling images and their associated GPS coordinates are imported to a spreadsheet and coded such that H. stipulaceais related to a known position on the bottom. With this system we produce accurate maps that specifically identify H. stipulacea patches, regardless of water depth, on the seafloor. During our poster presentation we will show a series of images from 2015 sampling and display mapping results. Since the 2002 sighting in Grenada, H. stipulaceae has spread northward to nineteen Eastern Caribbean Islands (Williette et al 2014). Our technique will allow those charged with protecting natural resources to track the spread of this invasion and potentially provide an early warning system for islands nations not yet invaded.

The limits of direct satellite tracking with the Global Positioning System (GPS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertiger, W. I.; Yunck, T. P.

1988-01-01

Recent advances in high precision differential Global Positioning System-based satellite tracking can be applied to the more conventional direct tracking of low earth satellites. To properly evaluate the limiting accuracy of direct GPS-based tracking, it is necessary to account for the correlations between the a-priori errors in GPS states, Y-bias, and solar pressure parameters. These can be obtained by careful analysis of the GPS orbit determination process. The analysis indicates that sub-meter accuracy can be readily achieved for a user above 1000 km altitude, even when the user solution is obtained with data taken 12 hours after the data used in the GPS orbit solutions.

An Investigation on the Contribution of GLONASS to the Precise Point Positioning for Short Time Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulug, R.; Ozludemir, M. T.

2016-12-01

After 2011, through the modernization process of GLONASS, the number of satellites increased rapidly. This progress has made the GLONASS the only fully operational system alternative to GPS in point positioning. So far, many researches have been conducted to investigate the contribution of GLONASS to point positioning considering different methods such as Real Time Kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP). The latter one, PPP, is a method that performs precise position determination using a single GNSS receiver. PPP method has become very attractive since the early 2000s and it provided great advantages for engineering and scientific applications. However, PPP method needs at least 2 hours observation time and the required observation length may be longer depending on several factors, such as the number of satellites, satellite configuration etc. The more satellites, the less observation time. Nevertheless the impact of the number of satellites included must be known very well. In this study, to determine the contribution of GLONASS on PPP, GLONASS satellite observations were added one by one from 1 to 5 satellite in 2, 4 and 6 hours of observations. For this purpose, the data collected at the IGS site ISTA was used. Data processing has been done for Day of Year (DOY) 197 in 2016. 24 hours GPS observations have been processed by Bernese 5.2 PPP module and the output was selected as the reference while 2, 4 and 6 hours GPS and GPS/GLONASS observations have been processed by magic GNSS PPP module. The results clearly showed that GPS/GLONASS observations improved positional accuracy, precision, dilution of precision and convergence to the reference coordinates. In this context, coordinate differences between 24 hours GPS observations and 6 hours GPS/GLONASS observations have been obtained as less than 2 cm.

GPS Imaging of vertical land motion in California and Nevada: Implications for Sierra Nevada uplift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammond, William C.; Blewitt, Geoffrey; Kreemer, Corné

2016-10-01

We introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) Imaging, a new technique for robust estimation of the vertical velocity field of the Earth's surface, and apply it to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the western United States. Starting with vertical position time series from Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, we first estimate vertical velocities using the MIDAS robust trend estimator, which is insensitive to undocumented steps, outliers, seasonality, and heteroscedasticity. Using the Delaunay triangulation of station locations, we then apply a weighted median spatial filter to remove velocity outliers and enhance signals common to multiple stations. Finally, we interpolate the data using weighted median estimation on a grid. The resulting velocity field is temporally and spatially robust and edges in the field remain sharp. Results from data spanning 5-20 years show that the Sierra Nevada is the most rapid and extensive uplift feature in the western United States, rising up to 2 mm/yr along most of the range. The uplift is juxtaposed against domains of subsidence attributable to groundwater withdrawal in California's Central Valley. The uplift boundary is consistently stationary, although uplift is faster over the 2011-2016 period of drought. Uplift patterns are consistent with groundwater extraction and concomitant elastic bedrock uplift, plus slower background tectonic uplift. A discontinuity in the velocity field across the southeastern edge of the Sierra Nevada reveals a contrast in lithospheric strength, suggesting a relationship between late Cenozoic uplift of the southern Sierra Nevada and evolution of the southern Walker Lane.

Automated daily processing of more than 1000 ground-based GPS receivers for studying intense ionospheric storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Komjathy, Attila; Sparks, Lawrence; Wilson, Brian D.; Mannucci, Anthony J.

2005-01-01

To take advantage of the vast amount of GPS data, researchers use a number of techniques to estimate satellite and receiver interfrequency biases and the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. Most techniques estimate vertical ionospheric structure and, simultaneously, hardware-related biases treated as nuisance parameters. These methods often are limited to 200 GPS receivers and use a sequential least squares or Kalman filter approach. The biases are later removed from the measurements to obtain unbiased TEC. In our approach to calibrating GPS receiver and transmitter interfrequency biases we take advantage of all available GPS receivers using a new processing algorithm based on the Global Ionospheric Mapping (GIM) software developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This new capability is designed to estimate receiver biases for all stations. We solve for the instrumental biases by modeling the ionospheric delay and removing it from the observation equation using precomputed GIM maps. The precomputed GIM maps rely on 200 globally distributed GPS receivers to establish the ''background'' used to model the ionosphere at the remaining 800 GPS sites.

Implementing GPS into Pave-IR.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

To further enhance the capabilities of the Pave-IR thermal segregation detection system developed at the Texas Transportation Institute, researchers incorporated global positioning system (GPS) data collection into the thermal profiles. This GPS capa...

Demonstration of an Enhanced Vertical Magnetic Gradient System for UXO

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-01

flights were conducted and results evaluated. The cesium magnetometers , GPS systems (positioning and attitude), fluxgate magnetometers , data...makes a measurement and when it is time-stamped and recorded. This applies to the magnetometers , fluxgate and the GPS. Accurate positioning...requires a correction for this lag. Time lags between the magnetometers , fluxgate and GPS signals were measured by a proprietary utility. This utility

An Observational Study of Tropical Cyclone Spin-Up in Supertyphoon Jangmi and Hurricane Georges

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aircraft...implementation of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Global Positioning System (GPS) dropsonde in specialized boundary-layer...transiting the western Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean basins. 107 APPENDIX A: NCAR GPS DROPSONDES The Global Positioning System (GPS

Positioning stability improvement with inter-system biases on multi-GNSS PPP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Byung-Kyu; Yoon, Hasu

2018-07-01

The availability of multiple signals from different Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellations provides opportunities for improving positioning accuracy and initial convergence time. With dual-frequency observations from the four constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou), it is possible to investigate combined GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) accuracy and stability. The differences between GNSS systems result in inter-system biases (ISBs). We consider several ISB values such as GPS-GLONASS, GPS-Galileo, and GPS-BeiDou. These biases are compliant with key parameters defined in the multi-GNSS PPP processing. In this study, we present a unified PPP method that sets ISB values as fixed or constant. A comprehensive analysis that includes satellite visibility, position dilution of precision, position accuracy is performed to evaluate a unified PPP method with constrained cut-off elevation angles. Compared to the conventional PPP solutions, our approach shows more stable positioning at a constrained cut-off elevation angle of 50 degrees.

Accuracy of Single Frequency GPS Observations Processing In Near Real-time With Use of Code Predicted Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wielgosz, P. A.

In this year, the system of active geodetic GPS permanent stations is going to be estab- lished in Poland. This system should provide GPS observations for a wide spectrum of users, especially it will be a great opportunity for surveyors. Many of surveyors still use cheaper, single frequency receivers. This paper focuses on processing of single frequency GPS observations only. During processing of such observations the iono- sphere plays an important role, so we concentrated on the influence of the ionosphere on the positional coordinates. Twenty consecutive days of GPS data from 2001 year were processed to analyze the accuracy of a derived three-dimensional relative vec- tor position between GPS stations. Observations from two Polish EPN/IGS stations: BOGO and JOZE were used. In addition to, a new test station - IGIK was created. In this paper, the results of single frequency GPS observations processing in near real- time are presented. Baselines of 15, 27 and 42 kilometers and sessions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours long were processed. While processing we used CODE (Centre for Orbit De- termination in Europe, Bern, Switzerland) predicted products: orbits and ionosphere info. These products are available in real-time and enable near real-time processing. Software Bernese v. 4.2 for Linux and BPE (Bernese Processing Engine) mode were used. These results are shown with a reference to dual frequency weekly solution (the best solution). Obtained GPS positional time and GPS baseline length dependency accuracy is presented for single frequency GPS observations.

A RLS-SVM Aided Fusion Methodology for INS during GPS Outages

PubMed Central

Yao, Yiqing; Xu, Xiaosu

2017-01-01

In order to maintain a relatively high accuracy of navigation performance during global positioning system (GPS) outages, a novel robust least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM)-aided fusion methodology is explored to provide the pseudo-GPS position information for the inertial navigation system (INS). The relationship between the yaw, specific force, velocity, and the position increment is modeled. Rather than share the same weight in the traditional LS-SVM, the proposed algorithm allocates various weights for different data, which makes the system immune to the outliers. Field test data was collected to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The comparison results indicate that the proposed algorithm can effectively provide position corrections for standalone INS during the 300 s GPS outage, which outperforms the traditional LS-SVM method. Historical information is also involved to better represent the vehicle dynamics. PMID:28245549

A RLS-SVM Aided Fusion Methodology for INS during GPS Outages.

PubMed

Yao, Yiqing; Xu, Xiaosu

2017-02-24

In order to maintain a relatively high accuracy of navigation performance during global positioning system (GPS) outages, a novel robust least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM)-aided fusion methodology is explored to provide the pseudo-GPS position information for the inertial navigation system (INS). The relationship between the yaw, specific force, velocity, and the position increment is modeled. Rather than share the same weight in the traditional LS-SVM, the proposed algorithm allocates various weights for different data, which makes the system immune to the outliers. Field test data was collected to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The comparison results indicate that the proposed algorithm can effectively provide position corrections for standalone INS during the 300 s GPS outage, which outperforms the traditional LS-SVM method. Historical information is also involved to better represent the vehicle dynamics.

Simultaneous total electron content and all-sky camera measurements of an auroral arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kintner, P. M.; Kil, H.; Deehr, C.; Schuck, P.

2002-07-01

We present an example of Global Positioning System (GPS) derived total electron content (TEC) and all-sky camera (ASC) images that show increases of TEC by ~10 × 1016 electrons m-2 (10 TEC units) occurring simultaneously with auroral light in ASC images. The TEC example appears to be an E region density enhancement produced by two discrete auroral arcs occurring in the late morning auroral oval at 1000 LT. This suggests that GPS signal TEC measurements can be used to detect individual auroral arcs and that individual discrete auroral arcs are responsible for some high-latitude phase scintillations. The specific auroral feature detected was a poleward moving auroral form believed to occur in the polar cap where the ionosphere is convecting antisunward. The magnitude of the rate of change of TEC (dTEC/dt) is comparable to that previously reported. However, the timescales associated with the event, the order of 1 min, suggest that the data sampling technique commonly used by chain GPS TEC receivers (averaging and time decimation) will undersample E region TEC perturbations produced by active auroral displays. The localized nature of this example implies that L1 ranging errors of at least 1.6 m will be introduced by auroral arcs into systems relying on differential GPS for navigation or augmentation. Although the TEC and auroral arcs presented herein occurred in the late morning auroral oval, we expect that the effects of discrete auroral arcs on GPS TEC and subsequent ranging errors should occur at all local times. Furthermore, GPS receivers can be used to detect individual discrete arcs.

New approaches for tracking earth orbiters using modified GPS ground receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lichten, S. M.; Young, L. E.; Nandi, S.; Haines, B. J.; Dunn, C. E.; Edwards, C. D.

1993-01-01

A Global Positioning System (GPS) flight receiver provides a means to precisely determine orbits for satellites in low to moderate altitude orbits. Above a 5000-km altitude, however, relatively few GPS satellites are visible. New approaches to orbit determination for satellites at higher altitudes could reduce DSN antenna time needed to provide navigation and orbit determination support to future missions. Modification of GPS ground receivers enables a beacon from the orbiter to be tracked simultaneously with GPS data. The orbit accuracy expected from this GPS-like tracking (GLT) technique is expected to be in the range of a few meters or better for altitudes up to 100,000 km with a global ground network. For geosynchronous satellites, however, there are unique challenges due to geometrical limitations and to the lack of strong dynamical signature in tracking data. We examine two approaches for tracking the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) geostationary orbiters. One uses GLT with a global network; the other relies on a small 'connected element' ground network with a distributed clock for short-baseline differential carrier phase (SB Delta Phi). We describe an experiment planned for late 1993, which will combine aspects of both GLT and SB Delta Phi, to demonstrate a new approach for tracking the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRSs) that offers a number of operationally convenient and attractive features. The TDRS demonstration will be in effect a proof-of-concept experiment for a new approach to tracking spacecraft which could be applied more generally to deep-space as well as near-Earth regimes.

Tracking magma volume recovery at okmok volcano using GPS and an unscented kalman filter

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fournier, T.; Freymueller, Jeffrey T.; Cervelli, Peter

2009-01-01

Changes beneath a volcano can be observed through position changes in a GPS network, but distinguishing the source of site motion is not always straightforward. The records of continuous GPS sites provide a favorable data set for tracking magma migration. Dense campaign observations usually provide a better spatial picture of the overall deformation field, at the expense of an episodic temporal record. Combining these observations provides the best of both worlds. A Kalman filter provides a means for integrating discrete and continuous measurements and for interpreting subtle signals. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is a nonlinear method for time-dependent observations. We demonstrate the application of this technique to deformation data by applying it to GPS data collected at Okmok volcano. Seven years of GPS observations at Okmok are analyzed using a Mogi source model and the UKF. The deformation source at Okmok is relatively stable at 2.5 km depth below sea level, located beneath the center of the caldera, which means the surface deformation is caused by changes in the strength of the source. During the 7 years of GPS observations more than 0.5 m of uplift has occurred, a majority of that during the time period January 2003 to July 2004. The total volume recovery at Okmok since the last eruption in 1997 is ??60-80%. The UKF allows us to solve simultaneously for the time-dependence of the source strength and for the location without a priori information about the source. ?? 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.

Generation of real-time mode high-resolution water vapor fields from GPS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Chen; Penna, Nigel T.; Li, Zhenhong

2017-02-01

Pointwise GPS measurements of tropospheric zenith total delay can be interpolated to provide high-resolution water vapor maps which may be used for correcting synthetic aperture radar images, for numeral weather prediction, and for correcting Network Real-time Kinematic GPS observations. Several previous studies have addressed the importance of the elevation dependency of water vapor, but it is often a challenge to separate elevation-dependent tropospheric delays from turbulent components. In this paper, we present an iterative tropospheric decomposition interpolation model that decouples the elevation and turbulent tropospheric delay components. For a 150 km × 150 km California study region, we estimate real-time mode zenith total delays at 41 GPS stations over 1 year by using the precise point positioning technique and demonstrate that the decoupled interpolation model generates improved high-resolution tropospheric delay maps compared with previous tropospheric turbulence- and elevation-dependent models. Cross validation of the GPS zenith total delays yields an RMS error of 4.6 mm with the decoupled interpolation model, compared with 8.4 mm with the previous model. On converting the GPS zenith wet delays to precipitable water vapor and interpolating to 1 km grid cells across the region, validations with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer near-IR water vapor product show 1.7 mm RMS differences by using the decoupled model, compared with 2.0 mm for the previous interpolation model. Such results are obtained without differencing the tropospheric delays or water vapor estimates in time or space, while the errors are similar over flat and mountainous terrains, as well as for both inland and coastal areas.

78 FR 57672 - 91st Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159, Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-19

... include the following: Working Group Sessions October 7 Working Group 2C, GPS/Inertial, ARINC & A4A Rooms October 8 Working Group 2, GPS/WAAS, McIntosh-NBAA Room and Colson Board Room October 9 Working Group 2, GPS/WAAS, ARINC & A4A Rooms, Afternoon, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Working Group 4, GPS/Precision Landing...

A Study into the Method of Precise Orbit Determination of a HEO Orbiter by GPS and Accelerometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ikenaga, Toshinori; Hashida, Yoshi; Unwin, Martin

2007-01-01

In the present day, orbit determination by Global Positioning System (GPS) is not unusual. Especially for low-cost small satellites, position determination by an on-board GPS receiver provides a cheap, reliable and precise method. However, the original purpose of GPS is for ground users, so the transmissions from all of the GPS satellites are directed toward the Earth s surface. Hence there are some restrictions for users above the GPS constellation to detect those signals. On the other hand, a desire for precise orbit determination for users in orbits higher than GPS constellation exists. For example, the next Japanese Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) mission "ASTRO-G" is trying to determine its orbit in an accuracy of a few centimeters at apogee. The use of GPS is essential for such ultra accurate orbit determination. This study aims to construct a method for precise orbit determination for such high orbit users, especially in High Elliptical Orbits (HEOs). There are several approaches for this objective. In this study, a hybrid method with GPS and an accelerometer is chosen. Basically, while the position cannot be determined by an on-board GPS receiver or other Range and Range Rate (RARR) method, all we can do to estimate the user satellite s position is to propagate the orbit along with the force model, which is not perfectly correct. However if it has an accelerometer (ACC), the coefficients of the air drag and the solar radiation pressure applied to the user satellite can be updated and then the propagation along with the "updated" force model can improve the fitting accuracy of the user satellite s orbit. In this study, it is assumed to use an accelerometer available in the present market. The effects by a bias error of an accelerometer will also be discussed in this paper.

A Modeling Approach to Enhance Animal-Obtained Oceanographic Data Geo- Position

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblay, Y.; Robinson, P.; Weise, M. J.; Costa, D. P.

2006-12-01

Diving animals are increasingly being used as platforms to collect oceanographic data such as CTD profiles. Animal borne sensors provide an amazing amount of data that have to be spatially referenced. Because of technical limitations geo-position of these data mostly comes from the interpolation of locations obtained through the ARGOS positioning system. This system lacks spatio-temporal resolution compared to the Global Positioning System (GPS) and therefore, the positions of these oceanographic data are not well defined. A consequence of this is that many data collected in coastal regions are discarded, because many casts' records fell on land. Using modeling techniques, we propose a method to deal with this problem. The method is rather intuitive, and instead of deleting unreasonable or low-quality locations, it uses them by taking into account their lack of precision as a source of information. In a similar way, coastlines are used as sources of information, because marine animals do not travel over land. The method was evaluated using simultaneously obtained tracks with the Argos and GPS system. The tracks obtained from this method are considerably enhanced and allow a more accurate geo-reference of oceanographic data. In addition, the method provides a way to evaluate spatial errors for each cast that is not otherwise possible with classical filtering methods.

Methodological Considerations When Quantifying High-Intensity Efforts in Team Sport Using Global Positioning System Technology.

PubMed

Varley, Matthew C; Jaspers, Arne; Helsen, Werner F; Malone, James J

2017-09-01

Sprints and accelerations are popular performance indicators in applied sport. The methods used to define these efforts using athlete-tracking technology could affect the number of efforts reported. This study aimed to determine the influence of different techniques and settings for detecting high-intensity efforts using global positioning system (GPS) data. Velocity and acceleration data from a professional soccer match were recorded via 10-Hz GPS. Velocity data were filtered using either a median or an exponential filter. Acceleration data were derived from velocity data over a 0.2-s time interval (with and without an exponential filter applied) and a 0.3-second time interval. High-speed-running (≥4.17 m/s 2 ), sprint (≥7.00 m/s 2 ), and acceleration (≥2.78 m/s 2 ) efforts were then identified using minimum-effort durations (0.1-0.9 s) to assess differences in the total number of efforts reported. Different velocity-filtering methods resulted in small to moderate differences (effect size [ES] 0.28-1.09) in the number of high-speed-running and sprint efforts detected when minimum duration was <0.5 s and small to very large differences (ES -5.69 to 0.26) in the number of accelerations when minimum duration was <0.7 s. There was an exponential decline in the number of all efforts as minimum duration increased, regardless of filtering method, with the largest declines in acceleration efforts. Filtering techniques and minimum durations substantially affect the number of high-speed-running, sprint, and acceleration efforts detected with GPS. Changes to how high-intensity efforts are defined affect reported data. Therefore, consistency in data processing is advised.

Precision GPS ephemerides and baselines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The required knowledge of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite position accuracy can vary depending on a particular application. Application to relative positioning of receiver locations on the ground to infer Earth's tectonic plate motion requires the most accurate knowledge of the GPS satellite orbits. Research directed towards improving and evaluating the accuracy of GPS satellite orbits was conducted at the University of Texas Center for Space Research (CSR). Understanding and modeling the forces acting on the satellites was a major focus of the research. Other aspects of orbit determination, such as the reference frame, time system, measurement modeling, and parameterization, were also investigated. Gravitational forces were modeled by truncated versions of extant gravity fields such as, Goddard Earth Model (GEM-L2), GEM-T1, TEG-2, and third body perturbations due to the Sun and Moon. Nongravitational forces considered were the solar radiation pressure, and perturbations due to thermal venting and thermal imbalance. At the GPS satellite orbit accuracy level required for crustal dynamic applications, models for the nongravitational perturbation play a critical role, since the gravitational forces are well understood and are modeled adequately for GPS satellite orbits.

Accurate Realization of GPS Vertical Global Reference Frame

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elosegui, Pedro

2005-01-01

The goal of this project is to improve our current understanding of GPS error sources associated with estimates of radial velocities at global scales. An improvement in the accuracy of radial global velocities would have a very positive impact on a large number of geophysical studies of current general interest such as global sea-level and climate change, coastal hazards, glacial isostatic adjustment, atmospheric and oceanic loading, glaciology and ice mass variability, tectonic deformation and volcanic inflation, and geoid variability. A set of GPS error sources relevant to this project are those related to the combination of the positions and velocities of a set of globally distributed stations as determined &om the analysis of GPS data, including possible methods of combining and defining terrestrial reference frames. This is were our research activities during this reporting period have concentrated. During this reporting period, we have researched two topics: (1) The effect of errors on the GPS satellite antenna models (or lack thereof) on global GPS vertical position and velocity estimates; (2) The effect of reference W e definition and practice on estimates of the geocenter variations.

Geometric Factors in Target Positioning and Tracking

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-07-01

Shalom and X.R. Li, Multitarget-Multisensor Tracking: Principles and Techniques, YBS Publishing, Storrs, CT, 1995. [2] S. Blackman and R. Popoli, Design...Multitarget-Multisensor Tracking: Applications and Advances, Vol.2, Y. Bar- Shalom (Ed.), 325-392, Artech House, Norwood, MA, 1999. [10] B. Ristic...R. Yarlagadda, I. Ali , N. Al-Dhahir, and J. Hershey, “GPS GDOP Metric,” IEE Proc. Radar, Sonar Navig, 147(5), Oct. 2000. [14] A. Kelly

Pre-Flight Testing of Spaceborne GPS Receivers using a GPS Constellation Simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kizhner, Semion; Davis, Edward; Alonso, R.

1999-01-01

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Global Positioning System (GPS) applications test facility has been established within the GSFC Guidance Navigation and Control Center. The GPS test facility is currently housing the Global Simulation Systems Inc. (GSSI) STR2760 GPS satellite 40-channel attitude simulator and a STR4760 12-channel navigation simulator. The facility also contains a few other resources such as an atomic time standard test bed, a rooftop antenna platform and a radome. It provides a new capability for high dynamics GPS simulations of space flight that is unique within the aerospace community. The GPS facility provides a critical element for the development and testing of GPS based technologies i.e. position, attitude and precise time determination used on-board a spacecraft, suborbital rocket balloon. The GPS simulation system is configured in a transportable rack and is available for GPS component development as well as for component, spacecraft subsystem and system level testing at spacecraft integration and tests sites. The GPS facility has been operational since early 1996 and has utilized by space flight projects carrying GPS experiments, such as the OrbView-2 and the Argentine SAC-A spacecrafts. The SAC-A pre-flight test data obtained by using the STR2760 simulator and the comparison with preliminary analysis of the GPS data from SAC-A telemetry are summarized. This paper describes pre-flight tests and simulations used to support a unique spaceborne GPS experiment. The GPS experiment mission objectives and the test program are described, as well as the GPS test facility configuration needed to verify experiment feasibility. Some operational and critical issues inherent in GPS receiver pre-flight tests and simulations using this GPS simulation, and test methodology are described. Simulation and flight data are presented. A complete program of pre-flight testing of spaceborne GPS receivers using a GPS constellation simulator is detailed.

Pre-Flight Testing of Spaceborne GPS Receivers Using a GPS Constellation Simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kizhner, Semion; Davis, Edward; Alonso, Roberto

1999-01-01

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Global Positioning System (GPS) applications test facility has been established within the GSFC Guidance Navigation and Control Center. The GPS test facility is currently housing the Global Simulation Systems Inc. (GSSI) STR2760 GPS satellite 40-channel attitude simulator and a STR4760 12-channel navigation simulator. The facility also contains a few other resources such as an atomic time standard test bed, a rooftop antenna platform and a radome. It provides a new capability for high dynamics GPS simulations of space flight that is unique within the aerospace community. The GPS facility provides a critical element for the development and testing of GPS based technologies i.e. position, attitude and precise time determination used on-board a spacecraft, suborbital rocket or balloon. The GPS simulator system is configured in a transportable rack and is available for GPS component development as well as for component, spacecraft subsystem and system level testing at spacecraft integration and test sites. The GPS facility has been operational since early 1996 and has been utilized by space flight projects carrying GPS experiments, such as the OrbView-2 and the Argentine SAC-A spacecrafts. The SAC-A pre-flight test data obtained by using the STR2760 simulator and the comparison with preliminary analysis of the GPS data from SAC-A telemetry are summarized. This paper describes pre-flight tests and simulations used to support a unique spaceborne GPS experiment. The GPS experiment mission objectives and the test program are described, as well as the GPS test facility configuration needed to verify experiment feasibility. Some operational and critical issues inherent in GPS receiver pre-flight tests and simulations using this GPS simulator, and test methodology are described. Simulation and flight data are presented. A complete program of pre-flight testing of spaceborne GPS receivers using a GPS constellation simulator is detailed.

GPS Tomography: Water Vapour Monitoring for Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bender, Michael; Dick, Galina; Wickert, Jens; Raabe, Armin

2010-05-01

Ground based GPS atmosphere sounding provides numerous atmospheric quantities with a high temporal resolution for all weather conditions. The spatial resolution of the GPS observations is mainly given by the number of GNSS satellites and GPS ground stations. The latter could considerably be increased in the last few years leading to more reliable and better resolved GPS products. New techniques such as the GPS water vapour tomography gain increased significance as data from large and dense GPS networks become available. The GPS tomography has the potential to provide spatially resolved fields of different quantities operationally, i. e. the humidity or wet refractivity as required for meteorological applications or the refraction index which is important for several space based observations or for precise positioning. The number of German GPS stations operationally processed by the GFZ in Potsdam was recently enlarged to more than 300. About 28000 IWV observations and more than 1.4 millions of slant total delay data are now available per day with a temporal resolution of 15 min and 2.5 min, respectively. The extended network leads not only to a higher spatial resolution of the tomographically reconstructed 3D fields but also to a much higher stability of the inversion process and with that to an increased quality of the results. Under these improved conditions the GPS tomography can operate continuously over several days or weeks without applying too tight constraints. Time series of tomographically reconstructed humidity fields will be shown and different initialisation strategies will be discussed: Initialisation with a simple exponential profile, with a 3D humidity field extrapolated from synoptic observations and with the result of the preceeding reconstruction. The results are compared to tomographic reconstructions initialised with COSMO-DE analyses and to the corresponding model fields. The inversion can be further stabilised by making use of independent adequately weighted observations, such as synoptic observations or IWV data. The impact of such observations on the quality of the tomographic reconstruction will be discussed together with different alternatives for weighting different types of observations.

Near real-time PPP-based monitoring of the ionosphere using dual-frequency GPS/BDS/Galileo data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhinmin; Li, Yangyang; Li, Fei; Guo, Jinyun

2018-03-01

Ionosphere delay is very important to GNSS observations, since it is one of the main error sources which have to be mitigated even eliminated in order to determine reliable and precise positions. The ionosphere is a dispersive medium to radio signal, so the value of the group delay or phase advance of GNSS radio signal depends on the signal frequency. Ground-based GNSS stations have been used for ionosphere monitoring and modeling for a long time. In this paper we will introduce a novel approach suitable for single-receiver operation based on the precise point positioning (PPP) technique. One of the main characteristic is that only carrier-phase observations are used to avoid particular effects of pseudorange observations. The technique consists of introducing ionosphere ambiguity parameters obtained from PPP filter into the geometry-free combination of observations to estimate ionospheric delays. Observational data from stations that are capable of tracking the GPS/BDS/GALILEO from the International GNSS Service (IGS) Multi-GNSS Experiments (MGEX) network are processed. For the purpose of performance validation, ionospheric delays series derived from the novel approach are compared with the global ionospheric map (GIM) from Ionospheric Associate Analysis Centers (IAACs). The results are encouraging and offer potential solutions to the near real-time ionosphere monitoring.

Classification of the Regional Ionospheric Disturbance Based on Machine Learning Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terzi, Merve Begum; Arikan, Orhan; Karatay, Secil; Arikan, Feza; Gulyaeva, Tamara

2016-08-01

In this study, Total Electron Content (TEC) estimated from GPS receivers is used to model the regional and local variability that differs from global activity along with solar and geomagnetic indices. For the automated classification of regional disturbances, a classification technique based on a robust machine learning technique that have found wide spread use, Support Vector Machine (SVM) is proposed. Performance of developed classification technique is demonstrated for midlatitude ionosphere over Anatolia using TEC estimates generated from GPS data provided by Turkish National Permanent GPS Network (TNPGN-Active) for solar maximum year of 2011. As a result of implementing developed classification technique to Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) TEC data, which is provided by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), it is shown that SVM can be a suitable learning method to detect anomalies in TEC variations.

Continuous GPS : pilot applications - Phase II

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-08-01

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of applying Global Positioning System (GPS) technology in the study of geotechnical phenomenon by developing, integrating, and test deploying a GPS-based instrumentation package u...

76 FR 8353 - Positioning Systems Directorate Will Be Hosting an Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) Meeting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-14

... an Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) Meeting for Document ICD-GPS-870 AGENCY: Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) meeting for document ICD-GPS-870. ACTION: Meeting Notice. SUMMARY: This notice... Working Group (ICWG) meeting for document ICD-GPS-870, Navstar Next Generation GPS Operational Control...

Episodic inflation events at Akutan Volcano, Alaska, during 2005-2017

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Kang Hyeun; Yun, Sang-Ho; Rim, Hyoungrea

2017-08-01

Detection of weak volcano deformation helps constrain characteristics of eruption cycles. We have developed a signal detection technique, called the Targeted Projection Operator (TPO), to monitor surface deformation with Global Positioning System (GPS) data. We have applied the TPO to GPS data collected at Akutan Volcano from June 2005 to March 2017 and detected four inflation events that occurred in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2016 with inflation rates of about 8-22 mm/yr above the background trend at a near-source site AV13. Numerical modeling suggests that the events should be driven by closely located sources or a single source in a shallow magma chamber at a depth of about 4 km. The inflation events suggest that magma has episodically accumulated in a shallow magma chamber.

Retrieval Assimilation and Modeling of Atmospheric Water Vapor from Ground- and Space-Based GPS Networks: Investigation of the Global and Regional Hydrological Cycles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dickey, Jean O.

1999-01-01

Uncertainty over the response of the atmospheric hydrological cycle (particularly the distribution of water vapor and cloudiness) to anthropogenic forcing is a primary source of doubt in current estimates of global climate sensitivity, which raises severe difficulties in evaluating its likely societal impact. Fortunately, a variety of advanced techniques and sensors are beginning to shed new light on the atmospheric hydrological cycle. One of the most promising makes use of the sensitivity of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to the thermodynamic state, and in particular the water vapor content, of the atmosphere through which the radio signals propagate. Our strategy to derive the maximum benefit for hydrological studies from the rapidly increasing GPS data stream will proceed in three stages: (1) systematically analyze and archive quality-controlled retrievals using state-of-the-art techniques; (2) employ both currently available and innovative assimilation procedures to incorporate these determinations into advanced regional and global atmospheric models and assess their effects; and (3) apply the results to investigate selected scientific issues of relevance to regional and global hydrological studies. An archive of GPS-based estimation of total zenith delay (TZD) data and water vapor where applicable has been established with expanded automated quality control. The accuracy of the GPS estimates is being monitored; the investigation of systematic errors is ongoing using comparisons with water vapor radiometers. Meteorological packages have been implemented. The accuracy and utilization of the TZD estimates has been improved by implementing a troposphere gradient model. GPS-based gradients have been validated as real atmospheric moisture gradients, establishing a link between the estimated gradients and the passage of weather fronts. We have developed a generalized ray tracing inversion scheme that can be used to analyze occultation data acquired from space- or land-based receivers. The National Center for Atmospheric Research mesoscale model (version MM5) has been adapted for Southern California, and assimilation studies are underway. Additional information is contained in the original.

Users' and GPs' causal attributions of illegal substance use: an exploratory interview study.

PubMed

Wynn, Rolf; Karlsen, Kjetil; Lorntzsen, Bianca; Bjerke, Trond Nergaard; Bergvik, Svein

2009-08-01

There is a need to explore the beliefs regarding the causes of illegal substance use of the people who themselves use the substances (SU) and their GPs. Increased knowledge about such beliefs--often referred to as causal attributions--may improve mutual understanding and communication between SU and GPs. Eight SU and five GPs were interviewed about the causes of illegal substance use. They also talked about how substance use was discussed in consultations. Data were analysed qualitatively. Both the SU and the GPs believed that several factors usually were important in each case of illegal substance use. The SU more often than the GPs emphasised the positive aspects of illegal substance use. We discerned five main causes: biological, social, lack of self-control, positive experiences, and chance. Several of the SU and GPs emphasised that it was difficult to communicate about substance use. The GPs and the SU believed illegal substance use is caused by many factors, including biological, social, and lack of self-control. Communicating about illegal substance use is challenging. GPs should be aware of the clinical importance of causal attributions and should explore beliefs held by SU about the causes of their substance use.

The Impact of Estimating High-Resolution Tropospheric Gradients on Multi-GNSS Precise Positioning

PubMed Central

Zhou, Feng; Li, Xingxing; Li, Weiwei; Chen, Wen; Dong, Danan; Wickert, Jens; Schuh, Harald

2017-01-01

Benefits from the modernized US Global Positioning System (GPS), the revitalized Russian GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and the newly-developed Chinese BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and European Galileo, multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has emerged as a powerful tool not only in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), but also in remote sensing of the atmosphere and ionosphere. Both precise positioning and the derivation of atmospheric parameters can benefit from multi-GNSS observations. In this contribution, extensive evaluations are conducted with multi-GNSS datasets collected from 134 globally-distributed ground stations of the International GNSS Service (IGS) Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) network in July 2016. The datasets are processed in six different constellation combinations, i.e., GPS-, GLONASS-, BDS-only, GPS + GLONASS, GPS + BDS, and GPS + GLONASS + BDS + Galileo precise point positioning (PPP). Tropospheric gradients are estimated with eight different temporal resolutions, from 1 h to 24 h, to investigate the impact of estimating high-resolution gradients on position estimates. The standard deviation (STD) is used as an indicator of positioning repeatability. The results show that estimating tropospheric gradients with high temporal resolution can achieve better positioning performance than the traditional strategy in which tropospheric gradients are estimated on a daily basis. Moreover, the impact of estimating tropospheric gradients with different temporal resolutions at various elevation cutoff angles (from 3° to 20°) is investigated. It can be observed that with increasing elevation cutoff angles, the improvement in positioning repeatability is decreased. PMID:28368346

The Impact of Estimating High-Resolution Tropospheric Gradients on Multi-GNSS Precise Positioning.

PubMed

Zhou, Feng; Li, Xingxing; Li, Weiwei; Chen, Wen; Dong, Danan; Wickert, Jens; Schuh, Harald

2017-04-03

Benefits from the modernized US Global Positioning System (GPS), the revitalized Russian GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and the newly-developed Chinese BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and European Galileo, multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has emerged as a powerful tool not only in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), but also in remote sensing of the atmosphere and ionosphere. Both precise positioning and the derivation of atmospheric parameters can benefit from multi-GNSS observations. In this contribution, extensive evaluations are conducted with multi-GNSS datasets collected from 134 globally-distributed ground stations of the International GNSS Service (IGS) Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) network in July 2016. The datasets are processed in six different constellation combinations, i.e., GPS-, GLONASS-, BDS-only, GPS + GLONASS, GPS + BDS, and GPS + GLONASS + BDS + Galileo precise point positioning (PPP). Tropospheric gradients are estimated with eight different temporal resolutions, from 1 h to 24 h, to investigate the impact of estimating high-resolution gradients on position estimates. The standard deviation (STD) is used as an indicator of positioning repeatability. The results show that estimating tropospheric gradients with high temporal resolution can achieve better positioning performance than the traditional strategy in which tropospheric gradients are estimated on a daily basis. Moreover, the impact of estimating tropospheric gradients with different temporal resolutions at various elevation cutoff angles (from 3° to 20°) is investigated. It can be observed that with increasing elevation cutoff angles, the improvement in positioning repeatability is decreased.

Positional Accuracy of Airborne Integrated Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation Systems for Mapping in Glen Canyon, Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sanchez, Richard D.; Hothem, Larry D.

2002-01-01

High-resolution airborne and satellite image sensor systems integrated with onboard data collection based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial navigation systems (INS) may offer a quick and cost-effective way to gather accurate topographic map information without ground control or aerial triangulation. The Applanix Corporation?s Position and Orientation Solutions for Direct Georeferencing of aerial photography was used in this project to examine the positional accuracy of integrated GPS/INS for terrain mapping in Glen Canyon, Arizona. The research application in this study yielded important information on the usefulness and limits of airborne integrated GPS/INS data-capture systems for mapping.

GPS Modeling and Analysis. Summary of Research: GPS Satellite Axial Ratio Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Axelrad, Penina; Reeh, Lisa

2002-01-01

This report outlines the algorithms developed at the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research to model yaw and predict the axial ratio as measured from a ground station. The algorithms are implemented in a collection of Matlab functions and scripts that read certain user input, such as ground station coordinates, the UTC time, and the desired GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, and compute the above-mentioned parameters. The position information for the GPS satellites is obtained from Yuma almanac files corresponding to the prescribed date. The results are displayed graphically through time histories and azimuth-elevation plots.

Global Positioning System (GPS): Current status and possible nursery uses

Treesearch

Dick Karsky

2002-01-01

The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a worldwide satellite-positioning system that was funded, installed, and continues to be operated by the U.S. Department of Defense. The navigation signals are provided free and can be used by anyone who has the equipment necessary to receive them.

The Ether Wind and the Global Positioning System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muller, Rainer

2000-01-01

Explains how students can perform a refutation of the ether theory using information from the Global Positioning System (GPS). Discusses the functioning of the GPS, qualitatively describes how position determination would be affected by an ether wind, and illustrates the pertinent ideas with a simple quantitative model. (WRM)

GPS/GLONASS Combined Precise Point Positioning with Receiver Clock Modeling

PubMed Central

Wang, Fuhong; Chen, Xinghan; Guo, Fei

2015-01-01

Research has demonstrated that receiver clock modeling can reduce the correlation coefficients among the parameters of receiver clock bias, station height and zenith tropospheric delay. This paper introduces the receiver clock modeling to GPS/GLONASS combined precise point positioning (PPP), aiming to better separate the receiver clock bias and station coordinates and therefore improve positioning accuracy. Firstly, the basic mathematic models including the GPS/GLONASS observation equations, stochastic model, and receiver clock model are briefly introduced. Then datasets from several IGS stations equipped with high-stability atomic clocks are used for kinematic PPP tests. To investigate the performance of PPP, including the positioning accuracy and convergence time, a week of (1–7 January 2014) GPS/GLONASS data retrieved from these IGS stations are processed with different schemes. The results indicate that the positioning accuracy as well as convergence time can benefit from the receiver clock modeling. This is particularly pronounced for the vertical component. Statistic RMSs show that the average improvement of three-dimensional positioning accuracy reaches up to 30%–40%. Sometimes, it even reaches over 60% for specific stations. Compared to the GPS-only PPP, solutions of the GPS/GLONASS combined PPP are much better no matter if the receiver clock offsets are modeled or not, indicating that the positioning accuracy and reliability are significantly improved with the additional GLONASS satellites in the case of insufficient number of GPS satellites or poor geometry conditions. In addition to the receiver clock modeling, the impacts of different inter-system timing bias (ISB) models are investigated. For the case of a sufficient number of satellites with fairly good geometry, the PPP performances are not seriously affected by the ISB model due to the low correlation between the ISB and the other parameters. However, the refinement of ISB model weakens the correlation between coordinates and ISB estimates and finally enhance the PPP performance in the case of poor observation conditions. PMID:26134106

Precise visual navigation using multi-stereo vision and landmark matching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zhiwei; Oskiper, Taragay; Samarasekera, Supun; Kumar, Rakesh

2007-04-01

Traditional vision-based navigation system often drifts over time during navigation. In this paper, we propose a set of techniques which greatly reduce the long term drift and also improve its robustness to many failure conditions. In our approach, two pairs of stereo cameras are integrated to form a forward/backward multi-stereo camera system. As a result, the Field-Of-View of the system is extended significantly to capture more natural landmarks from the scene. This helps to increase the pose estimation accuracy as well as reduce the failure situations. Secondly, a global landmark matching technique is used to recognize the previously visited locations during navigation. Using the matched landmarks, a pose correction technique is used to eliminate the accumulated navigation drift. Finally, in order to further improve the robustness of the system, measurements from low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors are integrated with the visual odometry in an extended Kalman Filtering framework. Our system is significantly more accurate and robust than previously published techniques (1~5% localization error) over long-distance navigation both indoors and outdoors. Real world experiments on a human worn system show that the location can be estimated within 1 meter over 500 meters (around 0.1% localization error averagely) without the use of GPS information.

A straightforward frequency-estimation technique for GPS carrier-phase time transfer.

PubMed

Hackman, Christine; Levine, Judah; Parker, Thomas E; Piester, Dirk; Becker, Jürgen

2006-09-01

Although Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier-phase time transfer (GPSCPTT) offers frequency stability approaching 10-15 at averaging times of 1 d, a discontinuity occurs in the time-transfer estimates between the end of one processing batch (1-3 d in length) and the beginning of the next. The average frequency over a multiday analysis period often has been computed by first estimating and removing these discontinuities, i.e., through concatenation. We present a new frequency-estimation technique in which frequencies are computed from the individual batches then averaged to obtain the mean frequency for a multiday period. This allows the frequency to be computed without the uncertainty associated with the removal of the discontinuities and requires fewer computational resources. The new technique was tested by comparing the fractional frequency-difference values it yields to those obtained using a GPSCPTT concatenation method and those obtained using two-way satellite time-and-frequency transfer (TWSTFT). The clocks studied were located in Braunschweig, Germany, and in Boulder, CO. The frequencies obtained from the GPSCPTT measurements using either method agreed with those obtained from TWSTFT at several parts in 1016. The frequency values obtained from the GPSCPTT data by use of the new method agreed with those obtained using the concatenation technique at 1-4 x 10(-16).

GPs' mental wellbeing and psychological resources: a cross-sectional survey.

PubMed

Murray, Marylou Anna; Cardwell, Chris; Donnelly, Michael

2017-08-01

The negative impact of work has been the traditional focus of GP surveys. We know little about GP positive mental health and psychological resources. To profile and contextualise GP positive mental health and personal psychological resources. Cross-sectional survey of GPs working in Northern Ireland (NI). A questionnaire comprising the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and measures of resilience, optimism, self-efficacy, and hope, and sociodemographic information was posted to 400 GPs randomly selected from a publicly available GP register. The response rate was 55% (n = 221 out of 400). Mean value for GP wellbeing (WEMWBS) was 50.2 (standard deviation [SD] 8) compared to UK vets 48.8 (SD 9), UK teachers 47.2 (SD 9), and the population of NI 50.8 (SD 9). After adjustment for confounding, mean WEMWBS was 2.4 units (95% CI = 0.02 to 4.7) higher in female GPs than males ( P = 0.05), and 4.0 units (95% CI = 0.8 to 7.3) higher in GPs ≥55 years than GPs ≤44 years ( P = 0.02). Optimism was 1.1 units higher in female GPs than male GPs (95% CI = 0.1 to 2.0), and 1.56 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.2 to 2.9) than in those ≤44 years. Hope was 3 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.4 to 5.7) than in those aged 45-54 years. Correlation between WEMWBS and psychological resources was highest with hope ( r = 0.65, P < 0.001). GPs have levels of positive mental health that are comparable to the local population and better than other occupational groups, such as vets and teachers. Male and younger GPs may have most to gain from wellbeing interventions. © British Journal of General Practice 2017.

Multi-GNSS real-time precise orbit/clock/UPD products and precise positioning service at GFZ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xingxing; Ge, Maorong; Liu, Yang; Fritsche, Mathias; Wickert, Jens; Schuh, Harald

2016-04-01

The rapid development of multi-constellation GNSSs (Global Navigation Satellite Systems, e.g., BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS) and the IGS (International GNSS Service) Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) bring great opportunities and challenges for real-time precise positioning service. In this contribution, we present a GPS+GLONASS+BeiDou+Galileo four-system model to fully exploit the observations of all these four navigation satellite systems for real-time precise orbit determination, clock estimation and positioning. A rigorous multi-GNSS analysis is performed to achieve the best possible consistency by processing the observations from different GNSS together in one common parameter estimation procedure. Meanwhile, an efficient multi-GNSS real-time precise positioning service system is designed and demonstrated by using the Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) and International GNSS Service (IGS) data streams including stations all over the world. The addition of the BeiDou, Galileo and GLONASS systems to the standard GPS-only processing, reduces the convergence time almost by 70%, while the positioning accuracy is improved by about 25%. Some outliers in the GPS-only solutions vanish when multi-GNSS observations are processed simultaneous. The availability and reliability of GPS precise positioning decrease dramatically as the elevation cutoff increases. However, the accuracy of multi-GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) is hardly decreased and few centimeters are still achievable in the horizontal components even with 40° elevation cutoff.

General practitioners' (GP) attitudes and knowledge about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Ireland.

PubMed

Adamis, Dimitrios; Tatlow-Golden, Mimi; Gavin, Blánaid; McNicholas, Fiona

2018-04-13

ADHD is the most frequent reason for attendance at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in recognising symptoms, referring for assessment and supporting ongoing treatment. However, there is an ambiguous understanding of ADHD among GPs, and different attitudes regarding the validity of ADHD as a construct. The present study aims to explore and identify GPs attitudes and beliefs about ADHD in the Irish context, and to find out the association of those attitudes with other factors. Representative sample of qualified GPs registered to the Irish Medical Directory. The survey included questions about GPs' practice, attitudes towards ADHD, knowledge of symptoms and workup for ADHD, previous training and personal experience of ADHD. A hundred and forty GPs participated (response rate 28%). Factor analysis indicated 58.8% expressed a positive attitude towards ADHD. Those who have positive attitudes were more likely to be between 36 and 55 years old, seeing fewer children with suspected ADHD per year and working as part of a primary care team. Years of practice, personal experience of ADHD, training and knowledge in ADHD and access to CAMHS or psychology were not significantly related to either positive or negative ADHD attitudes. Despite the high rates of ADHD among children, a slim majority of Irish GPs have positive attitudes towards ADHD. This could lead to undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases. Strategies need to be considered to address this.

Monitoring of GPS(Global Positioning System) System Performance

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-06-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS), a worldwide satellite-based navigation system developed by the Department of Defense, is scheduled to become operational in late 1988. The system has the potential to become the primary radionaviagation system for...

76 FR 2745 - Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-14

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Eighty-Fourth Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 159 meeting: Global Positioning System (GPS). SUMMARY: The FAA is...

A method of undifferenced ambiguity resolution for GPS+GLONASS precise point positioning

PubMed Central

Yi, Wenting; Song, Weiwei; Lou, Yidong; Shi, Chuang; Yao, Yibin

2016-01-01

Integer ambiguity resolution is critical for achieving positions of high precision and for shortening the convergence time of precise point positioning (PPP). However, GLONASS adopts the signal processing technology of frequency division multiple access and results in inter-frequency code biases (IFCBs), which are currently difficult to correct. This bias makes the methods proposed for GPS ambiguity fixing unsuitable for GLONASS. To realize undifferenced GLONASS ambiguity fixing, we propose an undifferenced ambiguity resolution method for GPS+GLONASS PPP, which considers the IFCBs estimation. The experimental result demonstrates that the success rate of GLONASS ambiguity fixing can reach 75% through the proposed method. Compared with the ambiguity float solutions, the positioning accuracies of ambiguity-fixed solutions of GLONASS-only PPP are increased by 12.2%, 20.9%, and 10.3%, and that of the GPS+GLONASS PPP by 13.0%, 35.2%, and 14.1% in the North, East and Up directions, respectively. PMID:27222361

A method of undifferenced ambiguity resolution for GPS+GLONASS precise point positioning.

PubMed

Yi, Wenting; Song, Weiwei; Lou, Yidong; Shi, Chuang; Yao, Yibin

2016-05-25

Integer ambiguity resolution is critical for achieving positions of high precision and for shortening the convergence time of precise point positioning (PPP). However, GLONASS adopts the signal processing technology of frequency division multiple access and results in inter-frequency code biases (IFCBs), which are currently difficult to correct. This bias makes the methods proposed for GPS ambiguity fixing unsuitable for GLONASS. To realize undifferenced GLONASS ambiguity fixing, we propose an undifferenced ambiguity resolution method for GPS+GLONASS PPP, which considers the IFCBs estimation. The experimental result demonstrates that the success rate of GLONASS ambiguity fixing can reach 75% through the proposed method. Compared with the ambiguity float solutions, the positioning accuracies of ambiguity-fixed solutions of GLONASS-only PPP are increased by 12.2%, 20.9%, and 10.3%, and that of the GPS+GLONASS PPP by 13.0%, 35.2%, and 14.1% in the North, East and Up directions, respectively.

High precision applications of the global positioning system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lichten, Stephen M.

1991-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of U.S. defense navigation satellites which can be used for military and civilian positioning applications. A wide variety of GPS scientific applications were identified and precise positioning capabilities with GPS were already demonstrated with data available from the present partial satellite constellation. Expected applications include: measurements of Earth crustal motion, particularly in seismically active regions; measurements of the Earth's rotation rate and pole orientation; high-precision Earth orbiter tracking; surveying; measurements of media propagation delays for calibration of deep space radiometric data in support of NASA planetary missions; determination of precise ground station coordinates; and precise time transfer worldwide.

Improvement in the observation system for the GPS/A seafloor positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, H.; Kido, M.; Osada, Y.

2010-12-01

GPS/Acoustic seafloor positioning has become an indispensable geodetic observation for the monitoring of crustal activities near plate boundaries. There remain, however, substantial differences from GPS observation on land. Our group in Tohoku University has been working to cope with the problems under the program of the DONET, JAMSTEC.One of critical problems regarding the present GPS/A observation lies in the campaign style observation spending one or two days to measure the position of an array of acoustic transponders (PXPs) once or twice a year. It is similar to the triangulation observation on land before the age of the GPS. Chadwell et al. (2009, AGU Fall Meeting) made a step forward for this problem by carrying out a continuous GPS/A observation with a moored buoy. We are also developing a system using a moored small buoy. Precision of seafloor positioning by GPS/A is another critical problems. Considering that plate motions are several centimeters per year in most cases, precision of a few centimeters by GPS/A is a big difference from a few millimeters by GPS on land. We estimate that lateral variations in the sound velocity in the ocean can be a key to improve the precision in the positioning and to reduce the required time for the measurement, we have tried to estimate the lateral variations in the acoustic velocity by using 4-5 PXPs (Kido et al., 2006; Kido et al., this meeting). Long-term attitude stability of the position of a PXP deployed on thick sediment has been a basic problem in the GPS/A observation. While a pillar of a GPS antenna for an observation point is set up firmly on the ground, a PXP is deployed on the seafloor after a free fall from the sea surface. It is a serious problem to detect coseismic crustal movements on the seafloor. M7-class earthquakes occurred in 2004 off Kii Peninsula, Central Japan, gave us an opportunity to study the problem. By using an ROV (remotely operated vehicle), we visually observed ten PXPs in 2006, seven of which had been used to detect coseismic seafloor crustal movements of 20 cm or more as was reported by Kido et al. (2006) and by Tadokoro et al. (2006). The diving survey confirmed that all of the seven PXPs stood stably on the flat sediment, no effects of the earthquakes being recognized. Even if slight tilts of the PXPs were caused by the earthquakes, the effect on the seafloor positioning by GPS/A was estimated to be 1 cm or less (Fujimoto et al., in press). A PXP has been deployed for a permanent (actually several to 10 years) use. Therefore, it is not equipped with a recovery system as is used for an ocean bottom seismometers or pressure recorders. From our experience we have often wished to retrieve a PXP to revise its performance, to slightly change its position, or to reuse it after the battery is exhausted. We tried to use a long-life acoustic recovery system for three PXPs. We successfully recovered all of them 4.5 years after their deployment.

NAVSTAR GPS Simulation and Analysis Program (Interim Report)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-10-01

This study assesses the capability of the planned NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) to meet civil navigation requirements. When it becomes operational in about 1983, NAVSTAR GPS will provide accurate two-dimensional and three-dimensional servic...

Localization system for use in GPS denied environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Trueblood, J. J.

The military uses to autonomous platforms to complete missions to provide standoff for the warfighters. However autonomous platforms rely on GPS to provide their global position. In many missions spaces the autonomous platforms may encounter GPS denied environments which limits where the platform operates and requires the warfighters to takes its place. GPS denied environments can occur due to tall building, trees, canyon wall blocking the GPS satellite signals or a lack of coverage. An Inertial Navigation System (INS) uses sensors to detect the vehicle movement and direction its traveling to calculate the vehicle. One of biggest challenges with anmore » INS system is the accuracy and accumulation of errors over time of the sensors. If these challenges can be overcome the INS would provide accurate positioning information to the autonomous vehicle in GPS denied environments and allow them to provide the desired standoff for the warfighters.« less

Communication skills training for general practitioners to promote patient coping: the GRIP approach.

PubMed

Mjaaland, Trond A; Finset, Arnstein

2009-07-01

To develop, perform and test the effects of a communication skills training program for general practitioners (GPs). The program specifically addresses the patients' coping and resources despite more or less severe psychological or physical illness. A training model was developed, based on cognitive therapy and solution-focused therapy. The training was given the acronym GRIP after its main content: Get a measure of the patient's subjective complaints and illness attributions. Respond to the patient's understanding of the complaints. Identify resources and solutions. Promote positive coping. The study involved a quasi-experimental design in which 266 consultations with 25 GPs were video recorded. Forty hours of communication skills training were given to the intervention group. Consultation duration, patient age and distress determined the frequency of the GRIP communication. There was a significant effect of training on four particular subcategories of the GRIP techniques. The effect of the training was most evident in a subgroup of GPs who used little or no resource-oriented communication before training. This pilot training model may help change the GPs' communicative pattern with patients in some situations. Communication skills training programmes that emphasize patient attributions and personal resources should be developed further and tested in general practice settings with an aim to promote patient coping.

Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) Analysis of Storm-Time GPS Total Electron Content Variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, E. G.; Coster, A. J.; Zhang, S.; McGranaghan, R. M.; Shepherd, S. G.; Baker, J. B.; Ruohoniemi, J. M.

2016-12-01

Large perturbations in ionospheric density are known to occur during geomagnetic storms triggered by dynamic structures in the solar wind. These ionospheric storm effects have long attracted interest due to their impact on the propagation characteristics of radio wave communications. Over the last two decades, maps of vertically-integrated total electron content (TEC) based on data collected by worldwide networks of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers have dramatically improved our ability to monitor the spatiotemporal dynamics of prominent storm-time features such as polar cap patches and storm enhanced density (SED) plumes. In this study, we use an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition technique to identify the primary modes of spatial and temporal variability in the storm-time GPS TEC response at midlatitudes over North America during more than 100 moderate geomagnetic storms from 2001-2013. We next examine the resulting time-varying principal components and their correlation with various geophysical indices and parameters in order to derive an analytical representation. Finally, we use a truncated reconstruction of the EOF basis functions and parameterization of the principal components to produce an empirical representation of the geomagnetic storm-time response of GPS TEC for all magnetic local times local times and seasons at midlatitudes in the North American sector.

Assessing the role of GPs in Nordic health care systems.

PubMed

Quaye, Randolph K

2016-05-03

Purpose This paper examines the changing role of general practitioners (GPs) in Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It aims to explore the "gate keeping" role of GPs in the face of current changes in the health care delivery systems in these countries. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from existing literature, interviews with GPs, hospital specialists and representatives of Danish regions and Norwegian Medical Association. Findings The paper contends that in all these changes, the position of the GPs in the medical division of labor has been strengthened, and patients now have increased and broadened access to choice. Research limitations/implications Health care cost and high cancer mortality rates have forced Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark to rethink their health care systems. Several attempts have been made to reduce health care cost through market reform and by strenghtening the position of GPs. The evidence suggests that in Norway and Denmark, right incentives are in place to achieve this goal. Sweden is not far behind. The paper has limitations of a small sample size and an exclusive focus on GPs. Practical implications Anecdotal evidence suggests that physicians are becoming extremely unhappy. Understanding the changing status of primary care physicians will yield valuable information for assessing the effectiveness of Nordic health care delivery systems. Social implications This study has wider implications of how GPs see their role as potential gatekeepers in the Nordic health care systems. The role of GPs is changing as a result of recent health care reforms. Originality/value This paper contends that in Norway and Denmark, right incentives are in place to strengthen the position of GPs.

Why GPS makes distances bigger than they are

PubMed Central

Ranacher, Peter; Brunauer, Richard; Trutschnig, Wolfgang; Van der Spek, Stefan; Reich, Siegfried

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Global navigation satellite systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) is one of the most important sensors for movement analysis. GPS is widely used to record the trajectories of vehicles, animals and human beings. However, all GPS movement data are affected by both measurement and interpolation errors. In this article we show that measurement error causes a systematic bias in distances recorded with a GPS; the distance between two points recorded with a GPS is – on average – bigger than the true distance between these points. This systematic ‘overestimation of distance’ becomes relevant if the influence of interpolation error can be neglected, which in practice is the case for movement sampled at high frequencies. We provide a mathematical explanation of this phenomenon and illustrate that it functionally depends on the autocorrelation of GPS measurement error (C). We argue that C can be interpreted as a quality measure for movement data recorded with a GPS. If there is a strong autocorrelation between any two consecutive position estimates, they have very similar error. This error cancels out when average speed, distance or direction is calculated along the trajectory. Based on our theoretical findings we introduce a novel approach to determine C in real-world GPS movement data sampled at high frequencies. We apply our approach to pedestrian trajectories and car trajectories. We found that the measurement error in the data was strongly spatially and temporally autocorrelated and give a quality estimate of the data. Most importantly, our findings are not limited to GPS alone. The systematic bias and its implications are bound to occur in any movement data collected with absolute positioning if interpolation error can be neglected. PMID:27019610

Follow-up after colon cancer treatment in the Netherlands; a survey of patients, GPs, and colorectal surgeons.

PubMed

Wind, J; Duineveld, L A; van der Heijden, R P; van Asselt, K M; Bemelman, W A; van Weert, H C

2013-08-01

Follow-up to detect recurrence is an important feature of care after colon cancer treatment. Currently, follow-up visits are surgeon-led with focus on recurrence. To date, there is increasing interest for general practitioners (GPs) providing this care, as GPs might provide more holistic care. The present study assessed how surgeons, GPs, and patients evaluate current surgeon-led colon cancer follow-up and to list their views on possible future GP-led follow-up. The study consists of a cross-sectional survey including colorectal surgeons, patients who participate or recently finished a follow-up programme, and GPs in the Netherlands. Eighty-seven out of 191 GPs, 113 out of 238 surgeons, and 186 out of 243 patients responded. Patients are satisfied about current surgeon-led follow-up, especially about recurrence detection and identification of physical problems (94% and 85% respectively). However, only 56% and 49% of the patients were satisfied about the identification of psychological and social problems respectively. Only 16% of the patients evaluated future GP-led follow-up positively. Regarding healthcare providers, surgeons were more positive compared to GPs; 49% of the surgeons, and only 30% of the GPs evaluated future GP-led follow-up positively (P = 0.002). Furthermore, several reservations and principle requirements for GP-led follow-up were identified. The results suggest an unfavourable view among patients and healthcare providers, especially GPs, regarding a central role for GPs in colon cancer follow-up. However, low satisfaction on psychosocial aspects in current follow-up points out a lack in care. Therefore, the results provide a justification to explore future GP-led care further. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Developing a Fundamental Model for an Integrated GPS/INS State Estimation System with Kalman Filtering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Canfield, Stephen

1999-01-01

This work will demonstrate the integration of sensor and system dynamic data and their appropriate models using an optimal filter to create a robust, adaptable, easily reconfigurable state (motion) estimation system. This state estimation system will clearly show the application of fundamental modeling and filtering techniques. These techniques are presented at a general, first principles level, that can easily be adapted to specific applications. An example of such an application is demonstrated through the development of an integrated GPS/INS navigation system. This system acquires both global position data and inertial body data, to provide optimal estimates of current position and attitude states. The optimal states are estimated using a Kalman filter. The state estimation system will include appropriate error models for the measurement hardware. The results of this work will lead to the development of a "black-box" state estimation system that supplies current motion information (position and attitude states) that can be used to carry out guidance and control strategies. This black-box state estimation system is developed independent of the vehicle dynamics and therefore is directly applicable to a variety of vehicles. Issues in system modeling and application of Kalman filtering techniques are investigated and presented. These issues include linearized models of equations of state, models of the measurement sensors, and appropriate application and parameter setting (tuning) of the Kalman filter. The general model and subsequent algorithm is developed in Matlab for numerical testing. The results of this system are demonstrated through application to data from the X-33 Michael's 9A8 mission and are presented in plots and simple animations.

Performance and Accuracy of Lightweight and Low-Cost GPS Data Loggers According to Antenna Positions, Fix Intervals, Habitats and Animal Movements

PubMed Central

Forin-Wiart, Marie-Amélie; Hubert, Pauline; Sirguey, Pascal; Poulle, Marie-Lazarine

2015-01-01

Recently developed low-cost Global Positioning System (GPS) data loggers are promising tools for wildlife research because of their affordability for low-budget projects and ability to simultaneously track a greater number of individuals compared with expensive built-in wildlife GPS. However, the reliability of these devices must be carefully examined because they were not developed to track wildlife. This study aimed to assess the performance and accuracy of commercially available GPS data loggers for the first time using the same methods applied to test built-in wildlife GPS. The effects of antenna position, fix interval and habitat on the fix-success rate (FSR) and location error (LE) of CatLog data loggers were investigated in stationary tests, whereas the effects of animal movements on these errors were investigated in motion tests. The units operated well and presented consistent performance and accuracy over time in stationary tests, and the FSR was good for all antenna positions and fix intervals. However, the LE was affected by the GPS antenna and fix interval. Furthermore, completely or partially obstructed habitats reduced the FSR by up to 80% in households and increased the LE. Movement across habitats had no effect on the FSR, whereas forest habitat influenced the LE. Finally, the mean FSR (0.90 ± 0.26) and LE (15.4 ± 10.1 m) values from low-cost GPS data loggers were comparable to those of built-in wildlife GPS collars (71.6% of fixes with LE < 10 m for motion tests), thus confirming their suitability for use in wildlife studies. PMID:26086958

Contribution of TIGA reprocessing to the ITRF densification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudenko, S.; Dähnn, M.; Gendt, G.; Brandt, A.; Nischan, T.

2009-04-01

Analysis of tide gauge measurements with the purpose of sea level change investigations requires a well defined reference frame. Such reference frame can be realized through precise positions of GPS stations located at or near tide gauges (TIGA stations) and analyzed within the IGS GPS Tide Gauge Benchmark Monitoring Pilot Project (TIGA). To tie this reference frame to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), one should process simultaneously GPS data from TIGA and IGS stations included in the ITRF. A time series of GPS station positions has been recently derived by reprocessing GPS data from about 400 GPS stations globally distributed covering totally time span from 1998 till 2008 using EPOS-Potsdam software developed at GFZ and improved in the recent years. The analysis is based on the use of IERS Conventions 2003, ITRF2005 as a priori reference frame, FES2004 ocean tide loading model, absolute phase centre variations for GPS satellite transmit and ground receive antennae and other models. About 220 stations of the solution are IGS ones and about 180 are TIGA GPS stations that are not IGS ones. The solution includes weekly coordinates of GPS stations, daily values of the Earth rotation parameters and their rates, as well as satellite antenna offsets. On the other hand, our new solution can contribute to the ITRF densification by providing positions of about 200 stations being not present in ITRF2005. The solution can be also used for the integration of regional frames. The paper presents the results of the analysis and the comparison of our solution with ITRF2005 and the solutions of other TIGA and IGS Analysis Centres.

Use of Global Positioning Systems to Study Physical Activity and the Environment

PubMed Central

Krenn, Patricia J; Titze, Sylvia; Oja, Pekka; Jones, Andrew; Ogilvie, David

2013-01-01

Context The Global Positioning System (GPS) represents an innovative way to objectively assess the spatial locations of physical activity behavior. Purpose The aim of this systematic review was to determine the capability of GPS to collect high quality data on the location of activities in research on the relationship between physical activity and the environment. Evidence acquisition Published and unpublished articles identified from seven electronic databases, reference lists, bibliographies and websites up to March 2010 were systematically searched for, appraised and analysed in summer 2010. Included studies used GPS to measure the spatial locations of physical activity and some form of environmental analysis related to the GPS data. The capability of GPS was expressed in terms of data quality which in turn was defined as the proportion of GPS data lost in each study. Evidence synthesis 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data loss was positively correlated with the measurement period for which participants were asked to wear the GPS device (r=0.81, p<0.001). Major reasons for data loss included signal drop outs, loss of device battery power, and poor adherence of participants to measurement protocols. Data loss did not differ significantly between children and adults or by study sample size, year of publication or GPS device manufacturer. Conclusions GPS is a promising tool for improving our understanding of the spatial context of physical activity. Our findings suggest that the choice of an appropriate device and efforts to maximise participant adherence are key improving data quality, especially over longer study periods. PMID:22011423

Accuracy of Tracking Forest Machines with GPS

Treesearch

M.W. Veal; S.E. Taylor; T.P. McDonald; D.K. McLemore; M.R. Dunn

2001-01-01

This paper describes the results of a study that measured the accuracy of using GPS to track movement offorest machines. Two different commercially available GPS receivers (Trimble ProXR and GeoExplorer II) were used to track wheeled skidders under three different canopy conditions at two different vehicle speeds. Dynamic GPS data were compared to position data...

GPS radio collar 3D performance as influenced by forest structure and topography

Treesearch

R. Scott Gamo; Mark A. Rumble; Fred Lindzey; Matt Stefanich

2000-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry enables biologists to obtain accurate and systematic locations of animals. Vegetation can block signals from satellites to GPS radio collars. Therefore, a vegetation dependent bias to telemetry data may occur which if quantified, could be accounted for. We evaluated the performance of GPS collars in 6 structural stage...

The International GPS Service (IGS) as a Continuous Reference System for Precise GPS Positioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neilan, Ruth; Heflin, Michael; Watkins, Michael; Zumberge, James

1996-01-01

The International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS) is an organization which operates under the auspices of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and has been operational since January 1994. The primary objective of the IGS is to provide precise GPS data and data products to support geodetic and geophysical research activities.

Global Positioning System: A Guide for the Approval of GPS Receiver Installation and Operation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-10-01

This guide is designed to assist Federal Aviation Adalnlatratlon (FAA) Aviation Safety : Inspectors (ASIs) in evaluating new Global Positioning Systena (GPS) installations and : operations. Because there aro aany documents providing Information, regu...

Automatic dependent surveillance broadcast via GPS-Squitter: a major upgrade to the national airspace system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Ronnie D.; Knittel, George H.; Orlando, Vincent A.

1995-06-01

GPS-Squitter is a technology for surveillance of aircraft via broadcast of their GPS-determined positions to all listeners, using the Mode S data link. It can be used to provide traffic displays, on the ground for controllers and in the cockpit for pilots, and will enhance TCAS performance. It is compatible with the existing ground-based beacon interrogator radar system and is an evolutionary way to more from ground-based-radar surveillance to satellite-based surveillance. GPS-Squitter takes advantage of the substantial investment made by the U.S. in the powerful GPS position-determining system and has the potential to free the Federal Aviation Administration from having to continue maintaining a precise position-determining capability in ground-based radar. This would permit phasing out the ground-based secondary surveillance radar system over a period of 10 to 20 years and replacing it with much simpler ground stations, resulting in cost savings of hundreds of millions of dollars.

NAVSTAR GPS Marine Receiver Performance Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-09-01

This report is an analysis and comparison of the capability of several NAVSTAR GPS receiver configurations to provide accurate position data to the civil marine user. The NAVSTAR GPS system itself has the potential to provide civil marine users with ...

75 FR 61818 - Eighty-Third Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS).

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-06

... & Hilton-ATA Room. All Day, Working Group 7, GPS/Antennas, ARINC Room. Friday, October 29 Plenary Session...) GPS/Antennas (WG-7) Review of EUROCAE Activities. Nav and ADS-B Out Equipment Requirements--Discussion...

The world after SA : benefits to GPS integrity.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-03-01

The Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) on the Global Positioning System (GPS) recommends that selective availability (SA) be removed by 2006. The question remains: if SA were to be turned off, how significant are the benefits to the GPS community?...

Office of Spaceflight Standard Spaceborne Global Positioning System (GPS) user equipment project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saunders, Penny E.

1991-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides the following: (1) position and velocity determination to support vehicle GN&C, precise orbit determination, and payload pointing; (2) time reference to support onboard timing systems and data time tagging; (3) relative position and velocity determination to support cooperative vehicle tracking; and (4) attitude determination to support vehicle attitude control and payload pointing.

Autonomous vehicle navigation utilizing fuzzy controls concepts for a next generation wheelchair.

PubMed

Hansen, J D; Barrett, S F; Wright, C H G; Wilcox, M

2008-01-01

Three different positioning techniques were investigated to create an autonomous vehicle that could accurately navigate towards a goal: Global Positioning System (GPS), compass dead reckoning, and Ackerman steering. Each technique utilized a fuzzy logic controller that maneuvered a four-wheel car towards a target. The reliability and the accuracy of the navigation methods were investigated by modeling the algorithms in software and implementing them in hardware. To implement the techniques in hardware, positioning sensors were interfaced to a remote control car and a microprocessor. The microprocessor utilized the sensor measurements to orient the car with respect to the target. Next, a fuzzy logic control algorithm adjusted the front wheel steering angle to minimize the difference between the heading and bearing. After minimizing the heading error, the car maintained a straight steering angle along its path to the final destination. The results of this research can be used to develop applications that require precise navigation. The design techniques can also be implemented on alternate platforms such as a wheelchair to assist with autonomous navigation.

GPs' attitudes, beliefs and behaviours regarding exercise for chronic knee pain: a questionnaire survey.

PubMed

Cottrell, Elizabeth; Foster, Nadine E; Porcheret, Mark; Rathod, Trishna; Roddy, Edward

2017-06-17

The aim of this study was to investigate general practitioners' (GPs) attitudes, beliefs and behaviours regarding the use of exercise for patients with chronic knee pain (CKP) attributable to osteoarthritis. Primary care GPs in the UK. 5000 GPs, randomly selected from Binley's database, were mailed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. GPs' attitudes and beliefs were investigated using attitude statements, and reported behaviours were identified using vignette-based questions. GPs were invited to report barriers experienced when initiating exercise with patients with CKP RESULTS: 835 (17%) GPs responded. Overall, GPs were positive about general exercise for CKP. 729 (87%) reported using exercise, of which, 538 (74%) reported that they would use both general and local (lower limb) exercises. However, only 92 (11% of all responding) GPs reported initiating exercise in ways aligning with best-evidence recommendations. 815 (98%) GPs reported barriers in using exercise for patients with CKP, most commonly, insufficient time in consultations (n=419; 51%) and insufficient expertise (n=337; 41%). While GPs' attitudes and beliefs regarding exercise for CKP were generally positive, initiation of exercise was often poorly aligned with current recommendations, and barriers and uncertainties were reported. GPs' use of exercise may be improved by addressing the key barriers of time and expertise, by developing a pragmatic approach that supports GPs to initiate individualised exercise, and/or by other professionals taking on this role. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

RESEARCH PAPERS : Ionospheric signature of surface mine blasts from Global Positioning System measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calais, Eric; Bernard Minster, J.; Hofton, Michelle; Hedlin, Michael

1998-01-01

Sources such as atmospheric or buried explosions and shallow earthquakes are known to produce infrasonic pressure waves in the atmosphere Because of the coupling between neutral particles and electrons at ionospheric altitudes, these acoustic and gravity waves induce variations of the ionospheric electron density. The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a way of directly measuring the total electron content in the ionosphere and, therefore, of detecting such perturbations in the upper atmosphere. In July and August 1996, three large surface mine blasts (1.5 Kt each) were detonated at the Black Thunder coal mine in eastern Wyoming. As part of a seismic and acoustic monitoring experiment, we deployed five dual-frequency GPS receivers at distances ranging from 50 to 200 km from the mine and were able to detect the ionospheric perturbation caused by the blasts. The perturbation starts 10 to 15 min after the blast, lasts for about 30 min, and propagates with an apparent horizontal velocity of 1200 m s- 1. Its amplitude reaches 3 × 1014 el m- 2 in the 7-3 min period band, a value close to the ionospheric perturbation caused by the M=6.7 Northridge earthquake (Calais & Minster 1995). The small signal-to-noise ratio of the perturbation can be improved by slant-stacking the electron content time-series recorded by the different GPS receivers taking into account the horizontal propagation of the perturbation. The energy of the perturbation is concentrated in the 200 to 300 s period band, a result consistent with previous observations and numerical model predictions. The 300 s band probably corresponds to gravity modes and shorter periods to acoustic modes, respectively. Using a 1-D stratified velocity model of the atmosphere we show that linear acoustic ray tracing fits arrival times at all GPS receivers. We interpret the perturbation as a direct acoustic wave caused by the explosion itself. This study shows that even relatively small subsurface events can produce ionospheric perturbations that are above the detection threshold of the GPS technique. By sensing derivative signals, which can be detected over a relatively broad region, it appears that GPS might be particularly useful for source characterization within the first acoustic quiet zone where infrasound would probably be ineffective. This suggests that dual-frequency GPS monitoring could contribute to Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty verification.

Ionospheric Signature of Surface Mine Blasts from Global Positioning System Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calais, Eric; Minster, J. Bernard; Hofton, Michelle A.; Hedlin, Michael A. H.

1998-01-01

Sources such as atmospheric or buried explosions and shallow earthquakes are known to produce infrasonic pressure waves in the atmosphere. Because of the coupling between neutral particles and electrons at ionospheric altitudes, these acoustic and gravity waves induce variations of the ionospheric electron density. The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a way of directly measuring the total electron content in the ionosphere and, therefore, of detecting such perturbations in the upper atmosphere. In July and August 1996, three large surface mine blasts (1.5 Kt each) were detonated at the Black Thunder coal mine in eastern Wyoming. As part of a seismic and acoustic monitoring- experiment, we deployed five dual-frequency GPS receivers at distances ranging from 50 to 200 km from the mine and were able to detect the ionospheric perturbation caused by the blasts. The perturbation starts 10 to 15 min after the blast, lasts for about 30 min, and propagates with an apparent horizontal velocity of 1200 meters per second. Its amplitude reaches 3 x 10 (exp 14) el per square meters in the 7-3 min period band, a value close to the ionospheric perturbation caused by the M = 6.7 Northridge earthquake. The small signal-to-noise ratio of the perturbation can be improved by slant-stacking the electron content time-series recorded by the different GPS receivers taking into account the horizontal propagation of the perturbation. The energy of the perturbation is concentrated in the 200 to 300 second period band, a result consistent with previous observations and numerical model predictions. The 300 second band probably corresponds to gravity modes and shorter periods to acoustic modes, respectively. Using a 1-D stratified velocity model of the atmosphere we show that linear acoustic ray tracing fits arrival times at all GPS receivers. We interpret the perturbation as a direct acoustic wave caused by the explosion itself. This study shows that even relatively small subsurface events can produce ionospheric perturbations that are above the detection threshold of the GPS technique. By sensing derivative signals, which can be detected over a relatively broad region, it appears that GPS might be particularly useful for source characterization within the first acoustic quiet zone where infrasound would probably be ineffective. This suggests that dual-frequency GPS monitoring could contribute to Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty verification.

Observing Tsunamis in the Ionosphere Using Ground Based GPS Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galvan, D. A.; Komjathy, A.; Song, Y. Tony; Stephens, P.; Hickey, M. P.; Foster, J.

2011-01-01

Ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) show variations consistent with atmospheric internal gravity waves caused by ocean tsunamis following recent seismic events, including the Tohoku tsunami of March 11, 2011. We observe fluctuations correlated in time, space, and wave properties with this tsunami in TEC estimates processed using JPL's Global Ionospheric Mapping Software. These TEC estimates were band-pass filtered to remove ionospheric TEC variations with periods outside the typical range of internal gravity waves caused by tsunamis. Observable variations in TEC appear correlated with the Tohoku tsunami near the epicenter, at Hawaii, and near the west coast of North America. Disturbance magnitudes are 1-10% of the background TEC value. Observations near the epicenter are compared to estimates of expected tsunami-driven TEC variations produced by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's Spectral Full Wave Model, an atmosphere-ionosphere coupling model, and found to be in good agreement. The potential exists to apply these detection techniques to real-time GPS TEC data, providing estimates of tsunami speed and amplitude that may be useful for future early warning systems.

Enabling Spacecraft Formation Flying in Any Earth Orbit Through Spaceborne GPS and Enhanced Autonomy Technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, F. H.; Bristow, J. O.; Carpenter, J. R.; Garrison, J. L.; Hartman, K. R.; Lee, T.; Long, A. C.; Kelbel, D.; Lu, V.; How, J. P.;

Study of sporadic E layers based on GPS radio occultation measurements and digisonde data over the Brazilian region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Resende, Laysa C. A.; Arras, Christina; Batista, Inez S.; Denardini, Clezio M.; Bertollotto, Thainá O.; Moro, Juliano

2018-04-01

This work presents new results about sporadic E-layers (Es layers) using GPS (global positioning system) radio occultation (RO) measurements obtained from the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites and digisonde data. The RO profiles are used to study the Es layer occurrence as well as its intensity of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the 50 Hz GPS L1 signal. The methodology was applied to identify the Es layer on RO measurements over Cachoeira Paulista, a low-latitude station in the Brazilian region, in which the Es layer development is not driven tidal winds only as it is at middle latitudes. The coincident events were analyzed using the RO technique and ionosonde observations during the year 2014 to 2016. We used the electron density obtained using the blanketing frequency parameter (fbEs) and the Es layer height (h'Es) acquired from the ionograms to validate the satellite measurements. The comparative results show that the Es layer characteristics extracted from the RO measurements are in good agreement with the Es layer parameters from the digisonde.

Innovative Navigation Systems to Support Digital Geophysical Mapping, ESTCP #200129, Phase II Demonstrations

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-25

7 Figure 2-3 Blackhawk/ Applanix GPS/INS System...electro-mechanical system ms millisecond NP navigation processor OE ordnance and explosive POSLV Applanix Positioning and Orientation...demonstration GPS/INS positioning system. In Phase II, a man-portable modified version called the POSLV 310 UXO of the Applanix Positioning and

78 FR 22554 - Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-16

... developed by the Coast Guard in the 1990s to improve GPS-calculated positions for navigation, for positioning aids to navigation, in support of maritime safety requirements and to offset the error induced by..., maintain, and operate such aids to navigation is found in 14 U.S.C. 81. \\1\\ Initially, high quality GPS...

Soil Moisture Sensing Using Reflected GPS Signals: Description of the GPS Soil Moisture Product.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, Kristine; Small, Eric; Chew, Clara

2015-04-01

As first demonstrated by the GPS reflections group in 2008, data from GPS networks can be used to monitor multiple parameters of the terrestrial water cycle. The GPS L-band signals take two paths: (1) the "direct" signal travels from the satellite to the antenna, which is typically located 2-3 meters above the ground; (2) the reflected signal interacts with the Earth's surface before traveling to the antenna. The direct signal is used by geophysicists and surveyors to measure the position of the antenna, while the effects of reflected signals are a source of error. If one focuses on the reflected signal rather than the positioning observables, one has a method that is sensitive to surface soil moisture (top 5 cm), vegetation water content, and snow depth. This method - known as GPS Interferometric Reflectometry (GPS-IR) - has a footprint of ~1000 m2 for most GPS sites. This is intermediate in scale to most in situ and satellite observations. A significant advantage of GPS-IR is that data from existing GPS networks can be used without any changes to the instrumentation. This means that there is a new source of cost-effective instrumentation for satellite validation and climate studies. This presentation will provide an overview of the GPS-IR methodology with an emphasis on the soil moisture product. GPS water cycle products are currently produced on a daily basis for a network of ~500 sites in the western United States; results are freely available at http://xenon.colorado.edu/portal. Plans to expand the GPS-IR method to the network of international GPS sites will also be discussed.

Performance Analysis of Several GPS/Galileo Precise Point Positioning Models

PubMed Central

Afifi, Akram; El-Rabbany, Ahmed

2015-01-01

This paper examines the performance of several precise point positioning (PPP) models, which combine dual-frequency GPS/Galileo observations in the un-differenced and between-satellite single-difference (BSSD) modes. These include the traditional un-differenced model, the decoupled clock model, the semi-decoupled clock model, and the between-satellite single-difference model. We take advantage of the IGS-MGEX network products to correct for the satellite differential code biases and the orbital and satellite clock errors. Natural Resources Canada’s GPSPace PPP software is modified to handle the various GPS/Galileo PPP models. A total of six data sets of GPS and Galileo observations at six IGS stations are processed to examine the performance of the various PPP models. It is shown that the traditional un-differenced GPS/Galileo PPP model, the GPS decoupled clock model, and the semi-decoupled clock GPS/Galileo PPP model improve the convergence time by about 25% in comparison with the un-differenced GPS-only model. In addition, the semi-decoupled GPS/Galileo PPP model improves the solution precision by about 25% compared to the traditional un-differenced GPS/Galileo PPP model. Moreover, the BSSD GPS/Galileo PPP model improves the solution convergence time by about 50%, in comparison with the un-differenced GPS PPP model, regardless of the type of BSSD combination used. As well, the BSSD model improves the precision of the estimated parameters by about 50% and 25% when the loose and the tight combinations are used, respectively, in comparison with the un-differenced GPS-only model. Comparable results are obtained through the tight combination when either a GPS or a Galileo satellite is selected as a reference. PMID:26102495

Performance Analysis of Several GPS/Galileo Precise Point Positioning Models.

PubMed

Afifi, Akram; El-Rabbany, Ahmed

2015-06-19

This paper examines the performance of several precise point positioning (PPP) models, which combine dual-frequency GPS/Galileo observations in the un-differenced and between-satellite single-difference (BSSD) modes. These include the traditional un-differenced model, the decoupled clock model, the semi-decoupled clock model, and the between-satellite single-difference model. We take advantage of the IGS-MGEX network products to correct for the satellite differential code biases and the orbital and satellite clock errors. Natural Resources Canada's GPSPace PPP software is modified to handle the various GPS/Galileo PPP models. A total of six data sets of GPS and Galileo observations at six IGS stations are processed to examine the performance of the various PPP models. It is shown that the traditional un-differenced GPS/Galileo PPP model, the GPS decoupled clock model, and the semi-decoupled clock GPS/Galileo PPP model improve the convergence time by about 25% in comparison with the un-differenced GPS-only model. In addition, the semi-decoupled GPS/Galileo PPP model improves the solution precision by about 25% compared to the traditional un-differenced GPS/Galileo PPP model. Moreover, the BSSD GPS/Galileo PPP model improves the solution convergence time by about 50%, in comparison with the un-differenced GPS PPP model, regardless of the type of BSSD combination used. As well, the BSSD model improves the precision of the estimated parameters by about 50% and 25% when the loose and the tight combinations are used, respectively, in comparison with the un-differenced GPS-only model. Comparable results are obtained through the tight combination when either a GPS or a Galileo satellite is selected as a reference.

Accurate aircraft wind measurements using the global positioning system (GPS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dobosy, R.J.; Crawford, T.L., McMillen, R.T., Dumas, E.J.

1996-11-01

High accuracy measurements of the spatial distribution of wind speed are required in the study of turbulent exchange between the atmosphere and the earth. The use of a differential global positioning system (GPS) to determine the sensor velocity vector component of wind speed is discussed in this paper. The results of noise and rocking testing are summarized, and fluxes obtained from the GPS-based methods are compared to those measured from systems on towers and airplanes. The GPS-based methods provided usable measurements that compared well with tower and aircraft data at a significantly lower cost. 21 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

Autonomous satellite navigation with the Global Positioning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fuchs, A. J.; Wooden, W. H., II; Long, A. C.

1977-01-01

This paper discusses the potential of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide autonomous navigation capability to NASA satellites in the 1980 era. Some of the driving forces motivating autonomous navigation are presented. These include such factors as advances in attitude control systems, onboard science annotation, and onboard gridding of imaging data. Simulation results which demonstrate baseline orbit determination accuracies using GPS data on Seasat, Landsat-D, and the Solar Maximum Mission are presented. Emphasis is placed on identifying error sources such as GPS time, GPS ephemeris, user timing biases, and user orbit dynamics, and in a parametric sense on evaluating their contribution to the orbit determination accuracies.

Estimating Effects of Multipath Propagation on GPS Signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byun, Sung; Hajj, George; Young, Lawrence

2005-01-01

Multipath Simulator Taking into Account Reflection and Diffraction (MUSTARD) is a computer program that simulates effects of multipath propagation on received Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. MUSTARD is a very efficient means of estimating multipath-induced position and phase errors as functions of time, given the positions and orientations of GPS satellites, the GPS receiver, and any structures near the receiver as functions of time. MUSTARD traces each signal from a GPS satellite to the receiver, accounting for all possible paths the signal can take, including all paths that include reflection and/or diffraction from surfaces of structures near the receiver and on the satellite. Reflection and diffraction are modeled by use of the geometrical theory of diffraction. The multipath signals are added to the direct signal after accounting for the gain of the receiving antenna. Then, in a simulation of a delay-lock tracking loop in the receiver, the multipath-induced range and phase errors as measured by the receiver are estimated. All of these computations are performed for both right circular polarization and left circular polarization of both the L1 (1.57542-GHz) and L2 (1.2276-GHz) GPS signals.

Post-Correlation Semi-Coherent Integration for High-Dynamic and Weak GPS Signal Acquisition (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

provide the coverage. To enable weak GPS signal acquisition , one known technique at the receiver end is to extend the signal integration time...Han, “Block Accumulating Coherent Integration Over Extended Interval (BACIX) for Weak GPS Signal Acquisition ,” Proc. of ION-GNSS’06, Ft. Worth, TX...AFRL-RY-WP-TP-2008-1158 POST-CORRELATION SEMI-COHERENT INTEGRATION FOR HIGH-DYNAMIC AND WEAK GPS SIGNAL ACQUISITION (PREPRINT) Chun Yang

Calibrating GPS With TWSTFT For Accurate Time Transfer

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

40th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Meeting 577 CALIBRATING GPS WITH TWSTFT FOR ACCURATE TIME TRANSFER Z. Jiang1 and...primary time transfer techniques are GPS and TWSTFT (Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer, TW for short). 83% of UTC time links are...Calibrating GPS With TWSTFT For Accurate Time Transfer 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT

Technical standing order : airborne supplemental navigation equipment using the global positioning system (GPS)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

This technical standard order (TSO) prescribes the minimum performance standard that airborne supplemental area navigation equipment using the global positioning system (GPS) must meet in order to be identified with the applicable TSO marking. Airbor...

MDOT implementation plan for global positioning systems (GPS) technology in planning, design, and construction delivery.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-13

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology offers advantages to transportation agencies in the planning, design and construction stages of project delivery. This research study will develop a guide for Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) ...

Using GPS To Teach More Than Accurate Positions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Marie C.; Guth, Peter L.

2002-01-01

Undergraduate science majors need practice in critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and judging whether their calculated answers are physically reasonable. Develops exercises using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Reinforces students' abilities to think quantitatively, make realistic "back of the envelope"…

Global Positioning Systems Wing : GPS IIR-20 (SVN-49) Information.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-25

Purpose for this briefing: : -Discuss SVN-49 signal problem with GPS community : -Provide information on potential mitigations : -Present way forward for SVN-49 : Background: : -SVN-49 unlike other GPS IIR Satellites had L5 R&D Demonstration Payload ...

Human factors evaluation of TSO-C129A GPS receivers

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-10-22

This report documents an evaluation of the usability of TSO-C129a-certified Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Bench and flight tests were conducted on six GPS receivers. The evaluations covered 23 flight tasks. Both subjective and objective ...

Exploration of GPS to enhance the safe transport of hazardous materials

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-12-01

The report (1) documents a set of requirements for the performance of location systems that utilize the Global Positioning System (GPS), (2) identifies potential uses of GPS in hazardous materials transport, (3) develops service descriptions for the ...

Identification of AR(I)MA processes for modelling temporal correlations of GPS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, X.; Mayer, M.; Heck, B.

2009-04-01

In many geodetic applications observations of the Global Positioning System (GPS) are routinely processed by means of the least-squares method. However, this algorithm delivers reliable estimates of unknown parameters und realistic accuracy measures only if both the functional and stochastic models are appropriately defined within GPS data processing. One deficiency of the stochastic model used in many GPS software products consists in neglecting temporal correlations of GPS observations. In practice the knowledge of the temporal stochastic behaviour of GPS observations can be improved by analysing time series of residuals resulting from the least-squares evaluation. This paper presents an approach based on the theory of autoregressive (integrated) moving average (AR(I)MA) processes to model temporal correlations of GPS observations using time series of observation residuals. A practicable integration of AR(I)MA models in GPS data processing requires the determination of the order parameters of AR(I)MA processes at first. In case of GPS, the identification of AR(I)MA processes could be affected by various factors impacting GPS positioning results, e.g. baseline length, multipath effects, observation weighting, or weather variations. The influences of these factors on AR(I)MA identification are empirically analysed based on a large amount of representative residual time series resulting from differential GPS post-processing using 1-Hz observation data collected within the permanent SAPOS® (Satellite Positioning Service of the German State Survey) network. Both short and long time series are modelled by means of AR(I)MA processes. The final order parameters are determined based on the whole residual database; the corresponding empirical distribution functions illustrate that multipath and weather variations seem to affect the identification of AR(I)MA processes much more significantly than baseline length and observation weighting. Additionally, the modelling results of temporal correlations using high-order AR(I)MA processes are compared with those by means of first order autoregressive (AR(1)) processes and empirically estimated autocorrelation functions.

GPs’ mental wellbeing and psychological resources: a cross-sectional survey

PubMed Central

Murray, Marylou Anna; Cardwell, Chris; Donnelly, Michael

2017-01-01

Background The negative impact of work has been the traditional focus of GP surveys. We know little about GP positive mental health and psychological resources. Aim To profile and contextualise GP positive mental health and personal psychological resources. Design and setting Cross-sectional survey of GPs working in Northern Ireland (NI). Method A questionnaire comprising the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and measures of resilience, optimism, self-efficacy, and hope, and sociodemographic information was posted to 400 GPs randomly selected from a publicly available GP register. Results The response rate was 55% (n = 221 out of 400). Mean value for GP wellbeing (WEMWBS) was 50.2 (standard deviation [SD] 8) compared to UK vets 48.8 (SD 9), UK teachers 47.2 (SD 9), and the population of NI 50.8 (SD 9). After adjustment for confounding, mean WEMWBS was 2.4 units (95% CI = 0.02 to 4.7) higher in female GPs than males (P = 0.05), and 4.0 units (95% CI = 0.8 to 7.3) higher in GPs ≥55 years than GPs ≤44 years (P = 0.02). Optimism was 1.1 units higher in female GPs than male GPs (95% CI = 0.1 to 2.0), and 1.56 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.2 to 2.9) than in those ≤44 years. Hope was 3 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.4 to 5.7) than in those aged 45–54 years. Correlation between WEMWBS and psychological resources was highest with hope (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). Conclusion GPs have levels of positive mental health that are comparable to the local population and better than other occupational groups, such as vets and teachers. Male and younger GPs may have most to gain from wellbeing interventions. PMID:28716997

Atmospheric pressure loading effects on Global Positioning System coordinate determinations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandam, Tonie M.; Blewitt, Geoffrey; Heflin, Michael B.

1994-01-01

Earth deformation signals caused by atmospheric pressure loading are detected in vertical position estimates at Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. Surface displacements due to changes in atmospheric pressure account for up to 24% of the total variance in the GPS height estimates. The detected loading signals are larger at higher latitudes where pressure variations are greatest; the largest effect is observed at Fairbanks, Alaska (latitude 65 deg), with a signal root mean square (RMS) of 5 mm. Out of 19 continuously operating GPS sites (with a mean of 281 daily solutions per site), 18 show a positive correlation between the GPS vertical estimates and the modeled loading displacements. Accounting for loading reduces the variance of the vertical station positions on 12 of the 19 sites investigated. Removing the modeled pressure loading from GPS determinations of baseline length for baselines longer than 6000 km reduces the variance on 73 of the 117 baselines investigated. The slight increase in variance for some of the sites and baselines is consistent with expected statistical fluctuations. The results from most stations are consistent with approximately 65% of the modeled pressure load being found in the GPS vertical position measurements. Removing an annual signal from both the measured heights and the modeled load time series leaves this value unchanged. The source of the remaining discrepancy between the modeled and observed loading signal may be the result of (1) anisotropic effects in the Earth's loading response, (2) errors in GPS estimates of tropospheric delay, (3) errors in the surface pressure data, or (4) annual signals in the time series of loading and station heights. In addition, we find that using site dependent coefficients, determined by fitting local pressure to the modeled radial displacements, reduces the variance of the measured station heights as well as or better than using the global convolution sum.

Empathy: what does it mean for GPs? A qualitative study.

PubMed

Derksen, Frans; Bensing, Jozien; Kuiper, Sascha; van Meerendonk, Milou; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine

2015-02-01

Research has highlighted empathy as an important and effective factor in patient-physician communication. GPs have extensive practical experience with empathy. However, little is known about the personal views of GPs regarding the meaning and application of empathy in daily practice. To explore GP's experiences and the application of empathy in daily practice and to investigate the practical use of empathy. Facts such as preconditions, barriers and facilitating possibilities are described. Qualitative interview study; 30 in-depth interviews were performed between June 2012 and January 2013 with a heterogeneous sample of Dutch GPs. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim; content analysis was performed with the help of ATLAS-ti. Empathy was seen as an important quality-increasing element during the patient-GP consultation. The application of non-verbal and verbal techniques was described. Attention to cues and references to previous consults were reported separately. Required preconditions were: being physically and mentally fit, feeling no time pressure and having an efficient practice organization. Not feeling connected to the patient and strict medical guidelines and protocols were identified as obstacles. A key consideration was the positive contribution of empathy to job satisfaction. The opinions of GPs in this research can be considered as supplementing and strengthening the findings of previous researches. The GPs in this study discussed, in particular, ideas important to the facilitation of empathy. These included: longer consultations, smaller practices, efficient telephonic triage by practice assistants, using intervision to help reflect on their work and drawing financiers' attention to the effectiveness of empathy. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Modified method for external attachment of transmitters to birds using two subcutaneous anchors

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewis, T.L.; Flint, Paul L.

2008-01-01

Of the transmitter attachment techniques for birds, the subcutaneous anchor provides a secure attachment that yields relatively few secondary effects. However, the use of subcutaneous anchors has been limited by transmitter size and retention time. Using a modified method of attachment that utilized two subcutaneous anchors, we deployed 69 GPS transmitters, plus 13 VHF transmitters that were similar in size and weight to GPS models, on Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). Prior to our study, only harnesses were used for attaching GPS transmitters on birds, mainly because GPS transmitters are too large for other external attachment techniques and implantation in the body cavity attenuates the GPS signal. Thus, to increase the size capacity of anchor attachment and to avoid the well-documented negative effects of harnesses on behavior and survival, we added a second anchor at the transmitter's posterior end. The double-anchor attachment technique was quickly and easily accomplished in the field, requiring bird handling times of <10 min. Incidental recoveries of tagged Brant indicate a high degree of transmitter retention. Five recaptured birds (4-6 weeks after deployment) and eight killed by hunters (3-6 mo after deployment) retained their GPS transmitters. For studies involving the use of relatively large transmitters, the double-anchor method appears to provide a viable alternative for external attachment. ?? 2008 Association of Field Ornithologists.

GPS Imaging of vertical land motion in California and Nevada: Implications for Sierra Nevada uplift

PubMed Central

Blewitt, Geoffrey; Kreemer, Corné

2016-01-01

Abstract We introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) Imaging, a new technique for robust estimation of the vertical velocity field of the Earth's surface, and apply it to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the western United States. Starting with vertical position time series from Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, we first estimate vertical velocities using the MIDAS robust trend estimator, which is insensitive to undocumented steps, outliers, seasonality, and heteroscedasticity. Using the Delaunay triangulation of station locations, we then apply a weighted median spatial filter to remove velocity outliers and enhance signals common to multiple stations. Finally, we interpolate the data using weighted median estimation on a grid. The resulting velocity field is temporally and spatially robust and edges in the field remain sharp. Results from data spanning 5–20 years show that the Sierra Nevada is the most rapid and extensive uplift feature in the western United States, rising up to 2 mm/yr along most of the range. The uplift is juxtaposed against domains of subsidence attributable to groundwater withdrawal in California's Central Valley. The uplift boundary is consistently stationary, although uplift is faster over the 2011–2016 period of drought. Uplift patterns are consistent with groundwater extraction and concomitant elastic bedrock uplift, plus slower background tectonic uplift. A discontinuity in the velocity field across the southeastern edge of the Sierra Nevada reveals a contrast in lithospheric strength, suggesting a relationship between late Cenozoic uplift of the southern Sierra Nevada and evolution of the southern Walker Lane. PMID:27917328

GPS Imaging of vertical land motion in California and Nevada: Implications for Sierra Nevada uplift.

PubMed

Hammond, William C; Blewitt, Geoffrey; Kreemer, Corné

2016-10-01

We introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) Imaging, a new technique for robust estimation of the vertical velocity field of the Earth's surface, and apply it to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the western United States. Starting with vertical position time series from Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, we first estimate vertical velocities using the MIDAS robust trend estimator, which is insensitive to undocumented steps, outliers, seasonality, and heteroscedasticity. Using the Delaunay triangulation of station locations, we then apply a weighted median spatial filter to remove velocity outliers and enhance signals common to multiple stations. Finally, we interpolate the data using weighted median estimation on a grid. The resulting velocity field is temporally and spatially robust and edges in the field remain sharp. Results from data spanning 5-20 years show that the Sierra Nevada is the most rapid and extensive uplift feature in the western United States, rising up to 2 mm/yr along most of the range. The uplift is juxtaposed against domains of subsidence attributable to groundwater withdrawal in California's Central Valley. The uplift boundary is consistently stationary, although uplift is faster over the 2011-2016 period of drought. Uplift patterns are consistent with groundwater extraction and concomitant elastic bedrock uplift, plus slower background tectonic uplift. A discontinuity in the velocity field across the southeastern edge of the Sierra Nevada reveals a contrast in lithospheric strength, suggesting a relationship between late Cenozoic uplift of the southern Sierra Nevada and evolution of the southern Walker Lane.

Precise point positioning with the BeiDou navigation satellite system.

PubMed

Li, Min; Qu, Lizhong; Zhao, Qile; Guo, Jing; Su, Xing; Li, Xiaotao

2014-01-08

By the end of 2012, China had launched 16 BeiDou-2 navigation satellites that include six GEOs, five IGSOs and five MEOs. This has provided initial navigation and precise pointing services ability in the Asia-Pacific regions. In order to assess the navigation and positioning performance of the BeiDou-2 system, Wuhan University has built up a network of BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations (BETS) around the World. The Position and Navigation Data Analyst (PANDA) software was modified to determine the orbits of BeiDou satellites and provide precise orbit and satellite clock bias products from the BeiDou satellite system for user applications. This article uses the BeiDou/GPS observations of the BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations to realize the BeiDou and BeiDou/GPS static and kinematic precise point positioning (PPP). The result indicates that the precision of BeiDou static and kinematic PPP reaches centimeter level. The precision of BeiDou/GPS kinematic PPP solutions is improved significantly compared to that of BeiDou-only or GPS-only kinematic PPP solutions. The PPP convergence time also decreases with the use of combined BeiDou/GPS systems.

Precise Point Positioning with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System

PubMed Central

Li, Min; Qu, Lizhong; Zhao, Qile; Guo, Jing; Su, Xing; Li, Xiaotao

2014-01-01

By the end of 2012, China had launched 16 BeiDou-2 navigation satellites that include six GEOs, five IGSOs and five MEOs. This has provided initial navigation and precise pointing services ability in the Asia-Pacific regions. In order to assess the navigation and positioning performance of the BeiDou-2 system, Wuhan University has built up a network of BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations (BETS) around the World. The Position and Navigation Data Analyst (PANDA) software was modified to determine the orbits of BeiDou satellites and provide precise orbit and satellite clock bias products from the BeiDou satellite system for user applications. This article uses the BeiDou/GPS observations of the BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations to realize the BeiDou and BeiDou/GPS static and kinematic precise point positioning (PPP). The result indicates that the precision of BeiDou static and kinematic PPP reaches centimeter level. The precision of BeiDou/GPS kinematic PPP solutions is improved significantly compared to that of BeiDou-only or GPS-only kinematic PPP solutions. The PPP convergence time also decreases with the use of combined BeiDou/GPS systems. PMID:24406856

How the viewing of familiar landscapes prior to release allows pigeons to home faster: evidence from GPS tracking.

PubMed

Biro, Dora; Guilford, Tim; Dell'Omo, Giacomo; Lipp, Hans-Peter

2002-12-01

Providing homing pigeons with a 5 min preview of the landscape at familiar sites prior to release reliably improves the birds' subsequent homing speeds. This phenomenon has been taken to suggest that the visual panorama is involved in familiar-site recognition, yet the exact nature of the improvement has never been elucidated. We employed newly developed miniature Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking technology to investigate how access to visual cues prior to release affects pigeons' flight along the length of the homing route. By applying a variety of novel analytical techniques enabled by the high-resolution GPS data (track efficiency, virtual vanishing bearings, orientation threshold), we localised the preview effect to the first 1000 m of the journey. Birds denied preview of a familiar landscape for 5 min before take-off flew an initially more tortuous path, including a high incidence of circling, possibly as part of an information-gathering strategy to determine their position. Beyond the first 1000 m, no differences were found in the performance of birds with or without preview. That the effect of the visual treatment was evident only in the early part of the journey suggests that lack of access to visual cues prior to release does not result in a non-specific effect on behaviour that is maintained throughout the flight. Instead, it seems that at least some decisions regarding the direction of home can be made prior to release and that such decisions are delayed if visual access to the landscape is denied. Overall, the variety of approaches applied here clearly highlight the potential for future applications of GPS tracking technology in navigation studies.

The September 25, 2003 Tokachi-Oki Mw 8.3 Earthquake: Rupture Process From Joint Inversion of Tsunami Waveform, GPS, and Pressure Gages Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romano, F.; Lorito, S.; Piatanesi, A.; Antonioli, A.; George, D. L.; Hirata, K.

2008-12-01

We infer the slip distribution along the rupture zone of the September 25, 2003 Hokkaido Region (Japan) from tide-gages records of the tsunami, pressure gages, and GPS measured static coseismic displacements. According to USGS, this one has been the largest earthquake in 2003. We select waveforms from 16 stations, distributed along the east coast of the Hokkaido Region and the north-east coast of the Tohoku Region. Furthermore we select more than 100 GPS stations positioned on these regions and 2 high-precision pressure gages positioned in open sea near the epicenter; indeed the seafloor measurement of the water pressure is an innovative geodetic observation because the displacement of the seafloor is directly proportional to water pressure increase. We assume the fault plane to be consistent with the geometry of the subducting plate and the slip direction with the focal mechanism solutions and previous inversions of teleseismic body waves. We subdivide the fault plane into several subfaults (both along strike and down dip) and we compute the corresponding Green's function for the coseismic displacement considering a 3D Earth's model implemented in a Finite-Element code. As for the tsunami Green's function we use the shallow water equations and a bathymetric dataset with 10 arcsec of spatial resolution. The slip distribution is determined by means of a simulated annealing technique. Synthetic checkerboard tests, using the station coverage of the available data, indicate that the main features of the rupture process may be robustly inverted with a minimum subfault area of 30x30 km. We compare our results with those obtained by previous inversions of teleseismic, GPS and tsunami data.

Global and regional kinematics with GPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

King, Robert W.

1994-01-01

The inherent precision of the doubly differenced phase measurement and the low cost of instrumentation made GPS the space geodetic technique of choice for regional surveys as soon as the constellation reached acceptable geometry in the area of interest: 1985 in western North America, the early 1990's in most of the world. Instrument and site-related errors for horizontal positioning are usually less than 3 mm, so that the dominant source of error is uncertainty in the reference frame defined by the satellites orbits and the tracking stations used to determine them. Prior to about 1992, when the tracking network for most experiments was globally sparse, the number of fiducial sites or the level at which they could be tied to an SLR or VLBI reference frame usually, set the accuracy limit. Recently, with a global network of over 30 stations, the limit is set more often by deficiencies in models for non-gravitational forces acting on the satellites. For regional networks in the northern hemisphere, reference frame errors are currently about 3 parts per billion (ppb) in horizontal position, allowing centimeter-level accuracies over intercontinental distances and less than 1 mm for a 100 km baseline. The accuracy of GPS measurements for monitoring height variations is generally 2-3 times worse than for horizontal motions. As for VLBI, the primary source of error is unmodeled fluctuations in atmospheric water vapor, but both reference frame uncertainties and some instrument errors are more serious for vertical than horizontal measurements. Under good conditions, daily repeatabilities at the level of 10 mm rms were achieved. This paper will summarize the current accuracy of GPS measurements and their implication for the use of SLR to study regional kinematics.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) ADJACENT BAND COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-04-01

The goal of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Global Positioning System (GPS) Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment is to evaluate the maximum transmitted power levels of adjacent band radiofrequency (RF) systems that can be tolerated by G...

GPS-based household interview survey for the Cincinnati, Ohio Region.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-02-01

Methods for Conducting a Large-Scale GPS-Only Survey of Households: Past Household Travel Surveys (HTS) in the United States have only piloted small subsamples of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) completes compared with 1-2 day self-reported travel i...

Site selection plan and installation guidelines for a nationwide differential GPS service

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-08-05

The Global Positioning System (GPS), in its current form, is used within the transportation industry for vehicle tracking and navigation. With the advent of a nationwide differential GPS (DGPS) service, this role will expand to include public safety,...

76 FR 31943 - Global Positioning System Directorate (Gpsd); Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-02

...) Durations. All comments must be submitted in Comments Resolution Matrix (CRM) form. These forms along with... process for IS-GPS-200, IS-GPS-705, and IS-GPS-800. Please provide them in the CRM form and submit to Tony...

FAA aircraft certification human factors and operations checklist for standalone GPS receivers (TSO C129 Class A)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-04-01

This document is a checklist designed to assist Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) certification personnel and global : positioning system (GPS) receiver manufacturers in the evaluation of the pilot-system interface characteristlcs of GPS : recieve...

Guidelines for the Design of GPS and LORAN Receiver Controls and Displays

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-03-01

Long range navigation (Loran) and global positioning system (GPS) receivers are widely used in aviation. The Loran and GPS receivers are similar in size and function but derive their navigation signals from different sources. The design of the contro...

Use of GPS and InSAR Technology and its Further Development in Earthquake Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donnellan, A.; Lyzenga, G.; Argus, D.; Peltzer, G.; Parker, J.; Webb, F.; Heflin, M.; Zumberge, J.

1999-01-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) data are useful for understanding both interseismic and postseismic deformation. Models of GPS data suggest that the lower crust, lateral heterogeneity, and fault slip, all provide a role in the earthquake cycle.

GPS-based tracking system for TOPEX orbit determination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melbourne, W. G.

1984-01-01

A tracking system concept is discussed that is based on the utilization of the constellation of Navstar satellites in the Global Positioning System (GPS). The concept involves simultaneous and continuous metric tracking of the signals from all visible Navstar satellites by approximately six globally distributed ground terminals and by the TOPEX spacecraft at 1300-km altitude. Error studies indicate that this system could be capable of obtaining decimeter position accuracies and, most importantly, around 5 cm in the radial component which is key to exploiting the full accuracy potential of the altimetric measurements for ocean topography. Topics covered include: background of the GPS, the precision mode for utilization of the system, past JPL research for using the GPS in precision applications, the present tracking system concept for high accuracy satellite positioning, and results from a proof-of-concept demonstration.

Relativity in the Global Positioning System.

PubMed

Ashby, Neil

2003-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses accurate, stable atomic clocks in satellites and on the ground to provide world-wide position and time determination. These clocks have gravitational and motional frequency shifts which are so large that, without carefully accounting for numerous relativistic effects, the system would not work. This paper discusses the conceptual basis, founded on special and general relativity, for navigation using GPS. Relativistic principles and effects which must be considered include the constancy of the speed of light, the equivalence principle, the Sagnac effect, time dilation, gravitational frequency shifts, and relativity of synchronization. Experimental tests of relativity obtained with a GPS receiver aboard the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite will be discussed. Recently frequency jumps arising from satellite orbit adjustments have been identified as relativistic effects. These will be explained and some interesting applications of GPS will be discussed.

Autonomous Navigation of the SSTI/Lewis Spacecraft Using the Global Positioning System (GPS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hart, R. C.; Long, A. C.; Lee, T.

1997-01-01

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) is pursuing the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to improve the accuracy and economy of spacecraft navigation. High-accuracy autonomous navigation algorithms are being flight qualified in conjunction with GSFC's GPS Attitude Determination Flyer (GADFLY) experiment on the Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) Lewis spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch in 1997. Preflight performance assessments indicate that these algorithms can provide a real-time total position accuracy of better than 10 meters (1 sigma) and velocity accuracy of better than 0.01 meter per second (1 sigma), with selective availability at typical levels. This accuracy is projected to improve to the 2-meter level if corrections to be provided by the GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) are included.

Radiation-hardened fast acquisition/weak signal tracking system and method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winternitz, Luke (Inventor); Boegner, Gregory J. (Inventor); Sirotzky, Steve (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A global positioning system (GPS) receiver and method of acquiring and tracking GPS signals comprises an antenna adapted to receive GPS signals; an analog radio frequency device operatively connected to the antenna and adapted to convert the GPS signals from an analog format to a digital format; a plurality of GPS signal tracking correlators operatively connected to the analog RF device; a GPS signal acquisition component operatively connected to the analog RF device and the plurality of GPS signal tracking correlators, wherein the GPS signal acquisition component is adapted to calculate a maximum vector on a databit correlation grid; and a microprocessor operatively connected to the plurality of GPS signal tracking correlators and the GPS signal acquisition component, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to compare the maximum vector with a predetermined correlation threshold to allow the GPS signal to be fully acquired and tracked.

EarthScope: Cyberinfrastructure to access Plate Boundary Observatory data products and services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meertens, C. M.; Mattioli, G. S.; Miller, M.; Boler, F. M.; Crosby, C. J.; Mencin, D.; Phillips, D. A.; Snett, L.

2013-12-01

The wealth of data from geodetic observing systems, especially the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO), presents major data management challenges. The challenges are driven by ingenious new uses of Global Positioning System (GPS) data, demands for higher-rate, lower latency data, the need for continued access and long term preservation of archival data, the expansion of data users into other science, engineering and commercial arenas, and the growth of enhanced products that expand the utility of the data. To meet these challenges, UNAVCO has established a comprehensive suite of data services encompassing sensor network data operations, data product generation (through the activities of partners at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Central Washington University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and the University of California, San Diego - UCSD), data management, access and archiving, and advanced cyberinfrastructure. PBO sensor systems include 1,100 continuously operating GPS stations, 79 borehole geophysical sites (with a combination of strainmeters, tiltmeters, seismometers, pore pressure gauges, and meteorological sensors), and 6 long baseline strainmeters. Imaging data acquired for EarthScope include large volumes of satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and airborne LiDAR data. Core data products such as daily GPS position time series and derived crustal motion velocities have been augmented with real-time data streams and positions calculated every second from 367 PBO stations. Higher rate (5 Hz) data files are available for applications such as GPS seismology. Efforts are underway with UCSD to integrate GPS and accelerometers at a subset of PBO sites to increase the reliability and capability of the observations. These observations have utility for research and hazards mitigation. Ingenious methods of GPS data analysis, developed by the University of Colorado and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, measure snow depth, near surface soil moisture, and vegetation. Along with atmospheric water vapor estimates, these products are expanding the utility of the data into atmospheric, environmental, ecological and soil sciences. Another new PBO product, hydrologic loading models derived from the NASA Global Land Data Assimilation System, is available for correcting GPS time series and hydrologic studies. To facilitate discovery and access of these extensive, diverse, and distributed data collections, UNAVCO has led collaborative efforts to develop web services and federated query capabilities for GPS, LiDAR and SAR. These services form the foundations for global integration projects such as EarthCube, GEO Geohazard Supersites and Natural Laboratories, and COOPEUS. In order to further curation and enhance access and processing capabilities, UNAVCO is exploring cloud computing and storage with UCSD and Amazon that will increase capacity over the next five years. Finally, with the rich set of data and services offered from PBO comes the need to help users better understand data techniques, observations, and quality. To serve this need, UNAVCO is enhancing online resources and, with its community partners, will continue to develop technical short courses and workshops.

Satellite-motion Compensation for Monitoring Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) Using GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson-Booth, N.; Penney, R.

2016-12-01

The ionosphere exerts a strong influence over a wide range of modern communications and navigtion systems, but is subject to complex influences from both terrestrial and solar sources. Ionospheric disturbances can be triggered by lower-atmosphere phenomena such as hurricanes as well as geophysical events such as earthquakes, as well as being strongly influenced by cyclical and unpredictable solar behaviour. Dual-band GPS receivers provide a popular and convenient means of obtaining information about the ionosphere, and ionospheric disturbances. While GPS measurements can provide clues about the state of the ionosphere, there are many challenges in obtaining reliable information from them. For example, drop-outs and carrier-phase cycle slips may have little influence on using GPS for (medium-precision) navigation, but can lead to signal-processing artefacts that would cause false alarms in detecting ionospheric disturbances. If one is interested in measuring the motion of travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) one must also be able to disentangle the effects of satellite motion from the TID motion. We discuss a novel approach to robustly separating TID waveforms from background trends within GPS time-series of total electron content (TEC), as well as innovative techniques for estimating TID velocities using ideas from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Underpinning these, we consider how to robustly pre-process GPS time-series to reduce the influence of drop-outs while also reducing data volumes. We present comparisons of our TID velocity estimates with more standard "cross-correlation" techniques, including cases where these standard techniques produce pathological results. We also show results from simulated GPS time-series derived from modelled ionospheric disturbances.

SGA-WZ: A New Strapdown Airborne Gravimeter

PubMed Central

Huang, Yangming; Olesen, Arne Vestergaard; Wu, Meiping; Zhang, Kaidong

2012-01-01

Inertial navigation systems and gravimeters are now routinely used to map the regional gravitational quantities from an aircraft with mGal accuracy and a spatial resolution of a few kilometers. However, airborne gravimeter of this kind is limited by the inaccuracy of the inertial sensor performance, the integrated navigation technique and the kinematic acceleration determination. As the GPS technique developed, the vehicle acceleration determination is no longer the limiting factor in airborne gravity due to the cancellation of the common mode acceleration in differential mode. A new airborne gravimeter taking full advantage of the inertial navigation system is described with improved mechanical design, high precision time synchronization, better thermal control and optimized sensor modeling. Apart from the general usage, the Global Positioning System (GPS) after differentiation is integrated to the inertial navigation system which provides not only more precise altitude information along with the navigation aiding, but also an effective way to calculate the vehicle acceleration. Design description and test results on the performance of the gyroscopes and accelerations will be emphasized. Analysis and discussion of the airborne field test results are also given. PMID:23012545

Assessing the Performance of GPS Precise Point Positioning Under Different Geomagnetic Storm Conditions during Solar Cycle 24.

PubMed

Luo, Xiaomin; Gu, Shengfeng; Lou, Yidong; Xiong, Chao; Chen, Biyan; Jin, Xueyuan

2018-06-01

The geomagnetic storm, which is an abnormal space weather phenomenon, can sometimes severely affect GPS signal propagation, thereby impacting the performance of GPS precise point positioning (PPP). However, the investigation of GPS PPP accuracy over the global scale under different geomagnetic storm conditions is very limited. This paper for the first time presents the performance of GPS dual-frequency (DF) and single-frequency (SF) PPP under moderate, intense, and super storms conditions during solar cycle 24 using a large data set collected from about 500 international GNSS services (IGS) stations. The global root mean square (RMS) maps of GPS PPP results show that stations with degraded performance are mainly distributed at high-latitude, and the degradation level generally depends on the storm intensity. The three-dimensional (3D) RMS of GPS DF PPP for high-latitude during moderate, intense, and super storms are 0.393 m, 0.680 m and 1.051 m, respectively, with respect to only 0.163 m on quiet day. RMS errors of mid- and low-latitudes show less dependence on the storm intensities, with values less than 0.320 m, compared to 0.153 m on quiet day. Compared with DF PPP, the performance of GPS SF PPP is inferior regardless of quiet or disturbed conditions. The degraded performance of GPS positioning during geomagnetic storms is attributed to the increased ionospheric disturbances, which have been confirmed by our global rate of TEC index (ROTI) maps. Ionospheric disturbances not only lead to the deteriorated ionospheric correction but also to the frequent cycle-slip occurrence. Statistical results show that, compared with that on quiet day, the increased cycle-slip occurrence are 13.04%, 56.52%, and 69.57% under moderate, intense, and super storms conditions, respectively.

Application of global positioning system methods for the study of obesity and hypertension risk among low-income housing residents in New York City: a spatial feasibility study

PubMed Central

Duncan, Dustin T.; Regan, Seann D.; Shelley, Donna; Day, Kristen; Ruff, Ryan R.; Al-Bayan, Maliyhah; Elbel, Brian

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using global positioning system (GPS) methods to understand the spatial context of obesity and hypertension risk among a sample of low-income housing residents in New York City (n = 120). GPS feasibility among participants was measured with a pre- and post-survey as well as adherence to a protocol which included returning the GPS device as well as objective data analysed from the GPS devices. We also conducted qualitative interviews with 21 of the participants. Most of the sample was overweight (26.7%) or obese (40.0%). Almost one-third (30.8%) was pre-hypertensive and 39.2% was hypertensive. Participants reported high ratings of GPS acceptability, ease of use and low levels of wear-related concerns in addition to few concerns related to safety, loss or appearance, which were maintained after the baseline GPS feasibility data collection. Results show that GPS feasibility increased over time. The overall GPS return rate was 95.6%. Out of the total of 114 participants with GPS, 112 (98.2%) delivered at least one hour of GPS data for one day and 84 (73.7%) delivered at least one hour on 7 or more days. The qualitative interviews indicated that overall, participants enjoyed wearing the GPS devices, that they were easy to use and charge and that they generally forgot about the GPS device when wearing it daily. Findings demonstrate that GPS devices may be used in spatial epidemiology research in low-income and potentially other key vulnerable populations to understand geospatial determinants of obesity, hypertension and other diseases that these populations disproportionately experience. PMID:25545926

GPS-based system for satellite tracking and geodesy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertiger, Willy I.; Thornton, Catherine L.

1989-01-01

High-performance receivers and data processing systems developed for GPS are reviewed. The GPS Inferred Positioning System (GIPSY) and the Orbiter Analysis and Simulation Software (OASIS) are described. The OASIS software is used to assess GPS system performance using GIPSY for data processing. Consideration is given to parameter estimation for multiday arcs, orbit repeatability, orbit prediction, daily baseline repeatability, agreement with VLBI, and ambiguity resolution. Also, the dual-frequency Rogue receiver, which can track up to eight GPS satellites simultaneously, is discussed.

USNO GPS program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Putkovich, K.

1981-01-01

Initial test results indicated that the Global Positioning System/Time Transfer Unit (GPS/TTU) performed well within the + or - 100 nanosecond range required by the original system specification. Subsequent testing involved the verification of GPS time at the master control site via portable clocks and the acquisition and tracking of as many passes of the space vehicles currently in operation as possible. A description and discussion of the testing, system modifications, test results obtained, and an evaluation of both GPS and the GPS/TTU are presented.

Orbiter global positioning system design and Ku-band problem investigations, exhibit B, revision 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindsey, W. C.

1983-01-01

The hardware, software, and interface between them was investigated for a low dynamics, nonhostile environment, low cost GPS receiver (GPS Z set). The set is basically a three dimensional geodetic and way point navigator with GPS time, ground speed, and ground track as possible outputs in addition to the usual GPS receiver set outputs. Each functional module comprising the GPS set is described, enumerating its functional inputs and outputs, leading to the interface between hardware and software of the set.

A Demonstration of GPS Landslide Monitoring Using Online Positioning User Service (OPUS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, G.

2011-12-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies have been frequently applied to landslide study, both as a complement, and as an alternative to conventional surveying methods. However, most applications of GPS for landslide monitoring have been limited to the academic community for research purposes. High-accuracy GPS has not been widely equipped in geotechnical companies and used by technicians. The main issue that limits the applications of GPS in the practice of high-accuracy landslide monitoring is the complexity of GPS data processing. This study demonstrated an approach using the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS) provided by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to process GPS data and conduct long-term landslide monitoring in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Region. Continuous GPS data collected at a creeping landslide site during two years were used to evaluate different scenarios for landslide surveying: continuous or campaign, long duration or short duration, morning or afternoon (different weather conditions). OPUS uses Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) managed by NGS (http://www.ngs.noaa.giv/CORS/) as references and user data as a rover to solve a position. There are 19 CORS permanent GPS stations in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands region. The dense GPS network provides a precise and reliable reference frame for subcentimeter-accuracy landslide monitoring in this region. Our criterion for the accuracy was the root-mean-square (RMS) of OPUS solutions over a 2-year period with respect to true landslide displacement time series overt the same period. The true landslide displacements were derived from a single-baseline (130 m) GPS processing by using 24-hour continuous data. If continuous GPS surveying is performed in the field, then OPUS static processing can provide 0.6 cm horizontal and 1.1 cm vertical precision with few outliers. If repeated campaign-style surveying is performed in the field, then the choice of observation time window and duration are very important. In order to detect a suspected sliding mass and track the kinematics of a creeping landslide, sub-centimeter horizontal accuracy is often required. OPUS static solutions for sessions of 4 hours or longer and OPUS rapid-static solutions for sessions as short as 15 minutes can achieve accuracy at this level if data collection during extreme weather conditions is avoided, such as rainfall and storm time. This study also indicated that rainfall events can seriously degrade the performance of high-accuracy GPS. Field GPS landslide surveying should avoid rainfall time that is usually accompanied by thunderstorms and the passage of weather fronts.

Building resilience of the Global Positioning System to space weather

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Genene; Kunches, Joseph

2011-12-01

Almost every aspect of the global economy now depends on GPS. Worldwide, nations are working to create a robust Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which will provide global positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for applications such as aviation, electric power distribution, financial exchange, maritime navigation, and emergency management. The U.S. government is examining the vulnerabilities of GPS, and it is well known that space weather events, such as geomagnetic storms, contribute to errors in single-frequency GPS and are a significant factor for differential GPS. The GPS industry has lately begun to recognize that total electron content (TEC) signal delays, ionospheric scintillation, and solar radio bursts can also interfere with daily operations and that these threats grow with the approach of the next solar maximum, expected to occur in 2013. The key challenges raised by these circumstances are, first, to better understand the vulnerability of GPS technologies and services to space weather and, second, to develop policies that will build resilience and mitigate risk.

Next Generation Vehicle Positioning and Simulation Solutions : Using GPS and Advanced Simulation Tools to Improve Highway Safety

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-03

"Integrated Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation Unit (GPS/INU) Simulator for Enhanced Traffic Safety," is a project awarded to Ohio State University to integrate different simulation models to accurately study the relationship between v...

GPS Lessons Learned from the International Space Station, Space Shuttle and X-38

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodman, John L.

2005-01-01

This document is a collection of writings concerning the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle, and X-38 vehicles. An overview of how GPS technology was applied is given for each vehicle, including rationale behind the integration architecture, and rationale governing the use (or non-use) of GPS data during flight.

Direct-Y: Fast Acquisition of the GPS PPS Signal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Namoos, Omar M.; DiEsposti, Raymond S.

1996-01-01

The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) provides positioning and time information to military users via the Precise Positioning Service (PPS) which typically allows users a significant margin of precision over the commercially available Standard Positioning Service (SPS), Military sets that rely on first acquiring the SPS Coarse Acquisition (C/A) code, read from the data message the handover word (HOW) that provides the time-of-signal transmission needed to acquire and lock onto the PPS Y-code. Under extreme battlefield conditions, the use of GPS would be denied to the warfighter who cannot pick up the un-encrypted C/A code. Studies are underway at the GPS Joint Program Office (JPO) at the Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base that are aimed at developing the capability to directly acquire Y-code without first acquiring C/A code. This paper briefly outlines efforts to develop 'direct-Y' acquisition, and various approaches to solving this problem. The potential ramifications of direct-Y to military users are also discussed.

Evaluation of a Mobile Phone for Aircraft GPS Interference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Truong X.

2004-01-01

Measurements of spurious emissions from a mobile phone are conducted in a reverberation chamber for the Global Positioning System (GPS) radio frequency band. This phone model was previously determined to have caused interference to several aircraft GPS receivers. Interference path loss (IPL) factors are applied to the emission data, and the outcome compared against GPS receiver susceptibility. The resulting negative safety margins indicate there are risks to aircraft GPS systems. The maximum emission level from the phone is also shown to be comparable with some laptop computer's emissions, implying that laptop computers can provide similar risks to aircraft GPS receivers.

Altimetry Using GPS-Reflection/Occultation Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardellach, Estel; DeLaTorre, Manuel; Hajj, George A.; Ao, Chi

2008-01-01

A Global Positioning System (GPS)- reflection/occultation interferometry was examined as a means of altimetry of water and ice surfaces in polar regions. In GPS-reflection/occultation interferometry, a GPS receiver aboard a satellite in a low orbit around the Earth is used to determine the temporally varying carrier- phase delay between (1) one component of a signal from a GPS transmitter propagating directly through the atmosphere just as the GPS transmitter falls below the horizon and (2) another component of the same signal, propagating along a slightly different path, reflected at glancing incidence upon the water or ice surface.

The Global Positioning System

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

1999-01-01

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of navigation satellites called Navigation Satellite Timing And Ranging (NAVSTAR), maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense. Many outdoor enthusiasts recognize that a handheld GPS receiver can be an accurate tool for determining their location on the terrain. The GPS receiver helps determine locations on the Earth's surface by collecting signals from three or more satellites through a process called triangulation. Identifying a location on the Earth is more useful if you also know about the surrounding topographic conditions. Using a topographic map with the GPS receiver provides important information about features of the surrounding terrain and can help you plot an effective route from one location to another.

Comparison of Water Vapor Measurements from Ground-based and Space-based GPS Atmospheric Remote Sensing Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colon-Pagan, Ian; Kuo, Ying-Hwa

2008-10-01

In this study, we compare precipitable water vapor (PWV) values from ground-based GPS water vapor sensing and COSMIC radio occultation (RO) measurements over the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and United States regions as well as global analyses from NCEP and ECMWF models. The results show good overall agreement; however, the PWV values estimated by ground-based GPS receivers tend to have a slight dry bias for low PWV values and a slight wet bias for higher PWV values, when compared with GPS RO measurements and global analyses. An application of a student T-test indicates that there is a significant difference between both ground- and space-based GPS measured datasets. The dry bias associated with space-based GPS is attributed to the missing low altitude data, where the concentration of water vapor is large. The close agreements between space-based and global analyses are due to the fact that these global analyses assimilate space-based GPS RO data from COSMIC, and the retrieval of water vapor profiles from space-based technique requires the use of global analyses as the first guess. This work is supported by UCAR SOARS and a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Educational Partnership Program under the cooperative agreement NA06OAR4810187.

Application of GNSS Methods for Monitoring Offshore Platform Deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myint, Khin Cho; Nasir Matori, Abd; Gohari, Adel

2018-03-01

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has become a powerful tool for high-precision deformation monitoring application. Monitoring of deformation and subsidence of offshore platform due to factors such as shallow gas phenomena. GNSS is the technical interoperability and compatibility between various satellite navigation systems such as modernized GPS, Galileo, reconstructed GLONASS to be used by civilian users. It has been known that excessive deformation affects platform structurally, causing loss of production and affects the efficiency of the machinery on board the platform. GNSS have been proven to be one of the most precise positioning methods where by users can get accuracy to the nearest centimeter of a given position from carrier phase measurement processing of GPS signals. This research is aimed at using GNSS technique, which is one of the most standard methods to monitor the deformation of offshore platforms. Therefore, station modeling, which accounts for the spatial correlated errors, and hence speeds up the ambiguity resolution process is employed. It was found that GNSS combines the high accuracy of the results monitoring the offshore platforms deformation with the possibility of survey.

Non-linear motions in reprocessed GPS station position time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudenko, Sergei; Gendt, Gerd

2010-05-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) data of about 400 globally distributed stations obtained at time span from 1998 till 2007 were reprocessed using GFZ Potsdam EPOS (Earth Parameter and Orbit System) software within International GNSS Service (IGS) Tide Gauge Benchmark Monitoring (TIGA) Pilot Project and IGS Data Reprocessing Campaign with the purpose to determine weekly precise coordinates of GPS stations located at or near tide gauges. Vertical motions of these stations are used to correct the vertical motions of tide gauges for local motions and to tie tide gauge measurements to the geocentric reference frame. Other estimated parameters include daily values of the Earth rotation parameters and their rates, as well as satellite antenna offsets. The solution GT1 derived is based on using absolute phase center variation model, ITRF2005 as a priori reference frame, and other new models. The solution contributed also to ITRF2008. The time series of station positions are analyzed to identify non-linear motions caused by different effects. The paper presents the time series of GPS station coordinates and investigates apparent non-linear motions and their influence on GPS station height rates.

Method of steering the gain of a multiple antenna global positioning system receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Alan G.; Hermann, Bruce R.

1992-06-01

A method for steering the gain of a multiple antenna Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver toward a plurality of a GPS satellites simultaneously is provided. The GPS signals of a known wavelength are processed digitally for a particular instant in time. A range difference or propagation delay between each antenna for GPS signals received from each satellite is first resolved. The range difference consists of a fractional wavelength difference and an integer wavelength difference. The fractional wavelength difference is determined by each antenna's tracking loop. The integer wavelength difference is based upon the known wavelength and separation between each antenna with respect to each satellite position. The range difference is then used to digitally delay the GPS signals at each antenna with respect to a reference antenna. The signal at the reference antenna is then summed with the digitally delayed signals to generate a composite antenna gain. The method searches for the correct number of integer wavelengths to maximize the composite gain. The range differences are also used to determine the attitude of the array.

Workshop Builds Strategies to Address Global Positioning System Vulnerabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Genene

2011-01-01

When we examine the impacts of space weather on society, do we really understand the risks? Can past experiences reliably predict what will happen in the future? As the complexity of technology increases, there is the potential for it to become more fragile, allowing for a single point of failure to bring down the entire system. Take the Global Positioning System (GPS) as an example. GPS positioning, navigation, and timing have become an integral part of daily life, supporting transportation and communications systems vital to the aviation, merchant marine, cargo, cellular phone, surveying, and oil exploration industries. Everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids are facilitated by the accurate timing provided by GPS. Understanding the risks of space weather to GPS and the many economic sectors reliant upon it, as well as how to build resilience, was the focus of a policy workshop organized by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and held on 13-14 October 2010 in Washington, D. C. The workshop brought together a select group of policy makers, space weather scientists, and GPS experts and users.

GPS disruptions : efforts to assess risks to critical infrastructure and coordinate agency actions should be enhanced.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-11-01

To assess the risks and potential effects from disruptions in the Global : Positioning System (GPS) on critical infrastructure, the Department of Homeland : Security (DHS) published the GPS National Risk Estimate (NRE) in 2012. In : doing so, DHS con...

A Wireless Local Area Network Command and Control System for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Incident Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-09-01

43 4. GPS ......................................................................................................44 E. POWER SUPPLY HARDWARE...44 Figure 5.6 Earthmate GPS Receiver ........................................................................................45...and 5Watts at 25 Ft Effective Range Minimum range of wireless link is 5 miles. Positional awareness System requires GPS input to determine

Relationship Between Site Disturbance and Forest Harvesting Equipment Traffic

Treesearch

Tim McDonald; Emily Carter; Steve Taylor; John Tobert

1998-01-01

A study was done to evaluate the use of global positioning systems (GPS) to track the position of forest harvesting equipment and use the information to assess site impacts. GPS units were attached to tree-length harvesting machinery in two clearcuts (1 feller-buncher, 2 skidders). Position of the equipment was recorded at 2-second intervals throughout the harvest of...

An Investigation of The Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology and Its Augmentations Within State and Local Transportation Departments

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-07-01

This report summarizes Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and its augmentation-related activities within State and local transportation agencies. In general, the following items are addressed for each State that participated in this investiga...

Performances of different global positioning system devices for time-location tracking in air pollution epidemiological studies.

PubMed

Wu, Jun; Jiang, Chengsheng; Liu, Zhen; Houston, Douglas; Jaimes, Guillermo; McConnell, Rob

2010-11-23

People's time-location patterns are important in air pollution exposure assessment because pollution levels may vary considerably by location. A growing number of studies are using global positioning systems (GPS) to track people's time-location patterns. Many portable GPS units that archive location are commercially available at a cost that makes their use feasible for epidemiological studies. We evaluated the performance of five portable GPS data loggers and two GPS cell phones by examining positional accuracy in typical locations (indoor, outdoor, in-vehicle) and factors that influence satellite reception (building material, building type), acquisition time (cold and warm start), battery life, and adequacy of memory for data storage. We examined stationary locations (eg, indoor, outdoor) and mobile environments (eg, walking, traveling by vehicle or bus) and compared GPS locations to highly-resolved US Geological Survey (USGS) and Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangle (DOQQ) maps. The battery life of our tested instruments ranged from <9 hours to 48 hours. The acquisition of location time after startup ranged from a few seconds to >20 minutes and varied significantly by building structure type and by cold or warm start. No GPS device was found to have consistently superior performance with regard to spatial accuracy and signal loss. At fixed outdoor locations, 65%-95% of GPS points fell within 20-m of the corresponding DOQQ locations for all the devices. At fixed indoor locations, 50%-80% of GPS points fell within 20-m of the corresponding DOQQ locations for all the devices except one. Most of the GPS devices performed well during commuting on a freeway, with >80% of points within 10-m of the DOQQ route, but the performance was significantly impacted by surrounding structures on surface streets in highly urbanized areas. All the tested GPS devices had limitations, but we identified several devices which showed promising performance for tracking subjects' time location patterns in epidemiological studies.

Performances of Different Global Positioning System Devices for Time-Location Tracking in Air Pollution Epidemiological Studies

PubMed Central

Wu, Jun; Jiang, Chengsheng; Liu, Zhen; Houston, Douglas; Jaimes, Guillermo; McConnell, Rob

2010-01-01

Background: People’s time-location patterns are important in air pollution exposure assessment because pollution levels may vary considerably by location. A growing number of studies are using global positioning systems (GPS) to track people’s time-location patterns. Many portable GPS units that archive location are commercially available at a cost that makes their use feasible for epidemiological studies. Methods: We evaluated the performance of five portable GPS data loggers and two GPS cell phones by examining positional accuracy in typical locations (indoor, outdoor, in-vehicle) and factors that influence satellite reception (building material, building type), acquisition time (cold and warm start), battery life, and adequacy of memory for data storage. We examined stationary locations (eg, indoor, outdoor) and mobile environments (eg, walking, traveling by vehicle or bus) and compared GPS locations to highly-resolved US Geological Survey (USGS) and Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangle (DOQQ) maps. Results: The battery life of our tested instruments ranged from <9 hours to 48 hours. The acquisition of location time after startup ranged from a few seconds to >20 minutes and varied significantly by building structure type and by cold or warm start. No GPS device was found to have consistently superior performance with regard to spatial accuracy and signal loss. At fixed outdoor locations, 65%–95% of GPS points fell within 20-m of the corresponding DOQQ locations for all the devices. At fixed indoor locations, 50%–80% of GPS points fell within 20-m of the corresponding DOQQ locations for all the devices except one. Most of the GPS devices performed well during commuting on a freeway, with >80% of points within 10-m of the DOQQ route, but the performance was significantly impacted by surrounding structures on surface streets in highly urbanized areas. Conclusions: All the tested GPS devices had limitations, but we identified several devices which showed promising performance for tracking subjects’ time location patterns in epidemiological studies. PMID:21151593

Using GPS and leveling data in local precise geoid determination and case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erol, B.; Çelik, R. N.; Erol, S.

2003-04-01

As an important result of developments in high technology, satellite based positioning system has become to use in geodesy and surveying professions. These developments made the measurement works more accurate, more practical and more economic. Today, one of the most recent used satellite based positioning system is GPS (Global Positioning System) and it serves to a very wide range of geodetic applications from monitoring earth crustal deformations till building the basis for a GIS (Geographical Information Systems). The most efficient way to utilize GPS measurement system for mentioned aims is having a reliable geodetic infrastructure in working area. Geodetic infrastructure is a extraterrestrial and time system and involved 4D geodetic reference networks. The forth element of mentioned geodetic reference system is time because having an accurate and reliable geodetic infrastructure is needed to up-date according to physical realities of the region. By the help of a well designed geodetic infrastructure accurate and reliable coordinates of a point can be generated economically every time in a global and up-to-date system. Geoid is one of the important parts of a geodetic infrastructure. As it is well known, geoid is the equipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field which best fits, in a least squares sense, global mean sea level and it is reference for physical height systems like orthometric and normal heights. In the most of the applications, vertical position of a point is expressed with orthometric or normal height. Orthometric or normal height is a physical concept and gives vertical position of a point uniquely. On the other hand, vertical position of a point is derived in a geometrical system according to GPS measurements. GPS datum is WGS84 and in this system, an ellipsoidal height of a point is calculated according to WGS84 ellipsoid. So, it is an necessity to transform the ellipsoidal heights to orthometric heights and this procedure is managed with the fundamental mathematical equation; N=h-H. In the equation, "h" is the ellipsoidal height of a point P, "H" is the orthometric height of the same point and "N" is "geoid undulation" value. Normally, "H" orthometric height derived from leveling measurements but these measurements are tiring applications. So, while having a geoid model in the region as the essential part of geodetic infrastructure, number leveling measurements can be reduced from the procedure and by this way time and labor is saved. Geoid determination is modeling of the data in such a way that geoid height can be obtained digital or analog at a point whose horizontal position is known. Geoid models can be developed for local, regional or global regions. Using satellite techniques, especially GPS, in geodetic measurements are increased importance of geoid. Because geoid is a natural tie between high precision geodetic coordinates and coordinates which obtained from satellites. There are several geoid determination methods according to used data and models. GPS/Leveling method, which is also known as geometric method, is one of these methods. This method is appropriate for local precise geoid determination in respectively small areas. In this paper, it is going to be given information about GPS/Leveling geoid determination method and mathematical models, which are used in geoid determination with this method. And Izmir local geoid model will be presented as a case study. Izmir is one of the west metropolitan cities of Turkey and located near Aegean Sea. The topography is extremely rough in the region. There are two different geoid determination studies which were carried out in 1996 and 2001 in Izmir. Both models were accomplished according to GPS/Leveling method. Those two geoid models of Izmir Metropolitan region are investigated in here, the conflict of them were discussed. The relation between distribution of common reference points and differences of geoid undulation values, which are calculated from both models separately, were analyzed and also effects of topography on conflict of both geoid model was investigated. The results of the study and suggestions are going to be given in the paper.

The March 1985 demonstration of the fiducial network concept for GPS geodesy: A preliminary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, J. M.; Thornton, C. L.; Dixon, T. H.; Vegos, C. J.; Young, L. E.; Yunck, T. P.

1986-01-01

The first field tests in preparation for the NASA Global Positioning System (GPS) Caribbean Initiative were conducted in late March and Early April of 1985. The GPS receivers were located at the POLARIS Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) stations at Westford, Massachusetts; Richmond, Florida; and Ft. Davis, Texas; and at the Mojave, Owens Valley, and Hat Creek VLBI stations in California. Other mobile receivers were placed near Mammoth Lakes, California; Pt. Mugu, California; Austin, Texas; and Dahlgren, Virginia. These sites were equipped with a combination of GPS receiver types, including SERIES-X, TI-4100 and AFGL dual frequency receivers. The principal objectives of these tests were the demonstration of the fiducial network concept for precise GPS geodesy, the performance assessment of the participating GPS receiver types, and to conduct the first in a series of experiments to monitor ground deformation in the Mammoth Lakes-Long Valley caldera region in California. Other objectives included the testing of the water vapor radiometers for the calibration of GPS data, the development of efficient procedures for planning and coordinating GPS field exercise, the establishment of institutional interfaces for future cooperating ventures, the testing of the GPS Data Analysis Software (GIPSY, for GPS Inferred Positioning SYstem), and the establishment of a set of calibration baselines in California. Preliminary reports of the success of the field tests, including receiver performance and data quality, and on the status of the data analysis software are given.

GPs' attitudes, beliefs and behaviours regarding exercise for chronic knee pain: a questionnaire survey

PubMed Central

Foster, Nadine E; Porcheret, Mark; Rathod, Trishna; Roddy, Edward

2017-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate general practitioners’ (GPs) attitudes, beliefs and behaviours regarding the use of exercise for patients with chronic knee pain (CKP) attributable to osteoarthritis. Setting Primary care GPs in the UK. Participants 5000 GPs, randomly selected from Binley’s database, were mailed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Outcome measures GPs’ attitudes and beliefs were investigated using attitude statements, and reported behaviours were identified using vignette-based questions. GPs were invited to report barriers experienced when initiating exercise with patients with CKP Results 835 (17%) GPs responded. Overall, GPs were positive about general exercise for CKP. 729 (87%) reported using exercise, of which, 538 (74%) reported that they would use both general and local (lower limb) exercises. However, only 92 (11% of all responding) GPs reported initiating exercise in ways aligning with best-evidence recommendations. 815 (98%) GPs reported barriers in using exercise for patients with CKP, most commonly, insufficient time in consultations (n=419; 51%) and insufficient expertise (n=337; 41%). Conclusions While GPs’ attitudes and beliefs regarding exercise for CKP were generally positive, initiation of exercise was often poorly aligned with current recommendations, and barriers and uncertainties were reported. GPs’ use of exercise may be improved by addressing the key barriers of time and expertise, by developing a pragmatic approach that supports GPs to initiate individualised exercise, and/or by other professionals taking on this role. PMID:28624759

A cross sectional survey of the barriers for implementing rapid HIV testing among French general practitioners.

PubMed

Fraisse, Thibaut; Fourcade, Camille; Brazes-Sanz, Julie; Koumar, Yatrika; Lavigne, Jean Philippe; Sotto, Albert; Laureillard, Didier

2016-10-01

In France, almost 30,000 people are unaware of their HIV-positive status. Innovative screening strategies are essential to reach this population. The aim of this study was to describe the acceptability of rapid HIV testing (RHT) among French general practitioners (GPs) working in the south of France and barriers for implementing this strategy. We analysed an anonymous questionnaire sent by mail to GPs about demographic data, routine practice, knowledge of RHT and barriers to its use. Between 1 April and 30 September 2013, out of the 165 GPs contacted, 78 returned the questionnaires. The GPs' mean age was 52 years; 49 were men. Fifty-one GPs reported that their registered patients included at least one HIV-infected person and 70 GPs reported taking care of high-risk patients. Sixty-three percent of GPs reported being interested in using RHT in their daily practice. The main reasons reported by uninterested GPs were: greater confidence in standard HIV testing, difficulties including RHT during the routine consultation, difficulties to screen for other sexually transmitted infections simultaneously, and difficulties to deliver a positive result. French National Authorities for Health propose to screen the population at least once in their lifetime and high-risk people at least once a year. In order to achieve this aim, RHT should be included in the GPs' arsenal for HIV testing. We showed a high acceptability of RHT by GPs. If specific and adapted training is developed, and if solutions to barriers reported by GPs are found, RHT could be implemented in to their routine activity. © The Author(s) 2016.

GPs' prescription routines and cooperation with other healthcare personnel before and after implementation of multidose drug dispensing.

PubMed

Wekre, Liv Johanne; Bakken, Kjersti; Garåsen, Helge; Grimsmo, Anders

2012-08-01

This study addresses GPs' attitudes towards multidose drug dispensing before and after implementation and their perceived experience of how multidose drug dispensing affects prescription and communication routines for patients in the home care services. This study contributes to a method triangulation with two other studies on the introduction of multidose drug dispensing in Trondheim. A controlled before-and-after study carried out in Trondheim (intervention) and Tromsø (control). A questionnaire was distributed to all GPs in the two towns in 2005 with a follow-up questionnaire in 2008. The GPs in Trondheim showed a positive attitude to multidose drug dispensing both before and after the implementation. Increased workload was reported, but still the GPs wanted the system to be continued. Most of the GPs reported a better overview of the patients' medication and a supposed reduction in medication errors. The GPs' prescription- and communication routines were changed only for the multidose drug users and not for the other patients in the home care services. The study supports the results presented in two previous publications according to GPs' positive attitude towards multidose drug dispensing, their better overview of the patients' medications, and improved cooperation with the pharmacy. This study adds to our understanding of prescription routines among GPs and the use of the medication module in the electronic health record.

Spaceborne GPS remote sensing for atmospheric research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Dasheng; Herman, Benjamin M.; Exner, M. L.; Schreiner, B.; Anthes, Richard A.; Ware, Randolph H.

1995-11-01

The global positioning system (GPS) is based on a constellation of 24 transmitter satellites orbiting the earth at approximately 21,000 km altitude. The original goal of the GPS was to provide global and all-weather precision positioning and navigation for the military. Since this original concept was developed, several civilian applications have been conceived that are making use of these satellites. GPS/MET is one such application. GPS/MET is sponsored by NSF, FAA, NOAA, and NASA. The goal of GPS/MET is to demonstrate the feasibility of recovering atmospheric temperature profiles from occulting radio signals from one of the 24 GPS transmitters. On April 3, 1995, a small radio receiver was launched into a 750 km low- earth orbit and 70 degree inclination. As this receiver orbits, occultations occur when the radio link between any one of the 24 GPS transmitters and the low-earth orbiting (LEO) receiver progressively descends or ascends through the earth's atmosphere. With the current constellation of GPS transmitters, approximately 500 such occultations occur in each 24-hour period per LEO receiver. Several hundred occultations have been analyzed to date, where some type of confirmational data has been available (i.e., radiosonde, satellite, numerical analysis gridded data). In this paper, we present a brief outline of the method followed by a few typical temperature soundings that have been obtained.

Evaluation of GPS Coverage for the X-33 Michael-6 Trajectory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lundberg, John B.

1998-01-01

The onboard navigational system for the X-33 test flights will be based on the use of measurements collected from the Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/INS system. Some of the factors which will affect the quality of the GPS contribution to the navigational solution will be the number of pseudorange measurements collected at any instant in time, the distribution of the GPS satellites within the field of view, and the inherent noise level of the GPS receiver. The distribution of GPS satellites within the field of view of the receiver's antenna will depend on the receiver's position, the time of day, pointing direction of the antenna, and the effective cone angle of the antenna. The number of pseudorange measurements collected will depend upon these factors as well as the time required to lock onto a GPS satellite signal once the GPS satellite comes into the field of view of the antenna and the number of available receiver channels. The objective of this study is to evaluate the GPS coverage resulting from the proposed antenna pointing directions, the proposed antenna cone angles, and the effects due to the time of day for the X-33 Michael-6 trajectory from launch at Edwards AFB, California, to the start of the Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM) phase on approach to Michael AAF, Utah.

Accuracy assessment of Precise Point Positioning with multi-constellation GNSS data under ionospheric scintillation effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, Haroldo Antonio; Marques, Heloísa Alves Silva; Aquino, Marcio; Veettil, Sreeja Vadakke; Monico, João Francisco Galera

2018-02-01

GPS and GLONASS are currently the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with full operational capacity. The integration of GPS, GLONASS and future GNSS constellations can provide better accuracy and more reliability in geodetic positioning, in particular for kinematic Precise Point Positioning (PPP), where the satellite geometry is considered a limiting factor to achieve centimeter accuracy. The satellite geometry can change suddenly in kinematic positioning in urban areas or under conditions of strong atmospheric effects such as for instance ionospheric scintillation that may degrade satellite signal quality, causing cycle slips and even loss of lock. Scintillation is caused by small scale irregularities in the ionosphere and is characterized by rapid changes in amplitude and phase of the signal, which are more severe in equatorial and high latitudes geomagnetic regions. In this work, geodetic positioning through the PPP method was evaluated with integrated GPS and GLONASS data collected in the equatorial region under varied scintillation conditions. The GNSS data were processed in kinematic PPP mode and the analyses show accuracy improvements of up to 60% under conditions of strong scintillation when using multi-constellation data instead of GPS data alone. The concepts and analyses related to the ionospheric scintillation effects, the mathematical model involved in PPP with GPS and GLONASS data integration as well as accuracy assessment with data collected under ionospheric scintillation effects are presented.

Analyzing the Impact of Different Pcv Calibration Models on Height Determination Using Gps/Glonass Observations from Asg-Eupos Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawidowicz, Karol

2014-12-01

The integration of GPS with GLONASS is very important in satellite-based positioning because it can clearly improve reliability and availability. However, unlike GPS, GLONASS satellites transmit signals at different frequencies. This results in significant difficulties in modeling and ambiguity resolution for integrated GNSS positioning. There are also some difficulties related to the antenna Phase Center Variations (PCV) problem because, as is well known, the PCV is dependent on the received signal frequency dependent. Thus, processing simultaneous observations from different positioning systems, e.g. GPS and GLONASS, we can expect complications resulting from the different structure of signals and differences in satellite constellations. The ASG-EUPOS multifunctional system for precise satellite positioning is a part of the EUPOS project involving countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The number of its users is increasing rapidly. Currently 31 of 101 reference stations are equipped with GPS/GLONASS receivers and the number is still increasing. The aim of this paper is to study the height solution differences caused by using different PCV calibration models in integrated GPS/GLONASS observation processing. Studies were conducted based on the datasets from the ASG-EUPOS network. Since the study was intended to evaluate the impact on height determination from the users' point of view, a so-called "commercial" software was chosen for post-processing. The analysis was done in a baseline mode: 3 days of GNSS data collected with three different receivers and antennas were used. For the purposes of research the daily observations were divided into different sessions with a session length of one hour. The results show that switching between relative and absolute PCV models may cause an obvious effect on height determination. This issue is particularly important when mixed GPS/GLONASS observations are post-processed.

Physical applications of GPS geodesy: a review.

PubMed

Bock, Yehuda; Melgar, Diego

2016-10-01

Geodesy, the oldest science, has become an important discipline in the geosciences, in large part by enhancing Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities over the last 35 years well beyond the satellite constellation's original design. The ability of GPS geodesy to estimate 3D positions with millimeter-level precision with respect to a global terrestrial reference frame has contributed to significant advances in geophysics, seismology, atmospheric science, hydrology, and natural hazard science. Monitoring the changes in the positions or trajectories of GPS instruments on the Earth's land and water surfaces, in the atmosphere, or in space, is important for both theory and applications, from an improved understanding of tectonic and magmatic processes to developing systems for mitigating the impact of natural hazards on society and the environment. Besides accurate positioning, all disturbances in the propagation of the transmitted GPS radio signals from satellite to receiver are mined for information, from troposphere and ionosphere delays for weather, climate, and natural hazard applications, to disturbances in the signals due to multipath reflections from the solid ground, water, and ice for environmental applications. We review the relevant concepts of geodetic theory, data analysis, and physical modeling for a myriad of processes at multiple spatial and temporal scales, and discuss the extensive global infrastructure that has been built to support GPS geodesy consisting of thousands of continuously operating stations. We also discuss the integration of heterogeneous and complementary data sets from geodesy, seismology, and geology, focusing on crustal deformation applications and early warning systems for natural hazards.

Velocity Noise in Space Shuttle and ISS GPS from the Ionosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kramer, Leonard

2004-01-01

A viewgraph presentation on the noise velocity effects on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) Global Positioning System (GPS) from the ionosphere is shown. The topics include: Scintillation in MAGR/S GPS used for Shuttle; 2) Geographic Distribution of Scintillation; 3) Diurnal Variability; 4) Feynman's interpretation of interference; 5) Angle between line of sight and S/C velocity; and 6) Space Station GPS

Robust Real-Time Wide-Area Differential GPS Navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yunck, Thomas P. (Inventor); Bertiger, William I. (Inventor); Lichten, Stephen M. (Inventor); Mannucci, Anthony J. (Inventor); Muellerschoen, Ronald J. (Inventor); Wu, Sien-Chong (Inventor)

1998-01-01

The present invention provides a method and a device for providing superior differential GPS positioning data. The system includes a group of GPS receiving ground stations covering a wide area of the Earth's surface. Unlike other differential GPS systems wherein the known position of each ground station is used to geometrically compute an ephemeris for each GPS satellite. the present system utilizes real-time computation of satellite orbits based on GPS data received from fixed ground stations through a Kalman-type filter/smoother whose output adjusts a real-time orbital model. ne orbital model produces and outputs orbital corrections allowing satellite ephemerides to be known with considerable greater accuracy than from die GPS system broadcasts. The modeled orbits are propagated ahead in time and differenced with actual pseudorange data to compute clock offsets at rapid intervals to compensate for SA clock dither. The orbital and dock calculations are based on dual frequency GPS data which allow computation of estimated signal delay at each ionospheric point. These delay data are used in real-time to construct and update an ionospheric shell map of total electron content which is output as part of the orbital correction data. thereby allowing single frequency users to estimate ionospheric delay with an accuracy approaching that of dual frequency users.

Performance Analysis on Carrier Phase-Based Tightly-Coupled GPS/BDS/INS Integration in GNSS Degraded and Denied Environments

PubMed Central

Han, Houzeng; Wang, Jian; Wang, Jinling; Tan, Xinglong

2015-01-01

The integration of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier phases with Inertial Navigation System (INS) measurements is essential to provide accurate and continuous position, velocity and attitude information, however it is necessary to fix ambiguities rapidly and reliably to obtain high accuracy navigation solutions. In this paper, we present the notion of combining the Global Positioning System (GPS), the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and low-cost micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) inertial systems for reliable navigation. An adaptive multipath factor-based tightly-coupled (TC) GPS/BDS/INS integration algorithm is presented and the overall performance of the integrated system is illustrated. A twenty seven states TC GPS/BDS/INS model is adopted with an extended Kalman filter (EKF), which is carried out by directly fusing ambiguity fixed double-difference (DD) carrier phase measurements with the INS predicted pseudoranges to estimate the error states. The INS-aided integer ambiguity resolution (AR) strategy is developed by using a dynamic model, a two-step estimation procedure is applied with adaptively estimated covariance matrix to further improve the AR performance. A field vehicular test was carried out to demonstrate the positioning performance of the combined system. The results show the TC GPS/BDS/INS system significantly improves the single-epoch AR reliability as compared to that of GPS/BDS-only or single satellite navigation system integrated strategy, especially for high cut-off elevations. The AR performance is also significantly improved for the combined system with adaptive covariance matrix in the presence of low elevation multipath related to the GNSS-only case. A total of fifteen simulated outage tests also show that the time to relock of the GPS/BDS signals is shortened, which improves the system availability. The results also indicate that TC integration system achieves a few centimeters accuracy in positioning based on the comparison analysis and covariance analysis, even in harsh environments (e.g., in urban canyons), thus we can see the advantage of positioning at high cut-off elevations that the combined GPS/BDS brings. PMID:25875191

Performance analysis on carrier phase-based tightly-coupled GPS/BDS/INS integration in GNSS degraded and denied environments.

PubMed

Han, Houzeng; Wang, Jian; Wang, Jinling; Tan, Xinglong

2015-04-14

The integration of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier phases with Inertial Navigation System (INS) measurements is essential to provide accurate and continuous position, velocity and attitude information, however it is necessary to fix ambiguities rapidly and reliably to obtain high accuracy navigation solutions. In this paper, we present the notion of combining the Global Positioning System (GPS), the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and low-cost micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) inertial systems for reliable navigation. An adaptive multipath factor-based tightly-coupled (TC) GPS/BDS/INS integration algorithm is presented and the overall performance of the integrated system is illustrated. A twenty seven states TC GPS/BDS/INS model is adopted with an extended Kalman filter (EKF), which is carried out by directly fusing ambiguity fixed double-difference (DD) carrier phase measurements with the INS predicted pseudoranges to estimate the error states. The INS-aided integer ambiguity resolution (AR) strategy is developed by using a dynamic model, a two-step estimation procedure is applied with adaptively estimated covariance matrix to further improve the AR performance. A field vehicular test was carried out to demonstrate the positioning performance of the combined system. The results show the TC GPS/BDS/INS system significantly improves the single-epoch AR reliability as compared to that of GPS/BDS-only or single satellite navigation system integrated strategy, especially for high cut-off elevations. The AR performance is also significantly improved for the combined system with adaptive covariance matrix in the presence of low elevation multipath related to the GNSS-only case. A total of fifteen simulated outage tests also show that the time to relock of the GPS/BDS signals is shortened, which improves the system availability. The results also indicate that TC integration system achieves a few centimeters accuracy in positioning based on the comparison analysis and covariance analysis, even in harsh environments (e.g., in urban canyons), thus we can see the advantage of positioning at high cut-off elevations that the combined GPS/BDS brings.

Reconstructing Regional Ionospheric Electron Density: A Combined Spherical Slepian Function and Empirical Orthogonal Function Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farzaneh, Saeed; Forootan, Ehsan

2018-03-01

The computerized ionospheric tomography is a method for imaging the Earth's ionosphere using a sounding technique and computing the slant total electron content (STEC) values from data of the global positioning system (GPS). The most common approach for ionospheric tomography is the voxel-based model, in which (1) the ionosphere is divided into voxels, (2) the STEC is then measured along (many) satellite signal paths, and finally (3) an inversion procedure is applied to reconstruct the electron density distribution of the ionosphere. In this study, a computationally efficient approach is introduced, which improves the inversion procedure of step 3. Our proposed method combines the empirical orthogonal function and the spherical Slepian base functions to describe the vertical and horizontal distribution of electron density, respectively. Thus, it can be applied on regional and global case studies. Numerical application is demonstrated using the ground-based GPS data over South America. Our results are validated against ionospheric tomography obtained from the constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) observations and the global ionosphere map estimated by international centers, as well as by comparison with STEC derived from independent GPS stations. Using the proposed approach, we find that while using 30 GPS measurements in South America, one can achieve comparable accuracy with those from COSMIC data within the reported accuracy (1 × 1011 el/cm3) of the product. Comparisons with real observations of two GPS stations indicate an absolute difference is less than 2 TECU (where 1 total electron content unit, TECU, is 1016 electrons/m2).

Forecasting Space Weather-Induced GPS Performance Degradation Using Random Forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filjar, R.; Filic, M.; Milinkovic, F.

2017-12-01

Space weather and ionospheric dynamics have a profound effect on positioning performance of the Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS). However, the quantification of that effect is still the subject of scientific activities around the world. In the latest contribution to the understanding of the space weather and ionospheric effects on satellite-based positioning performance, we conducted a study of several candidates for forecasting method for space weather-induced GPS positioning performance deterioration. First, a 5-days set of experimentally collected data was established, encompassing the space weather and ionospheric activity indices (including: the readings of the Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance (SID) monitors, components of geomagnetic field strength, global Kp index, Dst index, GPS-derived Total Electron Content (TEC) samples, standard deviation of TEC samples, and sunspot number) and observations of GPS positioning error components (northing, easting, and height positioning error) derived from the Adriatic Sea IGS reference stations' RINEX raw pseudorange files in quiet space weather periods. This data set was split into the training and test sub-sets. Then, a selected set of supervised machine learning methods based on Random Forest was applied to the experimentally collected data set in order to establish the appropriate regional (the Adriatic Sea) forecasting models for space weather-induced GPS positioning performance deterioration. The forecasting models were developed in the R/rattle statistical programming environment. The forecasting quality of the regional forecasting models developed was assessed, and the conclusions drawn on the advantages and shortcomings of the regional forecasting models for space weather-caused GNSS positioning performance deterioration.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Global Positioning System (GPS) Methods to Study the Spatial Contexts of Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City: A P18 Cohort Sub-Study

PubMed Central

Duncan, Dustin T.; Kapadia, Farzana; Regan, Seann D.; Goedel, William C.; Levy, Michael D.; Barton, Staci C.; Friedman, Samuel R.; Halkitis, Perry N.

2016-01-01

Background No global positioning system (GPS) technology study has been conducted among a sample of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM). As such, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using GPS methods to understand the spatial context of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among a sample of YMSM in New York City, a high-risk population. Methods Data came from a subsample of the ongoing P18 Cohort Study (n = 75). GPS feasibility and acceptability among participants was measured with: 1) a pre- and post-survey and 2) adherence to the GPS protocol which included returning the GPS device, self-report of charging and carrying the GPS device as well as objective data analyzed from the GPS devices. Analyses of the feasibility surveys were treated as repeated measures as each participant had a pre- and post-feasibility survey. When comparing the similar GPS survey items asked at baseline and at follow-up, we present percentages and associated p-values based on chi-square statistics. Results Participants reported high ratings of pre-GPS acceptability, ease of use, and low levels of wear-related concerns in addition to few concerns related to safety, loss, or appearance, which were maintained after baseline GPS feasibility data collection. The GPS return rate was 100%. Most participants charged and carried the GPS device on most days. Of the total of 75 participants with GPS data, 75 (100%) have at least one hour of GPS data for one day and 63 (84%) had at least one hour on all 7 days. Conclusions Results from this pilot study demonstrate that utilizing GPS methods among YMSM is feasible and acceptable. GPS devices may be used in spatial epidemiology research in YMSM populations to understand place-based determinants of health such as substance use and sexual risk behaviors. PMID:26918766