GPS/VRS 参考站网络的对流层误差建模技术研究

在虚拟参考站(VRS)技术中,参考站与流动站间的高程差异会引起对流层误差改正数中存在系统偏差影响,使对流层改正精度降低。在常规网络内插改正模型的基础上,借助先验对流层模型,提出了一种能自主修正高程偏差的距离相关对流层网络内插模型(MHDIM)。基于四川GPS连续运行参考站网络(Sichuan GPS Reference Station Network-SGRSN)实际测试数据的分析表明,对于地形变化较大的中长距离稀疏GPS/VRS参考站网络(如流动站与参考站间高程差异大于500m),应用MHDIM模型可使对流层延迟误差改正精度提高到2到3cm并实现cm级网络RTK定位结果,适用于GPS/VRS参考站网络cm级实时动态定位要求。     

GPS定位中的对流层模型分析

系统地分析对流层延迟特性在GPS导航中造成的定位误差,并主要介绍目前卫星定位领域主要应用的一些对流层折射修正模型。基于霍普尔德模型和萨斯塔莫宁模型,提出一种在缺少实测气象参数条件下,使用的简单对流层延迟修正模型。利用Matlab仿真软件对静态和动态接收机实测数据进行分析。结果表明,无气象参数的简单修正模型可以消除70％左右的对流层影响,有效地提高GPS的定位精度。     

Real-time precise point positioning regional augmentation for large GPS reference networks

An increasing number of GNSS reference stations are installed around the world to provide real-time precise positioning services. In most of the current services, a full network solution is required for the precise determination of biases. Such a network solution is time consuming and difficult to achieve for very large regions such as Europe or China. Therefore, we developed a multi-layer processing scheme for precise point positioning (PPP) regional augmentation to avoid processing large networks. Furthermore, we use L1 and L2 raw observations and estimate atmospheric delays, which were properly constrained to the atmospheric corrections derived from the reference stations. Therefore, inaccurate representation of atmospheric delays due to temporal and/or spatial atmospheric fluctuations in the processing can be compensated. The proposed scheme of PPP regional augmentation was implemented into the operational real-time PPP service system at GFZ for validation. The real-time orbit and clock corrections, the uncalibrated phase delays, and regional augmentation corrections are generated by this system. The augmentation corrections from the regional network are investigated and the positioning performance in terms of positioning accuracy and time for fixed solution is demonstrated in real-time. Our results indicate that a reliable fixing is possible after 5 s on average. The positioning accuracy is about 12, 10, and 25 mm in east, north, and vertical direction, respectively.     

Comparing DGPS corrections prediction using neural network, fuzzy neural network, and Kalman filter

Position information obtained from standard global positioning system (GPS) receivers has time variant errors. For effective use of GPS information in a navigation system, it is essential to model these errors. A new approach is presented for improving positioning accuracy using neural network (NN), fuzzy neural network (FNN), and Kalman filter (KF). These methods predict the position components’ errors that are used as differential GPS (DGPS) corrections in real-time positioning. Method validity is verified with experimental data from an actual data collection, before and after selective availability (SA) error. The result is a highly effective estimation technique for accurate positioning, so that positioning accuracy is drastically improved to less than 0.40 m, independent of SA error. The experimental test results with real data emphasize that the total performance of NN is better than FNN and KF considering the trade-off between accuracy and speed for DGPS corrections prediction.     

Surveying at the limits of local RTK networks: Test results from the perspective of high accuracy users

Precise GNSS-based differential positioning in real time is usually known as the real-time kinematics (RTK) technique. RTK reduces the effects of orbit errors and ionospheric and tropospheric refraction by forming differences between the observables (e.g. double-differences). These effects, however, grow with increasing baseline length, although the use of corrections generated in real-time from an active GNSS network allows these distance-dependent errors to be reduced. This technology increases the reliability of the system and thereby the accuracy of real-time positioning. In this study, the test results of RTK positioning at different test points located in the border area between the Autonomous Communities of the Region of Murcia and the Community of Valencia, in SE Spain, are presented. The analysis is based on three GNSS local active networks present in this border area, namely MERISTEMUM, REGAM and ERVA networks. Test measurements with RTK rover were performed in this region in order to analyze the real-time services offered by these three networks. Moreover, precise coordinates for each test point were determined using Bernese 5.0. The results confirm that it is possible to achieve centimetre-scale accuracy with RTK positioning based on the networks studied, even in border regions.     

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

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.     

A real-time meteorological-based troposphere (RMT) correction with integrity bound for long baseline DGPS

This paper concentrates on the analysis of a real-time meteorological (MET)-based troposphere (RMT) model where MET data are used in real-time to provide troposphere error corrections with a bounded level of integrity for a prototype National Differential Global Positioning System-High Performance (NDGPS-HP) architecture. Toward this goal, three aspects are studied for this approach: sensitivity analysis, accuracy assessment, and integrity analysis. A Hopfield zenith delay and Chao mapping function models were chosen as a good compromise between accuracy and complexity in the integrity analysis. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the Hopfield model is mostly sensitive to hot humid conditions, which is compounded slightly more and where some relative humidity sensors are less accurate. The accuracy assessment was performed with respect to both absolute and relative accuracy. In the absolute accuracy assessment, the comparison was made in terms of zenith troposphere delay estimation error, with respect to the International GPS Service (IGS) final troposphere zenith path delay (ZPD) product, which was used as the true ZPD. For locations where IGS stations are not available, a relative accuracy assessment was performed whereby comparisons were made in terms of GPS double difference (DD) carrier-phase troposphere correction residuals using various techniques. The accuracy assessment results indicate that the RMT has insignificant differences from the prototype National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) troposphere error forecast model. An integrity analysis was performed, which presents integrity bounds for the RMT that can be applied to a NDGPS-HP architecture in which integrity requirements exist. The overriding goal of this effort was to establish a preliminary real-time troposphere error estimation model, with defined levels of integrity in its troposphere error estimation that can be included in an NDGPS-HP architecture, where integrity is a key system requirement. The conclusion is drawn that the RMT model may be well suited for a variety of users within a NDGPS-HP architecture. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Quality assessment of GPS rapid static positioning with weighted ionospheric parameters in generalized least squares

Precise GPS positioning requires the processing of carrier-phase observations and fixing integer ambiguities. With increasing distance between receivers, ambiguity fixing becomes more difficult because ionospheric and tropospheric effects do not cancel sufficiently in double differencing. A popular procedure in static positioning is to increase the length of the observing session and/or to apply atmospheric (ionospheric) models and corrections. We investigate the methodology for GPS rapid static positioning that requires just a few minutes of dual-frequency GPS observations for medium-length baselines. Ionospheric corrections are not required, but the ionospheric delays are treated as pseudo-observations having a priori values and respective weights. The tropospheric delays are reduced by using well-established troposphere models, and satellite orbital and clock errors are eliminated by using IGS rapid products. Several numerical tests based on actual GPS data are presented. It is shown that the proposed methodology is suitable for rapid static positioning within 50–70 km from the closest reference network station and that centimeter-level precision in positioning is feasible when using just 1 min of dual-frequency GPS data.     

分区综合改正:服务于北斗分米级星基增强系统的差分改正模型

针对分米级星基增强服务的需求,提出一种满足用户基于相位观测值进行单站定位的分区综合改正模型。该模型利用参考站网的观测数据,实时计算参考站对每颗卫星伪距和相位观测值的综合改正数,并将综合改正数按照分区的方式编排到广播电文并广播给用户使用。本文介绍了模型的原理,并分析了参数播发频度、用户站与分区中心距离等因素对用户定位的影响。建立基于分区综合改正数的星基增强数据处理系统,采用分布于中国不同区域的北斗观测站数据对系统性能进行评估。结果表明,双频用户动态定位平均10 min内收敛至误差小于1 m,平均平面精度能达到15 cm,高程精度达到20 cm。     

Single GPS receiver time-relative positioning with loop misclosure corrections

Time-relative positioning makes use of observations taken at two different epochs and stations with a single global positioning system (GPS) receiver to determine the position of the unknown station with respect to the known station. The limitation of this method is the degradation over time of the positioning accuracy due to the temporal variation of GPS errors (ionospheric delay, satellite clock corrections, satellite ephemerides, and tropospheric delay). The impact of these errors is significantly reduced by adding to the one-way move from the known to the unknown station, a back move to the known station. A loop misclosure is computed from the coordinates obtained at the known station at the beginning and at the end of the loop, and is used to correct the coordinates of the unknown station. The field tests, presented in this paper, show that using the loop misclosure corrections, time-relative positioning accuracy can be improved by about 60% when using single frequency data, and by about 40% with dual frequency data. For a 4-min processing interval (an 8-min loop) and a 95% probability level, errors remain under 20 cm for the horizontal components and 36 cm for the vertical component with single frequency data; and under 11 cm for the horizontal components and 29 cm for the vertical component with dual frequency data.     

GPS信号对流层延迟改正新模型研究

为削弱对流层对GPS精密定位的影响，从大气折射率入手将大气分为3层，建立了大气折射率模型，并导出了对流层天顶延迟模型。利用IGS跟踪站的实测数据进行了验证，实验证明了新模型的有效性。     

Regional reference network augmented precise point positioning for instantaneous ambiguity resolution

Integer ambiguity fixing can significantly shorten the initialization time and improve the accuracy of precise point positioning (PPP), but it still takes approximate 15 min of time to achieve reliable integer ambiguity solutions. In this contribution, we present a new strategy to augment PPP estimation with a regional reference network, so that instantaneous ambiguity fixing is achievable for users within the network coverage. In the proposed method, precise zero-differenced atmospheric delays are derived from the PPP fixed solution of the reference stations, which are disseminated to, and interpolated at user stations to correct for L1, L2 phase observations or their combinations. With the corrected observations, instantaneous ambiguity resolution can be carried out within the user PPP software, thus achieving the position solutions equivalent to the network real-time kinematic positioning (NRTK). The strategy is validated experimentally. The derived atmospheric delays and the interpolated corrections are investigated. The ambiguity fixing performance and the resulted position accuracy are assessed. The validation confirms that the new strategy can provide comparable service with NRTK. Therefore, with this new processing strategy, it is possible to integrate PPP and NRTK into a seamless positioning service, which can provide an accuracy of about 10 cm anywhere, and upgrade to a few centimeters within a regional network.     

GPS伪距改正及精密动态单点定位精度分析

给出了GPS伪距定位在动态模式下的改正模型：对流层折射延迟、电离层延迟改正、地球自转改正、相对论效应改正、卫星天线和接收机天线改正、固体潮改正。并针对单频GPS接收机进行动态伪距定位的试验，分析了各项改正对GPS伪距定位的精度影响及综合改正后的精度分析。     

Analysis of tropospheric delay prediction models: comparisons with ray-tracing and implications for GPS relative positioning

Ray-tracing is used to examine the accuracy of several well known models for tropospheric delay prediction under varying atmospheric conditions. The models considered include the Hopfield zenith delay model and related mapping functions, the Saastamoinen zenith delay model and mapping function, and three empirical mapping functions based upon the Marini continued fraction form. Modelled delays are benchmarked against ray-tracing solutions for representative atmospheric profiles at various latitudes and seasons. Numerical results are presented in light of the approximations inherent in model formulation. The effect of approximations to the temperature, pressure and humidity structure of the neutral atmosphere are considered; the impact of surface layer anomalies (i.e., inversions) on prediction accuracy is examined; and errors resulting from the neglect of ray bending are illustrated. The influence of surface meteorological parameter measurement error is examined. Finally, model adaptability to local conditions is considered. Recommendations concerning the suitability of the models for GPS relative positioning and their optimal application are made based upon the results presented.     

A grid-based tropospheric product for China using a GNSS network

Tropospheric delay accounts for one source of error in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). To better characterize the tropospheric delays in the temporal and spatial domain and facilitate the safety-critical use of GNSS across China, a method is proposed to generate a grid-based tropospheric product (GTP) using the GNSS network with an empirical tropospheric model, known as IGGtrop. The prototype system generates the GTPs in post-processing and real-time modes and is based on the undifferenced and uncombined precise point positioning (UU-PPP) technique. GTPs are constructed for a grid form (\(2.0{^{\circ }}\times 2.5{^{\circ }}\) latitude–longitude) over China with a time resolution of 5 min. The real-time GTP messages are encoded in a self-defined RTCM3 format and broadcast to users using NTRIP (networked transport of RTCM via internet protocol), which enables efficient and safe transmission to real-time users. Our approach for GTP generation consists of three sequential steps. In the first step, GNSS-derived zenith tropospheric delays (ZTDs) for a network of GNSS stations are estimated using UU-PPP. In the second step, vertical adjustments for the GNSS-derived ZTDs are applied to address the height differences between the GNSS stations and grid points. The ZTD height corrections are provided by the IGGtrop model. Finally, an inverse distance weighting method is used to interpolate the GNSS-derived ZTDs from the surrounding GNSS stations to the location of the grid point. A total of 210 global positioning system (GPS) stations from the crustal movement observation network of China are used to generate the GTPs in both post-processing and real-time modes. The accuracies of the GTPs are assessed against with ERA-Interim-derived ZTDs and the GPS-derived ZTDs at 12 test GPS stations, respectively. The results show that the post-processing and real-time GTPs can provide the ZTDs with accuracies of 1.4 and 1.8 cm, respectively. We also apply the GTPs in real-time kinematic GPS PPP, and the results show that the convergence time of the PPP solutions is shortened. These results confirm that the GTPs can act as an efficient information source to augment GNSS positioning over China.     

GPS rapid static and kinematic positioning based on GPS active network

This paper presents a data processing strategy for GPS kinematic Positioning by using a GPS active network to model the GPS errors in double difference observable.Firstly,the double difference residuals are estimated between the reference stations in the active network.Then the errors at a user station are predicted as the network corrctions to user measurements,based on the location of the user,Finally conventional kinematic positioning algorithms can be applied to determine the position of the user station.As an example,continuous 24-hour GPS data in March 2001 has been processed by this method.It clearly demonstrates that,after applying these corrections to a user within the network,both the success rate for ambiguity resolution and the positioning accuracy have been significantly improved.     

Time-Relative Positioning with a Single Civil GPS Receiver

Time-relative positioning is a recent method for processing GPS phase observations. The operational method undertaken in this paper consists of the following steps: first, recording phase observations at a station of known coordinates; second, moving the GPS receiver to an unknown station (which can be located up to a few hundred meters away, dependint on what type of transportation – e. g., walking, motorcycle – is available) while continuously observing carrier phases; and, third, recording phase observations at a second station of unknown coordinates with a single GPS receiver. To obtain the position of the unknown station relative to the first (known) station, the processing method uses combined observations taken at two different epochs and two different stations with the same receiver. For this reason, the errors that vary between two epochs must be taken into account in an appropriate way, especially errors in satellite clock corrections and ephemerides, and errors related to tropospheric and ionospheric delays. Ionospheric modeling using IONEX files (the ionospheric maps calculated by the International GPS Service) was also tested to correct L1 phase observations. This method has been used to calculate short vectors with an accuracy of a few centimeters (for a processing interval of 30 s) using a single civil GPS receiver. ? 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Using a regional numerical weather prediction model for GNSS positioning over Brazil

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) can provide centimeter positioning accuracy at low costs. However, in order to obtain the desired high accuracy, it is necessary to use high-quality atmospheric models. We focus on the troposphere, which is an important topic of research in Brazil where the tropospheric characteristics are unique, both spatially and temporally. There are dry regions, which lie mainly in the central part of the country. However, the most interesting area for the investigation of tropospheric models is the wet region which is located in the Amazon forest. This region substantially affects the variability of humidity over other regions of Brazil. It provides a large quantity of water vapor through the humidity convergence zone, especially for the southeast region. The interconnection and large fluxes of water vapor can generate serious deficiencies in tropospheric modeling. The CPTEC/INPE (Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies/Brazilian Institute for Space Research) has been providing since July 2012 a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model for South America, known as Eta. It has yield excellent results in weather prediction but has not been used in GNSS positioning. This NWP model was evaluated in precise point positioning (PPP) and network-based positioning. Concerning PPP, the best positioning results were obtained for the station SAGA, located in Amazon region. Using the NWP model, the 3D RMS are less than 10 cm for all 24 h of data, whereas the values reach approximately 60 cm for the Hopfield model. For network-based positioning, the best results were obtained mainly when the tropospheric characteristics are critical, in which case an improvement of up to 7.2 % was obtained in 3D RMS using NWP models.     

北斗广域差分分区综合改正数定位性能分析

目前北斗广域分米级星基增强系统在钟差改正数、轨道改正数的基础上,提出了基于相位观测值的分区综合改正数,介绍了分区综合改正数的概念及单频、双频用户的使用方法与定位模型。利用中国范围不同地区的北斗观测数据和对应的分区综合改正信息,统计了单频和双频用户分区综合改正精密单点定位的精度,并对其收敛性进行了分析。通过与使用GFZ提供的北斗超快速精密星历的定位效果比较,验证了分区综合改正定位在实时定位中的优势。在此基础上进一步对中国范围内分区综合改正定位效果与分区中心距离的关系进行了分析,并对不同观测时间长度的定位效果进行比较。结果表明,经分区综合改正后的双频用户平均25 min内动态定位三维误差能收敛至0.5 m以内,收敛后的定位精度为水平0.15 m,高程0.2 m;单频用户平均20 min内动态定位三维误差能收敛至0.8 m以内,收敛后的定位精度为水平0.3 m,高程0.5 m。随着用户站距离分区中心越远,定位效果总体呈现变差的趋势。总体上,当用户在分区中心1 000 km范围内时,北斗广域分区综合改正数将能提供实时分米级定位服务。     

Generation of differential GPS corrections along with performance of quality control

The DGPS technique can provide considerably better relative positioning accuracy than the stand-alone GPS positioning, but the improvement depends on the distance between the user and the reference station (spatial correlation), the latency of differential corrections (temporal correlation), and the quality of differential corrections. Therefore, how to correctly generate differential corrections as well as their pricision is very important to the DGPS positioning technique. This paper presents a new algorithm for generating differential GPS corrections. This algorithm directly uses code and carrier observations in the measurement model of a Kalman filter, so that it is possible to use a simple stochastic model and to use the standard algorithm of the Kalman filter. The algorithm accounts for biases like multipath errors and instrumental delays in code observations and it shows how differential corrections are differently affected by code biases when dual or single frequency data is used. In addition, the algorithm can be integrated with a real time quality control procedure. As a result, the quality of differential corrections can be guaranteed with a certain probability.