The effect of EGM2008-based normal, normal-orthometric and Helmert orthometric height systems on the Australian levelling network

This paper investigates the normal-orthometric correction used in the definition of the Australian Height Datum, and also computes and evaluates normal and Helmert orthometric corrections for the Australian National Levelling Network (ANLN). Testing these corrections in Australia is important to establish which height system is most appropriate for any new Australian vertical datum. An approximate approach to assigning gravity values to ANLN benchmarks (BMs) is used, where the EGM2008-modelled gravity field is used to ‘re-construct’ observed gravity at the BMs. Network loop closures (for first- and second-order levelling) indicate reduced misclosures for all height corrections considered, particularly in the mountainous regions of south eastern Australia. Differences between Helmert orthometric and normal-orthometric heights reach 44 cm in the Australian Alps, and differences between Helmert orthometric and normal heights are about 26 cm in the same region. Normal-orthometric heights differ from normal heights by up to 18 cm in mountainous regions >2,000 m. This indicates that the quasigeoid is not compatible with normal-orthometric heights in Australia.     

The orthometric height and the holonomity problem

When height networks are being adjusted, many geodesists advocate the approach where the adjustment should be done by using geopotential numbers rather than the orthometric or normal heights used in practice. This is based on a conviction that neither orthometric nor normal heights can be used for the adjustment because these height systems are not holonomic, meaning–among other things–that height increments (orthometric or normal) when summed around a closed loop do not sum up to zero. If this was the case, then the two height systems could not be used in the adjustment; the non-zero loop closure would violate the basic, usually unspoken, assumption behind the adjustment, namely that the model claiming that height differences are observable is correct. In this paper, we prove in several different ways that orthometric and normal heights are theoretically just as holonomic as the geopotential numbers are, when they are obtained from levelled height differences using actual gravity values. This disposes of the argument that geopotential numbers should be used in the adjustment. Both orthometric and normal heights are equally qualified to be used in the adjustment directly.     

高程系统定义分析与高精度GNSS代替水准算法

从高程系统定义出发,探讨高程基准面的重力等位性质,测试分析不同类型高程系统地面点高程之间的差异,考察GNSS代替水准与实际水准测量成果的一致性,进而提出新的GNSS代替水准算法。主要结论包括:(1)当精度要求达到厘米级水平时,正常高的基准面也应是大地水准面。中国国家1985高程基准采用正常高系统,其高程基准面是过青岛零点的大地水准面。(2)近地空间中等解析正高面与大地水准面平行,GNSS代替水准能直接测定地面点的解析正高,但正常高系统更有利于描述地势和地形起伏。(3)本文给出的GNSS代替水准测定近地点正常高算法,大地高误差对正常高结果的影响比大地水准面误差大,前者影响约为后者的1.5倍。     

利用大地边值问题方法统一全球高程基准

为解决世界各国高程基准差异的问题,提出联合卫星重力场模型、地面重力数据、GNSS大地高、局部高程基准的正高或正常高,按大地边值问题法确定局部高程基准重力位差的方法。首先推导了利用传统地面"有偏"重力异常确定高程基准重力位差的方法;接着利用改化Stokes核函数削弱"有偏"重力异常的影响,并联合卫星重力场模型和地面"有偏"重力数据,得到独立于任何局部高程基准的重力水准面,以此来确定局部高程基准重力位差;最后利用GNSS+水准数据和重力大地水准面确定了美国高程基准与全球高程基准W₀的重力位差为-4.82±0.05 m²s^-2。     

The relation between rigorous and Helmert’s definitions of orthometric heights

Following our earlier definition of the rigorous orthometric height [J Geod 79(1-3):82–92 (2005)] we present the derivation and calculation of the differences between this and the Helmert orthometric height, which is embedded in the vertical datums used in numerous countries. By way of comparison, we also consider Mader and Niethammer’s refinements to the Helmert orthometric height. For a profile across the Canadian Rocky Mountains (maximum height of ~2,800 m), the rigorous correction to Helmert’s height reaches ~13 cm, whereas the Mader and Niethammer corrections only reach ~3 cm. The discrepancy is due mostly to the rigorous correction’s consideration of the geoid-generated gravity disturbance. We also point out that several of the terms derived here are the same as those used in regional gravimetric geoid models, thus simplifying their implementation. This will enable those who currently use Helmert orthometric heights to upgrade them to a more rigorous height system based on the Earth’s gravity field and one that is more compatible with a regional geoid model.     

Mutual validation of GNSS height measurements and high-precision geometric-astronomical leveling

The method of geometric-astronomical leveling is presented as a suited technique for the validation of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) heights. In geometric-astronomical leveling, the ellipsoidal height differences are obtained by combining conventional spirit leveling and astronomical leveling. Astronomical leveling with recently developed digital zenith camera systems is capable of providing the geometry of equipotential surfaces of the gravity field accurate to a few 0.1 mm per km. This is comparable to the accuracy of spirit leveling. Consequently, geometric-astronomical leveling yields accurate ellipsoidal height differences that may serve as an independent check on GNSS height measurements at local scales. A test was performed in a local geodetic network near Hanover. GPS observations were simultaneously carried out at five stations over a time span of 48 h and processed considering state-of-the-art techniques and sophisticated new approaches to reduce station-dependent errors. The comparison of GPS height differences with those from geometric-astronomical leveling shows a promising agreement of some millimeters. The experiment indicates the currently achievable accuracy level of GPS height measurements and demonstrates the practical applicability of the proposed approach for the validation of GNSS height measurements as well as the evaluation of GNSS height processing strategies.     

GPS高程拟合转换正常高的研究

通过对GPS测高与水准测量理论及其异同分析的基础上,阐述了确定似大地水准面的原理与方法,分析了用数学模型法,用少量GPS与水准重合点将GPS大地高直接转换为具有cm量级正常高的实现方法。实验结合黑龙江省虎林地区的地形特点,提出了用线性内插法、平面模型法和二次曲面模型法等来转GPS高程,证明在黑龙江省虎林地区可以通过少量且分布合理的水准点来直接求出该地区具有cm量级的正常高,且精度可以达到四等水准测量的精度要求,满足一般工程的需要。     

The rigorous determination of orthometric heights

The main problem of the rigorous definition of the orthometric height is the evaluation of the mean value of the Earth’s gravity acceleration along the plumbline within the topography. To find the exact relation between rigorous orthometric and Molodensky’s normal heights, the mean gravity is decomposed into: the mean normal gravity, the mean values of gravity generated by topographical and atmospheric masses, and the mean gravity disturbance generated by the masses contained within geoid. The mean normal gravity is evaluated according to Somigliana–Pizzetti’s theory of the normal gravity field generated by the ellipsoid of revolution. Using the Bruns formula, the mean values of gravity along the plumbline generated by topographical and atmospheric masses can be computed as the integral mean between the Earth’s surface and geoid. Since the disturbing gravity potential generated by masses inside the geoid is harmonic above the geoid, the mean value of the gravity disturbance generated by the geoid is defined by applying the Poisson integral equation to the integral mean. Numerical results for a test area in the Canadian Rocky Mountains show that the difference between the rigorously defined orthometric height and the Molodensky normal height reaches ∼0.5 m.     

A new technique to determine geoid and orthometric heights from satellite positioning and geopotential numbers

This paper takes advantage of space-technique-derived positions on the Earth’s surface and the known normal gravity field to determine the height anomaly from geopotential numbers. A new method is also presented to downward-continue the height anomaly to the geoid height. The orthometric height is determined as the difference between the geodetic (ellipsoidal) height derived by space-geodetic techniques and the geoid height. It is shown that, due to the very high correlation between the geodetic height and the computed geoid height, the error of the orthometric height determined by this method is usually much smaller than that provided by standard GPS/levelling. Also included is a practical formula to correct the Helmert orthometric height by adding two correction terms: a topographic roughness term and a correction term for lateral topographic mass–density variations.     

利用车载动态PPP技术检核SRTM、ASTER GDEM和AW3D模型的高程精度

SRTM、ASTER GDEM和AW3D是比较有代表性的全球数字高程模型。本文探讨了采用车载动态PPP技术对上述3类模型的区域高程精度进行检核,首先沿广州至肇庆公路进行连续数据采集,采用动态精密单点定位（PPP）技术解算动态点的WGS-84坐标;然后利用EGM2008重力场模型和仪器高获得动态点的正常高;最后采用4种不同的插值方法对SRTM、ASTER GDEM和AW3D模型进行高程检验。检核结果显示：不同的插值方法具有较好的一致性,SRTM3 V4.1、ASTER GDEM V2、AW3D30的高程标准差分别优于3.4 m、4.1 m和3.3 m,均优于其全球标称高程精度;本文检核方法快速高效,有较好的适用性。     

水准高差的日月潮汐改正

本文研究了日月潮汐对水准高差的影响 ,导出了水准高差的日月潮汐改正公式 ,从而验证了现行水准测量规范引用的公式 ,并发现其存在的个别错误 ,给出了计算潮汐改正需要的日月时角和赤纬的表达式     

长距离跨海高程基准传递方法的研究

研究了利用GPS定位技术所确定的相对大地高差,联合精确的大地水准面差距进行高程传递的方法。在洋山岛地区,利用该方法将黄海高程由陆地传递到距离上海芦潮港300km的洋山岛上。传递后的高程与两种独立的潮位观测结果比较差值分别为1cm和6cm,传递后的两段高程差与洋山岛三等水准测量结果的独立高差比较为0．2cm和0．7cm。     

最小二乘配置法中局部协方差函数的计算

随着 GPS日益广泛的应用及精度的不断提高 ,在有些实际应用中利用 GPS来代替传统的水准测量进行高程控制已成为可能 ,这也进一步提出了对高精度大地水准面的需求。快速傅立叶变换 (FFT)是目前计算大地水准面比较常用的方法之一 ,但需要将重力观测量进行内插得到规则格网上的平均重力异常。利用最小二乘配置法计算大地水准面可直接利用已有的观测值进行计算 ,同时可综合利用不同类型的数据 ,如重力异常和垂线偏差等计算大地水准面 ,因此最小二乘配置法仍有广泛的应用 ,但制约最小二乘配置应用的关键问题是局部协方差函数的计算。将主要讨论最小二乘配置法中局部协方差函数的计算 ,使所用的协方差函数能更好地反映已知的数据 ,从而获得更精确的结果。     

GPS水准的拟合基准面高程系统

针对线路工程提出利用若干个GPS和水准高程点建立一个拟合面作为高程基准面,这样GPS高程经拟合后可获得相对于拟合基准面的准确高程,水准测量附合于GPS点进行闭合差的调整,充分利用了GPS的高程信息,有益于在线路工程中用GPS替代常规基平水准测量。     

An evaluation of orthometric height accuracy using bore hole gravimetry

Errors are introduced in orthometric height computations by the use of standard formulas to estimate mean gravity along the plumb line. Direct measurements of gravity between the Earth’s surface and sea level from bore hole gravimetry were used to determine the magnitude of these errors. For the seven cases studied, errors in orthometric height, due to the use of the Helmert method for computing mean gravity along the plumb line, were generally small (<2 cm). However, in one instance the error was substantial, being9.6 cm. The results verified the general validity of the Poincaré-Prey approach to estimation of gravity along the plumb line and demonstrated that the suggestion byVanicek (1980) that the air gradient is more appropriate is incorrect. With sufficient topographic information to compute terrain corrections, and density estimates from surface gravity, errors in mean gravity along the plumb line should contribute no more than 3cm to orthometric height computation.     

跨障碍GPS高程传递控制网布设方案研究

针对EGM2008重力场模型辅助跨障碍GPS高程传递控制网布设方案进行研究,分别对GPS高程传递控制网进行不同点数的椭球高约束计算,将传递高程与实测高程进行比较,结果表明:跨越2~3 km的障碍GPS高程传递的精度能够达到0.010 m,GPS高程传递控制网中以约束一点椭球高为宜,增加椭球高约束个数并不能提高高程传递的精度。     

基于EGM96模型的GPS水准拟合方法

用GPS测量的方法来获得一点的正高或正常高，需要知识一点的大地水准面差距或高程异常。采用的大地水准面差距或高程异常的精度，决定了GPS水准的精度。本文利用EGM96模型计算高程异常。在利用巳知水准点上的高程异常拟合区域大地水准面模型时，首先移去用EGM96模型计算得到的部分，然后对剩余的高程异常进行拟合和内插，在内插点上再利用EGM96模型把移去的部分恢复，得到该点的高程异常。通过对某线路GPS水准的计算表明，引入EGM96模型拟合高程的精度改进不大。但对于大范围测量，这种方法有望能改进GPS水准的拟合精度。     

局部无缝垂直参考基准面的建立方法研究

为在局域建立一个无缝垂直参考基准面，提出了两步转换的思想和方法，即从大地高到正高然后到海图高。利用该方法。构造了Saint John河高程转换模型，并在该河段建立了无缝垂直参考基准面，且得到了实际验证。     

Long distance transference of height datum across seas

This paper focuses on studying logn distance transference of height datum across seas by combining ellipsoidal height derived from GPS with gravimetric geoid height. The Yellow Sea Height Datum is transferred to Yangshan Island which is 30 km away from Luchaogang in Shanghai. The stations heights derived in this way are compared with those determined from two independent sets of the tidal observations taken in two years, and the difference values are 1.0 cm and 6.0 cm, respectively. Moreover, the derived height differences between two sections on the island are also compared with the values derived from precise leveling with respect to the same section. The result shows that the inconsistencies are only 0.2 cm and 0.7 cm, respectively.