Testing the compatibility of constraints for parameters of a geodetic adjustment model

Geodetic adjustment models are often set up in a way that the model parameters need to fulfil certain constraints. The normalized Lagrange multipliers have been used as a measure of the strength of constraint in such a way that if one of them exceeds in magnitude a certain threshold then the corresponding constraint is likely to be incompatible with the observations and the rest of the constraints. We show that these and similar measures can be deduced as test statistics of a likelihood ratio test of the statistical hypothesis that some constraints are incompatible in the same sense. This has been done before only for special constraints (Teunissen in Optimization and Design of Geodetic Networks, pp. 526–547, 1985). We start from the simplest case, that the full set of constraints is to be tested, and arrive at the advanced case, that each constraint is to be tested individually. Every test is worked out both for a known as well as for an unknown prior variance factor. The corresponding distributions under null and alternative hypotheses are derived. The theory is illustrated by the example of a double levelled line.     

A solution to EIV model with inequality constraints and its geodetic applications

In the field of surveying, mapping and geodesy, there have been a number of works on the error-in-variable (EIV) model with constraints, where equality constraints are imposed on the parameter vector. However, in some cases, these constraints may be inequalities. The EIV model with inequality constraints has not been fully investigated. Therefore, this paper presents an inequality-constrained total least squares (ICTLS) solution for the EIV model with inequality constraints (denoted as ICEIV). Employing the proposed ICTLS method, the ICEIV problem is first converted into an equality-constrained problem by distinguishing the active constraints through exhaustive searching, and it is then resolved employing the method of equality-constrained total least squares (ECTLS). The applicability and feasibility of the proposed method is illustrated in two examples.     

A geodetic approach for the recovery of global kinematic plate parameters

Modern techniques of precise geodetic positioning are capable of monitoring global tectonic movements. We can avoid the tremendous effort of observing those point motions at every place on the earth, if we accept the model of rigid tectonic plates, which allows us to extrapolate from discrete point observations to the appertaining plates. The target of describing plate kinematics is the determination of its kinematic parameters, which are the coordinates of the rotation pole and the rotational velocity of each tectonic plate. A mathematical model is presented, which is capable of including geodetic observations (point coordinate shifts, distance changes) as well as geophysical quantities (sea floor spreading rates, earthquake slip vectors). The parameter estimation procedure is derived and demonstrated in simulated examples. Finally a global geodetic network for space techniques is designed, which provides an optimum parameter estimation.     

A complete VLBI delay model for deforming radio telescopes: the Effelsberg case

Deformations of radio telescopes used in geodetic and astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations belong to the class of systematic error sources which require correction in data analysis. In this paper we present a model for all path length variations in the geometrical optics of radio telescopes which are due to gravitational deformation. The Effelsberg 100 m radio telescope of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, has been surveyed by various terrestrial methods. Thus, all necessary information that is needed to model the path length variations is available. Additionally, a ray tracing program has been developed which uses as input the parameters of the measured deformations to produce an independent check of the theoretical model. In this program as well as in the theoretical model, the illumination function plays an important role because it serves as the weighting function for the individual path lengths depending on the distance from the optical axis. For the Effelsberg telescope, the biggest contribution to the total path length variations is the bending of the main beam located along the elevation axis which partly carries the weight of the paraboloid at its vertex. The difference in total path length is almost \(-\) 100 mm when comparing observations at 90 \(^\circ \) and at 0 \(^\circ \) elevation angle. The impact of the path length corrections is validated in a global VLBI analysis. The application of the correction model leads to a change in the vertical position of \(+120\)  mm. This is more than the maximum path length, but the effect can be explained by the shape of the correction function.     

Atmospheric modelling in GPS analysis and its effect on the estimated geodetic parameters

Permanently operating Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers are used today, for example, in precise positioning and determination of atmospheric water vapour content. The GPS signals are delayed by various gases when traversing the atmosphere. The delay due to water vapour, the wet delay, is difficult to model using ground surface data and is thus often estimated from the GPS data. In order to obtain the most accurate results from the GPS processing, a modelling of the horizontal distribution of the wet delay may be necessary. Through simulations, three such models are evaluated, one of which is developed in this paper. In the first model the water vapour is assumed to be horizontally stratified, thus the wet delay can be described by only one zenith parameter. The second model gives the wet delay with one zenith and two horizontal gradient parameters. The third model uses the correlation between the wet-delay values in different directions. It is found that for large gradients and strong turbulence the two latter models yield lower errors in the estimated vertical coordinate and wet-delay parameters. For large gradients this improvement is up to 7 mm in the zenith wet-delay parameter, from 9 mm down to 2 and 4 mm for the second and third models, respectively. Received: 7 May 1998 / Accepted: 1 March 1999     

Short Note: A global model of pressure and temperature for geodetic applications

The empirical model GPT (Global Pressure and Temperature), which is based on spherical harmonics up to degree and order nine, provides pressure and temperature at any site in the vicinity of the Earth’s surface. It can be used for geodetic applications such as the determination of a priori hydrostatic zenith delays, reference pressure values for atmospheric loading, or thermal deformation of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio telescopes. Input parameters of GPT are the station coordinates and the day of the year, thus also allowing one to model the annual variations of the parameters. As an improvement compared with previous models, it reproduces the large pressure anomaly over Antarctica, which can cause station height errors in the analysis of space-geodetic data of up to 1 cm if not considered properly in troposphere modelling. First tests at selected geodetic observing stations show that the pressure biases considerably decrease when using GPT instead of the very simple approaches applied to various Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) software packages so far. GPT also provides an appropriate model for the annual variability of global temperature. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Rigorous mathematical models for the densification and integration of geodetic networks

Existing position information in a network can be integrated with the densification solution in two ways: One way is to obtain a solution of the densification network followed by a merger of this and all other solutions or vice versa. Alternatively, the existing solutions (not used as weighted constraints) can be taken to be pseudo-observations in a simultaneous adjustment with the “new” observations. In both cases, all existing solutions must first be transformed to the coordinate system of the densified network and be statistically compatible with it. Simultaneous densification and integration is discussed through mathematical adjustment models in which the geometrical strength of networks is underscored. The rationale behind densifying and integrating networks either in two different steps or simultaneously is analyzed. It is concluded that the simultaneous approach should be avoided unless the various solutions turn out to be statistically compatible.     

M split(q) estimation: estimation of parameters in a multi split functional model of geodetic observations

The method presented here assumes that a single observation can be identified with one of q functional models that compete with one another. The estimation method is based on the assumption that a theoretical quantity, called elementary split potential, can be assigned to each observation. Such quantity is referred to the theory of probability as well as to the theory of information. Parameters of the competitive functional models are estimated by maximizing the split potential globally over for the whole observation set. Additionally, such M _split(q) estimates minimize the amount of information that could be provided by other estimates computed for the same observation set. The method is a certain kind of extension of the maximum likelihood method and if one considers the generalizations presented in the paper it can also be regarded as the development of M-estimation. Special attention is paid to the squared M _split(q) estimation where the objective function is a squared one. If q = 1, then the squared M _split(q) estimation is equivalent to the least squares method. The last part of the paper presents some numerical examples illustrating the properties of the squared M _split(q) estimation as well as pointing at possible applications in geodesy and surveying.     

The ionosphere: effects,GPS modeling and the benefits for space geodetic techniques

The main goal of this paper is to provide a summary of our current knowledge of the ionosphere as it relates to space geodetic techniques, especially the most informative technology, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), specifically the fully deployed and operational global positioning system (GPS). As such, the main relevant modeling points are discussed, and the corresponding results of ionospheric monitoring are related, which were mostly computed using GPS data and based on the direct experience of the authors. We address various phenomena such as horizontal and vertical ionospheric morphology in quiet conditions, traveling ionospheric disturbances, solar flares, ionospheric storms and scintillation. Finally, we also tackle the question of how improved knowledge of ionospheric conditions, especially in terms of an accurate understanding of the distribution of free electrons, can improve space geodetic techniques at different levels, such as higher-order ionospheric effects, precise GNSS navigation, single-antenna GNSS orientation and real-time GNSS meteorology.     

A comparative analysis of GPS range,Doppler and interferometric observations for geodetic positioning

Geodetic positioning accuracies obtained from range, integrated Doppler and double differenced interferometric phase observations from a constellation of twenty-four Global Positioning System satellites are presented. It is demonstrated that GPS range and Doppler observations will provide sufficient accuracy for the estimation of geodetic coordinates. However the instability of the receiver atomic oscillator will limit the usefulness of these observations in providing rapid first-order baseline determination. Interferometric phase measurements twice differenced to eliminate clock error appear as an alternate procedure for providing such accuracies.     

Impacts of BeiDou stochastic model on reliability: overall test,w-test and minimal detectable bias

GPS Solutions - Extensive studies have concluded that the GNSS observations are heteroscedastic and physically correlated. Typically, the observation precisions are elevation dependent and...     

Sigseg: a tool for the detection of position and velocity discontinuities in geodetic time-series

The detection of discontinuities in geodetic data is an ever more important topic due to both the influence of discontinuities on the results of models and analyses, and to the very meaning of discontinuities in physical phenomena. We consider and describe a mathematical model, originally formulated for the approximation of images by smooth functions, in one dimension (1D). The model had been designed to smooth the data while preserving and detecting its discontinuities following a variational approach. A second and more complex model for the approximation of images by functions with smooth first derivatives is also available. This second model had been designed to smooth the data while preserving and detecting the discontinuities of the data, but also those of the first derivative. Such interesting features suggest the chance to apply this second model to 1D geodetic data, in particular for the detection of discontinuities and velocity changes in position time-series rather than for signal smoothing. The sigseg (signal segmentation) program implements the two variational models in 1D and is presented with applications to geodetic data. The essential mathematical elements are sketched, and some details on the numerical implementation are given.     

基于等效噪声模型的数字锁相环环路参数确定方法

理想情况下,数字锁相环(DPLL)的环路参数可以通过直接计算输入原子钟与压控振荡器(VCO)的相位噪声功率谱交点来确定.但该方法不能考虑到锁相环(PLL)其他模块的噪声,这会导致输出性能恶化.针对这一问题,文中从PLL模型出发,基于PLL环路传递函数和幂律谱模型,提出PLL模块噪声的等效方法.该方法将PLL各模块噪声分...     

GIS 优化 SRM 储流函数模型变量与参数方法研究

水文模型的结构确定后,模型参数的选择对水文模型整体性能和水文预报结果的好坏有着至关重要的影响。为使得模型的输出值能够尽可能地接近实际值,文中结合数字高程模型(DEM)和流域地质资料,使用GIS方法分别从优化数据源和加入地质因素影响分析优化模型参数两方面入手,对SRM储流函数模型进行优化,并以北海道沙流川流域为例对上述方法进行检验,结果说明了方法的可行性。     

Uniqueness and existence for the geodetic boundary value problem using the known surface of the earth

The geodetic boundary value problem using the known surface of the earth is defined and shown to have at most one solution. Furthermore it is proved that the solution exists and that its harmonic part can be represented by the potential of a simple layer under the sufficient condition that at the surface of the earth directions are known which lie differentially close to the gradients of the gravity field. The advantages of this boundary value problem are outlined in comparison to the boundary value problem formulated by Molodensky.     

Height datum definition,height datum connection and the role of the geodetic boundary value problem

Vertical datum definition is identical with the choice of a potential (or height) value for the fundamental bench mark. Also the connection of two adjacent vertical datums poses no principal problem as long as the potential (or height) value of two bench marks of the two systems is known and they can be connected by levelling. Only the unification of large vertical datums and the connection of vertical datums separated by an ocean remains difficult. Two vertical datums can be connected indirectly by means of a combination of precise geocentric positions of two points, as derived by space techniques, their potential (or height) value in the respective height datum and their geoid height difference. The latter requires the solution of the linear geodetic boundary value problem under the assumption that potential and gravity anomalies refer to a variety of height datums. The unknown off-sets between the various datums appear in the solution inside and outside the Stokes integral and can be estimated in a least squares adjustment, if geocentric positions, levelled heights and adequate gravity material are available for all datum zones. The problem can in principle also be solved involving only two datums, in case a precise global gravity field becomes available purely from satellite methods.     

Bayesian networks and agent-based modeling approach for urban land-use and population density change: a BNAS model

Land-use change models grounded in complexity theory such as agent-based models (ABMs) are increasingly being used to examine evolving urban systems. The objective of this study is to develop a spatial model that simulates land-use change under the influence of human land-use choice behavior. This is achieved by integrating the key physical and social drivers of land-use change using Bayesian networks (BNs) coupled with agent-based modeling. The BNAS model, integrated Bayesian network–based agent system, presented in this study uses geographic information systems, ABMs, BNs, and influence diagram principles to model population change on an irregular spatial structure. The model is parameterized with historical data and then used to simulate 20 years of future population and land-use change for the City of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The simulation results identify feasible new urban areas for development around the main transportation corridors. The obtained new development areas and the projected population trajectories with the“what-if” scenario capabilities can provide insights into urban planners for better and more informed land-use policy or decision-making processes.