SIMD correlator library for GNSS software receivers

Software receivers have had a discernable impact on the GNSS research community. Often such receivers are implemented in a compiled programming language, such as C or C++. A software receiver must emulate the digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms executed on dedicated hardware in a traditional receiver. The DSP algorithms, most notably correlation, have a high computational cost; this burden precludes many software receivers from running in real time. However, the computational cost can be lessened by utilizing single instruction multiple data (SIMD) operations found on modern ×86 processors. The following demonstrates how C/C++ compatible code can be written to directly utilize the SIMD instructions. First, an analysis is carried out to demonstrate why real time operation is not possible when using traditional C/C++ code is carried out. Secondly a tutorial outlines how to write and insert ×86 assembly, with SIMD operations, into C/C++ code. Performance gains achieved via SIMD operations are then demonstrated, and pseudo code outlines how SIMD operations can be employed to perform correlation. Finally, a C/C++ compatible SIMD enabled arithmetic library is added to the GPS Toolbox for use in software receivers.     

Geospatial data mining for digital raster mapping

We performed an in-depth literature survey to identify the most popular data mining approaches that have been applied for raster mapping of ecological parameters through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remotely sensed data. Popular data mining approaches included decision trees or “data mining” trees which consist of regression and classification trees, random forests, neural networks, and support vector machines. The advantages of each data mining approach as well as approaches to avoid overfitting are subsequently discussed. We also provide suggestions and examples for the mapping of problematic variables or classes, future or historical projections, and avoidance of model bias. Finally, we address the separate issues of parallel processing, error mapping, and incorporation of “no data” values into modeling processes. Given the improved availability of digital spatial products and remote sensing products, data mining approaches combined with parallel processing potentials should greatly improve the quality and extent of ecological datasets.     

Illumination effects on the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio's optimality for assessing fire severity

The influence of illumination effects on the optimality of the dNBR (differenced Normalized Burn Ratio) was evaluated for the case of the 2007 Peloponnese (Greece) wildfires using a pre/post-fire Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) image couple. Well-illuminated pixels (south and south-east facing slopes) exhibited more optimal displacements in the bi-spectral feature space than more shaded pixels (north and north-west exposed slopes). Moreover, pixels experiencing a small image-to-image difference in illumination obtained a higher optimality than pixels with a relatively large difference in illumination. To correct for illumination effects, the c-correction method and a modified c-correction technique were applied. The resulting median dNBR optimality of uncorrected, c-corrected and modified c-correction data was respectively 0.58, 0.60 and 0.71 (differences significant for p < 0.001). The original c-correction method improved the optimality of badly illuminated pixels while deteriorating the optimality of well-illuminated pixels. In contrast, the modified c-correction technique improved the optimality of all the pixels while retaining the prime characteristic of topographic correction techniques, i.e. detrending the illumination–reflectance relationship. For a minority of the data, for shaded pixels and/or pixels with a high image-to-image difference in illumination, the original c-correction outperformed the modified c-correction technique. In this study conducted in rugged terrain and with a bi-temporal image acquisition scheme that deviated up to two months from the ideal anniversary date scheme the modified c-correction technique resulted in a more reliable change detection.     

Combining EGM2008 and SRTM/DTM2006.0 residual terrain model data to improve quasigeoid computations in mountainous areas devoid of gravity data

A global geopotential model, like EGM2008, is not capable of representing the high-frequency components of Earth’s gravity field. This is known as the omission error. In mountainous terrain, omission errors in EGM2008, even when expanded to degree 2,190, may reach amplitudes of 10 cm and more for height anomalies. The present paper proposes the utilisation of high-resolution residual terrain model (RTM) data for computing estimates of the omission error in rugged terrain. RTM elevations may be constructed as the difference between the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) elevation model and the DTM2006.0 spherical harmonic topographic expansion. Numerical tests, carried out in the German Alps with a precise gravimetric quasigeoid model (GCG05) and GPS/levelling data as references, demonstrate that RTM-based omission error estimates improve EGM2008 height anomaly differences by 10 cm in many cases. The comparisons of EGM2008-only height anomalies and the GCG05 model showed 3.7 cm standard deviation after a bias-fit. Applying RTM omission error estimates to EGM2008 reduces the standard deviation to 1.9 cm which equates to a significant improvement rate of 47%. Using GPS/levelling data strongly corroborates these findings with an improvement rate of 49%. The proposed RTM approach may be of practical value to improve quasigeoid determination in mountainous areas without sufficient regional gravity data coverage, e.g., in parts of Asia, South America or Africa. As a further application, RTM omission error estimates will allow refined validation of global gravity field models like EGM2008 from GPS/levelling data.     

Approximating covariance matrices estimated in multivariate models by estimated auto- and cross-covariances

Quantities like tropospheric zenith delays or station coordinates are repeatedly measured at permanent VLBI or GPS stations so that time series for the quantities at each station are obtained. The covariances of these quantities can be estimated in a multivariate linear model. The covariances are needed for computing uncertainties of results derived from these quantities. The covariance matrix for many permanent stations becomes large, the need for simplifying it may therefore arise under the condition that the uncertainties of derived results still agree. This is accomplished by assuming that the different time series of a quantity like the station height for each permanent station can be combined to obtain one time series. The covariance matrix then follows from the estimates of the auto- and cross-covariance functions of the combined time series. A further approximation is found, if compactly supported covariance functions are fitted to an estimated autocovariance function in order to obtain a covariance matrix which is representative of different kinds of measurements. The simplification of a covariance matrix estimated in a multivariate model is investigated here for the coordinates of points of a grid measured repeatedly by a laserscanner. The approximations are checked by determining the uncertainty of the sum of distances to the points of the grid. To obtain a realistic value for this uncertainty, the covariances of the measured coordinates have to be considered. Three different setups of measurements are analyzed and a covariance matrix is found which is representative for all three setups. Covariance matrices for the measurements of laserscanners can therefore be determined in advance without estimating them for each application.     

A seismic hazard assessment and the results of detailed seismic zoning for urban territories of Sakhalin Island

This work briefly discusses the main features of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). Special attention is paid to the identification and quantification of uncertainties related to seismic source characteristics and seismic engineering models for prediction of strong ground motions. The principal seismic models and the results of PSHA application for detailed seismic zoning of urban territories in Sakhalin Island are presented.     

The Relationship between Global Volcanic Activity and Variations in the Velocity of Earth’s Rotation

Doklady Earth Sciences - Analysis of observations of the Earth’s rotational velocity and volcanic activity of the planet from 1720 until 2015 suggests that higher volcanic activity temporally...