Combination of spatial networks using an estimated covariance matrix

When combining satellite and terrestrial networks, covariance matrices are used which have been estimated from previous data. It can be shown that the least-squares estimator of the unknown parameters using such an estimated covariance matrix is not necessarily the best. There are a number of cases where a more efficient estimator can be obtained in a different way. The problem occurs frequently in geodesy, since in least-squares adjustment of correlated observations estimated covariance matrices are often used. If the general structure of the covariance matrix is known, results can often be improved by a method called covariance adjustment. The statistical model used in least-squares collocation leads to a type of covariance matrix which fits into this framework. It is shown in which way improvements can be made using a modified approach of principal component analysis. As a numerical example the combination of a satellite and a terrestrial network has been computed with varying assumptions on the covariance matrix. It is shown which types of matrices are critical and where the usual least-squares approach can be applied without hesitation. Finally, a simplified representation of covariances for spatial networks by means of a suitable covariance function is suggested. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Computational Methods in Geometrical Geodesy-Oxford, 2–8 September, 1973.