Network Code DGNSS Positioning for Faster L1–L5 GPS Ambiguity Initialization

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 20; no. 19; p. 5671
• Main Authors: Bakuła, Mieczysław, Uradziński, Marcin, Krasuski, Kamil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 04.10.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Ambiguity resolution (mathematics); Application programming interface; Bias; Cellular telephones; DGNSS; DGPS; differential positioning; Global positioning systems; GPS; Ionosphere; Kalman filter; Kalman filters; Kinematics; Noise; Numerical analysis; PREFMAR; Satellites; Smartphones; Spatial data
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s20195671

This paper presents DGNSS network code positioning using permanent geodetic networks, commonly used in GNSS measurements. Using several reference stations at the same time allows for the independent control of GNSS positioning and facilitates the more realistic estimation of accuracy. Test calculations were made on the basis of real GPS data, using one TRIMBLE mobile receiver and four nearest reference stations of the ASG-EUPOS geodetic system. In addition, DGNSS positioning computational simulations were performed for a case where one mobile GNSS receiver would be able to be used with two (e.g., GPS + Galileo or GPS + GLONASS) or four different positioning systems and different GNSS reference station systems at the same time. To reduce the deviations of the DGPS positioning from a true value, the Kalman filtering for horizontal coordinates and vertical ones was used. The result shows a significant improvement in DGPS positioning accuracy. Based on the numerical analysis carried out, it can be seen that when four GNSS systems are used, it is possible to achieve a DGNSS accuracy of 0.1 m and 0.2 m for horizontal and height coordinates, respectively, using only code measurements. Additionally, the paper presents the impact of the DGNSS code positioning accuracy on the effectiveness of determining ambiguities of phase observations on individual measurement epochs, using the L1–L5 observations of the GPS system and the precise and fast method of ambiguity resolution (PREFMAR). The developed DGNSS positioning methodology can be applied for reliable GNSS navigation using at least two independent GNSS systems.