Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Locata-based precise point positioning for kinematic maritime applications

  • Original Article
  • Published:
GPS Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The GPS-precise point positioning (PPP) is still not as popular as network-based real-time kinematic (N-RTK) for engineering kinematic applications based on differential positioning principles for several reasons. One is the fact that the accuracy of kinematic GPS-PPP is lower than N-RTK solutions. The second reason is that GPS-PPP requires a comparatively long initialization period. In order to overcome such shortcomings, a new PPP approach augmented by a ground-based positioning system such as “Locata” is proposed in this paper. The new approach is referred to as Locata/GPS-PPP. Locata’s ground-based technology has rapid geometry change for kinematic applications; thus, the proposed approach is able to provide high-accuracy solutions with faster initialization. In the proposed Locata/GPS-PPP approach, the Locata and GPS carrier phase measurements are processed simultaneously in a tightly combined mode and the carrier phase ambiguities are resolved as floating-point values on an epoch-by-epoch basis in order to avoid the need for cycle-slip repair. In order to evaluate the system performance, a kinematic field trial was conducted on Sydney Harbor. A Locata transmitter network was setup on the fringes of Sydney’s CBD. The experiment demonstrated that the initial convergence time of the integrated Locata/GPS-PPP filter is only 10 s, which is significantly faster than the conventional GPS-PPP method. Comparison of the proposed method with the GPS-PPP and Locata-single point positioning (SPP) approaches was conducted. The results confirm that the Locata/GPS-PPP approach can achieve centimeter-level accuracy for horizontal positioning which improves 36.4 and 68.8 % over Locata-SPP and GPS-PPP. The results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for high-accuracy maritime applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashby N (2003) Chapter 1: the Sagnac effect in the global positioning system. In: Rizzi G, Ruggiero ML (eds) Relativity in rotating frames: relativistic physics in rotating reference frames (fundamental theories of physics), Springer, ISBN: 1-4020-1805-3

  • Barnes J, Rizos C, Wang J, Small D, Voight G, Gambale N (2003) LocataNet: the positioning technology of the future? In: 6th Int. Symp. on Satellite navigation technology including mobile positioning & location services, Melbourne, Australia, 22–25 July, CD-ROM proc, paper 49

  • Bertsch J, Choudhury M, Rizos C, Kahle H-G (2009) On-the-fly ambiguity resolution for Locata. In: International Symposium on GPS/GNSS, Gold Coast, Australia, 1–3 December, CD-ROM procs

  • Boehm J, Werl B, Schuh H (2006) Troposphere mapping functions for GPS and very long baseline interferometry from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts operational analysis data. J Geophys Res 111:B02406

    Google Scholar 

  • Boehm J, Heinkelmann R, Schuh H (2007) Short note: a global model of pressure and temperature for geodetic applications. J Geod 81(2):679–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Allison T, Cao W, Ferguson K, Grünig S, Gomez V, Kipka A, Köhler J, Landau H, Leandro R, Lu G, Stolz R, Talbot N (2011) Trimble RTX, an innovative new approach for network RTK. In: Proceedings of the ION-GNSS-2011, Institute of Navigation, Portland, Oregon, USA, 20–23 Sept, pp 2214–2219

  • Choudhury M, Rizos C, Harvey BR (2009a) A survey of techniques and algorithms in deformation monitoring applications and the use of the Locata technology for such applications. In: Proceedings of the ION-GNSS-2009, Institute of Navigation, Savannah, Georgia, USA, 22–25 Sept, pp 668–678

  • Choudhury M, Harvey BR, Rizos C (2009b) Tropospheric correction for Locata when known point ambiguity resolution technique is used in static survey—is it required? In: Proceedings of the international symposium on GPS/GNSS, Gold Coast, Australia, 1–3 Dec, CD-ROM procs

  • Collins P (2008) Isolating and estimating undifferenced GPS integer ambiguities. ION-NTM-2008, Institute of Navigation, San Diego, California, USA, 28–30 Jan, pp 720–732

  • Fotopoulos G, Cannon ME (2001) An overview of multi-reference station methods for cm-level positioning. GPS Solut 4(3):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao S, Chen W, Hu C, Chen Y, Ding X (2004) Analysis of regional ionospheric disturbance with HK GPS Network. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on GPS/GNSS, Sydney, Australia, 6–8 Dec, CD-ROM procs

  • Ge M, Gendt G, Rothacher M, Shi C, Liu J (2008) Resolution of GPS carrier-phase ambiguities in precise point positioning (PPP) with daily observations. J Geod 82(7):389–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ge M, Dousa J, Li X, Ramatschi M, Wickert J (2012) A novel real-time precise positioning service system: global precise point positioning with regional augmentation. J Glob Position Syst 11(1):2–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geng J, Teferle FN, Meng X, Dodson AH (2010) Towards PPP-RTK: ambiguity resolution in real-time precise point positioning. Adv Space Res 47(10):1664–1673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ICD-GPS-200C (1993) Interface control document, NAVSTAR GPS space segment. 10 Oct. http://geoweb.mit.edu/~tah/icd200c123.pdf

  • IERS: IERS Conventions (2010) Petit G, Luzum B (eds) (IERS technical note 36) Verlag des Bundesamts für Kartographie und Geodäsie, Frankfurt am Main, ISBN 3-89888-989-6

  • Jiang W, Li Y, Rizos C (2013) On-the-fly Locata/inertial navigation system integration for precise maritime application. Meas Sci Technol 24(10):105104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouba J (2009) A guide to using International GNSS Service (IGS) products [online]. IGS Central Bureau, May. http://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/igscb/resource/pubs/UsingIGSProductsVer21.pdf

  • Landau H, Chen X, Klose S, Leandro R, Vollath U (2007) Trimble’s RTK and DGPS solutions in comparison with precise point positioning, observing our changing earth. International Association of Geodesy Symposia 133. In: Proceedings of the 2007 IAG General Assembly, Perugia, Italy, 2–13 July, pp 709–718

  • Li Y, Rizos C (2010) Seamless navigation through a Locata-enhanced GPS and INS integrated system. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on GPS/GNSS, Taipei, Taiwan, 26–28 Oct, pp 40–45

  • Locata Corporation (2012) LocataNet positioning signal interface control document. http://www.locata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Locata-ICD-100B.pdf

  • Montillet J, Roberts G, Hancock C, Meng X, Ogundipe O, Barnes J (2009) Deploying a Locata network to enable precise positioning in urban canyons. J Geod 83(2):91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizos C, Grejner-Brzezinska DA, Toth CK, Dempster AG, Li Y, Politi N, Barnes J (2008) A hybrid system for navigation in GPS-challenged environments: Case study. In: Proceedings of the ION-GNSS-2008, Institute of Navigation, Savannah, Georgia, USA, 16–19 Sept 2008, pp 1418–1428

  • Rizos C, Roberts GW, Barnes J, Gambale N (2010) Locata: a new high accuracy indoor positioning system. In: Mautz R, Kunzand M, Ingensand H (eds) 1st international conference on indoor positioning and indoor navigation (IPIN), Zurich, Switzerland, 15–17 September, pp 441–447

  • Zumberge JF, Heflin MB, Jefferson DC, Watkins MM, Webb FH (1997) Precise point positioning for the efficient and robust analysis of GPS data from large networks. J Geophys Res 102(B3):5005–5017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zumberge JF, Watkins MM, Webb FH (1998) Characteristics and applications of precise GPS clock solutions every 30 seconds. J Navig 44(4):449–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The first author wishes to thank the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) for supporting her studies at the University of New South Wales. The authors acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by Locata Corporation and Land and Property Information NSW.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Wei Jiang, Yong Li & Chris Rizos

Authors
  1. Wei Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chris Rizos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Jiang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, W., Li, Y. & Rizos, C. Locata-based precise point positioning for kinematic maritime applications. GPS Solut 19, 117–128 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-014-0373-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-014-0373-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation