Abstract
Many different effects are contributing to the fact that station heights may be determined less accurately by GPS than horizontal positions. Reviewing the topic of GPS height determination, we will first consider the circumstance, that we have to estimate receiver clock corrections (or form differences between satellites), and its impact on GPS height estimates and look at the correlation of the height with troposphere and receiver clock parameters. Before discussing individual error sources, the classification of biases into two major groups will help to gain an overview of which type of errors are problematic for the height component. We then discuss in some details the major error sources, that degrade the height estimates, namely, tropospheric refraction, reference frame, geocenter and orbit errors, site displacements due to ocean and atmospheric loading, antenna phase center variations, and multipath.
Illustrative examples will be given and processing strategies will be recommended to overcome or reduce the impact of these biases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baueršima, I.. NAVSTAR/Global Positioning System (GPS), II. Mitteilungen der Satelliten-Beobachtungsstation Zimmerwald, No. 10, Astronomical Institute, University of Berne, 1983.
Böder, V., F. Menge, G. Seeber, G. Wübbena, and M. Schmitz. How to Deal With Station Dependent Errors - New Developments of the Absolute Calibration of PCV and Phase-Multipath With a Precise Robot. In Proceedings of the ION GPS-01, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2001.
Beutler, G., I. Bauersfma, W. Gurtner, M. Rothacher, T. Schildknecht, and A. Geiger. Atmospheric Refraction and Other Important Biases in GPS Car-rier Phase Observations. In Monograph 12, School of Surveying, University of New South Wales, Australia., 1987.
Brunner, F.K., and H. Hartinger. GPS Signal Diffraction Modelling: the stochastic SIGMA-D Model. J. Geod., 73, 259 - 267, 1999.
Jaldehag, R.T.K.. An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Antenna Related Error Sources. Technical Report 276, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, 1995.
McCarthy, D. D. (ed.). IERS Conventions (1996). IERS Tech. Note 21, Obs. de Paris, Paris, 1996.
Niell, A. E.. Global Mapping Functions for the Atmosphere Delay at Radio Wavelengths. J. Geophys. Res., 101(B2), 3227 - 3246, 1996.
Rothacher, M., and G. Beutler. The Role of GPS in the Study of Global Change. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 23(9-10), 1029 - 1040, 1998.
Rothacher, M., and L. Mervart. The Bernese GPS software version 4.0. Astron. Inst., Univ. of Berne, Berne, Switzerland, 1996.
Rothacher, M., W. Gurtner, S. Schaer, R. Weber, W. Schlüter, and H. O. Hase. Azimuth-and Elevation-Dependent Phase Center Corrections for Geodetic GPS Antennas Estimated From GPS Calibration Campaigns. In International Association of Geodesy Symposia, Symposium No. 115: GPS Trends in Precise Terrestrial, Airborne, and Spaceborne Applications, edited by G. Beutler et al., Springer, Boulder, CO, USA, 1995.
Rothacher, M., W. Gurtner, S. Schaer, R. Weber, and H. O. Hase. Azimuth-and Elevation-Dependent Phase Center Corrections for Geodetic GPS Antennas Estimated from GPS Calibration Campaigns. In IAG Symposium No. 115, edited by W. Torge, pp. 335 - 339, Springer-Verlag, 1996.
Rothacher, M., T. A. Springer, S. Schaer, and G. Beutler. Processing strategies for regional GPS networks. In International Association of Geodesy Symposia, Adv. Positioning Ref. Frames, vol. 118, edited by F. Brunner, pp. 93 - 100, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1998.
Saastamoinen, J.. Atmospheric Correction for the Troposphere and Stratosphere in Radio Ranging of Satellites. In The Use of Artificial Satellites for Geodesy, Geophysical Monograph Series, 1972.
Santerre, R.. Impact of GPS Satellite Sky Distribution. Manuscr. Geod., 16, 28 - 53, 1991.
Scherneck, H.-G., J.M. Johansson, and F.H. Webb. Ocean loading tides in GPS and rapid variations of the frame origin. In Geodesy 2000 - Challenges in the First Decade, vol. 121, edited by K.P. Schwarz, Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2000.
vanDam, T.M., and T.A. Herring. Detection of atmospheric pressure loading using very long baseline interferometry measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 4505 - 4517, 1994.
Wieser, A., and F.K. Brunner. An Extended Weight model for GPS Phase Observations. Earth, Planets and Space, 52, 777 - 782, 2000.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Rothacher, M. (2002). Estimation of Station Heights with GPS. In: Drewes, H., Dodson, A.H., Fortes, L.P.S., Sánchez, L., Sandoval, P. (eds) Vertical Reference Systems. International Association of Geodesy Symposia, vol 124. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04683-8_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04683-8_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-07701-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04683-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive