Abstract: At the end of 2018, the Laboratorio de Meteorología Espacial, Atmósfera Terrestre, Geodesia, Geodinámica, Diseño de Instrumental y Astrometría, from La Plata University, started providing near real-time Regional Ionosphere Maps (MAGN) with high spatial and temporal resolutions and low latency. In this paper, we show a performance evaluation of these new ionosphere maps in space of positioning during the first year (2019) of available data. The assessment was carried out through absolute GNSS positioning using the in-house RT-PPP software. Data from five stations in Brazil, distributed in different geomagnetic latitudes, were processed. The performance of the MAGN was evaluated comparing the coordinates estimated using MAGN maps and the Global Ionosphere Maps (GIM) from CODE, both concerning the PPP ionosphere-free combination solution. Although it has been found that, in general, the MAGN and CODE solutions are compatible, the former provided better positioning result (8.5%) in the altimetric (up) component. However, when an atypical behavior in the MAGN solution at the end of the year 2019 as well as days of incomplete maps were removed from the analysis, the solution with MAGN becomes slightly better than CODE, providing an improvement of 8.6% in the up component.

Abstract The availability in real time of GNSS satellites orbits, clock corrections and code and phase biases provided the possibility of application of Real Time Precise Point Positioning (RTPPP). This paper presents the methodology concerning RTPPP and application to kinematic trajectories of airplane flight tests, but without using the carrier phase bias. So, it is PPP float solution. It requires RT positioning estimation, task that most of time presents certain difficulties due to loss of communication or of satellites during maneuvers of the airplane. However, if the corrections become unavailable for a certain period of time, the system starts using the ultra-rapid IGS orbits. The experiments were accomplished taking into account a case simulating RT and another in fact RT, but storing data and corrections for post processing. The PPP solutions obtained either simulating RT or in RT were compared against the PPP post processed solution that uses the final clock and orbit corrections. Then, statistics were generated to analyze the quality of both results. They were applied to kinematic trajectory that on average was 360 km/h, reaching about 600 km/h. The results provided accuracy better than the requisites for such cases which is of about 80 cm in height.

Abstract The geodetic shoreline positioning has socioeconomic importance due to decision-making support related to the coastal zone. The Pernambuco state, Brazil, has established a state law no. 14.258/2010 sanctioned as part of Coastal Zone Management State Policy. The state act no. 42.010/2015 enacted the baseline information for Pernambuco shoreline. Considering that the shoreline mapping benefits from GNSS positioning using relative or absolute methods, the absolute PPP was the choice for legislation support. Therefore, the aim of this work is to depict about the Pernambuco state law and analyze the kinematic PPP accuracy applied to shoreline monitoring in order to attend the state act. The relative GNSS method was adopted as reference to assess the PPP accuracy for the Pernambuco shoreline. The analyses for each sector involved approximately one hour of kinematic GNSS data and the results indicate horizontal positioning accuracy around 0.50 m after PPP convergence period. Several PPP re-initialization has been detected, however, points considered outliers are removed from the final product. For this reason, recommendations are provided to improve the positioning applied for coastal zone monitoring. Although, the carried out experiments shows that PPP can be adopted as a practical tool to support the Pernambuco Coastal Zone Management.

Atualmente o GNSS possui o GPS e GLONASS operacionais, o que possibilita a integração destes sistemas no posicionamento geodésico. A integração de dados GPS/GLONASS fornece melhor geometria e maior confiabilidade na estimativa dos parâmetros envolvidos. Ao aplicar a integração no posicionamento é necessário realizar a compatibilização do sistema de tempo e também do Sistema Geodésico de Referência no caso da utilização de órbitas transmitidas. Em termos de posicionamento geodésico especial atenção tem sido dada ultimamente para o método PPP, o qual requer um único receptor no nível de usuário, órbitas e correções precisas de relógios dos satélites, além da modelagem matemática que permita corrigir os diversos efeitos envolvidos com a propagação dos sinais GNSS e efeitos geodinâmicos que afetam a estação. Neste artigo apresentam-se os modelos matemáticos do ajustamento no modo PPP com integração de dados GPS/GLONASS, além da análise de acurácia posicional envolvendo dados coletados por receptores em estações brasileiras. Os processamentos de dados foram realizados a partir do software GPSPPP do NRCAN com soluções diárias e a geração de série temporal anual. As análises foram realizadas em termos de Erro Médio Quadrático diário e foram observadas melhorias de até 25% na estimativa da posição ao aplicar os dados GPS/GLONASS no PPP ao invés de somente dados GPS.

Currently GNSS has GPS and GLONASS operating, which enables the integration of these systems in geodetic positioning. The integration of GPS/GLONASS data provides better geometry and greater reliability in the estimation of the involved parameters. By applying the integration in the positioning it is necessary to perform the compatibility of the time system and also of the Geodetic Reference System, in case of applying broadcasted orbits. In terms of geodetic positioning special attention has been given nowadays for the PPP method that requires a single receiver at the user level, precise orbit and clock corrections for satellites, as well as mathematical modeling capable to correct for several effects involved in the GNSS signals propagation and the geodynamic effects in the station. In this paper it will be presented the adjustment mathematical model for PPP with integration of GPS/GLONASS data, as well as analysis of positional accuracy involving data collected by receivers in Brazilian stations. The data processing was carried out by using the GPSPPP NRCan software considering daily solutions with generation of annual time series. Analyses were performed in terms of daily Root Mean Square and improvements were observed reaching up to 25% in the position estimation when applying GPS/GLONASS in the PPP instead of only GPS data

Resumo:O efeito provocado pela ionosfera no sinal GPS é um dos mais impactantes no processo de estimativa das coordenadas geodésicas, principalmente para dados de simples frequência, sem o uso de um modelo ionosférico adequado. Neste caso, pode-se atualmente aplicar as correções ionosféricas advindas do modelo de Klobuchar, dos Mapas Globais (GIM) ou Mapas Regionais da Ionosfera. Sendo os dois últimos citados os que têm sido muito investigados pela comunidade cientifica. Nesse artigo destaca-se o LPIM (La Plata Ionospheric Model) desenvolvido na Universidade La Plata e disponibilizado dentro do contexto do projeto SIRGAS. Neste artigo apresenta-se a avaliação da acurácia do posicionamento absoluto com aplicação das correções ionosféricas advindas do GIM e do LPIM. Foram realizados processamentos no modo PPP utilizando somente código com dados GPS coletados em estações da RBMC. A estimativa das coordenadas foi realizada com solução época por época e comparadas com as coordenadas estimadas na rede SIRGAS-CON. Estimou-se o EMQ diário com geração de séries temporais para o ano de 2013. Com base nas melhorias produzidas com a utilização do modelo ionosférico regional, propõe-se a modificação do modelo estocástico do ajustamento, tendo em vista que somente o modelo funcional é afetado pelas correções ionosféricas advindas dos modelos

Abstract:The effect caused by the ionosphere in the GPS signal is one of the most important in the geodetic coordinate estimation process, mainly for data collected by single frequency receivers, if a not consistent ionospheric model is available. For such case, one can currently apply the ionospheric corrections provided by the Klobuchar model and from Global or Regional Ionosphere Maps. The latter have been investigated by the scientific community in recent years. In this this paper, attention is driven to the LPIM (La Plata Ionospheric Model) developed at the University La Plata and made available within the SIRGAS project context. Thus, this paper presents the evaluation of the absolute positioning accuracy with ionospheric corrections coming from the GIM and LPIM. It was accomplished PPP processing by using only GPS code data collected by Brazilian RBMC stations. The coordinates estimation was carried out in an epoch by epoch basis and the solutions were compared with ground truth estimated in the SIRGAS-CON network providing the daily RMS with time series generation for the complete year of 2013. Based on the improvement produced by the application of the LPIM it is proposed the stochastic model modification for the adjustment considering that only the functional model is affected by ionospheric corrections coming from distinct models

A aplicação da combinação livre da ionosfera para dados GNSS de dupla frequência permite eliminar matematicamente os efeitos de primeira ordem da ionosfera. Contudo, os efeitos de ordem superior não são eliminados e, geralmente, são negligenciados no processamento dos dados GNSS. Neste trabalho apresentam-se discussões e análises relacionadas ao cálculo dos efeitos de ordem superior da ionosfera, o qual envolve o cálculo do TEC a partir de diferentes combinações, o sistema geomagnético IGRF-11, a combinação linear livre da ionosfera para tripla frequência considerando as três portadoras do GPS (L1, L2 e L5) e outras. A combinação de tripla frequência permite eliminar o efeito de segunda ordem da ionosfera, contudo, a incerteza propagada desta combinação é de pior qualidade do que o próprio valor do efeito. Foram realizados processamentos de dados no modo PPP estático e cinemático visando avaliar a influência dos efeitos de ordem superior no ciclo solar 24. Os dados GPS foram corrigidos dos efeitos ionosféricos utilizando o software "RINEX_HO" disponível no NGS-NOAA-TOOLBOX. Os resultados mostraram que a negligência dos efeitos ionosféricos de ordem superior no PPP pode provocar variações da ordem de milímetros a centímetros considerando períodos com baixa e alta atividade ionosférica, respectivamente.

The application of the ionosphere free combination for GNSS dual frequency data allows mathematically the elimination of the first order ionosphere effects. However, the higher order ionosphere effects are not eliminated and are generally neglected in GNSS data processing. In this paper, there will be discussions and analysis related to the higher order ionospheric effects computation which involves calculating TEC from different combinations, the geomagnetic reference system IGRF-11, the ionosphere free linear combination for three GPS frequencies L1, L2 and L5 and other. The triple frequency combination allows eliminating the second order effect, however the propagated precision of the combination is worse than the value of the effect itself. It was accomplished data processing in the static and kinematic PPP aiming to evaluate the influence of the higher order effects in the solar cycle 24.The GPS data were corrected from higher order effects by using the "RINEX_HO" software available in the NGS-NOAA-TOOLBOX. The results showed that neglecting the higher order effects in the PPP can produce variations of the order of millimeters to centimeters considering periods with low and high ionosphere activity, respectively.

O Sistema de Posicionamento Global (GPS) transmite seus sinais em duas freqüências, o que permite eliminar matematicamente os efeitos de primeira ordem da ionosfera através da combinação linear ionosphere free. Porém, restam os efeitos de segunda e terceira ordem, os quais podem provocar erros da ordem de centímetros nas medidas GPS. Esses efeitos, geralmente, são negligenciados no processamento dos dados GPS. Os efeitos ionosféricos de primeira, segunda e terceira ordem são diretamente proporcionais ao TEC presente na ionosfera, porém, no caso dos efeitos de segunda e terceira ordem, comparecem também o campo magnético da Terra e a máxima densidade de elétrons, respectivamente. Nesse artigo, os efeitos de segunda e terceira ordem da ionosfera são investigados, sendo que foram levados em consideração no processamento de dados GPS na região brasileira para fins de posicionamento. Serão apresentados os modelos matemáticos associados a esses efeitos, as transformações envolvendo o campo magnético da Terra e a utilização do TEC advindo dos Mapas Globais da Ionosfera ou calculados a partir das observações GPS de pseudodistância. O processamento dos dados GPS foi realizado considerando o método relativo estático e cinemático e o posicionamento por ponto preciso (PPP). Os efeitos de segunda e terceira ordem foram analisados considerando períodos de alta e baixa atividade ionosférica. Os resultados mostraram que a não consideração desses efeitos no posicionamento por ponto preciso e no posicionamento relativo para linhas de base longas pode introduzir variações da ordem de poucos milímetros nas coordenadas das estações, além de variações diurnas em altitude da ordem de centímetros.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) transmits signals in two frequencies which allow to correct for the first order ionospheric effects through theionosphere free combination. However, the second and third order ionospheric effects which cause error of the order of centimeters in the GPS measurements, still remain. These effects are, generally, neglected in the GPS data processing. The first, second and third order ionospheric effects are directly proportional to the TEC (Total Electron Content) in the ionosphere, but, in the case of the second and third order effects the Earth magnetic field and the maximum electron density respectively, also make a contribution. This paper investigates these two higher order ionospheric effects which were taken into account in the GPS data processing in the Brazilian region. The mathematical model associated with these effects will be presented, as well as the transformations involving the Earth magnetic field and the use of the TEC from Global Ionospheric Maps or calculated from GPS pseudorange measurements. The GPS data was processed in static and kinematic relative mode and in a precise point positioning (PPP) approach. The second and third order effects were analyzed considering periods with low and high ionospheric activities. The results have shown that neglecting these effects in the precise point positioning and in the relative positioning for long baselines can cause variation of the order of few millimeters in thestations coordinates, besides diurnal variations in altitude of the order of centimeters.