Abstract GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) are the pioneer satellite navigation systems. The combined use of GPS and GLONASS data initially aroused interest, but research investigating both signals declined greatly in the late nineties due to the fast degradation that GLONASS suffered. However, after a plan to re-establish the system, in 2011 GLONASS returned to a complete constellation and global coverage. In addition to the reestablishment, the system also went through a modernization process, with new generations of satellites being developed, refinements of the time and reference systems and new control stations being installed. Besides the use of combined data, other factors that influence the positioning quality are the methods employed and the errors to which the transmitted signals are subject. Regarding errors, the ionosphere is an important source, especially for users of simple frequency receivers. Considering this scenario, the present work aimed to conduct a study of the GLONASS system, as well as to analyze the improvements presented in the positioning using its data combined with GPS data in different positioning methods, considering different ionospheric conditions. In general, it was possible to verify the viability of using GLONASS data combined with GPS in all the positioning methods evaluated. In general, it was possible to verify the viability of using GLONASS data combined with GPS in all the positioning methods evaluated, with improvement in more than 97% of the cases analyzed for point positioning and around 70% of the cases with relative positioning.

Resumo O GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) e o GPS (Global Positioning System) são os sistemas pioneiros de navegação global por satélite. A utilização combinada de dados GPS e GLONASS despertou interesse inicialmente, mas as pesquisas com investigação de ambos os sinais diminuíram muito no final da década de noventa devido à rápida degradação que o GLONASS sofreu. Porém, após um plano de restabelecimento do sistema, em 2011 o GLONASS voltou a contar com constelação completa e cobertura global. Além do restabelecimento, o sistema passou ainda por um processo de modernização, com novas gerações de satélites desenvolvidas, refinamentos dos sistemas de tempo e referência e novas estações de controle instaladas. Além do uso de dados combinados, outros fatores que influenciam a qualidade do posicionamento são os métodos empregados e os erros aos quais os sinais transmitidos estão sujeitos. Em relação aos erros, a ionosfera é uma importante fonte, especialmente para usuários de receptores de simples frequência. Com este cenário, o presente trabalho buscou realizar um estudo sobre o sistema GLONASS, bem como analisar as melhorias apresentadas no posicionamento utilizando seus dados combinados aos dados GPS em diferentes métodos de posicionamento, considerando diferentes condições ionosféricas. De modo geral, foi possível verificar a viabilidade do uso de dados GLONASS combinados ao GPS em todos os métodos de posicionamento avaliados, com melhoria em mais de 97% dos casos analisados para o posicionamento por ponto e em torno de 70% dos casos com posicionamento relativo.

Abstract: The ionospheric scintillation associated to small-scale irregularities in the ionospheric layer can lead to performance degradation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals, and the reduction of positioning accuracy. The influence of the ionospheric layer on the GNSS systems is expected to be different for each signal since it is transmitted on different carrier frequencies. This paper presents the results of a quantitative analysis of the scintillation amplitude of GPS (Global Positioning System) signals at L1, L2 and L5 frequencies, aiming to evaluate the impact of the ionospheric scintillation effects on the GPS frequencies. As the ionospheric scintillation may impact positioning accuracy, we also present an assessment of GPS point positioning using those frequencies. The GPS sample data were collected for 30 days between November and December 2014 at SJCE station located in São José dos Campos (SP), Brazil. Such a region is subjected to the equatorial anomaly effects being characterized by the occurrence of strong ionosphere scintillation. Considering the quantitative analysis, during the different levels of ionospheric scintillation presented a similar behavior, the magnitude of scintillations is small for the L1 signal and larger for L5. In general, the results confirmed that lower frequencies (L2 and L5) suffer more impact from intense scintillation than L1. Regarding the positioning assessment, the multi-frequency positioning was more accurate than single frequency. Considering dual-frequency positioning, results with L1-L2 were more accurate than those with L1-L5 signals. With single-frequency positioning, the L1 signal was more accurate compared to the L2 frequency.

Abstract: Nowadays GPS (Global Positioning System) and GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) are the main systems of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), also composed by Galileo and BeiDou. After a long period of degradation, GLONASS was modernized, and its constellation was reestablished in 2011. Considering this new scenario, with GPS and GLONASS full constellations, the interest in the combined use of both systems was renewed. Besides the constellations used, other factors are related to the positioning quality, for instance the ionospheric influence. Several studies have been performed aiming to assess GPS positioning quality as well as the ionospheric influence on it, but concerning GLONASS, there are still several possibilities of investigation. In this context, this research aimed to assess the GPS/GLONASS data point positioning performance considering Brazilian regions with different ionospheric behavior during periods of low and high ionospheric activity. Spatial and time ionospheric influence in the positioning performance were observed. Considering all configurations tested with 30-minute data, the use of GPS/GLONASS data provided better results in 97.35% of the cases when compared to autonomous GPS, the mean improvement was about 60 cm, which corresponds to 30%.

Abstract Several approaches concerning the use in positioning of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) can be considered: systems, applied methods and errors that can affect the signals. Following the GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) constellation reestablishment (2011), there was renewed interest in its use with GPS (Global Positioning System). Different possibilities are available concerning applied methods, such as the virtual reference station (VRS) concept (it is possible to obtain data for a virtual station that does not physically exist, using data from a network). One of the main sources of error related to the GNSS signal, is the ionosphere. Many studies have been developed aiming to evaluate GPS positioning quality and influences that can affect it, but there are still several investigation possibilities concerning GLONASS. In this context, this research is intended to assess the GPS/GLONASS virtual data positioning performance considering regions and periods with different ionospheric behavior. A high correlation between the results from virtual and real data (Pearson’s correlation coefficients around 0.8) was noticed. GPS/GLONASS data performance presented better mean squared error results compared to GPS alone (average 3D improvement was 45 cm - 49%). In addition, it was possible to verify ionosphere influence in the positioning error, taking into account station region and period of the year.