GNSS

Dr. H J Chauhan
Assistant Professor, Civil Engg., Deptt.,
BVM Engg., College, V.V.Nagar
 Positioning
 Position> Stone Age to the Satellite age
 The Stone Age:
Use of stones, trees and mountains as points of
reference
 The Star Age:
Use of celestial bodies such as Sun, Moon and other
stars as points of reference (Celestial Navigation)
 The Radio Age
It involved use of radio signals for positioning.
 The Satellite Age
It involved use of satellite-based radio navigation
with satellites as points of reference
 The Satellite Age
Some characteristics of this age are as follows:
 Overcoming the limitations of radio navigation
 Improved radio transmitters
 Wider coverage: due to high altitudes of
Satellite's orbit.
 The accuracy in computing the position
depends on the accuracy in computing the
location of reference points (satellites).
 Continuously monitoring of satellite locations
and their orbits.
 24 hr, all weather, 3-D positioning.
 GPS Segments
 Space Segment, Control Segment, User Segment
 Space Segment
 It constitutes satellite constellation
 Which downlinks data including
 Coded ranging signals
 Position information
 Atmospheric data
 Almanac (data about approximate orbit
information of all satellites)
 Basic functions of satellites
 Receive and store information transmitted by
the control station
 Perform limited data processing by its own
computer
 Maintain very accurate time by means of
onboard 2 cesium and 2 rubidium oscillators
 Transmit information to the user by the signal
message
 Maneuver to position in space controlled by
the control segment
 Blocks of Satellites
 System satellites can be arranged into different groups
/generations called blocks:
 Block I
 Block II
 Block IIA (Advanced)
 Block IIR (Replenishment)
 Block IIF (Follow on)
 Block III
 First GPS development satellite (Block I) was launched in
February 1978.
 First launch of operational (Block II) GPS satellite in February
1989, marked the beginning of steady progress toward a full
constellation of 24 satellites. This milestone was achieved in June
1993. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared later that
year.
 Full Operational Capability (FOC) (24 Hr facility) was declared on
8 December, 1993, when there were 24 working satellites in orbit
from Block I, II, and IIA.
GPS
constellation
consisting
of six
orbital
planes
with four
satellites
in each
plane
Simplified representation of Nominal
GPS constellation
 GPS Signals
 GPS signals use two microwave carrier signals:
 L1 frequency (1575.42 MHz) and C/A Code and P
Code modulated
 L2 frequency (1227.60 MHz) and only P-Code
modulated
 Coordinate Reference: World Geodetic System-84
(WGS-84) Earth Centered Earth Fixed (ECEF).
 The current GPS constellation consists of 22 Block
II/IIA and 6 Block IIR satellites. The most recent
Block IIR satellite was launched on December 21,
2003.
 Control Segment
 This segment is responsible for operating the GPS
with the primary function to update navigational
message of the satellites.
 It estimates
 Parameters describing the satellites' orbit and clock
performance
 Health status of the satellites

 Requirement for any repositioning of satellites

 It consists of a network of Master Control Station

(MCS), Tracking or Monitoring Stations, and
Transmitting Stations
 MCS (also known as the Consolidated Satellite
Operations Center - CSOC) is located near Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
Locations of master control and
monitoring stations
 Control Segment
 MCS can implement a controlling methodology
 Monitoring stations located at Kwajalein, Diego Garcia,
Ascension, Hawaii, and Colorado Springs continuously
track the satellites in view and act as eyes and ears of
the segment.
 These stations measure range data to satellites which is
smoothed using ionospheric and meteorological
information before 15 minute normal points are
generated and transmitted to the MCS.
 Computations are carried out at MCS using this
information and an up-to-date navigation message is
uploaded to the satellites several times per day per
satellite via uplink or transmitting stations located at the
Ascension Island , Diego Garcia and Kwajalein.
 Control Segment
 The control segments consists of three sub-segments:
 Sub-segment I
 Sub-segment II
 Sub-segment III

 Control Sub-segment I:
 It consists of 5 tracking station to collect data based on
observing satellite in their orbits. Tracking is executed
with two frequency receivers equipped with highly
precise cesium oscillators.
 Meteorological data is also collected for accurate
evaluation of tropospheric delay
 Control Segment
 Control Sub-segment II:
 One MCS, takes data from other 5 tracking
stations and consequently predicts satellites
orbits by extrapolation.
 Computes clock correction for satellite time
referred to GPS time frame.
 Satellite time synchronization is carried out by
connecting MCS to US Naval Observatory
(USNO) in Washington DC.
 The clock correction data is then sent to
transmitting station for uploading.
 Control Segment
 Control Sub-segment III:
 Three transmitting stations are involved for
transmitting recent data (including broadcast
message) to satellites.
 These stations also send telemetry commands
for repositioning, switching spare components
etc.
 User Segment
 Consists of GPS receiver units with capability to
obtain real time positioning.
 GPS receivers are hand-held radio-
receivers/computers which measure the time
that the radio signal takes to travel from a GPS
satellite until it arrives at the GPS antenna.
 Using the travel time multiplied by the speed of
light provides a calculation of range to each
satellite in view. From this and additional
information on the satellites orbit and velocity,
the internal GPS receiver software calculates
its position through a process of resection.
 Advantages of GPS
 Unlike conventional surveying procedures, there is
no need for intervisibility between stations.
 Independent of weather conditions as a result of
using radio frequencies to transmit the signals.
 Use of same field and data reduction procedures
results in position accuracy which are independent
of network shape or geometry and are primarily a
function of inter-station distance.
 GPS surveying provides generally homogeneous
accuracy. Hence, geodetic network planning in the
classical sense is no longer relevant. The points
can be established wherever they are required and
need not be located at evenly distributed sites atop
mountains to satisfy intervisibility, or network
geometry criteria.
 Advantages of GPS
 GPS surveying is more efficient, more flexible
and less time consuming positioning technique
than using conventional terrestrial survey
technologies.
 GPS can be used to obtain high accuracy three
dimensional (3D) information, anywhere and any
time with relatively little effort on a global datum .
 The GPS instrumentation and the data
processing software do not radically change even
if very high or moderately high accuracies are
required (from 1 part in 104 to 1 part in 106 ).
 Current Limitations of GPS
 GPS requires that there is clear opening to sky without any
obstruction to the signals by overhanging branches or
structures (though the antenna can be raised above the
obstruction). Hence, underground usage is not possible.
Further, there may be limited applications in densely settled
urban areas .
 One needs careful advanced planning to realize true
potential of GPS. Various issues related to transportation,
travel, and logistic support need to be sorted out before
actual survey work for higher efficiency.
 Frequently, GPS surveyed sites may not be useful for
conventional surveys due to intervisibility, shape and
geometry requirements.
 Two intervisible stations would have to established by GPS
in order to satisfy the requirement for azimuth data for use
by conventional (line-of-sight) survey methods.
 Current Limitations of GPS
 Since GPS coordinates are available in global WGS-84 datum,
reliable coordinate transformation schemes are required for
transforming GPS coordinates into a local geodetic system for
their integration with results from conventional surveys.
 GPS results are, in general, more accurate than the surrounding
control marks established by terrestrial techniques over time.
Comparison of GPS and terrestrial results will be the source of
confusion, controversy and conflict for many years to come .
 Since GPS vertical information is not available in universally
acceptable geoid based height system, GPS heights have to be
reduced to a sea level datum by suitable transformation.
 The GPS instrumentation is still comparatively expensive.
Although the price of one receiver is likely to soon match that of a
theodolite-EDM instrument, generally a minimum of two are
required for most survey works.
 Because of complex procedures for planning, data reduction and
post-processing, GPS surveys require skilled personnel for
operations.
 Status of GPS Surveying
 10 to 15 years ago
 For specialists only
 National and continental networks
 Observation times not important
 Accuracy important
 Reliable results often required operator
intervention
 Software was hardly user friendly
 Status of GPS Surveying
 5 to 7 years ago
 Post processing only
 Primary application of GPS for control surveys
 A few applications for detail and topographic
surveys
 Main improvements were in
 Smaller receivers
 Rapid static
 Kinematic, Stop & Go surveys
 User friendly software
 Status of GPS Surveying
 Today
 All types of people expect to be able to use it, for all types
of applications.
 Accuracy and reliability almost taken for granted.
 Speed, ease-of-use, user features are key requirements
 Software has to be automated and user friendly.
 Constant demand for additional capabilities.
 GPS surveying to centimeter accuracy is an indirect
measurement system.
 Use of code measurements for cm level accuracy, phase
measurements for mm level accuracy; use of atmospheric
models, sophisticated processing algorithms, etc.
 GPS processing is quite complex, yet today we expect it to
be a standard surveying tool, almost like a total station or
EDM.