RTK Rover Performance using the Master-Auxiliary Concept

N. Brown, I. Geisler, L. Troyer

Networked Reference Stations and Structural Monitoring, Leica Geosystems, Heinrich-Wild-Strasse, Heerbrugg, 9435, Switzerland.

DOI:                 

Abstract

The Master-Auxiliary Concept, jointly proposed by Leica Geosystems and Geo++, is the basis of the soon to be released RTCM 3.0 network messages, the first industry standard for network RTK. The new standard, in addition to promoting increased compatibility and innovation in the industry, offers some distinct advantages to the end user over the previous generation of network corrections, such as VRS. With the Master-Auxiliary Concept complete information on the prevailing errors sources is made available to the rover, thereby facilitating the use of more intelligent positioning algorithms in the determination of the rover’s position. The net result is an increased robustness of the system and increased performance in terms of time to fix, reliability of the ambiguity fix and position accuracy. Empirical data from both Leica and third party reference station software and rover receivers is used to demonstrate the real world benefits of the Master- Auxiliary Concept in general and the Leica solution in particular. Clear improvements can be seen when combining the Leica GPS Spider network RTK software with the Leica System 1200 GPS receivers, even when using network correction data at a sampling rate of only 5s.

Keywords

GPS, network RTK, standard, masterauxiliary Concept

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Alves P.R.S. (2004) Development of Two Novel Carrier Phase-Based Methods for Multiple Reference Station Positioning. PhD Thesis, December 2004, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
[2]	Brown N., Keenan R., Richter B. and Troyer L. (2005) Advances in ambiguity resolution for RTK applications using the new RTCM V3.0 Master-Auxiliary messages. In: Proc of ION GNSS 2005, Long Beach, California, September 13-16, 2005.
[3]	Dai L., Han S., Wang J., Rizos C. (2003) Comparison of Interpolation Algorithms in Network-Based GPS Techniques. Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 50, No. 4, Winter 2003-2004, USA.
[4]	Euler H.-J., Keenan C.R., Zebhauser B.E. and Wuebbena G. (2001) Study of a Simplified Approach in Utilizing Information from Permanent Reference Station Arrays. In: Proc of ION GPS 2001, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 11-14, 2001. http://www.leicageosystems. com/se/en/downloads/lgs_page_catalog.htm?cid=2702
[5]	Euler H.-J., Seeger S., Zelzer O., Takac F., Zebhauser B.E. (2004) Improvement of Positioning Performance Using Standardized Network RTK Messages. In: Proc of the Institute of Navigation National Technical Meeting, ION NTM 2004, San Diego, California, January 26-28, 2004, http://www.leica-geosystems.com/se/ en/downloads/lgs_page_catalog.htm?cid=3228
[6]	Euler H.-J. and Ziegler C. (2000) Advances in Ambiguity Resolution for Surveying Type Applications. In: Proc of ION GPS 2000, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 19-22, 2000.http://www.leica-geosystems.com/se/ en/downloads/lgs_page_catalog.htm?cid=2702
[7]	Fotopoulos G. and Cannon M.E. (2001) An Overview of Multi-Reference Station Methods for Cm-Level Positioning. GPS Solutions, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 1-10, 2001
[8]	Gao Y., Li Z., McLellan J.F. (1997) Carrier Phase Based Regional Area Differential GPS for Decimeter-Level Positioning and Navigation. In: Proc of the National Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation, ION GPS 1997, Kansas City, Kansas, September, 1997, pp. 1305-1314
[9]	Marel H. van der (1998) Virtual GPS Reference Stations in the Netherlands. In: Proc of ION GPS 1998, Nashville, Tennessee, September 15-18, 1998, pp. 49-58
[10]	Raquet J.F. (1998) Development of a Method for Kinematic GPS Carrier-Phase Ambiguity Resolution Using Multiple Reference Receivers. PhD Thesis, May 1998, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
[11]	Raquet J.F., Lachapelle G. (2001) RTK Positioning with Multiple Reference Stations. GPS World, April 2001.
[12]	Richter B. and Green A. (2004) Relevance of Dual Frequency Surveying System Tests for Real Time Field Performance, In: Proc of ION GNSS 2004, Long Beach, California, September 21-24, 2004.
[13]	RTCM66 (2002) Network RTK Format Proposal for RTCMSC104 Version 3.0 by Trimble Navigation, RTCM paper 066-2002-SC104-281-TRIMBLE NETWORK RTK FORMAT PROPOSAL
[14]	Wanninger L. (2000) Pr?zise Positionierung in regionalen GPSReferenzstationsnetzen, PhD Thesis, published by ?Deutsche Geod?tische Kommission“, series C, booklet 508, Munich 2000, Germany.