Ionospheric delay corrections for single-frequency GPS receivers over Europe using tomographic mapping

The majority of navigation satellites receivers operate on a single frequency and experience a positioning error due to the ionospheric delay. This can be compensated for using a variety of approaches that are compared in this paper. The study focuses on the last solar maximum. A 4D tomographic imaging technique is used to map the ionospheric electron density over the European region during 2002 and 2003. The electron density maps are then used to calculate the excess propagation delay on the L1 frequency experienced by GPS receivers at selected locations across Europe. The excess delay is applied to correct the pseudo-range single frequency observations at each location and the improvements to the resulting positioning are calculated. The real-time tomographic technique is shown to give navigation solutions that are better than empirical modelling methods and approach the accuracy of the full dual-frequency solution. The improvements in positioning accuracy vary from day to day depending on ionospheric conditions but can be up to 25 m during mid-day during these solar maximum conditions at European mid-latitudes.

Ionospheric tomography using GNSS: multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique applied to the area of Brazil

Experimental analysis was performed using multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (MART) to map the ionosphere over Brazil. Code and phase observations from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) together with the international reference ionosphere (IRI) enabled the estimation of ionospheric profiles and total electron content (TEC) over the entire region. Twenty-four days of data collected from existing ground-based GNSS receivers during the recent solar maximum period were used to analyze the performance of the MART algorithm. The results were compared with four ionosondes. It was demonstrated that MART estimated the electron density peak with the same degree of accuracy as the IRI model in regions with appropriate geometrical coverage by GNSS receivers for tomographic reconstruction. In addition, the slant TEC, as estimated with MART, presented lower root-mean-square error than the TEC calculated by ionospheric maps available from the International GNSS Service (IGS). Furthermore, the daily variations of the ionosphere were better represented with the algebraic techniques, compared to the IRI model and IGS maps, enabling a correlation of the elevation of the ionosphere at higher altitudes with the equatorial ionization anomaly intensification. The tomographic representations also enabled the detection of high vertical gradients at the same instants in which ionospheric irregularities were evident.     

The wavelet method as an alternative for reducing ionospheric effects from single-frequency GPS receivers

The ionospheric effect is one of the major errors in GPS data processing over long baselines. As a dispersive medium, it is possible to compute its influence on the GPS signal with the ionosphere-free linear combination of L1 and L2 observables, requiring dual-frequency receivers. In the case of single-frequency receivers, ionospheric effects are either neglected or reduced by using a model. In this paper, an alternative for single-frequency users is proposed. It involves multiresolution analysis (MRA) using a wavelet analysis of the double-difference observations to remove the short- and medium-scale ionosphere variations and disturbances, as well as some minor tropospheric effects. Experiments were carried out over three baseline lengths from 50 to 450 km, and the results provided by the proposed method were better than those from dual-frequency receivers. The horizontal root mean square was of about 0.28 m (1σ).     

基于北斗GEO的电离层延迟修正方法比较与分析

电离层延迟是影响导航定位精度的最主要因素。北斗卫星导航系统采用Klobuchar模型修正单频接收机用户的电离层延迟误差,对于双频接收机,可以利用不同频率信号的伪距观测数据解算得到电离层延迟值。为比较两种方法在天津地区的电离层延迟修正效果,利用NovAtel GPStation6接收机(GNSS电离层闪烁和TEC监测接收机)采集到的卫星实测数据进行计算。以国际全球导航卫星系统服务组织(IGS)发布的全球电离层格网数据为参考,对两种方法的修正效果进行比较分析。结果表明,在天津地区,利用双频观测值解算电离层延迟比Klobuchar模型计算结果更加精确,且平均每天的修正值达到IGS发布数据的82.11％,比Klobuchar模型计算值高948％      

RINEX_HO: second- and third-order ionospheric corrections for RINEX observation files

When GNSS receivers capable of collecting dual-frequency data are available, it is possible to eliminate the first-order ionospheric effect in the data processing through the ionosphere-free linear combination. However, the second- and third-order ionospheric effects still remain. The first-, second- and third-order ionospheric effects are directly proportional to the total electron content (TEC), although the second- and third-order effects are influenced, respectively, by the geomagnetic field and the maximum electron density. In recent years, the international scientific community has given more attention to these kinds of effects and some works have shown that for high precision GNSS positioning these effects have to be taken into consideration. We present a software tool called RINEX_HO that was developed to correct GPS observables for second- and third-order ionosphere effects. RINEX_HO requires as input a RINEX observation file, then computes the second- and third-order ionospheric effects, and applies the corrections to the original GPS observables, creating a corrected RINEX file. The mathematical models implemented to compute these effects are presented, as well as the transformations involving the earth’s magnetic field. The use of TEC from global ionospheric maps and TEC calculated from raw pseudorange measurements or pseudoranges smoothed by phase is also investigated.     

Application of SWACI products as ionospheric correction for single-point positioning: a comparative study

In Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) using L-band frequencies, the ionosphere causes signal delays that correspond with link related range errors of up to 100 m. In a first order approximation the range error is proportional to the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. Whereas this first order range error can be corrected in dual-frequency measurements by a linear combination of carrier phase- or code-ranges of both frequencies, single-frequency users need additional information to mitigate the ionospheric error. This information can be provided by TEC maps deduced from corresponding GNSS measurements or by ionospheric models. In this paper we discuss and compare different ionospheric correction methods for single-frequency users. The focus is on the comparison of the positioning quality using dual-frequency measurements, the Klobuchar model, the NeQuick model, the IGS TEC maps, the Neustrelitz TEC Model (NTCM-GL) and the reconstructed NTCM-GL TEC maps both provided via the ionosphere data service SWACI (http://swaciweb.dlr.de) in near real-time. For that purpose, data from different locations covering several days in 2011 and 2012 are investigated, including periods of quiet and disturbed ionospheric conditions. In applying the NTCM-GL based corrections instead of the Klobuchar model, positioning accuracy improvements up to several meters have been found for the European region in dependence on the ionospheric conditions. Further in mid- and low-latitudes the NTCM-GL model provides results comparable to NeQuick during the considered time periods. Moreover, in regions with a dense GNSS ground station network the reconstructed NTCM-GL TEC maps are partly at the same level as the final IGS TEC maps.     

Ionospheric error contribution to GNSS single-frequency navigation at the 2014 solar maximum

For single-frequency users of the global satellite navigation system (GNSS), one of the main error contributors is the ionospheric delay, which impacts the received signals. As is well-known, GPS and Galileo transmit global models to correct the ionospheric delay, while the international GNSS service (IGS) computes precise post-process global ionospheric maps (GIM) that are considered reference ionospheres. Moreover, accurate ionospheric maps have been recently introduced, which allow for the fast convergence of the real-time precise point position (PPP) globally. Therefore, testing of the ionospheric models is a key issue for code-based single-frequency users, which constitute the main user segment. Therefore, the testing proposed in this paper is straightforward and uses the PPP modeling applied to single- and dual-frequency code observations worldwide for 2014. The usage of PPP modeling allows us to quantify—for dual-frequency users—the degradation of the navigation solutions caused by noise and multipath with respect to the different ionospheric modeling solutions, and allows us, in turn, to obtain an independent assessment of the ionospheric models. Compared to the dual-frequency solutions, the GPS and Galileo ionospheric models present worse global performance, with horizontal root mean square (RMS) differences of 1.04 and 0.49 m and vertical RMS differences of 0.83 and 0.40 m, respectively. While very precise global ionospheric models can improve the dual-frequency solution globally, resulting in a horizontal RMS difference of 0.60 m and a vertical RMS difference of 0.74 m, they exhibit a strong dependence on the geographical location and ionospheric activity.     

Eye on the Ionosphere: The Correlation between Solar 10.7 cm Radio Flux and Ionospheric Range Delay

Patricia Doherty joins the regular contributors of this column to discuss the correlation between measurements of solar 10.7 cm radio flux and ionospheric range delay effects on GPS. Mrs. Doherty has extensive experience in the analysis of ionospheric range delays from worldwide systems and in the utilization and development of analytical and theoretical models of the Earth's ionosphere. Ionospheric range delay effects on GPS and other satellite ranging systems are directly proportional to the Total Electron Content (TEC) encountered along slant paths from a satellite to a ground location. TEC is a highly variable and complex parameer that is a function of geographic location, local time, season, geomagnetic activity, and solar activity. When insufficiently accounted for, ionospheric TEC can seriously limit the performance of satellite ranging applications. Since the ionosphere is a dispersive medium, dual-frequency Global Positoning System (GPS) users can make automatic corrections for ionospheric range delay by computing the apparent difference in the time delays between the two signals. Single-frequency GPS users must depend on alternate methods to account for the ionospheric range delay. Various models of the ionosphere have been used to provide estimates of ionospheric range delay. These models range from the GPS system's simple eight-coefficient algorithm designed to correct for approximately 50% rms of the TEC, to state-of-the-art models derived from physical first principles, which can correct for up to 70 to 80% rms of the TEC but at a much greater computational cost. In an effort to improve corrections for the day-to-day variability of the ionosphere, some attempts have been made to predict the TEC by using the daily values of solar 10.7 cm radio flux (F_10,7). The purpose of this article is to show that this type of prediction is not useful due to irregular, and sometimes very poor, correlation between daily values of TEC and F_10.7. Long-term measurements of solar radio flux, however, have been shown to be well correlated with monthly mean TEC, as well as with the critical frequency of the inonospheric F2 region (foF2), which is proportional to the electron density at the peak of the ionospheric F2 region. ? 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Absolute Positioning with Single-Frequency GPS Receivers

The use of precise post-processed satellite orbits and satellite clock corrections in absolute positioning, using one GPS receiver only, has proven to be an accurate alternative to the more commonly used differential techniques for many applications in georeferencing. The absolute approach is capable of centimeter accuracy when using state-of-the-art, dual-frequency GPS receivers. When using observations from single-frequency receivers, however, the accuracy, especially in height, decreases. The obvious reason for this degradation in accuracy is the effect of unmodeled ionospheric delay. This paper discusses the availability of some empirical ionospheric models that are publicly available and quantifies their usefulness for absolute positioning using single-frequency GPS receivers. The Global Ionospheric Model supplied by International GPS Service (IGS) is the most accurate one and is recommended for absolute positioning using single-frequency GPS receivers. Using high-quality single-frequency observations, a horizontal epoch-to-epoch accuracy of better than 1 m and a vertical accuracy of approximately 1 m is demonstrated. ? 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于神经网络的区域电离层模型及其在单频PPP中的应用

基于武汉市CORS系统的双频非差载波相位观测数据,利用改进的神经网络方法建立区域电离层模型,并通过单频GPS精密单点定位的计算实例来分析该模型的精度。计算实例表明,当基准站间的距离小于100km时,基于神经网络的区域电离层模型的平均外符合精度为0．03m,对于时段长度为4h的单频PPP静态时段解可以达到厘米级的定位精度。     

Combination of different space-geodetic observations for regional ionosphere modeling

Most of the space-geodetic observation techniques can be used for modeling the distribution of free electrons in the Earth’s ionosphere. By combining different techniques one can take advantage of their different spatial and temporal distributions as well as their different observation characteristics and sensitivities concerning ionospheric parameter estimation. The present publication introduces a procedure for multi-dimensional ionospheric modeling. The model consists of a given reference part and an unknown correction part expanded in terms of B-spline functions. This approach is used to compute regional models of Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) based on the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI 2007) and GPS observations from terrestrial Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference stations, radio occultation data from Low Earth Orbiters (LEOs), dual-frequency radar altimetry measurements, and data obtained by Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). The approach overcomes deficiencies in the climatological IRI model and reaches the same level of accuracy than GNSS-based VTEC maps from IGS. In areas without GNSS observations (e.g., over the oceans) radio occultations and altimetry provide valuable measurements and further improve the VTEC maps. Moreover, the approach supplies information on the offsets between different observation techniques as well as on their different sensitivity for ionosphere modeling. Altogether, the present procedure helps to derive improved ionospheric corrections (e.g., for one-frequency radar altimeters) and at the same time it improves our knowledge on the Earth’s ionosphere.     

An improvement to ionospheric delay correction for single-frequency GPS users – the APR-I scheme

 For the commonly used GPS wide-area augmentation systems (WAAS) with a grid ionospheric model, the efficient modelling of ionospheric delays in real time, for single-frequency GPS users, is still a crucial issue which needs further research. This is particularly necessary when differential ionospheric delay corrections cannot be broadcast, when users cannot receive them, or when there are ionospheric anomalies. Ionospheric delays have a severe effect on navigation performance of single-frequency receivers. A new scheme is proposed which can efficiently address the above problems. The robust recurrence technique is based on the efficient combination of single-frequency GPS observations by users and the high-precision differential ionospheric delay corrections from WAAS. Its effectiveness is verified with examples. Received: 24 December 1999 / Accepted 21 February 2001     

WAAS系统下单频GPS用户电离层延迟改正新方法

对于现有WAAS等差分GPS系统而言,在电离层活动激烈及系统不能正常发送或用户无法正常接收电离层延迟改正信息时,如何确保其所服务区域内单频GPS用户的电离层延迟的实时改正效果,是需要进一步解决的问题。本文提出一种能够同时克服这些不足的单频GPS电离层延迟实时改正方案,并用算例初步验证了其有效性。     

Contribution of ionospheric irregularities to the error of dual-frequency GNSS positioning

This paper investigates the third-order residual range error in the dual-frequency correction of ionospheric effects on satellite navigation. We solve the two-point trajectory problem using the perturbation method to derive second-approximation formulas for the phase path of the wave propagating through an inhomogeneous ionosphere. It is shown that these formulas are consistent with the results derived from applying perturbation theory directly to the eikonal equation. The resulting expression for the phase path is used in calculating the residual range error of dual-frequency global positioning system (GPS) observations, in view of second- and third-order terms. The third-order correction includes not only the quadratic correction of the refractive index but also the correction for ray bending in an inhomogeneous ionosphere. Our calculations took into consideration that the ionosphere has regular large-scale irregularities, as well as smaller-scale random irregularities. Numerical examples show that geomagnetic field effects, which constitute a second-order correction, typically exceed the effects of the quadratic correction and the regular ionospheric inhomogeneity. The contribution from random irregularities can compare with or exceed that made by the second-order correction. Therefore, random ionospheric irregularities can make a significant (sometimes dominant) contribution to the residual range error.     

电离层延迟的区域CORS数据实时监测

针对区域电离层变化情况较为复杂,所确定的电离层模型系数难以反映其短时间内的变化情况问题,该文提出了利用旋转地图内插结合曲面拟合模型实现区域电离层实时监测方法。采用旋转地图内插IGS提供的电离层数据,能够有效补偿电离程度与太阳位置的强相关性,提高总电子含量内插精度;基于曲面拟合模型对区域电离层进行实时监测,实现了模型系数的实时更新。利用JSCORS网的双频观测数据,采用曲面拟合模型建立了实时的区域电离层监测模型,数据计算结果表明,其网内外精度分别优于0.81TECU和0.96TECU。     

基于SEID模型的单频PPP双频解算方法研究

提出了利用区域内的双频观测值建立区域SEID模型,利用单频观测值反演得到双频观测值,进而组成双频无电离层组合观测值,实现了单频PPP双频解算。算例结果表明,本文提出的新方法大大缩短了定位收敛时间,显著地提高了单频PPP的定位精度。     

Performance comparison of semicodeless GPS receivers for LEO satellites

This report provides a detailed performance analysis of three semicodeless dual-frequency GPS receivers for use in low Earth orbit (LEO). The test set comprises the IGOR receiver, which represents a follow-on of the flight-proven BlackJack receiver, as well as two geodetic receivers (NovAtel OEM4-G2 and Septentrio PolaRx2), which are entirely based on commercial-off-the-shelf technology (COTS). All three receivers are considered for upcoming flight projects or experiments and have undergone at least a preliminary environmental qualification program. Using extensive signal simulator tests, the cold start signal acquisition, tracking sensitivity, differential code biases, raw measurement accuracy, and navigation accuracy of each receiver have been assessed. All tests are based on a common scenario that is representative of an actual space mission and provides a realistic simulation of the signal dynamics and quality on a scientific LEO satellite. Compared to the other receivers, the IGOR instrument exhibits a superior tracking sensitivity and is thus best suited for occultation measurements with low tangent point altitudes. The OEM4-G2 and PolaRx2 receivers are likewise shown to properly track dual-frequency GPS signals and normal signal levels and to provide accurate code and carrier phase measurements. Given their limited resource requirements, these receivers appear well suited for precise orbit determination applications and ionospheric sounding onboard of microsatellites with tight mission budgets.     

不同Klobuchar模型参数的性能比较

对于GPS单频用户而言,电离层延迟是最重要的误差来源之一。GPS系统使用Klobuchar模型对电离层延迟进行改正,其改正数从370组常数中选取。目前全球分布的GPS测站可以获得高精度的全球电离层监测结果,GPS为什么不发播采用实测数据计算得到的Klobuchar模型参数呢？本文针对这一问题进行分析。首先对欧洲定轨中心CODE提供的全球电离层图GIM预报COPG电离层进行精度评估,然后根据COPG电离层进行Klobuchar模型参数拟合并利用IGS提供的事后高精度电离层图进行精度分析,最后将不同的电离层模型参数应用于单点定位以评估其对单频用户的影响。分析结果表明：受8参数的Klobuchar模型本身结构限制,采用全球实测数据计算的电离层模型参数与导航电文中发播的电离层模型精度相当,为55%左右。而仅采用地磁纬度45oS以北的数据拟合得到的模型参数,其电离层改正精度有明显提升,可达65%左右,但其对单频用户定位精度改善不明显。本文研究结果为我国全球电离层建模提供参考。     

Accurate ionospheric delay model for real-time GPS-based positioning of LEO satellites using horizontal VTEC gradient estimation

Ionospheric delays compensation is a mandatory step for precise absolute and relative positioning of Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO) by GPS measurements. The most frequently used ionosphere model for real-time GPS-based navigation in LEO is an isotropic model proposed by Lear, which uses the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) above the receiver and a mapping function for TEC evaluation along a given ray path. Based on significant assessed results available for ground-based GPS receivers, we propose the use of a different model relying on the thin shell assumption and a bilinear horizontal variation of the VTEC as a function of latitude and longitude in the shell. It is expected that this model is capable of better describing horizontal gradients in the ionosphere, thus improving ionospheric delay estimation, especially in intense ionospheric conditions. This model is referred to as Linear Thin Shell (LTS). LTS performance in estimating undifferenced and double-differenced ionospheric delays is checked by comparing measured and predicted delays computed using flight data from the GRACE mission. Results show that the LTS always outperforms the isotropic model, especially in case of high solar activity. Moreover, the LTS model provides a higher performance uniformity over a wide range of ionospheric delays, thus ensuring good performance in different conditions. The results obtained demonstrate that the LTS model improves the ionosphere delays estimation accuracy by 20 and 40% for undifferenced and double-differenced delays, respectively. This suggests the LTS model can effectively contribute to improving precision in LEO positioning applications.