Uncertainty in GPS networks due to remaining systematic errors

The interval approach

authored by: Steffen Schön, H. Kutterer
Abstract: A realistic assessment of the total uncertainty budget of Global Positioning System (GPS) observations and its adequate mathematical treatment is a basic requirement for all analysis and interpretation of GPS-derived point positions, in particular GPS heights, and their respective changes. This implies not only the random variability but also the remaining systematic errors. At present in geodesy, the main focus is on stochastic approaches in which errors are modeled by means of random variables. Here, an alternative approach based on interval mathematics is presented. It allows us to model and to quantify the impact of remaining systematic errors in GPS carrier-phase observations on the final results using deterministic error bands. In this paper, emphasis is given to the derivation of the observation intervals based on influence parameters and to the study of the complex linear transfer of this type of uncertainty to estimated point positions yielding zonotopes. From the presented simulation studies of GPS baselines, it turns out that the uncertainty due to remaining systematic effects dominates the total uncertainty budget for baselines longer than 200 km.
Organisation(s): Institute of Geodesy
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of geodesy
Volume: 80
Pages: 150-162
No. of pages: 13
ISSN: 0949-7714
Publication date: 04.04.2006
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Geophysics, Geochemistry and Petrology, Computers in Earth Sciences
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-006-0042-z (Access: Unknown)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{60aa58f8c8c14d198297d2f110d839f9,
title = "Uncertainty in GPS networks due to remaining systematic errors: The interval approach",
abstract = "A realistic assessment of the total uncertainty budget of Global Positioning System (GPS) observations and its adequate mathematical treatment is a basic requirement for all analysis and interpretation of GPS-derived point positions, in particular GPS heights, and their respective changes. This implies not only the random variability but also the remaining systematic errors. At present in geodesy, the main focus is on stochastic approaches in which errors are modeled by means of random variables. Here, an alternative approach based on interval mathematics is presented. It allows us to model and to quantify the impact of remaining systematic errors in GPS carrier-phase observations on the final results using deterministic error bands. In this paper, emphasis is given to the derivation of the observation intervals based on influence parameters and to the study of the complex linear transfer of this type of uncertainty to estimated point positions yielding zonotopes. From the presented simulation studies of GPS baselines, it turns out that the uncertainty due to remaining systematic effects dominates the total uncertainty budget for baselines longer than 200 km.",
keywords = "GPS, Imprecision, Interval mathematics, Systematic errors, Troposphere, Zonotopes",
author = "Steffen Sch{\"o}n and H. Kutterer",
year = "2006",
month = apr,
day = "4",
doi = "10.1007/s00190-006-0042-z",
language = "English",
volume = "80",
pages = "150--162",
journal = "Journal of geodesy",
issn = "0949-7714",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
number = "3",
}