Comparative performance of PPP software packages in atmospheric delay estimation using GNSS data
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Reham Nagib
,
Mohamed A. Abdelfatah
Abstract
This study utilizes Precise Point Positioning (PPP) for accurate GNSS-based positioning with a single receiver. Seven PPP techniques (GAPS, APPS, CSRS, Magic-GNSS, gLAB, Pride, GAMP) are evaluated for zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) estimates, comparing them with Radiosonde (RS) and Radio Occultation (RO) data from the same day (36th in 2014). RO data is categorized based on RO Events (ROE) – GNSS observation distances (10 km, 50 km, 50:100 km), while RS data is limited to three stations (ASWN, FARF, PHLW). Generally, the differences among PPP techniques are within 5 cm, except for PRIDE-PPPAR, which exhibits semi-constant zenith wet delay (ZWD) values. Root Mean Square (RMS) and t-test comparisons with RO data reveal that APPS has the lowest RMS values for ZWD at 10 km, while CSRS-PPP performs well with increasing distance. Magic-GNSS demonstrates the highest RMS values at 10: 50 km, while APPS at 50:100 km. RMS values typically increase with greater ROE-GNSS distances, except for Magic-GNSS, which decreases. t-tests indicate statistically insignificant differences across PPP techniques, except for APPS and gLAB in the 50:100 km case. Comparisons with RS data indicate that CSRS-PPP achieves the lowest RMS values for ZWD at ASWN and PHLW, while Magic-GNSS and CSRS-PPP excel at FARF. However, Magic-GNSS, GAMP, GAPS, and Pride yield the highest RMS values at ASWN (00:00), (12:00), FARF, and PHLW, respectively. t-tests show statistically insignificant differences across PPP techniques for the three stations, except for APPS and Pride at ASWN and gLAB at PHLW. These findings demonstrate that CSRS-PPP consistently provides reliable ZWD assessments across various conditions, contributing to enhanced accuracy in GNSS-based atmospheric studies. The comparison of PPP techniques offers valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of each method, with implications for improving atmospheric modeling, positioning applications, and broader GNSS-based research in weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions (for double-anonymized journals: please use initials): All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: Data used in this paper is available from the authors upon request (corresponding author: Reham).
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Articles in the same Issue
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Original Research Articles
- Locally robust Msplit estimation
- Extending geodetic networks for geo-monitoring by supervised point cloud matching
- Evaluation and homogenization of a marine gravity database from shipborne and satellite altimetry-derived gravity data over the coastal region of Nigeria
- Modelling geoid height errors for local areas based on data of global models
- Unmanned aerial vehicle-based aerial survey of mines in Shanxi Province based on image data
- Ionospheric TEC and its irregularities over Egypt: a comprehensive study of spatial and temporal variations using GOCE satellite data
- Monitoring of volcanic precursors using satellite data: the case of Taftan volcano in Iran
- Modeling of temperature deformations on the Dnister HPP dam (Ukraine)
- Impact of temporal resolution in global ionospheric models on satellite positioning during low and high solar activity years of solar cycle 24
- Comparative performance of PPP software packages in atmospheric delay estimation using GNSS data
- Assessment and fitting of high/ultra resolution global geopotential models using GNSS/levelling over Egypt
- An efficient ‘P1’ algorithm for dual mixed-integer least-squares problems with scalar real-valued parameters
- Spatio-temporal trajectory alignment for trajectory evaluation
- Monitoring of networked RTK reference stations for coordinate reference system realization and maintenance – case study of the Czech Republic
- Crustal deformation in East of Cairo, Egypt, induced by rapid urbanization, as seen from remote sensing and GNSS data
