Volume 11, Issue 3

The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) solutions that are published by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) are annual realizations of the ITRS (International Terrestrial Reference System). The results expressed in two different ITRS realizations can be compared using the transformation parameters that provide a link between different ITRF solutions. Generally, the 7-parameter (the three translation parameters, three rotation parameters and one scale factor) Helmert transformation is employed to compute the transformation parameters. However, the number of transformation parameters can be increased for better understanding. For example, 3 different scale factors may be computed instead of one scale factor. In this paper, the 9-parameter (the three translation parameters, three rotation parameters and three scale factors) transformation model and its solution by Procrustes approach is considered. Transformation parameters between ITRF 05 and ITRF 08 for Turkey have been computed in both 7-parameter model and 9-parameter model and a numerical example has been given to understand the difference between two models in a better way. An explanation about the proposed methodology as a flow chart also has been shown in appendix.

The importance of automated prism tracking is increasingly triggered by the rising automation of total station measurements in machine control, monitoring and one-person operation. In this article we summarize and explain the different techniques that are used to coarsely search a prism, to precisely aim at a prism, and to identify whether the correct prism is tracked. Along with the state-of-the-art review, we discuss and experimentally evaluate possible improvements based on the image data of an additional wide-angle camera which is available for many total stations today. In cases in which the total station’s fine aiming module loses the prism, the tracked object may still be visible to the wide-angle camera because of its larger field of view. The theodolite angles towards the target can then be derived from its image coordinates which facilitates a fast reacquisition of the prism. In experimental measurements we demonstrate that our image-based approach for the coarse target search is 4 to 10-times faster than conventional approaches.

In terms of high precision requested deformation analyses, evaluating laser scan data requires the exact knowledge of the functional and stochastic model. If this is not given, a parameter estimation leads to insufficient results. Simulating a laser scanning scene provides the knowledge of the exact functional model of the surface. Thus, it is possible to investigate the impact of neglecting spatial correlations in the stochastic model. Here, this impact is quantified through statistical analysis. The correlation function, the number of scanning points and the ratio of colored noise in the measurements determine the covariances in the simulated observations. It is shown that even for short correlation lengths of less than 10 cm and a low ratio of colored noise the global test as well as the parameter test are rejected. This indicates a bias and inconsistency in the parameter estimation. These results are transferable to similar tasks of laser scanner based surface approximation.

Zero-difference kinematic, dynamic and reduced-dynamic precise orbit determination (POD) are three methods to obtain the precise orbits of Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEOs) by using the on-board GPS observations. Comparing the differences between those methods have great significance to establish the mathematical model and is usefull for us to select a suitable method to determine the orbit of the satellite. Based on the zero-difference GPS carrier-phase measurements, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) has improved the early version of SHORDE and then developed it as an integrated software system, which can perform the POD of LEOs by using the above three methods. In order to introduce the function of the software, we take the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) on-board GPS observations in January 2008 as example, then we compute the corresponding orbits of GRACE by using the SHORDE software. In order to evaluate the accuracy, we compare the orbits with the precise orbits provided by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The results show that: (1) If we use the dynamic POD method, and the force models are used to represent the non-conservative forces, the average accuracy of the GRACE orbit is 2.40cm, 3.91cm, 2.34cm and 5.17cm in radial (R), along-track (T), cross-track (N) and 3D directions respectively; If we use the accelerometer observation instead of non-conservative perturbation model, the average accuracy of the orbit is 1.82cm, 2.51cm, 3.48cm and 4.68cm in R, T, N and 3D directions respectively. The result shows that if we use accelerometer observation instead of the non-conservative perturbation model, the accuracy of orbit is better. (2) When we use the reduced-dynamic POD method to get the orbits, the average accuracy of the orbit is 0.80cm, 1.36cm, 2.38cm and 2.87cm in R, T, N and 3D directions respectively. This method is carried out by setting up the pseudo-stochastic pulses to absorb the errors of atmospheric drag and other perturbations. (3) If we use the kinematic POD method, the accuracy of the GRACE orbit is 2.92cm, 2.48cm, 2.76cm and 4.75cm in R, T, N and 3D directions respectively. In conclusion, it can be seen that the POD of GRACE satellite is practicable by using different strategies and methods. The orbit solution is well and stable, they all can obtain the GRACE orbits with centimeter-level precision.

Great earthquakes (≥M8.0) often cause widespread postseismic decay in areas well beyond any recognised plate boundaries. The M w 8.6 and 8.2 northern Sumatra doublet earthquakes occurred on 11 April 2012, near the intersection of the Indian, Australian and Sundaland plate, have caused an extensive coseismic offset and postseismic decay over the region. In this study, the long-term GPS time-series (1999–2014) suggests that the postseismic decay associated with the doublet earthquakes have had a significant effect on the eastern boundary of the Sundaland plate up to the western region of Peninsular Malaysia. Before the 2004 M w 9.1 Aceh and 2005 M w 8.6 Nias earthquakes, the average velocity of continuous GPS sites in Peninsular Malaysia is moving southeastward at 37±3.1mm/yr$37\pm 3.1\hspace{2.5pt}\text{mm/yr}$ relative to the fixed Australian plate. The postseismic decay of these two great earthquakes has caused Peninsular Malaysia to experience elastic relaxation rebound into the south-southeast direction with a lower average velocity of 10±5.5mm/yr$10\pm 5.5\hspace{2.5pt}\text{mm/yr}$. After 2012 northern Sumatra earthquakes, Peninsular Malaysia returns to its original course of motion before the 2004 and 2005 earthquakes, with slightly lower average velocity at 25±2.4mm/yr$25\pm 2.4\hspace{2.5pt}\text{mm/yr}$. In this paper, the impact of coseismic and postseismic deformation of the 2012 M w 8.6 and 8.2 northern Sumatra earthquakes towards Sundaland plate vectors are discussed. A new rotation vector for the Sundaland plate is defined in ITRF2008 by using 10 selected cGPS sites that are assumed to be in the stable block, based on the 1999–2004 time-series data.

Along with the damage to buildings and infrastructure, the April 25, 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake caused significant deformation over a large area of eastern Nepal with displacements of over 2 m recorded in the vicinity of Kathmandu. Nepal currently uses a classical datum developed in 1984 by the Royal (UK) Engineers in collaboration with the Nepal Survey Department. It has served Nepal well; however, the recent earthquakes have provided an impetus for developing a semi-dynamic datum that will be based on ITRF2014 and have the capacity to correct for tectonic deformation. In the scenario we present here, the datum would be based on ITRF2014 with a reference epoch set some time after the end of the current sequence of earthquakes. The deformation model contains a grid of the secular velocity field combined with models of the Gorkha Earthquake and the May 12 Mw7.3 aftershock. We have developed a preliminary velocity field by collating GPS derived crustal velocities from four previous studies for Nepal and adjacent parts of China and India and aligning them to the ITRF. Patches for the co-seismic part of the deformation for the Gorkha earthquake and the May 12, 2015 Mw 7.2 aftershock are based on published dislocation models. High order control would be a CORS network based around the existing Nepal GPS Array. Coordinates for existing lower order control would be determined by readjusting existing survey measurements and these would be combined with a series of new control stations spread throughout Nepal.

This paper presents an investigation into the performance of real-time Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) in New Zealand. The motivation of the research is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPP technique and a satellite based augmentation system such as the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) to deliver a real-time precise positioning solution in support of a nation-wide high accuracy GNSS positioning coverage in New Zealand. Two IGS real-time correction streams are evaluated alongside with the PPP correction messages transmitted by the QZSS satellite known as MDC1. MDC1 corrections stream is generated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) using the Multi-GNSS Advanced Demonstration tool for Orbit and Clock Analysis (MADOCA) software and are currently transmitted in test mode by the QZSS satellite. The IGS real-time streams are the CLK9B real-time corrections stream generated by the French Centre National D’études Spatiales (CNES) using the PPP-Wizard software, and the CLK81 real-time corrections stream produced by GMV using their MagicGNSS software. GNSS data is collected from six New Zealand CORS stations operated by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) over a one-week period in 2015. GPS and GLONASS measurements are processed in a real-time PPP mode using the satellite orbit and clock corrections from the real-time streams. The results show that positioning accuracies of 6 cm in horizontal component and 15 cm in vertical component can be achieved in real-time PPP. The real-time GPS+GLONASS PPP solution required 30 minutes to converge to within 10 cm horizontal positioning accuracy.

For Wi-Fi positioning location fingerprinting is very common but has the disadvantage that it is very labour consuming for the establishment of a database (DB) with received signal strength (RSS) scans measured on a large number of known reference points (RPs). To overcome this drawback a novel approach is developed which uses a logical sequence of intelligent checkpoints (iCPs) instead of RPs distributed in a regular grid. The iCPs are the selected RPs which have to be passed along the way for navigation from a start point A to the destination B. They are twofold intelligent because of the fact that they depend on their meaningful selection and because of their logical sequence in their correct order. Thus, always the following iCP is known due to a vector graph allocation in the DB and only a small limited number of iCPs needs to be tested when matching the current RSS scans. This reduces the required processing time significantly. It is proven that the iCP approach achieves a higher success rate than conventional approaches. In average correct matching results of 90.0% were achieved using a joint DB including RSS scans of all employed smartphones. An even higher success rate is achieved if the same mobile device is used in both the training and positioning phase.