Volume 16, Issue 2

Due to the ionosphere delay, which has become the dominant GPS error source, it is crucial to remove the ionospheric effect before estimating point coordinates. Therefore, different agencies started to generate daily Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs); the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) values represented in GIMs produced by several providers can be used to remove the ionosphere error from observations. In this research, an analysis will be carried with three sources for VTEC maps produced by the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE), Regional TEC Mapping (RTM), and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). The evaluation is focused on the effects of a specific ionosphere GIM correction on the precise point positioning (PPP) solutions. Two networks were considered. The first network consists of seven Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers from (IGS) global stations. The selected test days are six days, three of them quiet, and three other days are stormy to check the influence of geomagnetic storms on relative kinematic positioning solutions. The second network is a regional network in Egypt. The results show that the calculated coordinates using the three VTEC map sources are far from each other on stormy days rather than on quiet days. Also, the standard deviation values are large on stormy days compared to those on quiet days. Using CODE and RTM IONEX file produces the most precise coordinates after that the values of IRI. The elimination of ionospheric biases over the estimated lengths of many baselines up to 1000 km has resulted in positive findings, which show the feasibility of the suggested assessment procedure.

In almost all projects, in which terrestrial laser scanning is used, the scans must be registered after the data acquisition. Despite more and more new and automated methods for registration, the classical target-based registration is still one of the standard procedures. The advantages are obvious: independence from the scan object, the geometric configuration can often be influenced and registration results are easy to interpret. When plane black-and-white targets are used, the algorithm for estimating the target center fits a plane through the scan of a target, anyway. This information about the plane orientation has remained unused so far. Hence, including this information in the registration does not require any additional effort in the scanning process. In this paper, we extend the target-based registration by the plane orientation. We describe the required methodology, analyze the benefits in terms of precision and reliability and discuss in which cases the extension is useful and brings a relevant advantage. Based on simulations and two case studies we find out that especially for registrations with bad geometric configurations the extension brings a big advantage. The extension enables registrations that are much more precise. These are also visible on the registered point clouds. Thus, only a methodological change in the target-based registration improves its results.

The article presents information on how to use satellite interferometry to detect linear discontinuous ground deformation [LDGD] caused by underground mining. Assumptions were made based on the properties of the SAR signal correlation coefficient (coherence). Places of LDGD have been identified based on these assumptions. Changes taking place on the surface between two acquisitions lead to worse correlation between two radar images. This results in lower values of the SAR signal correlation coefficient in the coherence maps. Therefore, it was assumed that the formation of LDGD could reduce the coherence value compared to the previous state. The second assumption was an increase in the standard deviation of coherence, which is a classic measurement of variability. Therefore any changes in the surface should lead to increasing standard deviation of coherence compared to the previous state. Images from the Sentinel-1 satellite and provided by the ESA were used for analysis. The research is presented on the basis of two research areas located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in the south of Poland. The area in which LDGD could occur was limited to 6 % of the total area in case 1 and 36 % in case 2 by applying an appropriate methodology of satellite image coherence analysis. This paper is an introduction to the development of a method of detecting LDGDs caused by underground mining and to study these issues further.

GNSS signals have been a practical time transfer tool to realise a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and set civilian clocks around the world with respect to this atomic time standard. UTC time scale is maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measurements (BIPM) adjusted to be close to a time scale based on the Earth’s rotation. In Thailand, the official atomic time clocks are maintained by the National Institute of Metrology Thailand (NIMT) to produce UTC(NIMT) and Thailand standard time which is always 7 hours ahead of UTC(NIMT) because of the time zone differences between Greenwich and Bangkok. National Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) infrastructure comprises of GNSS geodetic receivers uniformly distributed to continually observe GNSS signals, mainly for geodetic survey applications both real-time and post-processing services. NIMT is involved in order to provide time link to UTC and to determine the characteristics of GNSS receiver internal clocks; namely, fractional frequency offset and frequency stabilities by applying the GNSS time transfer techniques of common-view algorithms. Monitored time differences with respect to UTC(NIMT) are achieved from selected 4 ground stations in different parts of the country with observations of 21 days in order to determine the frequency stability at 1-day and 7-day modes. GNSS standard log files; in RINEX format, at these receivers are transformed into a time transfer standard format; CGGTTS, used to compute the time differences between two stations, the fractional frequency offset and the frequency stability. Averaged fractional frequency offsets are 2.8 × 10 − 13 Hertz/Hertz2.8\times {10^{-13}}\hspace{2.38387pt}\text{Hertz/Hertz} and computed Allan deviation is around 1.5 × 10 − 13 Hertz/Hertz1.5\times {10^{-13}}\hspace{2.38387pt}\text{Hertz/Hertz} for an averaging time of 1 day. The comparison of the national time scale and receiver clock offsets of every receivers in this national GNSS PNT infrastructure could be accomplished through common-view time transfer using GNSS satellites to maintain the time link of geodetic active control points to UTC as well as to determine receiver internal clock characteristics.

We analyze the Global Positioning System (GPS)-derived strain rate distribution to investigate active crustal structure in Central Java, Indonesia, using ten years (2010–2019) continuous and permanent observation data. Central Java is the third-most populous province in Indonesia where postseismic deformation of devastating Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006 might influence the GPS data. The postseismic extensional response might overshadow the low contractional process due to active tectonics deformation. A decomposition method of a calculated strain rate shows a long wavelength feature with the extensional region in the vicinity of the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake may reflect the postseismic process remain active. The short wavelength pattern is sharpening potential active tectonics dominated by oblique Northwest-Southeast dip-slip motion with East-West left-lateral sense. Our result demonstrates essential implications for assessing future seismic hazard potential within a low strain rate such as the Central Java region.

Satellite attitude modes and antenna phase center variations have a great influence on the Precise Orbit Determination (POD) of Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEOs). Inaccurate information about spacecraft attitude, phase center offsets and variations in the POD leads to orbital error. The Jason-3 satellite experienced complex attitude modes which are fixed, sinusoidal, ramp-up/down and yaw-flip. Therefore, it is necessary to properly construct the attitude model in the process of POD especially when there is no external attitude data. For the antenna phase center correction, the PCO which is the deviation between Antenna Reference Point (ARP) and Mean Antenna Phase Center (MAPC) usually can be calibrated on the ground accurately, but the PCV which is the deviation between Instantaneous Antenna Phase Center (IAPC) and Mean Antenna Phase Center (MAPC) will change greatly with the change of space environment. Residual approach can be used to estimate the receiver PCV map. In this paper, we collected the on-board GPS data of Jason-3 satellite from January 2019 and analyzed the impacts of PCV and spacecraft attitude on the orbit accuracy by performing the reduced-dynamic POD. Compared with the reference orbit released by the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), using the PCV map can reduce the Root Mean Square (RMS) of orbit differences in the Radial (R), Along-track (T), Cross-track (N) and 3D direction about 0.3, 1.0, 0.9, and 1.4 mm. Based on the estimated PCV map, the orbit accuracy in R, T, N and 3D direction is 1.24, 2.81, 1.17, and 3.29 cm respectively by using the measured attitude data. When using the attitude model, the orbit accuracy in R, T, N and 3D directions is 1.60, 3.54, 1.33, and 4.13 cm, respectively. The results showed that the combination of measured attitude data and modeled PCV map can obtain the better orbit solution. It is essential to build a corresponding model in high-precision orbit determination, when there is no attitude data and PCV map.

This contribution presents the prerequisites in the construction process of a bio-based experimental pavilion. A first challenge, is to define tolerances and implicitly measurement tolerances for these materials. After defining them, the focus is set on what can be achieved if geometric quality control is only conducted during the assembly process. Despite using high-end total stations and terrestrial laser scanners in this process, the final pavilion showed discrepancies to its model. In some cases, these were larger than the given tolerances, showing on one side what tasks can be achieved with these instruments and on the other, drawbacks that remain a challenge in bio-based segmented experimental buildings. Finally, an improved workflow is suggested.