Chapter 2

GPS and Surveying

What is GPS?
A super accurate system
Developed and maintained by US Department
of Defense
Satellite-based
Sold US Congress on the idea that other
applications would follow
Signals are free
Unlimited users

3 Segments

Your location is:

37o 23.323’ N
122o 02.162’ W

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 Space Segment

Space Segment
≥ 24 satellites in full constellation
6 planes inclined at 55°
Each plane has 4 or 5 satellites
Very high orbit (20,200 km)
For accuracy
Survivability
Coverage
55
Equator

On Delta Rockets

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 The GPS Satellite

The GPS Satellite

3 atomic clocks
L Band Radio Signals - 19 -
24 cm Wavelength
Codes on the signal
Satellite Position
Also give health of system

Status of GPS
In development since 1973
First satellite launched in 1978
Managed by the US Department of Defense
Approx 12 Hourly orbits
In view for 4-5 hours
Min 4 in view 24 hours
Designed to last 7.5 years
Different Classifications
Block 1, 2, 2A, 2R, 2 F & 3

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 Status of GPS

Control Segment
• 1 master control station
• 1 alternate master control station
• 12 command and control antennas
• 16 monitoring sites

User Segment

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 Other GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite
Systems (GNSS)

GNSS
USA’s GPS Modernisation and
ultimately GPS-III
Russia’s GLONASS Re-
vitalisation
Japan’s QZSS
India’s GAGAN
China’s COMPASS
Significant new development is
the EU’s Galileo…

Perspective on Systems
USA EU Japan Russia China India

Global NSS GPS Galileo Glonass Compass

Regional NSS QZSS Beidou IRNSS

Global SBAS Starfire Omnistar

Regional
WAAS EGNOS MSAS GAGAN
SBAS

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 QZSS
• Three sats in different • High elevation sats in
orbits (45° incline) urban canyon
• Pass over same ground • One in three near zenith
track (earth rotation) over Japan

• Coverage in Australia too!

• 3-4 monitor stations here

GLONASS
Russian Federation’s
GLObal NAvigation
Satellite System
First launch Oct 1982
Uses 3 orbital planes rather than 6 with GPS
GPS - same frequency but different codes
GLONASS - same code, different frequency
Channel of Standard Accuracy (CSA) 60m
horizontal, 75m vertical (99.7% confidence)
Restricted access to Channel of High
Accuracy (CHA)

Galileo: A European system

GALILEO: Achieve European
sovereignty and increased
service availability through
dedicated system under civil
control

European
Commission

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 Galileo and Australia

Local monitor station(s)

Combined GALILEO / GPS

Agreement between EU and USA signed in
June 2004
Cooperation agreement addresses national
security, economic, and technical issues
Protects compatibility
Encourages civil interoperability

Frequency Coordination

Coordination with ARNS and GPS Coordination with Radar

E5A
L5 E5B E3 L2 G2 E4 E6
GPS/ GALILEO GALILEO GPS GLONASS GALILEO
1164 1188 1215 1260 1300 MHz
1216 1240 1256

Coordination with Coordination with

Coordination with GPS
Cospas-Sarsat Radio-astronomy

L6 C1
E2 L1 E1 G1
GPS GLONASS GALILEO

1544 1545 1559 1563 15871591 5000 5010 5030 MHz

1610 MHz
Uplink
only

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 GPS Signal Structure
Carrier L1 L2
Frequency 1575.42 MHz 1227.60 MHz
Wavelength 19cm 24cm

Code Modulation C/A-code L2C (recent)

P(Y)-code P(Y)-code
NAVDATA NAVDATA
L5 Carrier is coming!
C/A - Coarse Acquisition Code
P - Precise Code (Y-Code when encrypted)
NAVDATA - Satellite health, satellite clock corrections, ephemeris
parameters and SV orbital parameters.

GPS Signal Structure

Each GPS satellite transmits a number of
signals
Fundamental
Frequency
10.23 MHz ÷ 10

L1 C/A Code P (Y)-Code

x 154 1575.42 MHz 1.023 MHz 10.23 MHz

x 120 L2 L2C P (Y)-Code

1227.60 MHz 10.23 MHz
Coming
50 BPS Satellite Message (Almanac & Ephemeris)

x 115 L5
1176.5 MHz
Coming - IIF

Modernized Signal Evolution

C/A

Present Signal P(Y) P(Y)

(Block II/IIA/IIR)

M M
L2C C/A
2nd Civil; M-Code
P(Y) P(Y)
Block IIR-M
(FOC: 2010)

M L2C? M C/A
3rd Civil
P(Y) P(Y)
Block IIF
(FOC 2014)

1176 MHz 1227 MHz 1575 MHz

(L5) (L2) (L1)

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Satellite Signal Structure
L1 = 19.0 cm
L2 = 24.4 cm

λ
L5 = 25.5 cm

Carrier

Code

Satellite Signal Structure

Carrier

C/A-code

P-code

NAVDATA

Received
Signal

What is Measured?

GPS Observables

Code Ranges Carrier Phases

Autonomous Relative
Position Position

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 Satellite Range based on
Code Measurement

measure time difference

between same part of code

from satellite

from ground receiver

Satellite Ranging
Fourth measurement will decide between two points

The Integer Ambiguity

∆λ = First Partial Wavelength
A = Integer Ambiguity

Solving for the Integer

Ambiguity yields
centimeter precision

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Carrier Phase Results

Baseline or Vector
(cm precision)
Azi = 212o 42’ 49.8244” ∆ X = -408.251 m
Dist = 557.05307 m OR ∆ Y = -84.830 m
∆Elev = 4 .8751 m ∆ Z = -369.413 m

Static & FastStatic Surveying

Good Satellite Geometry

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Poor Satellite Geometry

Dilution of Precision
The geometry of the SVs is expressed as
Dilution Of Precision (DOP).
DOP is expressed as a numeric value
< 4 yield excellent precision
5 to 7 are acceptable
> 7 yield poor precisions
Perform your surveys during times of low
values of DOP

Human Error

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 Atmospheric Effects

< 10 km > 10 km

Multipath

GPS Surveying Techniques

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Technique for Survey Task

Summary

There are three segments to GPS. All must

be working to use GPS.

There are 2 GPS signals, L1 and L2.

Code Range measurements result in

autonomous positions with several meter
precision.

Carrier Phase measurements result in

relative positions with centimeter precision.

Summary (cont..)

GPS results are in reference to an ECEF

coordinate system and the WGS-84 ellipsoid.

Errors in GPS can be minimized by planning

and utilizing proper surveying techniques.

At least 4 SVs are required to determine a

position or survey with GPS.

At least 2 receivers are required to survey with

GPS.

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Questions ?

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