Efficient obstruction analysis for GNSS relative positioning of terrestrial mobile mapping system. Issue 342 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, J. Y.; Guo, J.; Chuang, J. Y.
• Is Part Of: Survey review. Volume 47:Issue 342(2015:May)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Mobile mapping system MMS, -- Global navigation and satellite system GNSS, -- Obstruction of satellite signal, -- Lineofsight analysis, -- Quality assessment; Surveying -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Surveys -- Periodicals; 526.9
• DOI: 10.1179/1752270614Y.0000000110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0039-6265

Abstract

Abstract : A mobile mapping system MMS is a combination of several modern sensors and is capable of acquiring meticulous spatial information in a fast and automatic manner. However, the result obtained is highly dependent on the quality of the global navigation satellite system GNSS which is expected to constantly provide accurate positioning solutions for the system. As a consequence, in an urban or mountainous area where satellite signals are frequently obstructed by local topography, the reliability of a terrestrial MMS system is not always guaranteed. In this study, a rigorous approach for predicting GNSS satellite reception under topographic obstructions along an MMS surveyed path is developed. By utilising a digital terrain model and a lineofsight analysis, visible satellites for a moving platform are identified and used for estimating positioning quality under a GNSS relative positioning model. Based on the results from real case studies, it is illustrated that the proposed approach provides a reliable prediction for GNSS satellite obstruction and relative positioning quality. Consequently, the locations andor epochs associated with poor GNSS positioning qualities can be identified beforehand and an appropriate survey schedule can thus be arranged.