Satellite availability and point positioning accuracy evaluation on a global scale for integration of GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo. Issue 9 (1st May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Lin; Zhang, Xiaohong; Li, Xingxing; Li, Xin; Lu, Cuixian; Liu, Jingnan; Wang, Qianxin
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 63:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 2696
• Page End: 2710
• Publication Date: 2019-05-01
• Subjects: Four-constellation -- Availability -- Compatibility -- Precise point positioning -- Single point positioning; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2017.07.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: With the recent revitalization of GLONASS constellation and two newly emerging constellations of BeiDou and Galileo, multi-constellation integration has become a trend in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) development. In order to provide a good indication of the positioning and navigation performance under the current GNSS constellations for the global users, the availability of four-constellation integration with GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo should be investigated. In this study, the availability with the use of 31 GPS satellites, 24 GLONASS satellites, 18 BeiDou satellites and 11 Galileo satellites on a global scale is evaluated in terms of the number of visible satellites, the Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP) and the percentage of time span over which the position solutions can be acquired over the total time span during approximately a repeat cycle of orbits for all types of satellites. The effects of compatibility between different satellite systems on availability are discussed. In addition, datasets collected at 59 globally distributed four-system stations on 30 consecutive days are employed to fully assess the performance of four-constellation integrated dual-frequency precise point positioning (PPP), single-frequency PPP and single point positioning (SPP). The results indicate that the multi-constellation integration can significantly improve the availability and positioning accuracy. The enhancement of compatibility can also improve the availability. The availability can reflect the positioning performance.