Improving GPS-Derived Ellipsoidal Heights Using Observed Meteo Data

Abstract

In this study, improvement of the accuracies in ellipsoidal heights derived from GPS observations by including  measurements of meteorological sensors performed simultaneously in the project area during static GPS campaigns carried out  in 2012 and 2013,  under different season conditions.  To our knowledge, this study hasn’t been studied before in Turkey. In this study real meteorological measurements were observed and used in the GPS processings and the results were compared with the ones obtained from standard atmosphere modelling using mapping functions. GNSS observations were performed as “winter measurements” and “summer measurements” on 10 previously determined During GPS observations, meteorological data (temperature, pressure and humidity) were also collected simultaneously by using meteorological sensors at measurement sites. Collected GPS and meteo data were evaluated by using different processing and tropospheric parameters.  GPS data were processed by using GAMIT Software.

During the evaluation and analysis of the processing results it was concluded that  accuracy of the GPS derived ellipsoidal heights can be improved by using real meteorological data if some criteria are fulfilled, namely, sensors should be placed high enough (i.e. at least 3 or 4 meters) at measurements sites and sensors must have high measurement accuracy and precision