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GPS Performances
| GPS | |
|---|---|
| Title | GPS Performances |
| Author(s) | GMV |
| Level | Basic |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
The GPS is a space-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian and military users on a continuous worldwide basis.
GPS provides two levels of service, Standard Positioning Service and the Precise Positioning Service:
- The Standard Positioning Service (SPS),[1] is a positioning and timing service provided on GPS L1 frequency and available to all GPS users. The L1 frequency contains a coarse acquisition (C/A) code and a navigation data message.
- The Precise Positioning Service (PPS),[2] is a highly accurate military positioning, velocity and timing service broadcasted at the GPS L1 and L2 frequencies. Both frequencies contain a precision (P/Y) code ranging signal with a navigation data message that is reserved for authorized use by the use of cryptography.
Introduction
The levels of performance that the user can expect from GPS are specified in the Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard,[1] and the Precise Positioning Service Standard.[2] However, the values provided by these documents are very conservative, being the actual performances usually better than these official values.
Moreover, the performance obtained with GPS depends strongly on the mode of operation. For instance, a stand-alone receiver that uses only the signals received from the satellites, the levels of performance are:[3]
- C/A-code receivers ~ 5 -10 m.
- P/Y-code receivers ~ 2 -9 m
In case of using GPS in a differential mode, the performances that can be expected are:
- C/A-code DGPS receivers ~0.7 -3 m.
- P/Y-code DGPS receivers ~0.5 -2.0 m.
GPS Service Level Perfomances
Standard Positioning Service (SPS) Performances
The Performance standards for SPS Service are:[1]
| Standard Positioning Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Based on Single Frequency | |||
| Coverage | Global | ||
| Availability | >99 % | ||
| Accuracy (95%) | Horizontal: 17 m | ||
| Vertical: 37 m | |||
| Time Transfer Error | < 40 nsec (95%) | ||
Precise Positioning Service (PPS) Performances
The Performance standards for PPS Service are:[2]
| Standard Positioning Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Based on Single Frequency | |||
| Coverage | Global | ||
| Availability | >99 % | ||
| Accuracy (95%) | Horizontal: 17 m | ||
| Vertical: 37 m | |||
| Time Transfer Error | < 40 nsec (95%) | ||
Combined and Future Services Performances
GPS can be interoperable with other GNSS systems. When combining GPS with other GNSS constellations this enhances positioning performance. This is due to an improvement in availability, i.e. the number of satellites in view is larger.
There are other ways to enhance the GPS positioning solution, such as GNSS Augmentation systems, or Differential GNSS techniques, that are explained in more detail in the corresponding articles. With DGNSS the accuracy is improved to the order of 1 m, and the GNSS Augmentation systems assures integrity.
References
- ^ a b c Global Positioning System Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard
- ^ a b c Global Positioning System Precise Positioning Service Performance Standard
- ^ The Modernization of GPS: Plans, New Capabilities and the Future Relationship to Galileo, Keith D. McDonald