New RINEX Version 4.02 Released by IGS

12/11/2024 2504 views

The International GNSS Service (IGS) has officially released RINEX version 4.02 on its website, enhancing the previous RINEX 4.01 version and incorporating several refinements that address recent technological and operational requirements for global navigation systems. The latest release can be accessed on the IGS Formats and Standards page.

RINEX, or the Receiver Independent Exchange Format, is a standard format for GNSS data, allowing seamless data sharing and compatibility among GNSS receivers and systems worldwide. The 4.02 version includes multiple updates and modifications introduced over the past year, enhancing the system’s accuracy, flexibility, and reliability for GNSS data users and developers.

Summary of Changes from RINEX 4.01 to 4.02

  • Galileo System Time Update: Enhanced Galileo System Time definitions in line with the latest Open Service Definition Document (OS SDD), aligning GNSS time standards more closely across systems.
  • NavIC and GLONASS Navigation Messages: Added new navigation message types for the Indian NavIC system (L1NV) and updated GLONASS L1OC and L3OC CDMA navigation messages, improving support for these regional navigation systems.
  • Navigation Message Subtypes: Implemented subtypes across all navigation message record types, offering greater clarity and detail for messages in various GNSS systems, including QZSS and NavIC.
  • High-Precision Epoch Time Tagging: Increased precision for epoch time tagging in observation files to pico-second resolution, enhancing the accuracy of high-frequency time measurements critical for scientific and precise navigation applications.
  • Optional Content for GPS/QZSS Navigation: Included optional flags for GPS and QZSS CNAV/CNAV-2 messages, allowing users to specify additional flags such as the “Alert flag,” “Integrity Status flag,” and “L2C Phasing flag” for improved system monitoring and data integrity.
  • Acknowledgments and Document Updates: Updated references and added acknowledgments in recognition of previous RINEX Chairpersons who contributed to the development of versions 3 and 4, preserving the collaborative history of the RINEX community.

By implementing these improvements, the IGS aims to ensure that RINEX remains adaptable to emerging standards and capable of supporting the needs of a global user base. The added flexibility in data types marks a significant advancement in the usability of GNSS data worldwide, reinforcing RINEX’s role as a key tool in GNSS data exchange and analysis.

For further details and to access the full documentation of RINEX 4.02, please visit the IGS Formats and Standards webpage.