Performance Evaluation of Different GNSS Positioning Modes

Abstract

This paper gives a comparison of different GPS positioning modes using RTKLIB which is free and open-source software. The modes tested in this work are Single point positioning (SPP), precise point positioning (PPP), Satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), Differential GPS (DGPS), and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK). The data for tests were obtained from NetR9 receivers, these types of receivers are multi-frequencies and multi-constellation receivers that provide carrier and phase measurements. The SPP mode is the very simplest mode, it can be used for applications where accuracy is not less than 5m, and it can be improved to achieve 1m by using SBAS corrections but only in the coverage area of the system. The DGPS can also provide 1m accuracy using a second receiver as a base station which can increase the cost of the operation. For applications that need very high accuracy, RTK and PPP can be used to reach centimeter-level accuracy. RTK needs a base station in addition to the rover receiver used for the positioning; PPP uses precise orbital and clock solutions which are not available in real time for all users.