Thursday, November 29, 2012

International Antenna Calibration Experts Convene at NGS' Corbin Training Center

This week, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) hosted researchers from the Royal Observatory of Belgium and Geoscience Australia at the NGS Corbin Training Center in Corbin, Virginia, to observe and discuss NGS's absolute antenna calibration program. NGS scientists demonstrated the new absolute antenna calibration system and processing software and were on hand to answer questions about calibration operations. During this visit, the researchers designed experiments for testing the accuracy of antenna calibrations and discussed methods and best practices for comparing results from various calibration institutions. for ground truth measurements and discussed methods and best practices for comparing various calibration institutions. NGS provides calibration of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas as a service to the public. NGS is currently the only International GNSS Service (IGS)-certified calibration institution in the United States. High accuracy and precision GNSS solutions are not possible unless antenna calibrations from all institutions are consistent with one another and accurately reflect the actual phase behavior of an antenna. Therefore, independent tests and verification of calibration values from NGS and other calibration institutions gives the geodetic community confidence in the positioning solutions using these calibration values. For more information, contact Andria Bilich.