Thursday, January 24
Research Aims to Improve Airborne Positioning Accuracy (NGS)
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) recently performed a research experiment to calibrate the GPS antenna on top of an aircraft used in the Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Project. Antenna calibration for ground-based geodetic GPS antennas greatly reduces positioning errors. Despite its expected benefits, calibrating an aircraft GPS antenna is extremely rare, because of the complexity and variety of expertise needed to accomplish the task. NGS' unique combination of expertise in GPS antenna calibration, airborne positioning, and precise land surveying allowed scientists to conduct this test and estimate how calibrating a GPS antenna can improve airborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning accuracy. For more information, contact Theresa Diehl.
