Global Positioning System : Theory and Practice

This book is dedicated to Dr. Benjamin William Remondi for many reasons. The project of writing a Global Positioning System (GPS) book was con­ ceived in April 1988 at a GPS meeting in Darmstadt, Germany. Dr. Remondi discussed with me the need for an additional GPS textbook and suggested a possible joint effort. In 1989, I was willing to commit myself to such a project. Unfortunately, the timing was less than ideal for Dr. Remondi. Therefore, I decided to start the project with other coauthors. Dr. Remondi agreed and indicated his willingness to be a reviewer. I selected Dr. Herbert Lichtenegger, my colleague from the Technical University Graz, Austria, and Dr. James Collins from Rockville, Maryland, U.S.A. In my opinion, the knowledge ofthe three authors should cover the wide spectrum of GPS. Dr. Lichtenegger is a geodesist with broad experience in both theory and practice. He has specialized his research to geodetic astron­ omy including orbital theory and geodynamical phenomena. Since 1986, Dr. Lichtenegger's main interest is dedicated to GPS. Dr. Collins retired from the U.S. National Geodetic Survey in 1980, where he was the Deputy Director. For the past ten years, he has been deeply involved in using GPS technology with an emphasis on surveying. Dr. Collins was the founder and president of GeofHydro Inc. My own background is theoretically oriented. My first chief, Prof. Dr. Peter Meissl, was an excellent theoretician; and my former chief, Prof. Dr.mult. Helmut Moritz, fortunately, still is. This new edition accommodates the most recent advances in GPS technology. Updated or new information has been included although the overall structure essentially conforms to the former editions. The textbook explains in comprehensive manner the concepts of GPS as well as the latest applications in surveying and navigation. Description of project planning, observation, and data processing is provided for novice GPS users. Special emphasis is put on the modernization of GPS covering the new signal structure and improvements in the space and the control segment. Furthermore, the augmentation of GPS by satellite-based and ground-based systems leading to future Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is discussed This new edition adds the most recent advances in GPS technology, although the overall structure essentially conforms to the former editions. The textbook explains in a comprehensive manner the concepts of GPS as well as the latest applications in surveying and navigation. Description of project planning, observation, and data processing is provided for novice GPS users. Special emphasis is placed on the modernization of GPS, covering the new signal structure and improvements in the space and control segment. Furthermore, the augmentation of GPS by satellite-based and ground-based systems leading to future Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is discussed. This book shows in comprehensive manner how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works. The use of GPS for precise measurements (i.e. surveying) is treated as well as navigation and attitude determination. The basic mathematical models for various modes of GPS operations and detailed explanation of the practical use of GPS are developed precisely in this book. Additionally, the text shows why and how the kinematic mode differs from the static mode and exemplifies types of projects where different measurement modes are used. Explanations of proper project planning, execution data reduction, and coordinate computation are provided for novice GPS users. Since the dawn of civilization, man has looked to the heavens with awe searching for portentous signs.