Constrained and network multi-receiver single-epoch RTK positioning

Abstract

This work presents the concept of RTK positioning based on two or three rover GNSS receivers from two or three different reference stations. Additionally, detailed mathematical models of constrained least squares adjustments of RTK positioning based on two or three different RTK/GNSS receivers are presented. The models were tested on real RTK data using three rover Trimble RTK receivers and three reference stations of the ASG-EUPOS system. Practical calculations obtained from the adjustments showed improved accuracy over traditional RTK positioning when reference GNSS stations were located far away (about 30 km from the mobile RTK receivers). The maximum average absolute error for horizontal and vertical coordinates in constrained RTK positioning was over two times lower than in the single baseline RTK positioning, and reached 0.021 and 0.046 m, respectively. Since the concept of constrained and redundant, single-epoch RTK adjustment can be used for static or kinematic applications in real-time positioning, it can also be widely used in geoscience surveying and remote sensing.