On-line detection of abrupt changes in the carrier-phase measurements of GPS

Abstract

The detection of cycle slips in carrier-phase data, outliers in phase rate or in code ranges, or any other type of disorder in the measurements of the GPS system, is one of the major quality-control problems that needs to be addressed, especially where GPS is used for real-time applications or for those applications that require continuous and reliable positioning results. This study is concerned with designing algorithms to detect failures or changes of small magnitude, in order to monitor and control the quality of GPS measurements for critical real-time and/or deformation applications. In this regard, the statistical technique known as the cumulative-sum test is described for the detection of abrupt changes in the GPS carrier-phase measurements. Real GPS data have been used to test and evaluate the algorithm.