Processing Evaluation of SIRGAS-CON Network by IBGE Analysis Center

Abstract

IBGE – The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics became an Analysis Center for the SIRGAS-CON (Geocentric Reference System for the Americas), permanent GNSS network after getting experience as a Pilot Processing Center for 2 years. In the beginning, about 30 stations were processed. With the growing number of GNSS stations on the American continent, there are now about 100 stations being processed every week. Since week 1,495, IBGE officially shares the processing task of SIRGAS-CON network with three more Analysis Centers: Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi – IGAC (Colombia), Instituto de Geodesia y Geodinâmica de la Universidad Nacional del Cuyo, IGG-CIMA (Argentina) and Deutsches Geodatisches Forschungsinstitut-DGFI (Germany). Each center is responsible for the processing of a group of stations. The purpose of this effort is to contribute to the IGS Regional Network Associate Analysis Center for SIRGAS (IGS RNAAC SIR) solution, with a densified network. We present the current status and efforts of IBGE as an official Processing Center for SIRGAS. The perspective is to increase the number of stations in 2009, with the inclusion of new stations from the Brazilian GNSS Permanent Network, RBMC – Rede Brasileira de Monitoramento Continuo dos Sistemas GNSS. The processing strategy applied using the Bernese GNSS Software is presented, as well as relevant information for the development of activities. Results are evaluated and compared to the solutions provided by other institutions (DGFI, IGG-CIMA and IGS) and discrepancies are analyzed. Some important issues related to the maintenance of the national permanent GPS networks are shown in the coordinate time series.