Quality aspects of a GPS reference network in Antarctica - a simulation study

Abstract

GPS has become an essential tool for the precise determination of point positions. Since GPS campaigns for geodynamic purposes – such as the monitoring of recent crustal movements – require major financial efforts, it is essential to ensure already in the planning phase a good network quality and the attainment of the scientific goals in a reasonable time. The paper outlines an operationally oriented procedure for these purposes based on the simulation and processing of GPS carrier-phase observations. Sensitivity analysis techniques are applied to describe both the network strain as it may be induced by gross errors and the detectability of point movements between two sessions or two campaigns. In addition, the eigenvalue decomposition of the variance-covariance matrix of the GPS coordinates will be used to identify weakly determined network components. The design of the SCAR Epoch 95 Campaign GPS network is discussed throughout the paper. It was realized in the Antarctic summer 1994/1995 on the Antarctic peninsula.