GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation Research Articles

Implementation of GAGAN augmentation on smart mobile devices and development of a cooperative positioning architecture

Abstract This study presents an Android-based cooperative positioning (CP) architecture to improve the GNSS positioning performance on mobile devices. SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) augmentation increases positioning accuracies significantly by sharing corrections between SBAS-enabled and non-capable devices via wireless connection or using a central server. The Indian GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) is employed and assessed in the experiments. If GAGAN corrections are applied, all three chosen mobile devices showed a positioning accuracy improvement of around 95 %. The average 2D RSME was reduced from 75.23 to 1.35 m for the single-frequency GNSS smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and from 33.25 to 1.62 m for the dual-frequency Google Pixel 4. As expected, the third GIS mapping device, Stonex S70 tablet, showed the highest performance, achieving sub-meter positioning accuracies. Thus, the experiment has proven the suitability of GAGAN augmentation for mobile devices, providing positive insight for further development of the CP architecture.

Analysis of differential code biases for GPS receivers over the Indian region

Abstract The GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system provides the navigational services for single-frequency GNSS user via broadcasting the differential corrections with GEO stationary satellites. The significant differential correction contribution comes from ionospheric time delays and is necessary to be determined precisely. Dual-frequency GPS receivers measure the ionospheric time delays using GPS code and carrier phase measurements. The determination of absolute ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) requires the calibration of GPS satellites and receiver hardware biases due to different frequency-dependent signals (L1 and L2) due to environmental changes (Temperature and Humidity). In this paper, A receiver-based Differential Code Biases (DCB) algorithm is implemented to derive a joint estimation of TEC and RDCB parameters using the weighted Least Square (WLS) method. The daily averaged DCBs data for 26 GPS receivers are obtained for 3 years (2014–2016) from 26 GPS reeivers over Indian region. The receiver DCB algorithmis validated with the Fitted Receiver Biases (FRB) method. The correlation (R) between VTEC and RDCB is conducted to investigate the RDCB stability. The results would be useful for the accurate determination of ionospheric differential corrections to GAGAN users.

Hexagonal-Triangular Combinatorial Structure Based Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Patch Antenna for GAGAN Receivers

A multilayer gap-coupled dual band hexagonal microstrip patch antenna is presented for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) receivers. GAGAN is developed by AAI (Airport Authority of India) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) exclusively for aviation purposes with the GPS frequencies L5 (1176.45 MHz) and L1 (1575.42 MHz). The proposed GAGAN antenna has three trapezoidal and four equilateral triangular patch resonators configured to form a gap-coupled hexagonal patch on the top layer and seven equilateral triangular patches with slots in between to form the middle layer. Both the layers are fed by a single coax feed to achieve a dual band compact microstrip antenna of size 55 mm x 55 mm x 3.2 mm. Instead of designing the hexagonal antenna conventionally from a circular patch antenna, the sides of the equilateral triangular patch are truncated to obtain the proposed compact hexagonal antenna as the triangular antenna occupies less area when compared to circular or square patches for a fixed frequency. To bring in novelty with improved performance, the combinatorial structured configuration has been explored through step-by-step optimization. The aspects of GAGAN requirements like circular polarization with a single input, dual band operation and high gain with gain flatness are achieved with this compact structured antenna when compared to square and circular patch antennas. The combinatorial structures such as perturbation and truncation introduced in the patches are responsible for exciting two near-degenerate orthogonal modes producing circular polarization (CP). A cross slot etched in the center patch results in gain enhancement with a gain above 3.2 dBi over a bandwidth of 20 MHz in both the bands. Five shorting pins are added to achieve high impedance matching and good CP with an axial ratio (AR) below 2 dB. The simulated and measured results are found to be in good agreement with greater than 20 MHz operational bandwidth exhibiting CP with an omni-directional radiation pattern having high cross polar levels of -22 dB. The size reduction achieved in the proposed design is 56.79% when compared to the conventional hexagonal patch antenna. The measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth is 2.7% and 2.1% for L5 and L1 bands respectively with a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 2.3% for L5 and 2.0% for L1, satisfying GAGAN requirements.

PRIVATIZING INDIAN AIRPORTS - A SCRUTINIZED EVALUATION THROUGH VARIED CONTEMPLATIONS

This paper elucidates the changing ownership of Public owned airports to Privatisation. The analysis is envisioned towards the passengers’ interest in availing air transport which are likely to become more efficient. The improvisation of regional connectivity would yield more people to opt for air transport. A series of efforts were taken before making the questionnaires that were placed in the survey including the psychological aspects when deciding about the choice of airports which are getting privatized. The collected inputs from the passengers vary from seldom travelers to frequent travelers across the country are analyzed using the linear programming technique such as the DEA[1] which depicts the effective views of the travelers to go for Privatisation. The questionnaire was carefully framed such that all the aspects covering ergonomics level, including the ease of navigation, the reach of supporting staff. The airports would get diversified with their services without the intervention of Government. In India, a total of 137 airports which include 23 International airports (3 Civil Enclaves), 10 Customs Airports (4 Civil Enclaves) having custom and immigration facilities for limited international operations and 104 Domestic airports (23 Civil Enclaves) are administered by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).[10] The USA has 14,549 Private airports (74%) within the total 19,636 airports. Many countries like the USA, Russia, China, U. K, France have a larger number of Privately-owned airports helping their countries in getting economically strengthened. IATA forecasts a growth of 6.8% per annum for India. The usage of No frill airports would reduce the cost of capital investment in making an airport to start functioning and help the nation to grow in the economy. In addition, Six AAI airports are operated, managed, and developed under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) namely, Guwahati, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Lucknow. At Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, Performance Based Navigation (PBN) arrival and departure procedures have been implemented and for Hyderabad airport, it is in progress and Space-based, Final Operational Phase (FOP) of (GAGAN), GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation[10] is under implementation which is not airport-based and will be available for use at all of the country's airports. Enhancing the prediction of outcomes through feature selection, the Data envelopment analysis (DEA) method is used for the analytics questionnaire. This is a function whose form is based on the efficiency of the scrutinized evaluations. It's an approach for measuring the performance efficiency of global public airports through varied contemplations of results of the survey. This technique aims to measure how efficiently a DEA uses the resources available to generate a group of outputs along with feature section models that are then analyzed after that to evaluate the contributing factors for airport operation and privatization.

Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Annular Ring Patch Antenna for GPS-Aided GEO-Augmented Navigation Receivers

A compact, single- feed, dual band, circularly polarized annular ring patch antenna coupled to a cross slot is proposed in this letter for GPS-aided GEO-augmented navigation (GAGAN) receivers covering L band, centered at 1176.45 MHz (L5) and 1575.42 MHz (L1) frequencies. The antenna consists of two annular rings configured by two small strips, which is coupled to a cross slot in the ground plane for gain enhancement. Circular polarization in both the bands is produced by introducing perturbations in outer annular ring and two orthogonal strips in the center space of inner annular ring. The proposed CP antenna radiates LHCP in both the desired frequencies. Two shorting pins are introduced near the feed to improve impedance matching. The simulated and measured reflection coefficient, gain, circular polarization, and axial ratio are in accord with each other. The measured 10 dB bandwidth is 2.7% (1168–1200 MHz) for the L5 and 2.5% (1560–1600 MHz) for L1. The AR bandwidth below 3 dB for the designed antenna is 1.5% (1156–1174 MHz) for L5 and 1% (1556–1572 MHz) for L1.

Performance improvement of the GAGAN satellite-based augmentation system based on local ionospheric delay estimation in Thailand

Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) is essential to support aircraft navigation. L1 SBAS operates on the L1 frequency (1575.42 MHz) and is currently still of interest since all GNSS satellites and receivers do not fully support additional frequencies such as L5 (1176.45 MHz). Although the Global Positioning System (GPS) aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) SBAS is available, the performances are degraded due to the discrepancies of the ionospheric correction over Thailand and surrounding areas. Hence, in this work, we propose a new method based on the geometry-free ionospheric delay estimation with a single frequency (L1) and a single reference station requirement. The local ionospheric delays are estimated based on the proposed method with the observed GPS and GAGAN data in Thailand. Then the ionospheric corrections are obtained from the estimated local ionospheric delays. The analysis shows that using the estimated corrections, the positioning errors are reduced both on quiet days and locally disturbed days in 2019. More reductions in the positioning errors are found in September and December than other months. In addition, we perform a preliminary availability assessment of two critical phases of flights. The GAGAN performances with the proposed method for the APV-I and LPV-200 categories are improved up to 57% and 53%, respectively, in comparison with the baseline method of the IGP correction.

Evidence for the Significant Differences in Response Times of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly Crest Corresponding to Plasma Fountains During Daytime and Post‐Sunset Hours

AbstractBased on 10 years' (2010–2019) of vertical total electron content (VTEC) data from Ahmedabad (23.0°N, 72.6°E, dip angle 35.2°) and campaign based OI 630.0 nm airglow intensity measurements from Mt. Abu (24.6°N, 72.7°E, dip angle 38.0°), it is shown that plasma density over the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest region increases in varying degrees during post‐sunset hours (2000–2100 LT) in magnetically quiet periods. The post‐sunset peak in VTEC precedes the corresponding peak in airglow intensity. By comparing post‐sunset VTEC enhancements with ionosonde observations from Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.7°E, dip angle 1.7°), it is shown that pre‐reversal enhancement (PRE) of the zonal electric field causes these enhancements over the EIA crest region. These observations are supported by TEC measurements by GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented navigation), the Indian Satellite‐based Augmentation System (SBAS). Comparison of average VTEC variations with global empirical model drifts reveals that the post‐sunset enhancements in VTEC occurs ∼1.7 h after the PRE and are significant only during December solstice and equinoctial months in high solar activity years similar to seasonal variations in PRE amplitudes. This time delay (response time of EIA crest) is almost half compared to the average response time (3–4 h) associated with the daytime fountain. Based on the latitudinal gradient in SBAS‐TEC, it is proposed that the PRE drives plasma from 5°N to 10°N magnetic latitudes to the EIA crest region leading to shorter response time. These results show the important role of the PRE in conditioning the EIA crest region.

Evaluation of Ionospheric Delays Based on Orthogonal Dimensionality Reduction Approach

The effect of space weather on Global Positioning System (GPS) signals transmitted through the ionosphere is a significant cause of range errors and can be vulnerable to GPS users. Accurate evaluation of ionospheric delays plays an essential role in improving the navigation service in the position domain for Category I (CAT I) operations. In this paper, an attempt is made to estimate the ionospheric delays based on the Spherical Harmonic Function (SHF) model using the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) approach. Total Electron Content (TEC) data from 17 GPS stations were considered in this analysis and operate under the GPS–Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) network in the Indian region. The results show that the SVD–SHF approach is more efficient in estimating ionospheric delays than the Weighted Least Square (WLS) method. Due to the rapid convergence of the SVD, the first five singular values of the geometric matrix (H) can be used to represent the total variance. The average Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) deviations of (WLS–SHF) are 0.75 m and 0.61 m, and the corresponding deviations of SVD–SHF are 0.71 m and 0.59 m were recorded during the storm period 26 to 28 July 2004 (Dst = −170 nT). The computational load for modeling the ionosphere delays with the WLS–SHF model is 15.48 s and the corresponding load for SVD–SHF is 3.81 s. The proposed solution is numerically stable, requires less computation time, reduces the data dimensions, and round–off errors in initial data. The proposed algorithm can be implemented in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and surveying applications.

Ionospheric anomaly detection and Indian ionospheric climatology from GAGAN receivers

The ionospheric anomalies are often responsible for compromising the accuracy and performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) is the autonomous Space Based Augmentation System of India which serves to provide timely error detection and correction for the corrupted GNSS signals in aircrafts. This paper discusses a Maximum Minimum Eigen (MME) detector to identify the ionosphere induced errors in the GNSS signals. Data has been collected from 24 different GAGAN receivers spread over the length and breadth of India from January to December, 2015. The climatology of ionospheric anomaly over India, has been established using the MME detector. This paper discusses the spatio-temporal dependence of ionospheric anomalies over India. The observations indicate an increased ionospheric activity in the course of equinoxes and a comparitively quiet ionosphere in the course of solstices. A higher number of ionospheric disturbance incidents have been noticed closer to the anomaly crest. The results from the MME detector have been verified against the Rate of Total Electron Content (TEC) Index (ROTI) values and S4 observations for the year 2015 at the 24 GAGAN TEC stations. The disturbance climatology obtained from MME detector, ROTI and S4 exhibit a high correlation. However, the outcome of the MME detector clearly shows that it is capable of picking up even small irregularities in the ionospheric TEC.

Generation of Regional Ionospheric TEC Maps With EIA Nowcasting/Forecasting Capability During Geomagnetic Storm Conditions

In this paper, ground based Global Positioning System (GPS) Total Electron Content (TEC) observations collected from the GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) network over low latitude Indian subcontinent are assimilated into the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM). Gauss-Markov Kalman filter methodology is utilized and the background model error covariance (BMEC) matrix is framed using solar, geomagnetic, cross tail potential and hemispheric power indices using multivariate principal component analysis (MPCA) method. The model variations through different high latitude electric field models (Weimer and Heelis) are utilized in the data assimilation analysis. The proper attempt is modeled for providing TEC forecasts during geomagnetic storm conditions from 15th to 20th March 2015 days over Indian region. The more concentration is given in understanding the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) characteristics during the initial, main and recovery phase of St. Patrick’s Day March 2015 geomagnetic storm. The proposed model forecast outperforms the persistence forecast with maximum forecast score (1.6) and forecast skill (2.2) during recovery phase of storm. TEC forecasts are validated with current time step GPS observations and 93 % correlation is observed on quiet day (10th March 2015) and 82 % correlation is noticed on main phase of storm (17th March 2015). Also proposed TEC model analysis and forecast results are compared with International Global Navigation Satellite Service (IGS) TEC stations datasets. A clear negative storm effect (EIA inhibition) has been forecasted well with the proposed Kalman filter and MPCA methodology aspects.

Accuracy Analysis of Gagan for Different Types of Surveying Applications

With the advancements of technology, the use of GNSS technology in all the surveying applications are significantly growing due to its many several advantages over conventional techniques. However, in most of all surveying applications, the preservation of reliability and positional accuracy should be according to the national surveying standards published by Survey Department of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the uses of GPS augmentation systems with local and wide area differential positioning capabilities have increased demand. Considering the facts, two networks of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) were established in Sri Lanka, covering a part of Colombo district for real-time augmentation as a paid local area service. While it provides higher accurate differential service the users should have mobile internet with additional hardware, limited coverage and has a cost for the service as well. Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) are being developed worldwide due to their unique advantage of wide area coverage. Similarly, along with Airports Authority of India (AAI), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has worked out a joint project to implement the Satellite Based Augmentation System using GPS, called GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation). With the free use and availability of GAGAN in Sri Lanka, this study focuses on validating the applicability of GAGAN in various surveying methods in Sri Lanka. In order to test its performances, Control Surveying, Boundary Surveying and Road Surveying have done with a GAGAN active GNSS receiver by comparing with uncorrected standard positioning. Further, 24 hours of static observations were also collected with GAGAN active GNSS receiver to check the reliability of its use at any time of the day. It is found that accuracy in those applications has improved significantly in SBAS receiver due to real-time GAGAN corrections except in urban and forest areas (disturbing conditions). Further, 24-hour observations confirmed that GAGAN is capable of giving 92.6% of below 1-meter 2D positional accuracy at any time of the day . KEYWORDS: GNSS, GAGAN, Field Surveying, Accuracy

Application of Indian space-based augmentation service on geospatial data collections in Sri Lanka

GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) is the Indian Satellite-based Augmentation System, fully operational since 2013 with the objective of providing the accuracy and integrity required for civilian and aviation applications. This study investigates the usability of GAGAN service as an accurate, reliable and a cost-effective source of positioning and navigation for geospatial applications in Sri Lanka. Point, line and polygon features were collected under different challenging conditions to test the usability and potential accuracy of GAGAN. The average 3D positional accuracy enhancement over SPS is about 70 and 78% for GAGAN and DGPS observations, respectively. Similarly, the average GAGAN enhancement over SPS observation was 79% and 83% for linear and area measurements, respectively, and the improvement for DGPS was 86% for both feature types. This confirms that GAGAN can improve geospatial data collection accurately, almost similar to DGPS without a use of local reference station, or national CORS networks.

Performance Analysis of GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) Over Sri Lanka

Performance Analysis of GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) Over Sri Lanka

GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation Enabled Energy Efficient Routing for Mobile Ad-hoc Wireless Networks

Energy is a critical issue in Mobile Ad-hoc Network. Nodes in Network are working in presence of limited or less energy due to dynamic nature of nodes or infrastructure less network. MANET has no infrastructure so nodes in MANET work on dynamic routing. In this way, energy proficient routing is required for reducing energy utilization. Energy proficient routing plans can extraordinarily reduce energy utilization and augments the lifetime of the networks. Scalability of Ad Hoc Networks can be enhanced by using land data, for example, in LAR, GPSR etc. They utilize physical area data; regularly from GPS (Global Positioning System).GPS empowers a gadget to decide their position as in longitude, Latitude and Altitude by getting this data from the satellites. There has been significant effort in proposing energy efficient routing protocols with the help of GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) which have accuracy to approx One meter in India or its neighbor countries. GAGAN is a route framework which is helped by both GPS and nearby telemetry information to possibly give quicker and more exact situating and navigational information.

Origin of the ahead of tsunami traveling ionospheric disturbances during Sumatra tsunami and offshore forecasting

AbstractThe presence of ionospheric disturbances associated with Sumatra 2004 tsunami that propagated ahead of tsunami itself has previously been identified. However, their origin remains unresolved till date. Focusing on their origin mechanism, we document these ionospheric disturbances referred as Ahead of tsunami Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (ATIDs). Using total electron content (TEC) data from GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation GPS receivers located near the Indian east coast, we first confirm the ATIDs presence in TEC that appear ~90 min ahead of the arrival of tsunami at the Indian east coast. We propose here a simulation study based on tsunami‐atmospheric‐ionospheric coupling that considers tsunamigenic acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) to excite these disturbances. We explain the ATIDs generation based on the dissipation of transverse mode of the primary AGWs. The simulation corroborates the excitation of ATIDs with characteristics similar to the observations. Therefore, we offer an alternative theoretical tool to monitor the offshore ATIDs where observations are either rare or not available and could be potentially important for the tsunami early warning.

Salient features of the dayside low latitude ionospheric response to the main phase step-I of the 17 March 2015 geomagnetic storm

Based on TEC observations by India’s GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) GPS network, we report the dayside low latitude ionospheric variations over the Indian region during the moderate main phase step-I of the 17 March 2015 geomagnetic storm. In addition, we assess the efficacy of GPS inferred TEC maps by International GNSS service (IGS) in capturing large scale diurnal features of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) over the Indian region during this period. Following the prompt penetration electric field (PPE) at ∼0605 UT, equatorial electrojet (EEJ) enhances by ∼55 nT over 75±3oE longitudes where main phase step-I is coincided with local noon. Initial moderate EIA gradually strengthens with the storm commencement. Although GAGAN TEC exhibits more intense EIA evolution compare to IGS TEC maps, latitudinal extent of EIA are comparable in both. The enhanced EEJ reverses by ∼0918 UT under the effect of overshielding electric field, the later is accompanied by northward turning of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz. The weakening of well evolved EIA reflects in IGS TEC maps after ∼45 min of the overshielding occurrence. In contrary, GAGAN TEC shows the corresponding feature after ∼0115h. Resurgence of EIA, following the PPE ∼1115 UT, shows up in GAGAN TEC but IGS TEC maps fails in capturing this feature. The observed low latitude TEC variations and EIA modulations are explained in terms of the varying storm time disturbance electric fields. The anomalies between the GAGAN TEC and IGS TEC maps are discussed in terms of the possible limitations of the IGS TEC maps in capturing storm time EIA variability over the Indian region.

Modeling of Ionospheric Time Delay Using Anisotropic IDW With Jackknife Technique

Transionospheric signals are affected due to the existence of anisotropic plasma in the ionosphere. The precise estimation of ionospheric time delay will play a major role in achieving better positional accuracy. For the first time, a novel model based on anisotropic inverse distance weighting with “Jackknife” technique is proposed, and its performance is evaluated in the context of the Global Positioning System. The performance of the model is compared with three prominent models, namely, the modified planar fit, spline, and Kriging models. Multistation data of a GPS-aided geoaugmented navigation network are used to evaluate the fidelity and sensitivity of the proposed model in near real time. The results due to both quiet and disturbed days are encouraging.

TEC and Instrumental Bias Estimation of GAGAN Station Using Kalman Filter and SCORE Algorithm

The standalone Global Positioning System (GPS) does not meet the higher accuracy requirements needed for approach and landing phase of an aircraft. To meet the Category-I Precision Approach (CAT-I PA) requirements of civil aviation, satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) has been planned by various countries including USA, Europe, Japan and India. The Indian SBAS is named as GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN). The GAGAN network consists of several dual frequency GPS receivers located at various airports around the Indian subcontinent. The ionospheric delay, which is a function of the total electron content (TEC), is one of the main sources of error affecting GPS/SBAS accuracy. A dual frequency GPS receiver can be used to estimate the TEC. However, line-of-sight TEC derived from dual frequency GPS data is corrupted by the instrumental biases of the GPS receiver and satellites. The estimation of receiver instrumental bias is particularly important for obtaining accurate estimates of ionospheric delay. In this paper, two prominent techniques based on Kalman filter and Self-Calibration Of pseudo Range Error (SCORE) algorithm are used for estimation of instrumental biases. The estimated instrumental bias and TEC results for the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) station at Hyderabad (78.47°E, 17.45°N), India are presented.

Occurrence of equatorial spread F during intense geomagnetic storms

AbstractEquatorial spread F (ESF) has been observed in response to the prompt penetration of magnetospheric electric field to equatorial latitudes during intense (minimum Dst ≤ −100 nT; Bz ≤ −10 nT for at least 3 h) magnetic storms using global ion density plots of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) over nearly one solar cycle (1996–2005). Geostationary amplitude scintillation observations from Calcutta at VHF and L band for 1996–2005 and GPS amplitude scintillation measurements during 2004–2005 from the Indian Satellite Based Augmentation System Geostationary and GPS Navigation Outlay (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) network of stations all over India have been used to corroborate the DMSP observations. Subsequent to the time of southward interplanetary magnetic field Bz crossing −10 nT for an intense storm, it has been observed that within 4 h, ESF is generated at a longitude where the local time is dusk.

Satellite‐based augmentation systems: A novel and cost‐effective tool for ionospheric and space weather studies

AbstractSatellite‐Based Augmentation Systems (SBASes) are designed to provide additional accuracy and robustness to existing satellite‐based radio navigation systems for all phases of a flight. However, similar to navigation systems such as GPS which has proven its worth for the investigation of the ionosphere, the SBASes do have certain advantages. In the present paper, we propose and demonstrate SBAS applicability to ionospheric and space weather research in a novel and cost‐effective way. The recent commissioning of the Indian SBAS, named GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), covering the equatorial and low‐latitude regions centered around the Indian longitudes provides the motivation for this approach. Two case studies involving different ionospheric behavior over low‐latitude regions vindicate the potential of SBAS over extended areas.