Validation of the GPS leveling method through the gradient analysis of the geoidal wave. Case study of Ecuador

We validated the GPS leveling as an alternative to the traditional geometric leveling method. Validation compares the geometric slopes derived from the GNSS positioning technique, heights resulting from geometric leveling campaigns and geoid undulations extracted from the Global Geopotential Model EGM08. This analysis was performed in the Ecuadorian mainland, where we identified areas in which the gradient of the geoidal undulation is less pronounced. The spatialization of the gradient or variation-based methods allowed to analyze the performance of the GPS leveling method, under the hypothesis that less variability in geoid undulation implies less discrepancies in the GPS unevenness. GNSS observations were determined on the leveling plates belonging to the Basic Vertical Control Network. The results of the study are given based on the relative error resulting from the comparison of the traditional differential leveling method with the corresponding values obtained from the GNSS positioning, considering different distances for the spread of unevenness.

Validation of the GPS leveling method through the gradient analysis of the geoidal wave. Case study of Ecuador.

We validated the GPS leveling as an alternative to the traditional geometric leveling method. Validation compares the geometric slopes derived from the GNSS positioning technique, heights resulting from geometric leveling campaigns and geoid undulations extracted from the Global Geopotential Model EGM08. This analysis was performed in the Ecuadorian mainland, where we identified areas in which the gradient of the geoidal undulation is less pronounced. The spatialization of the gradient or variation-based methods allowed to analyze the performance of the GPS leveling method, under the hypothesis that less variability in geoid undulation implies less discrepancies in the GPS unevenness. GNSS observations were determined on the leveling plates belonging to the Basic Vertical Control Network. The results of the study are given based on the relative error resulting from the comparison of the traditional differential leveling method with the corresponding values obtained from the GNSS positioning, considering different distances for the spread of unevenness.

Indoor height determination of the new absolute gravimetric station of L'Aquila

In this paper we describe all the field operations and the robust post-processing proceduresto determine the height of the new absolute gravimetric station purposely selected to belong to a new absolute gravimetric network and located in the Science Faculty of the L’Aquila University. This site has been realized indoor in the Geomagnetism laboratory, so that the height cannot be measured directly, but linking it to the GNSS antenna of AQUI benchmark located on the roof of the same building, by a classical topographic survey. After the topographic survey, the estimated height difference between AQUI and the absolute gravimetric site AQUIgis 14.9700.003 m. At the epoch of the 2018 gravimetric measures, the height of AQUI GNSS station was 712.9740.003 m, therefore the estimated ellipsoidalheight of the gravimetric site at the epoch of gravity measurements is 698.0040.005 m. Absolute gravity measurements are referred to the equipotential surface of gravity field, so that the knowledge of the geoidal undulation at AQUIg allows us to infer the orthometric height as 649.32 m.

Assessment of ArcGIS based extraction of geoidal undulation compared to National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) model – A case study

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and remote sensing Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) represent earth’s surface elevation with reference to ellipsoid and orthometric heights. Proper estimation of the geoid (difference of ellipsoid and orthometric heights) is necessary before comparing data referenced to the different vertical datum. In this paper, an error in estimating EGM96 orthometric height is highlighted, verified by NGA/NASA developed model and MATLAB®. A significant error was found in the ArcGIS derived EGM96 orthometric heights range between ±6.9 meters. In addition, interpolation of low-resolution geoid data also produces significant biases depending on geographic location and the number of the interpolation data point. The bias was maximum negative in the central part of Tibetan Plateau and Himalaya. Therefore, estimation of orthometric height similar to NGA/NASA model precision is necessary for comparison of DEMs for natural resources management, 3D modelling and glaciers mass balance mainly in the mountainous regions.

Geoid Determination and Gravity Works in Nepal

Gravimetric geoid plays the important role in the process of local/regional geoidal undulation determination. This approach uses the residual gravity anomalies determined by the surface gravity measurement using the gravimeter together with best fit geopotential model, with the geoid undulations over the oceans determined from the method of satellite altimetry. Mass distribution, position and elevation are prominent factors affecting the surface gravity. These information in combination with geopotential model helps in satellite orbit determination, oil, mineral and gas exploration supporting in the national economy. The preliminary geoid thus computed using airborne gravity and other surface gravity observation and the accuracy of computed geoid was likely at the 10-20cm in the interior of Nepal but higher near the border due to lack of data in China and India. The geoid thus defined is significantly improved relative to EGM –08 geoid.

USING SURFACE FITTING AND BUFFER ANALYSIS TO ESTIMATE REGIONAL GEOIDAL UNDULATION

Geoidal undulation is the distance from the surface of an ellipsoid to the surface of a geoid measured along a line that is perpendicular to the ellipsoid. This paper describes how the geoidal undulation can be derived from the orthometric height, Global Navigation Satellite System geodetic height, and a surface model. Various surfaces fitting using the plane coordinates of the reference points and analysis with different buffers were used to determine the geoid undulation Taiwan. The results show that the quadratic surface model outperformed other surface models, yielding a buffer radius ranging from 15 to 25 km. According to the results, the accuracy of regional geoid undulation (city or state) can be improved through this process of surface fitting

Using a least squares support vector machine to estimate a local geometric geoid model

In this study, test-region global positioning system (GPS) control points exhibiting known first-order orthometric heights were employed to obtain the points of plane coordinates and ellipsoidal heights by using the real-time GPS kinematic measurement method. Plane-fitting, second-order curve-surface fitting, back-propagation (BP) neural networks, and least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) calculation methods were employed. The study includes a discussion on data integrity and localization, changing reference-point quantities and distributions to obtain an optimal solution. Furthermore, the LS-SVM was combined with local geoidal-undulation models that were established by researching and analyzing3 kernel functions. The results indicated that the overall precision of the local geometric geoidal-undulation values calculated using the radial basis function (RBF) and third-order polynomial kernel function was optimal and the root mean square error (RMSE) was approximately ± 1.5 cm. These findings demonstrated that the LS-SVM provides a rapid and practical method for determining orthometric heights and should serve as a valuable academic reference regarding local geoid models.