Publication Date:
2023-09-06
Description:
The goal for the next generation of terrestrial reference frames (TRF) is to achieve a 1mm and 0.1mm/yr accurate frame realization through the combination of reference station solutions by multi-technique geodetic observatories (GOs), quality benchmarks which are motivated by the user needs from commercial and scientific disciplines that rely on high precision positioning and spatial referencing. A potentially significant source of error in TRF realizations is the inter-system ties between the instruments at multi-technique stations, usually independently measured through ground-based local surveys. In this work, a successful endeavor to satisfy the tie accuracy goals while exceeding the 200m GGOS baseline guidelines is detailed for the McDonald Geodetic Observatory (MGO), located in the Davis Mountains, Texas, USA. MGO consists of a VLBI Geodetic Observing System (VGOS), infrastructure in place for a Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) telescope, and several GNSS stations spanning a 900m baseline and a 120m elevation change. The results of the local ties between the GNSS stations across the near-kilometer baseline, as measured between their antenna reference points, show sub-mm precision and 1mm accuracy. These results are validated through day to day repeatability across several metrology surveys conducted in 2021 and sub-mm consistency in direct comparisons with baselines derived from GPS monthly averaged solutions. This presentation will report these results, highlighting the novel designs and techniques employed in the procedure, processing, and error-budget analysis. We present framework for assessment of sensitivities of future TRF realizations to ingesting ties of this quality, and present preliminary results.
Language:
English
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObject
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