A case of study for pseudorange multipath estimation and analysis: TAMDEF GPS network

Abstract

A research study was conducted to evaluate the amount of pseudorange multipath from GPS (Global Positioning System) observables at TAMDEF (Trans Antarctic Mountain Deformation) network, located in Victoria Land, Antarctica consisting of 33 GPS stations. It is well known that, despite carefully selected locations, the GPS stations are to some extent, affected by the presence of multipath. Pseudorange multipath effect for GPS measurements could be a potential contributor that might have an impact on the TAMDEF stations positioning. Thus, the root mean squared error variations (MP1-RMS and MP2-RMS) were estimated and analyzed in order to identify the most and least affected sites, considering GPS data span from year 1996 to year 2006. McMurdo (MCM4) IGS (The International GNSS Service for Geodynamics, formerly the International GPS Service) site, was adopted as part of the TAMDEF network, since MCM4 is the primary ITRF (International Terrestrial Reference Frame) access point for this part of Antarctica.