First results of relative field calibration of a GPS antenna at BCAL/UFPR (Baseline calibration station for GNSS antennas at UFPR/Brazil)

Abstract

The precise and accurate determination as well as the usage of individual calibration values of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) antennas are of fundamental importance for state-of-the-art GNSS positioning at millimeter accuracy level, especially concerning the precise determination of the height component. Calibration values can be determined in various ways (relative vs. absolute, chamber vs. field). Within the transnational research project "PROBRAL: Precise positioning and height determination by means of GPS - Modeling of errors and transformation into physical heights", the first relative antenna calibration field of Latin America was established. One main goal of this cooperation was to establish a relative receiving antenna calibration field for GNSS instrumentations on the roof top of the "Astronomical Laboratory Camil Gemael" called BCAL/UFPR (http://www.lage.ufpr.br/), situated on the Polytechnic Campus of the Federal University of Paraná in Curitiba (Brazil). The status of the calibration field as well as recent results are going to be presented within this paper, e.g. a TRM22020.00+GP antenna was calibrated in three sessions of 24 h, with a data sampling rate of 15 s. The software WaSoft/Kalib was used to process the GPS phase observations. Carrier phase center offset values and carrier phase center variation values were determined relatively with respect to a Leica Choke Ring antenna. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.