Network approach versus state-space approach for strapdown inertial kinematic gravimetry

Abstract

The extraetion of gravity anomalies from airborne strapdown INS gravimetry has been mainly based on state-spaee approaeh (SSA), whieh has many advantages but displays a serious disadvantage, namely, its very limited eapaeity to handle spaee eorrelations (like the rigorous treatment of eross-over points). This paper examines an alternative through the well known geodetie approaeh, where the INS differential meehanization equations are interpreted as a least-squares network parameter estimation problem. The authors believe that the above approaeh has some potential advantages that are worth exploring. Mainly, that modelling of the Earth gravity field can be more rigorous than with SSA and that external observation equations ean be better exploited.