Assessing the Tropospheric Impacts on Positioning Accuracy Using IGS02 Real-Time Service Data Versus Long-Convergence Static PPP in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) has established the International GNSS Service-Real Time Service (IGS-RTS) as a service provider, offering real-time access to precise products like orbits, clock corrections, and code biases regarding satellite navigation and positioning system. These products serve as an alternative to ultra-rapid products in real-time applications. The performance of these products is assessed through daily statistics from Analysis Centres, which compare them to IGS rapid products. However, the accuracy of GPS real-time corrections for satellites during eclipsing periods was slightly reduced, attributed to the impact of environmental factors on the services. The speed of GNSS signals can be impacted by various atmospheric factors, including troposphere, temperature, pressure, and humidity, resulting in positioning inaccuracies and even giving rooms for signal jamming and hijacking. However, the unique weather conditions prevalent in the African continent are often overlooked during the development of error mitigation parameters and algorithms, which can lead to reduced accuracy in GNSS positioning in a region like Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to estimate the tropospheric impact on positioning with IGS02 Real Time Service data compared to long convergence Static-PPP in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopts the determination of the GNSS Static observations (minimum of two hours per session) on the chosen stations as standard, determination of the IGS-RTS data observations using RTKLIB software; observations were done with IGS-RTS data stream of IGS02 and statistical tests were performed. The GNSS Static coordinates and IGS-RTS coordinates were validated from error due to troposphere, temperature, pressure, etc., with the computation of their mean horizontal and vertical uncertainties which have a similar level of accuracy but slightly differ at centimeter levels. The result shows the Root Mean Square (RMS) Error discrepancy of IGS02 at the Wet and Dry season, as compared with the Static-PPP was within 0.065(m) and 0.046(m) respectively.