Assessment of Positioning with IGS02 and IGS03 Real Time Service Data Compared to Long Convergence Static-PPP in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

The persistent challenges being faced daily on the downtimes and completely data outages of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) is becoming worrisome and also the unavailability of GNSS control points around local regions where access to CORS is also difficult or unavailable in developing countries, such as Nigeria, has become a major challenge to accurate positioning by differential GNSS method. Also, acquisition of two units of dual frequency GNSS receivers is as well becoming too costly and unaffordable for users due to economic downturn. With the advent of International GNSS Service (IGS) – real-time service (IGS-RTS) which provides corrections that can be applied in real time, precise point positioning (PPP) with just a receiver unit has recently given a relief. The purpose of this study was to assess the positioning with IGS02 and IGS03 Real Time Service data stream compared to long convergence Static-PPP in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. The study determined the GNSS Static observations (minimum of three hours per session) on the chosen stations as reference, determination of the IGS-RTS data observations using RTKLIB software; and also observations were done with IGS-RTS data stream of IGS02 and IGS03 and statistical tests were performed. The GNSS Static coordinates and IGS-RTS coordinates were compared and analyzed. The results show the Root Mean Square (RMS) discrepancy of IGS02 and IGS03 observations, as was compared to the Static-PPP, the results fell within 0.065(m) and 0.028(m) respectively. This result indicates that IGS03 yields better performances in term of accuracy.