Regional GPS orbit determination using code-based pseudorange measurement with residual correction model

Abstract The study introduces the concept of regional GPS orbit determination, whereby GPS satellite positions are determined using GPS measurements from locally or regional distributed stations. The importance and characteristics of regional GPS orbit are briefly discussed. The technique used to determine the regional GPS satellite position is coined Inverse Single Point Positioning (ISPP). Code-based pseudorange is used and improved using residual correction model. Two designs of station distribution are selected in this study, which only cover stations in Malaysia and stations situated 8000 km from a reference point in Malaysia. The root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) of ISPP when compared against final ephemeris were 660.65 m and 27.61 m, while the 3D RMSE of positioning were 1.612 m and 1.324 m for the first and second designs, respectively, lower than the accuracy of broadcast ephemeris. Three parameters are identified as factors affecting accuracy of ISPP, namely geometry of station distribution, nature of measurement used, and technique of orbit determination. Further research will be required to fully realize a functional regional GPS orbit.