2006-12-06

N K
G
Classification of permanent reference stations for GNSS
1. Introduction
This is a document written by Andreas Engfeldt (Lantmäteriet), Casper Jepsen (Kort &
Matrikelstyrelsen), Gunnar Hedling (Lantmäteriet) and Svein Ola Thorsen (Statens Kartverk)
on behalf of the NKG project Nordic Positioning Service. First it contains a table overview of
the different station types in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Then comes the classification
into four classes as a matrix table with distinguished features and some necessary comments.
The classification was done at a meeting in Copenhagen on October 18-19, 2005. It was then
sent on a review to four experts (Lotti Jivall (Lantmäteriet), Oddgeir Kristiansen (Statens
Kartverk), Jan Johansson (Onsala Space Observatory) and Markku Poutanen (Finnish
Geodetic Institute)) and what could be seen in this document is the slightly modified
classification.

2. Current stations, 2006-05-12

Class A– B – station with

C – station D – Navigation
Country ”IGS/EUREF” DM without DM
Denmark 3 primary + 3 2 (BLAH & About 50 GPS- 2 Farvannsvesendet
ESEAS* KMS3) + 1 Referencen +
ESEAS* about 28
GPSNet.dk
Norway 13 SATREF - 35 CPOS + 8 -
“ESEAS”*
Sweden The 21 first 80 Simplified Göteborg 10 Sjöfartsverket
SWEPOS SWEPOS Positionerings
stations & 3 stations System (4
more SWEPOS stations) +
stations single reference
stations in
several
municipalities
* ESEAS = European SEA level Service, already included and stations which soon will be
included

3. Classification table

Item Class A Class B Class C Class D

1 Monument Environment:
1.1 - securing environment by legal means (with X X (X) -
written long-term contracts)
1.2 - station coordinates monitoring
 2006-12-06

N K
G
1.2.1 - daily solution X (X) - -
1.2.2 - at least four times a year X X X -
1.3 - if relocated: six months overlapping (X) - - -
relocation period
1.4 - monitoring radio disturbances (X) (X) (X) (X)
1.5 - multipath monitoring
1.5.1 - analysis of GPS data. X X X -
1.5.2 - monitoring of antenna X X X X
surroundings, min every 2nd year.
1.6 - monitoring ground water level
1.6.1 - direct well measurements (within (X) - - -
100 meters)
1.6.2 - monitoring local drainage and (X) - - -
regional water supply production.
1.7 - a platform for absolute gravity (X) (X) - -
measurements should be established in
connection to the monument.

2 Monument:
2.1 - extreme stability in space/time X - - -
2.2 - stability documented by time series, 1-2 mm1 < 5 mm < 5 mm > 5 mm
minimum 12 months.
2.3 - monument construction must be X - - -
documented
2.4 - terrestrial measurements between X (X) - -
benchmarks and pillar at least every third
year
2.5 - documented geological preconditions (X) - - -
2.6 - thermal expansion controlled by heating or (X) - - -
construction documented for this effect.

3 Antennas:
3.1 - Dorne Margolin antenna element and X X - -
choke-rings
3.2 - the antenna must be acknowledged by IGS X X X -
and have calibration values from
IGS/NGS.
3.3 - if an antenna splitter is used it must be X X X -
documented.
3.4 - spare antenna available within one week X (X) - -

1
After removal of trends, rms per coordinate, 2 x rms in height
 2006-12-06

N K
G
4 Radomes:
4.1 - if a radome is used it must be documented X X - -
and compliant with the IGS guidelines
-
-
5 Receiver:
5.1 - dual frequency, minimum 12 channel X X X -
geodetic receiver, mentioned in IGS
receiver-antenna table
5.2 - redundant receiver (X) (X) - -
5.3 - spare receiver of same brand/type available X - - -
within one week
5.4 - local storage of raw data either in a local X (X) - -
PC or internal memory.
5.5 - real-time data on redundant (X) (X) - -
communications routers
5.6 - the receiver must have at least 3 serial X (X) - -
ports, USB or an Ethernet port.
5.7 - external oscillator (X) (X) - -

6 Data rate / data storing

6.1 - every 1 second X X (X) -
6.2 - other, at least every 30th second (X) (X) X -
6.3 - data available at least one year X X (X) -

7 Station security and environment

7.1 - limited access to the station X X X X
7.2 - the station is manned. (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.3 - the station is equipped with fire- (X) (X) (X) (X)
alarm/alarm/webcamera
7.4 - UPS or alternatives X X (X) (X)
7.5 - lightning protection of electronics (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.6 - lightning protection of antenna (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.7 - lightning protection of building (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.8 - redundant communications. (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.9 - stable temperature for the GNSS receiver X (X) (X) (X)
7.10 - indoor climate logging (X) (X) (X) (X)
7.11 - meteorological measurement equipment (X) (X) (X) -

8 Documentation if available:
8.1 - station must have an IGS-logfile. X (X) - -
 2006-12-06

N K
G
8.2 - antenna cable, length, type X (X) - -
8.3 - signal splitter (X) (X) - -
8.4 - lightning protection (X) (X) - -
8.5 - external frequency (X) (X) - -
8.6 - meteorological equipment (X) (X) (X) -
8.7 - UPS (X) (X) - -

4. Comments to the Classificationtable (3)

1. Monument environment
1.1 To be classed as a A station it is not only demanded that one has the rights to the ground
where the pillar stands, but also that one has the right to cut down trees around etc. (some
reservation).
1.2.1 Shall be post processed with an advanced geodetic software (Bernese software, Gamit,
Gipsy etc.).
1.2.2 See above.
1.4 Lantmätereiet has one receiver with an option to measure disturbance on the GNSS
frequencies. The receiver can in need be borrowed/rented. Observe that Ethernet is needed on
the station.
1.5.1 Daily quality test with TECQ in near real time.
1.6.1 Wells further away than 100 metres from the pillar/station doesn’t count as ”direct”.
1.6.2 Other public institutions may have a ground water monitoring within a radius of 20-30
km from the station.

2. Monument
2.2 See 1.2.1
2.5 Before a class A station is established it is preferable that the geological conditions are
studied. This is extra important for Denmark and the parts of Sweden where open bedrock is
rare.
2.6 Good to know the expansion coefficient of the pillar material.

5. Receiver
5.2 and 5.3 It is good from a data availability point of view to have a redundant receiver, but
only as an option. It is a requirement to have access to a similar receiver within a week if the
regular receiver should break down. Exceptions are unaccessible areas like i.e. Arctic or Jan
Mayen (where no GPS site still doesn’t exist). Corresponding items can be applied to 3.4
(spare antenna).

6. Data rate / data storing

6.1 and 6.2 For class A and B it is required that data is stored every second and it is also good
if the same thing happens for the class C stations. For class C it is instead required that data is
 2006-12-06

N K
G
stored at least twice a minute. The format should be RINEX, but a receiver specific format
will also do.
6.3 For how long data shall be available depends on many things, i.e. 1.2.2 and if data should
be used to calculate land uplift/sinking.

7. Station security and environment

7.1. The GNSS antenna shall be out of reach to the public, without any fences around. GNSS
receivers must be in a locked space to be counted as “limited access”.
7.9 The oscillator in the GNSS receiver works best in a stabile temperature. To achieve a
stabile temperature can be done in a many different ways, but the two ways we recommend
are with an air conditioner or that the receiver is placed in a naturally cool basement.

8. Documentation if available
8.1 It is important that all class A stations have an IGS logfile and that it is maintained.