Real Time Precise Point Positioning: Are We There Yet?

The concept of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology was first introduced in 1976, however it took until the 1990s for PPP to generate interest amongst the greater GNSS community. Over the last two decades, dual-frequency PPP has been extensively researched, culminating in the availability of PPP post-processed correction products from organisations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the International GNSS Service (IGS) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). With the advent of cost-effective, accurate, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning provided by an increasing number of Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) networks around the world, the focus of PPP has shifted to real-time or near real-time solutions. A real-time or near real-time PPP solution would potentially allow for a viable alternative to RTK solutions in some circumstances. However, several limitations still remain, primarily the long convergence times needed to resolve ambiguities, currently restricting the use of PPP for real-time applications. This paper provides a brief history of the development of real-time PPP and reviews the recent advances made in PPP with an emphasis on the development of a real-time or near real-time PPP solution.

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