The performance of BeiDou signals in high latitude area in Nordic countries

After the regional Chinese Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) reached its full configuration of 16 operational BDS navigation satellites in November 2012, China launched the new generation Beidou satellite in March 2015. The purpose is to test new navigation signals and inter-satellite communication links and define the necessary protocols for a future network that will be capable of providing global coverage. The rapid development of the BDS brings a promising prospect for all kind of application and the fusion of multiple GNSSs will significantly increase the number of observed satellites, optimize the spatial geometry and improve continuity and reliability of positioning. However, how the BDS could enhance the position accuracy and precision is still under intensive investigation. In this study, we utilize PANDA receivers to evaluate BDS's performance and benefits in positioning at high latitudes. The car-borne kinematic and static positioning using a PANDA receiver and a choke-ring antenna were carried out between latitude 60–71 degrees in Finland and Norway (Helsinki, Oulu, Saariselka and Nordkapp). A part of the test is north of the Arctic Circle. Except for the car-borne test, another static test at the Metsähovi Geodetic Fundamental Station was made. The PANDA receiver shared one antenna with another geodetic GNSS receiver for a zero baseline test. We also used the Finnish Permanent GNSS network FinnRef that has 20 GNSS stations between latitudes 60 and 70 for evaluation purposes. FinnRef stations are equipped with Javad receivers and individually calibrated choke ring antennas. All the stations are able to tracks BDS, GPS, Galileo and GLONASS. In order to assess the precise positioning performance with current multi-constellation GNSS, the Positioning And Navigation Data Analyst (PANDA) software developed by GNSS research center, Wuhan University, is employed to analyze the GNSS data and demonstrate the BDS significant contribution to precise positioning with current multi-constellations. Different processing schemes of PANDA software were compared to the Bernese GNSS software solution.