Evaluation of Code & Carrier Based GNSS Positioning Techniques for Positioning Accuracy Using Low Cost GNSS Receivers

Global Navigation Satellite Systems are satellite constellations that provide geospatial positioning and precise timing information globally. These positioning and timing measurements are affected by various sources of errors, which causes the positioning accuracy to be compromised to several meters. To mitigate these errors, and increase the navigation accuracy, multiple positioning techniques have been devised that vary according to receivers' capabilities, application & user environment. In this research, we have experimentally evaluated positioning accuracy of code-based measuring technique, Single Point Positioning; and carrier-based measuring technique, Differential Positioning, Real Time Kinematics & Precise Point Positioning. The base station was established utilizing multi-constellation, multi-frequency, low-cost GNSS receiver, operating continuously for 48 hours, with further augmentation through precise point positioning technique. GNSS measurement data was collected through static rover station in three different scenarios: open sky, urban environment, and faded environment. This acquired data was post-processed and analyzed using RTKLIB, to assess the positioning accuracy of each positioning method in the three scenarios. The findings indicated that carrier-based static positioning consistently demonstrated superior performance compared to all other positioning techniques, with only precise point positioning showing comparable convergence towards the reference point in certain scenarios. In future, studies can implement the experimental methods used in this research to further study the effect of baseline and a moving dynamic rover on the navigation accuracy, in various environments.