THE APPLICABILITY OF LOW-COST MULTI-FREQUENCY MULTI-GNSS RECEIVERS FOR GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEYING

Abstract

In geodetic surveys, survey-grade receivers are conventionally used due to their accuracy. However, expensive survey-grade receivers deter users from performing geodetic surveys utilizing the technology. Considerably, multi-system and multi-frequency low-cost GNSS receivers are available today, which can already provide good positioning accuracy output. This paper evaluates the performance of low-cost GNSS receivers in single-point positioning, relative positioning, and network solutions compared to survey-grade GNSS receivers. The study used a survey-grade antenna to test the u-blox C099-F9P evaluation kit equipped with the ZED-F9P module, a low-cost GNSS receiver. Simultaneously, the survey-grade GNSS receiver utilizes the same antenna using a GPS splitter to ensure simultaneous observation. Based on the results, the low-cost GNSS receiver is comparable to the survey-grade GNSS receiver for single and relative positioning. For single-point positioning, the low-cost GNSS receiver achieved 1- and 1.5-meter accuracy in horizontal and vertical components at a 95% confidence level, respectively. In relative positioning, it achieved an accuracy of 1 millimeter on average at a 95% confidence level. The network solution utilizes four (4) Active Geodetic Stations of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority within the National Capital Region, used as reference stations. The low-cost GNSS receiver achieved an average accuracy of 8 millimeters. In summary, the ublox C099-F9P low-cost GNSS receiver achieved better than 1:100,000 or first-order survey accuracy stipulated in DAO 2007-29 surveying standards. Results show that the u-blox C099-F9P is possible for geodetic and other land surveying applications, even for high-accuracy requirements surveys.