Development of an RTK-GPS positioning application with an improved position error model for smartphones

Area of Science:

• Geomatics Engineering
• Mobile Sensing Technologies
• Geodetic Surveying

Background:

• Network RTK-GPS systems are complex and costly.
• Existing error models for RTK measurements are limited.
• Smartphone integration offers potential for accessible positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective smartphone application for Network RTK-GPS.
• To propose a novel error model for Network RTK measurements.
• To enhance the accuracy of real-time kinematic positioning.

Main Methods:

• Development of a smartphone application with wireless communication, NRTIP client, and RTK processing.
• Proposal of an error model accounting for random and autocorrelation errors.
• Application of state estimation filters, including a Kalman Filter, for coordinate calculation.

Main Results:

• The developed application achieves high-precision real-time positioning within centimeter-level accuracy at 20 Hz.
• The proposed error model demonstrates superior performance compared to models considering only random errors.
• Kalman Filter application validated the effectiveness of the new error model.

Conclusions:

• The smartphone application significantly simplifies Network RTK-GPS, reducing costs.
• The novel error model improves the accuracy of coordinate determination in Network RTK.
• This technology enables accessible, high-precision mobile positioning solutions.