Optimizing a network-based RTK method for OTF positioning

Differential GPS is able to provide cm-level positioning accuracies, as long as the carrier phase ambiguities are resolved to integer values. Classical methods are based on the use of a single reference station located in the vicinity of the rover. Due to the spatial decorrelation of the errors, the distance between the reference station and the user is generally limited to within 20–30 km or even less, mainly due to the ionosphere. The MultiRef method, developed at the University of Calgary, uses a network of reference stations to generate regional code and carrier phase corrections, which can be transmitted to users in order to increase the distance over which integer ambiguity resolution is possible. In the original method, the correlated errors, due to the satellite orbits, troposphere, and ionosphere are modeled together using the L1 and wide-lane observables.