Reliability of CSRS-PPP for Validating the Egyptian Geodetic Cors Networks

Abstract

Abstract The development, utilization, and maintenance of continuously operating reference stations (CORS) network are vital in many areas of surveying and geodesy, such as controllinggeodetic networks, developinglocal ionospheric models, and estimating the tectonic plate movements. Accordingly, the Egyptian Surveying Authority (ESA) established a CORS network consisting of 40 stations covering the Nile valley and its delta in 2011. CORS collect global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data. Recently, Egypt has witnessed rapid growth in many infrastructure projects and the development of new cities on a national scale. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the ESA-CORS accuracy; the quality of data from the ESA-CORS must be considered for monitoring continuous tectonic motion, coordinating changes, and for Egypt’s development plan. Contemporary research worldwide identified considerable benefits of the precise point positioning (PPP) solution of dual- or single-frequency GNSS data. This study investigates the reliability of using the CSRS-PPP service for three consecutive observation days of 32 ESA-CORS networks in Egypt and the surrounding six international GNSS services (IGS)-CORS. For ESA-CORS, the PPP solution showed a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 6 mm (standard deviation [SD] = 3–4 mm) in east and north; for the height direction, the solution indicated an RMSE value of 22 mm (SD was about 14 mm). At a confidence level of 95%, this study revealed that SD95% was 2 mm in east and north directions and 6–7 mm for the height direction. This study shows that the PPP solution shown from the ESA-CORS stations is associated with two times better for horizontal and four times for the height direction than the delivered form ESA-CORS stations.