Satellite Visibility and Availability
Satellite Visibility and Availability
A Ganesh and R Narayanakumar
The satellite visibility and availability is an essential parameter for precise positioning and surveying. Users of GPS must know where, when and what satellites should be tracked to attain the best results. The following are the essential measures a GPS operator is expected to know, during positioning.
The elevation angle: - is the angle from the antenna between the horizontal and the line of sight to the satellite.
The azimuth:- is the clockwise angle from north to the location of the satellite in the sky. Mask angle:- . The mask angle refers to the elevation angle below which GPS signals will not be recorded. A satellite is said to be visible if it is above the specified mask angle provided there is no obstructions are present. GPS receivers, processing software, or both may have an option to set a specific mask angle or cutoff angle.
Obstructions:- Obstructions are objects which block the path between a satellite and receiver. For example, if a desired satellite is at an elevation of 20° and azimuth of 70°, and a building is located at the same elevation and azimuth, the satellite signal will be obstructed. The avoidance of obstructions is very important to the successful application of GPS positioning.
Almanac files: - for any given location on the earth and time, it is possible to predict which satellites will be available and their location in the sky. This is accomplished by using almanac files which contain satellite orbit parameters, in conjunction with software designed to use almanac files to compute satellite visibility.
[pic] Elevation and Mask Angle Azimuth
(Courtesy: - Geomatics Canada, Information Services, 615 Booth Street, Ottawa, OntarioK1A 0E9)
Software packages to compute satellite visibility are available commercially and often accompany commercial GPS receiver software. When computing satellite availability, one should be careful to use
A Ganesh and R Narayanakumar
The satellite visibility and availability is an essential parameter for precise positioning and surveying. Users of GPS must know where, when and what satellites should be tracked to attain the best results. The following are the essential measures a GPS operator is expected to know, during positioning.
The elevation angle: - is the angle from the antenna between the horizontal and the line of sight to the satellite.
The azimuth:- is the clockwise angle from north to the location of the satellite in the sky. Mask angle:- . The mask angle refers to the elevation angle below which GPS signals will not be recorded. A satellite is said to be visible if it is above the specified mask angle provided there is no obstructions are present. GPS receivers, processing software, or both may have an option to set a specific mask angle or cutoff angle.
Obstructions:- Obstructions are objects which block the path between a satellite and receiver. For example, if a desired satellite is at an elevation of 20° and azimuth of 70°, and a building is located at the same elevation and azimuth, the satellite signal will be obstructed. The avoidance of obstructions is very important to the successful application of GPS positioning.
Almanac files: - for any given location on the earth and time, it is possible to predict which satellites will be available and their location in the sky. This is accomplished by using almanac files which contain satellite orbit parameters, in conjunction with software designed to use almanac files to compute satellite visibility.
[pic] Elevation and Mask Angle Azimuth
(Courtesy: - Geomatics Canada, Information Services, 615 Booth Street, Ottawa, OntarioK1A 0E9)
Software packages to compute satellite visibility are available commercially and often accompany commercial GPS receiver software. When computing satellite availability, one should be careful to use