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IIG scientists develop method to improve GPS accuracy
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have developed a new approach to model the topside ionosphere, aiming to reduce positioning errors in GPS and other satellite navigation systems. The method…
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have developed a new approach to model the topside ionosphere, aiming to reduce positioning errors in GPS and other satellite navigation systems. The method uses ground-based measurements to estimate electron density in the upper ionosphere, which can cause positioning errors of several metres to tens of metres if uncorrected.
The study, published in Radio Science, used data from a digital ionosonde at Tirunelveli and COSMIC satellite observations. The researchers reconstructed the topside electron-density profile for 2014 and 2020, representing high and low solar activity periods, using alpha-Chapman and semi-Epstein models. India currently has no dedicated satellite for continuous monitoring of the topside ionosphere.
The technique could benefit high-precision applications such as autonomous vehicles, aircraft navigation, and drone operations, as well as scientific tasks like monitoring tectonic plate movements and crustal deformation. Severe ionospheric disturbances can lead to positioning errors exceeding 10 metres.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The ionosphere's effect on GPS is a known challenge for India, where equatorial electrodynamics create complex electron-density variations. The absence of a dedicated Indian satellite for topside monitoring makes ground-based methods like this crucial. The approach could be especially relevant for India's regional navigation system, NavIC, which also faces ionospheric errors. The next step would be testing this model during geomagnetic storms, when errors spike. Watch for follow-up studies validating the method under active solar conditions expected in the coming years.
Source: deccanherald.com
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