Remote Sensing, Vol. 14, Pages 3819: Single-Epoch Ambiguity Resolution of a Large-Scale CORS Network with Multi-Frequency and Multi-Constellation GNSS (Remote Sensing)

Ambiguity resolution at Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network sites is the key step in the whole processing chain of Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK). An appropriate ambiguity-resolution speed is important, and single-epoch ambiguity resolution has not been realized yet, especially for large-scale CORS. We attempt to realize single-epoch ambiguity resolution for a large-scale CORS network by neglecting tropospheric delay through forming difference between satellites with close mapping functions whether they belong to the same or different GNSSs. As only two frequency bands are shared among GPS, Galileo and BeiDou, the biggest challenge is how to get this single-epoch ambiguity solution for wide-lane combinations of L1 and L5 when the difference is formed between satellites of different GNSSs. The proposed method includes five steps for ambiguity resolution for different combinations: extra wide-lane, wide-lane, inter-GNSS wide-lane, subset narrow-lane and narrow-lane. The single-epoch ambiguity-resolution performance is assessed based on GNSS observations from two long-distance baselines formed with IGS stations, BRUX-REDU and BAUT-LEIJ, separated by distances of approximately 104 km and 151 km, respectively. The numerical results show that the fixing rate of the single-epoch ambiguity resolution can reach more than 90%, so for a large-scale CORS network, single-epoch ambiguity resolution is feasible and can be realized in the future.