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GPS Processing Software

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Grant Nicklin

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Feb 7, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/7/98
to

I am looking for some general purpose relatively inexpensive GPS processing
software. This software needs to have the capability of processing data
from Lieca, Trimble, Sokkia, Topcon etc. The purpose of this is so I can
become more familiar with GPS processing by reprocessing work done by others
on several jobs I have worked on recently.

The desirable features are:
· handle least squares network adjustment
· conversion to UTM and TM circuit coordinates
· simple to use for differentially corrected topographic processing

I have seen advertisements for Starplus Software. It their Starnet GPS
suitable? - do they have a web site?

Many thanks for any help.
===============================================================
Grant C Nicklin, Registered Land Surveyor
PO Box 754 Cambridge, NEW ZEALAND
Work Ph 64 7 7274945 fax 64 7 8274965

Tom Cade

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Feb 7, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/7/98
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Grant,

Starnet*GPS is a very good package, and I have been using it for several
years. However, it is strictly an adjustment package, and does not process
vectors.

I believe it was Geodimeter who released a package capable of processing
vectors from the raw data files of all the leading receiver manufacturers.
You can also process the vectors in most of the proprietary packages, ie.
Leica SKI, Trimble GPSurvey, etc., provided you are able to get the
contractors who provided your GPS services to provide you with RINEX format
files of their data.

RINEX is an ASCII file format for transfer of GPS raw data between different
baseline processors, similar in function to DXF files for CADD packages. It
was primarily intended for submission of GPS data to the NGS, who would then
process the data themselves.

Unfortunately, I do not believe you are going to find an inexpensive package
for processing. Most of the software suites that are provided with a
complete GPS system run in the $5,000 range. You may try visiting the NGS
web site and check if they have a processor available for download.

Keep in mind that the antenna characteristics of different types of
receivers affect the processing of the vectors measured with those antennas.
For instance, GPSurvey has an antenna model library from which you choose
the receiver and antenna type for a particular data file. This has to do
with the electrical properties of each type of antenna (Phase Center). I
have seen it affect the processed length of a vector by as much as 0.030
meters. If you are just trying to learn, it won't make much difference. But
you may not arrive at the exact same result as you contractor did.

Good Luck

Tom Cade, PLS

Philip Reed

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Feb 8, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/8/98
to

Grant Nicklin wrote in message <6bihhm$2...@hn.hn.planet.gen.nz>...


>I am looking for some general purpose relatively inexpensive GPS processing
>software

Grant:

Grafnav/Grafnet is one that has been around for some time. I have never
used it but it looks interesting. Try their Web site at www.waypoint.com.
Also try your WWW search engine for GPS software. There is another vender
I can't remember their name) that will actually let you download a trial
version on the WWW. They also advertise (or did)in P.O.B. Magizine. You
might try P.O.B.'s web site.

Good Luck

Donald M. Mulcare

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Feb 8, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/8/98
to

Tom Cade <ftc...@transport.com> wrote in article
<6bj3gg$sd7$1...@news2.ispnews.com>

<with extensive deletions>

<CUT>

: RINEX is an ASCII file format for transfer of GPS raw data between


different
: baseline processors, similar in function to DXF files for CADD packages.
It
: was primarily intended for submission of GPS data to the NGS, who would
then
: process the data themselves.

A minor correction: Receiver INdependent EXchange (RINEX) was first defined

by Dr. Werner Gurtner of the AIUB. The current version (2) was written by
Dr. Gurtner
and Dr. Gerald Mader of the NGS. The NGS has acted as a coordinator in
RINEX
development.

RINEX is the accepted standard for exchange of GPS data. Data from the
IGS, NGS
and other networks is disseminated in RINEX. Converters (translators) are
available
for download at a number of sites. I like the "teqc" software available
from the University
NAVSTAR Consortium (UNAVCO). To download this software, visit their web
site
at http://www.unavco.ucar.edu. Alternative converters are also available
at the
UNAVCO site.
:
: Unfortunately, I do not believe you are going to find an inexpensive


package
: for processing. Most of the software suites that are provided with a
: complete GPS system run in the $5,000 range. You may try visiting the NGS
: web site and check if they have a processor available for download.

The NGS does not publically list on our web site any GPS processing
software for
download. Some software I have seen available for download include demo
versions
of the Allen Osborne Associates software, the Jupiter software (the Bronze
version is
free) Dr. Clyde Goad (formerly of The Ohio State University) C and FORTRAN
code
and the MATLAB M-files linked to the text,
_Linear_Algebra,_Geodesy_and_GPS_,
available from Dr. Kai Borre's web site.

You may want to check Dr. Michael Craymer's web site for links to these
packages.

Unlike commercial software, the software used by organizations like the NGS
and universities
require much greater interaction with and manipulation of the data. They
are not "black boxes."
The learning curve can also be rather steep.

: Keep in mind that the antenna characteristics of different types of


: receivers affect the processing of the vectors measured with those
antennas.
: For instance, GPSurvey has an antenna model library from which you choose
: the receiver and antenna type for a particular data file. This has to do
: with the electrical properties of each type of antenna (Phase Center). I
: have seen it affect the processed length of a vector by as much as 0.030
: meters. If you are just trying to learn, it won't make much difference.
But
: you may not arrive at the exact same result as you contractor did.
:
: Good Luck
:
: Tom Cade, PLS

:

As Mr. Cade indicates, some software and earlier versions of others do not
include
code to deal with such matters as antenna phase pattern differences and the
like.


:

Cliff Mugnier

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Feb 9, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/9/98
to

Grant Nicklin wrote:
>
> I am looking for some general purpose relatively inexpensive GPS processing
Grant,

The conversion from WGS84 to Circuit Coordinates is a non-trivial
exercise. UTM is easy for just about any package, but the new NZ2000
system has not been implemented for facile relation to the old systems.
Remember that GD49 dropped the old Circuits that originated in 1877.

In regard to "relatively inexpensive", I believe you have a difficult
task in locating such and your needs probably call for more than one
package.

Good luck,

Cliff

--
Clifford J. Mugnier (cj...@uno.edu)
The Topographic Engineering Laboratory
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans, Louisiana 70148

Voice and Facsimile: (504) 280-7095

John

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Feb 24, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/24/98
to

>Grant Nicklin wrote:
>>
>> I am looking for some general purpose relatively inexpensive GPS
processing
>> software. This software needs to have the capability of processing data
>> from Lieca, Trimble, Sokkia, Topcon etc. The purpose of this is so I can
>> become more familiar with GPS processing by reprocessing work done by
others
>> on several jobs I have worked on recently.
>>
>> The desirable features are:
>> · handle least squares network adjustment
>> · conversion to UTM and TM circuit coordinates
>> · simple to use for differentially corrected topographic processing
>>
>> I have seen advertisements for Starplus Software. It their Starnet GPS
>> suitable? - do they have a web site?
>>
>> Many thanks for any help.
>> ===============================================================
>> Grant C Nicklin, Registered Land Surveyor
>> PO Box 754 Cambridge, NEW ZEALAND
>> Work Ph 64 7 7274945 fax 64 7 8274965


Geodimeter (Geotronics), now Spectra Precision has windows based software
GeoGenius to handle what you are asking for here. It is capable of
processing data from several different makes of receivers including Ashtech
in addition to those you mentioned. You can connect to their web site by
following the links at http://www.spectraprecision.com or try
http://www.geotronics.se and click on GPS Systems or software.

mar...@rocketmail.com

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Feb 25, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/25/98
to

You may want to check out ftp://ftp.ngs.noaa.gov/pub/omni/ for the
software that the NGS uses to do this. Best of all, you have already
paid for it with your tax dollars :)
Mark Williams

On Tue, 24 Feb 1998 20:25:54 -0600, "John" <landsu...@usa.net>
wrote:

John

unread,
Feb 25, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/25/98
to

Or you might want to check out http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PC_PROD/pc_prod.html
first, before going straight to the "ftp" site (as suggested) so you can
read a little about the products before you just start downloading files.
Only a few of the files are related to what you will ever need. Not all of
the programs that NGS offers are free and you must pay for the manuals for
most of the free programs as well. Some of these programs are a good start,
but you may find that you need something a little more. Support may be a
problem with a free program from NGS or elsewhere for that matter.

John

mar...@rocketmail.com wrote in message
<34f3b21...@news.texasonline.net>...

John Friis Løndal

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Feb 26, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/26/98
to

On Tue, 24 Feb 1998 20:25:54 -0600, "John" <landsu...@usa.net> wrote:


We have a made a very good program for this at our own, but have a look at:
EIVA
http://www.eiva.dk/

My Best Regards
_____________________________________________________
Geologist and Geophysicist
My Best Regards
_____________________________________________________
Geologist and Geophysicist
John Friis Løndal
Phone and Fax : Denmark+ 75269866
Privat Email : jloe...@post3.tele.dk
Privat homepage : http://home3.inet.tele.dk/jloendal/
Work homepage : http://home4.inet.tele.dk/svi-esbj/

mar...@rocketmail.com

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Feb 28, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/28/98
to

I don't think that they talk about the OMNI postprocessing package at
all on their web site. At least, I couldn't find it.

Mark Williams


On Wed, 25 Feb 1998 19:14:43 -0600, "John" <landsu...@usa.net>
wrote:

>Or you might want to check out http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PC_PROD/pc_prod.html
>first, before going straight to the "ftp" site (as suggested) so you can
>read a little about the products before you just start downloading files.
>Only a few of the files are related to what you will ever need. Not all of
>the programs that NGS offers are free and you must pay for the manuals for
>most of the free programs as well. Some of these programs are a good start,
>but you may find that you need something a little more. Support may be a
>problem with a free program from NGS or elsewhere for that matter.
>
>John
>
>mar...@rocketmail.com wrote in message
><34f3b21...@news.texasonline.net>...
>>You may want to check out ftp://ftp.ngs.noaa.gov/pub/omni/ for the
>>software that the NGS uses to do this. Best of all, you have already
>>paid for it with your tax dollars :)
>>Mark Williams
>>

>>On Tue, 24 Feb 1998 20:25:54 -0600, "John" <landsu...@usa.net>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>

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