Ambiguity-Resolved Real-Time Precise Point Positioning as a Potential Fill-In Service for Sparse CORS Networks

Precise point positioning (PPP) employs readily available Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) orbit- and clock-correction products to perform point positioning using a single GNSS receiver. Recently, attention has turned to ambiguity-resolved real-time PPP (AR-RT-PPP), allowing PPP to potentially offer a viable alternative to real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning provided by local or regional Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) networks. Using an extensive data set covering all of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, this paper showed that AR-RT-PPP is achievable, on average providing positioning quality down to a few centimeters with an average ambiguity-resolution success rate of 84.3% and average convergence times of between 40 min and 1 h. The paper highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of this positioning technique from a user's perspective and then outlined the current limitations and possible future direction of AR-RT-PPP as a fill-in service for sparser local or regional CORS networks.