A new approach to modernized GPS phase-only ambiguity resolution over long baselines

With the advent of modernized GPS, triple-frequency phase measurements (L1, L2, and L5) are available for civil use. The successful ambiguity resolution of the integer ambiguities of the phase measurements will be the key to centimeter-level positioning. In order to achieve ambiguity resolution over long baselines, code measurements (pseudorange) are regularly incorporated with the phase measurements in the observation model. However, code multipath affects ambiguity resolution and thus completely eliminating the influence is an important issue. Therefore, the present study proposes an approach that uses only the phase measurements in the observation model. The proposed approach has three steps and focuses on resolving the integer ambiguities of the triple-frequency phase measurements. Simulation baseline data were processed by the proposed approach and the results show that the integer ambiguities of the phase measurements can be successfully resolved and that satellite geometry is an important factor for the phase-only ambiguity resolution performance. Real triple-frequency GPS data from currently available Block IIF satellites were also processed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.