Comparison of position determination techniques in GPS/IMU systems

The rapid development of technology shows major changes in the geodetic measurement research. With using commonly the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology in geodetic studies, satellite-based measurement methods have become one of the most important issues in geodesy. Many different methods have been developed in the field of point positioning with GNSS. In order to achieve accurate position information that is usable in map production and engineering projects, usually relative positioning methods are being used. However, in this method, many GNSS receivers are needed. Developments in surveying methods with GNSS, is progressing in the direction of producing highly accurate position information with only one GNSS/GPS receiver Precise Point Positioning (PPP) method that is developed to produce highly accurate location information with a single GNSS receiver, is based on corrections regarding the precise orbit and time information of the satellites used during the measurement. The basic solution in Virtual Reference Station (VRS) system is based on modeling of the ionosphere, troposphere and the ephemeris errors in a virtual reference station with the help of the observation of continuously operating reference stations. In this study, to produce high-accuracy position information, availability of VRS and PPP methods in evaluation of kinematic GPS data which is a component of GPS/IMU systems were investigated by comparing these methods. The results obtained in the thesis shows that in evaluation kinematic GPS which is a component of GPS/IMU system, VRS points produced in national GNSS network can be used instead of fixed GNSS/GPS receivers in flight zones, Additionally, in real time kinematic network applications, in cases where the data communication problem occurs, it is thought to be possible to evaluate the data collected by kinematic measurement method by subsequently created VRS reference points. Because the PPP technique provides low accuracy results than the evaluation techniques used in the thesis studies, it is thought it can be used in applications that do not require much accuracy.