The Research Challenges of IAG Commission 4 “Positioning & Applications”

Abstract

The terms of reference of IAG Commission 4 “Positioning & Applications” give some hint as to the range of technologies and applications with which its entities are concerned. The TOR are conveniently summarised in the statement: To promote research into the development of a number of geodetic tools that have practical applications to engineering and mapping. Recognising the central role that Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) plays in many of these applications, the Commission’s work focuses on several Global Positioning System (GPS)-based techniques. These include precise positioning, but extending beyond the applications of reference frame densification and geodynamics, to address the demands of precise, real-time positioning of moving platforms. Several sub-commissions deal with precise kinematic GPS positioning technology itself (alone or in combination with other positioning technologies such as inertial navigation sensors), as well as its applications in surveying and engineering. For example, there are sub-commissions that interest themselves in the R&D of the technology to address ground or structural deformation, mobile mapping or imaging (from land or airborne platforms). Recognising the role of networks of permanently operating GPS reference stations, research into non-positioning applications of such geodetic infrastructure is also being pursued, such as atmospheric (ionosphere and troposphere) sounding. Finally, geodetic applications of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) are also a topic of study for one sub-commission. The research challenges for the sub-commissions, working groups and study groups of Commission 4 will be described.