Less uncertainties, more accuracy

This study can’t directly correct the inaccuracies of each device, so its aim is to warn GPS users of the occurrence and the amplitude of the ionospheric irregularities, as well as their impact on high precision positioning. It is now possible to measure and quantify this variability although it is still difficult to predict. Nevertheless, future research should be directed at a better understanding of the physical phenomena behind these irregularities, allowing a better forecast to be established. Gilles Wautelet is confident: “the next objective is to adapt current methodology, which is well defined at 30-second intervals, to data at 1-second intervals. Therefore, we will have 30 times more data, allowing us to obtain a far more precise range of irregularities, especially with regard to low and high latitudes, where ionospheric variations are extremely high and very fast”.

To obtain such data, the researchers can count on the arrival of other GNSS on the market. “New positioning systems are being developed such as the European Galileo system (Read : Galileo, a European "GPS"), which will offer a higher degree of precision than GPS. Galileo emits an extra signal (editor’s note: three signals instead of two for GPS) and, what’s more, these signals are more precise. At the moment, we are studying the influence of ionospheric irregularities on all these new signals”, René Warnant concludes.