International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 1
Number 4
December 2007
371
ASG-EUPOS - a Multifunctional Precise Satellite
Positioning System in Poland
J. Bosy, W. Graszka & M. Leonczyk
Office of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw, Poland
ABSTRACT: With the beginning of January 2007 the realisation of the ASG-EUPOS multifunctional precise
satellite positioning system in Poland has begun. The system founded in Poland is a part of a larger project
EUPOS®, involving the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe. The ASG-EUPOS system will consist of
86 reference stations placed evenly on the area of the country in distances around 70 km and two management
centres located in Warsaw and Katowice. The system will render three real-time services (NAVGEO,
NAVGIS and CODGIS) and two postprocessing-mode services accessible (POSGEO and POSGEO D). It’s
planned to organise a technical service and supply the geodesy and cartography documentation centres with
GNSS equipment. The whole system is to be built by the end of 2007 and will go into use with the beginning
of 2008. The ASG-EUPOS system is realised utilising the resources of the European Regional Development
Fund.
1 INTRODUCTION
On the 2nd of January 2007 the Head Office of
Geodesy and Cartography (GUGiK), the consortium:
WASKO S.A., Geotronics Poland S.A. and Trimble
Europe BV have signed a contract for building the
ASG-EUPOS multifunctional precise satellite
positioning system fin Poland. The goal of building
this system is to web-enable corrections for GNSS
observations for satellite receivers and enabling the
precise positioning and navigation in Poland. The
network of ground reference stations ASG-EUPOS
receiving signals from global navigation systems
NAVSTAR GPS, GALILEO and GLONASS will
constitute a system of spatial references in Poland
(ASG-PL/EUPOS, 2004; ASG-PL/EUPOS, 2005).
The reference points of the ASG-EUPOS System’s
reference stations will create the geodetic control
network according to the regulations of the act from
May 17th 1989. Geodetic and cartographic law. The
ASG-EUPOS multifunctional precise positioning
system project is realised utilising the resources of
the European Regional Development Fund within
the Sectoral Operational Programme „Improvement
of the Competitiveness of Enterprises”. The contract
for project subsidising was signed on the 2nd of
August 2005. The Ministry of Regional Develop-
ment is the Managing Authority, while Department
of European Funds acting within the Ministry of
Science and Higher Education is the Implementing
Authority and the General Surveyor of Poland is the
Final Beneficiary.
The ASG-EUPOS multifunctional system for
precise satellite positioning is part of project
EUPOS® involving the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe. The EUPOS System is to constitute
a unified system for precise positioning in 16 Central
and East European countries. All in all around 450 /
900 reference stations will have been added into the
system. The International Steering Committee in
Berlin is in charge of the coordination. Important to
highlight is the fact, that the system is built
according to a unified standard. The launch of the
EUPOS System is anticipated for 2008. The
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coordinates will be in ETRS89 system and then
recalculated to national coordinate systems.
Participating countries will apply a unified technical
standard and will render the data accessible from the
border reference stations (ASG-PL/EUPOS, 2004;
Graszka, 2007).
2 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ASG-EUPOS
SYSTEM
The ASG-EUPOS System is composed of three
essential segments: the segment of reference
stations, the segment of managing and the segment
of users. Enabling of differential corrections in real-
time is designed in the system (NAVGEO, NAVGIS
and CODGIS services), rendering data accessible
and calculating in postprocessing-mode (services:
POSGEO and POSGEO D), arranging of the
technical service and also supplying the geodesy
and cartography documentation centres with GNSS
equipment. Enabling of corrections will take place
on the Internet and GSM (GPRS). With the
increasing number of users it’s planned to
implement other transmission channels (UMTS,
radio systems and others). Enabling the observations
and postprocessing calculations’ results will be
realised by the Internet and on CDROM (ASG-
PL/EUPOS, 2005; Graszka, 2007). Figure 1
introduces schematic segments of the system and
services with information on the accuracy of
measurements carried out in respective services.
Fig. 1. The chart of ASG-EUPOS System segments and
services
The distribution of the stations is introduced on
figure 2.
Circles denote existing stations, planned for
admission into the system. Triangles denote stations
planned for establishing (including reserves).
Squares denote stations which will be admissioned
into the EUREF Permanent Network (EPN).
Localisations of the designed stations are presently
(April, 2007) in verification. The verification
concerns the possibility of installing the GNSS
antenna, installation of the 19-inch Rack with
modules: receiving, primary and emergency power,
steering and communication and of the possibility to
establish communication connections (ASG-
PL/EUPOS, 2005, WASKO, 2007).
Fig. 2. The designed distribution of ASG-EUPOS system
reference stations
According to figure 2, the segment of the ASG-
EUPOS reference stations will consist of (Graszka,
2007):
− 67 RTK reference stations (GPS module) built
within the realised project
− 8 stations (GPS/GLONASS module) built within
the realised project
− 15 existing RTK reference stations (GPS module)
situated in Poland
− 3 existing RTK/DGPS reference stations
(GPS/GLONASS module) admissioned into the
system, situated in Poland
− not more than 30 foreign reference stations
situated in the border zone, working within
EUPOS System
Every reference station will consist of the
following modules: receiving (GPS or
GPS/GLONASS), primary and emergency power,
steering and communication.
Managing of the ASG-EUPOS System will be
carried out by the management centres: in Warsaw
and in Katowice. The management centres will be
equipped in application software enabling the
realisation of the full extent of services. The
reference stations will communicate with the
management centres using the TCP/IP protocol.
Every station will send data with the sample
frequency of 1Hz (every 1 second) parallel to the
both centres. The managing of reference stations will
be realised from the level of management centre.
Access to the system’s services and postprocessing
module will be assured 24 hours a day, 7 days in a
week. The overall characteristic of the real-time
services offered in ASG-EUPOS System is
introduced in table 1.
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Table 1. Real-time services in the ASG-EUPOS System
Service Method Transmission Accuracy Format Receiver
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/U
MTS,
0,03m
horizontal,
Internet,
0,05m
vertical
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/U
MTS,
Internet
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/U
MTS,
Internet, FM(optional)
L1/L2
L1
L1
1m - 3m
up to 0,5m
NAVGEO
CODGIS
NAVGIS
RTK
DGPS
DGPS
The calculation module of the system will assure
the generating of RTK/DGPS corrections, enabling
users, equipped with GPS/GNSS receivers and
GSM/GPRS (UMTS) communication module to
calculate the position of a point in real-time.
The calculation module for realising services of
precise positioning in postprocessing mode will be
installed in management centres and web-enabled to
users (www.asg-eupos.gov.pl). Within the same
login session the user will be allowed to send his
GPS observational files (in RINEX format) for
processing. This module will work in automatic
mode, with the possibility of the operators’
intervention in case of a need for manual
calculations. The data necessary for calculations
(RINEX files from the nearest reference stations or
virtual reference stations) within POSGEO D service
will be available the same way.
The maintenance of reference system and the
control of correctness of its realisation is to be
provided in ASG-EUPOS system. For that purpose
an autonomous calculating system based on the
Bernese GNSS Software v. 5.x is expected to be
launched. The task of this service will be to make
calculations of the whole ASG-EUPOS reference
stations network according to the calculation
standards applied by the EPN network’s centres of
analyses. The results of these analyses will enable
the control of the reference stations’ coordinates
stability and will constitute the base to carry out
actions in case of occurrences of essential transitions
in antennas’ phase centres position.
The user segment will comprise of mobile
receivers equipped with GSM/GPRS module. Such a
configuration will enable direct use of real-time
services (NAVGEO, NAVGIS and CODGIS) of the
ASG-EUPOS System. The software of the mobile
receivers’ is to make possible the direct determina-
tion of point coordinates in terrain in the national
spatial reference system: EUREF 89, 1992, 2000 and
1965, and also the normal heights in Kronstadt 86
system. The user will have access to the
postprocessing mode calculation services (POSGEO
and POSGEO D) through the system’s web page.
3 THE REALISATION OF ASG-EUPOS
SYSTEM
On the 2
nd
of August 2005 a contract was signed for
subsiding of the construction of the ASG-EUPOS
precise satellite positioning system utilizing the
resources of the European Regional Development
Fund within the Sectoral Operational Programme
“Improvement of the Competitiveness of Enterprises”
2004-2006 (SOP-ICE). The project has been realised
within Priority 1 – Enhancement of knowledge based
economy business environment, Task 1.5.
Development of a system of entrepreneurs’ access to
information and public services on-line. The
Ministry of Regional Development is the
Management Authority, the Department of European
Funds acting within the Ministry of Science and
Higher Education is the Implementing Authority.
The General Surveyor of Poland is the Final
Beneficiary, who, in order to support the project,
established the Project Steering Committee and two
counselling bodies: the Programme Council of the
Project and the Team of Experts. The management
structure of the ASG-EUPOS System is introduced
on figure 3.
Fig. 3. Target Structure of the ASG-EUPOS System
The practical realisation of the ASG-EUPOS
System has begun with the beginning of 2007 after
signing the 2nd of January contract for founding the
consortium: WASKO S.A, Geotronics Poland S.A.
and Trimble Europe BV. The realisation of the
contract has been divided, from technical reasons,
into three stages (WASKO, 2007, Graszka, 2007):
Stage 1 – consisting of: the delivery of 30 dual-
frequency GPS receivers with the equipment and
software of the reference stations, the delivery of
servers, computer and telecommunication equipment,
system and application software, as well as the
delivery of 15 dual-frequency GPS receivers with
equipment and software for RTK/DGPS field
measurements;
374
Stage 2 – consisting of: delivery of 40 dual-
frequency GPS receivers and 8 dual-frequency
GPS/GLONASS receivers with the equipment and
software for the reference station, mounting of
reference stations in 75 locations, delivery and
installation of supplementary equipment, installation
of servers, computer and telecommunication
equipment, system and application software in
Management Centres, connecting all the system
elements and training of the personnel operating the
stations and positioning services. 50 dual-frequency
GPS receivers will also be provided, with equipment
and software for RTK/DGPS field measurements
and a training of operating personnel will be
conducted;
Stage 3 – consisting of: launching of real-time
and postprocessing precise positioning services,
plugging the border stations in and connecting the
National Management Centre with National
Management Centres in neighbouring countries, and
also the training of the staff, testing and
authorisation of the precise positioning system in
Poland.
According to the accepted schedule Stage 1 has
been finished in March, Stage 2 in June and Stage 3
by the 15th of December 2007. The ASG-EUPOS
System after the audit completion should be
available to the users with the beginning of 2008.
4 THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ASG-
EUPOS SYSTEM
The reference stations with GPS receiving module
will be equipped with Trimble NetRS receivers with
Zephyr I antenna (TRM41249.00) and the stations
with the GPS/GLONASS receiving module with
NetR5 receivers with Zephir II antenna
(TRM55971.00) (WASKO, 2006).
The registration of the NAVSTAR GPS and
GLONASS signal in reference stations will be
within 1Hz interval in the receivers’ cache. The
communication servers in Management Centres will
connect to the TCP/IP ports of the receiver and
download RAW type data. For this purpose Trimble
GPSBase software will be installed on existing
stations which are equipped with control computers.
Every station will send data with sample frequency
of 1Hz (every second) using two distinct ports. The
data from the first port will be sent to the
Management Centre in Warsaw and its replica from
the second port to the Management Centre in
Katowice (WASKO, 2007).
The calculation segment of the ASG-EUPOS
system for real-time services (NAVGEO, NAVGIS
and CODGIS) will be realised based on software by
Trimble Infrastructure Software™ that is installed in
both Management Centres. The primary task of the
system is to generate real-time corrections. This task
will be realised by GPSNet and RTKNet modules as
well as the NTRIP application (WASKO, 2006,
2007).
The calculation segment of the ASG-EUPOS
System for postprocessing mode (POSGEO) will be
installed in Management Centres, available to users
through the web page and based on Trimble TTC
software. Through the web page service the user will
also be given the possibility to download observation
data from given stations in RINEX format and
virtual station’s position (POSGEO D) (WASKO,
2006, 2007).
5 CONCLUSIONS
The ASG-EUPOS system will ensure a stable and
uniform reference system in Poland. The system
accessibility and the realisation of precise
positioning and navigation service will be carried
out in real time. According to the assumptions, the
ASG-EUPOS system may constitute a base for
building own systems (applications) for users
utilising the positioning or navigation function. The
implementing and effective functioning of the
system is possible only in cooperation with the
public administrative boards, scientific institutions
and entrepreneurs. The Head Office for Geodesy
and Cartography coordinates the founding of the
system on the area of the country, basing on the
experiences of other European countries, also having
in regard the high requirements that have been set up
to the reference system by the geodesic-measurement
works contractors. The realisation of the ASG-
EUPOS system also requires the coordination of
operations with the neighbouring countries,
especially in the scope of common technical
standards and the exchange of observational data
from border stations.
REFERENCES
ASG-PL/EUPOS – Polish part of the EUPOS system, Head
Office of Geodesy and Cartography, 2004 (in Polish).
Technical project of multifunctional precise satellite
positioning system ASG/EUPOS in Poland, Head Office of
Geodesy and Cartography, 2005 (in Polish).
The offer of the consortium represented by WASKO S.A to
build a multifunctional precise satellite positioning system
ASG-EUPOS in Poland 2006 (in Polish).
Realization technical project of the consortium represented by
WASKO S.A to build a multifunctional precise satellite
positioning system ASG-EUPOS in Poland 2007 (in
Polish).
Graszka W. (2007) Multifunctional precise satellite positioning
system ASG-EUPOS, Geodeta, Geoinformational Magazine
Nr 2 (141) Feb 2007 p. 4-8.