Engineering topics

Engelhardt, Gerald

Publications and source records attributed to Engelhardt, Gerald.

3 records

NASA NTRS2013

The BKG/IGGB VLBI Analysis Center

In 2012, the activities of the BKG/IGGB VLBI Analysis Center, as in previous years, consisted of routine computations of Earth orientation parameter (EOP) time series and of a number of research topics in geodetic VLBI. The VLBI group at BKG continued its regular submissions of time series of tropospheric parameters and the generation of daily SINEX (Solution INdependent EXchange format) files. Quarterly updated solutions have been computed to produce terrestrial reference frame (TRF) and celestial reference frame (CRF) realizations. Routine computations of the UT1-UTC Intensive observations include all sessions of the Kokee-Wettzell and Tsukuba-Wettzell baselines and the networks Kokee-Svetloe-Wettzell and Ny-degAlesund-Tsukuba-Wettzell. The VLBI group at BKG developed a procedure to get the most probable station positions of Tsukuba after the earthquake on March 11, 2011 for the epochs of the Intensive sessions. The analysis of the Intensive sessions with station Tsukuba could be resumed in February 2012. At IGGB, the emphasis has been placed on individual research topics.

Thorandt, Volkmar↗

NASA NTRS2010

Long-Term Stability of Radio Sources in VLBI Analysis

Positional stability of radio sources is an important requirement for modeling of only one source position for the complete length of VLBI data of presently more than 20 years. The stability of radio sources can be verified by analyzing time series of radio source coordinates. One approach is a statistical test for normal distribution of residuals to the weighted mean for each radio source component of the time series. Systematic phenomena in the time series can thus be detected. Nevertheless, an inspection of rate estimation and weighted root-mean-square (WRMS) variations about the mean is also necessary. On the basis of the time series computed by the BKG group in the frame of the ICRF2 working group, 226 stable radio sources with an axis stability of 10 as could be identified. They include 100 ICRF2 axes-defining sources which are determined independently of the method applied in the ICRF2 working group. 29 stable radio sources with a source structure index of less than 3.0 can also be used to increase the number of 295 ICRF2 defining sources.

Engelhardt, Gerald↗

NASA NTRS2004

IVS Tropospheric Parameters: Comparison with DORIS and GPS for CONT02

In April 2002 the IVS (International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry) set up the Pilot Project - Tropospheric Parameters, and the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics (IGG), Vienna, was put in charge of coordinating the project. Seven IVS Analysis Centers have joined the project and regularly submitted their estimates of tropospheric parameters (wet and total zenith delays, horizontal gradients) for all IVS-R1 mid IVS-R4 sessions since January 1st, 2002. The individual submissions are combined by a two-step procedure to obtain stable, robust and highly accurate tropospheric parameter time series with one hour resolution (internal accuracy: 2-4 ram). Starting with July 2003, the combined tropospheric estimates became operational IVS products. In the second half of October 2002 the VLBI campaign CONT02 was observed with 8 stations participating around the globe. At four of them (Gilmore Creek, U.S.A.; Hartebeesthoek, South Africa; Kokee Park, U.S.A.; Ny-Alesund, Norway) also total zenith delays from DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite) are available and these estimates are compared with those from the IGS (International GPS Service) and the IVS. The distance from the DORIS beacons to the co-located GPS and VLBI stations is around 2 km or less for the four sites mentioned above.

Schuh, Harald↗