Satellite Geodesy

First computer programs for the analysis of GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking data were developed at the AIUB in the 1980's when GPS started to become interesting for geodetic applications. The Satellite Geodesy group of the AIUB is developing and maintaining a large software package - the Bernese GNSS Software - for the analysis of GNSS satellite signals, used for a broad range of scientific applications and projects.

At present, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) consists of the American GPS as well as of the Russian counterpart, GLONASS. The signals from the European satellite navigation system Galileo are processed, too.

Since 1992 the AIUB operates the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) Analysis Center for the International GNSS Service (IGS) in a consortium with the Swiss Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo, Wabern, Switzerland), the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG, Frankfurt a. M., Germany) and the Institut für Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie, Technische Universität München (IAPG/TUM, Germany).

The evaluation of new processing strategies and new models, the analysis of station coordinate time series, and the validation of GNSS orbits using independent SLR observations complement the routine work performed at the CODE Analysis Center.