GPS·C

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GPS·C, short for GPS Correction, is a set of Differential GPS data for most of Canada maintained by the Canadian Active Control System, part of Natural Resources Canada. When used with an appropriate receiver, GPS·C improves real-time accuracy to about 1-2 meters, from a nominal 15 m accuracy.

Real-time data is collected at fourteen permanent ground stations spread across Canada, and forwarded to the central station, "NRC1", in Ottawa for processing.

[edit] CDGPS

GPS·C information is currently broadcast Canada-wide on MSAT by the CDGPS, short for Canada-Wide DGPS Correction Service. CDGPS requires a separate MSAT receiver, which outputs correction information in the RTCM format for input into any suitably equipped GPS receiver. The need for a separate receiver makes it less cost-effective than solutions like WAAS or StarFire, which receive their correction information using the same antenna and receiver.

CDGPS Reference Stations^[1]
Station name	Location	Operational Date
ALBH	Canadian Forces Base, Esquimalt, British Columbia (near Victoria, British Columbia)	May 1992
ALGO	Algonquin Space Complex, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario	January 1991
CHUR	Geological Survey of Canada regional seismic station, Churchill, Manitoba	April 1993
DRAO	Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Penticton, British Columbia	February 1991
EUR2	New Environment Canada Weather Station building, Eureka, Nunavut	October 9, 2005
FRDN	Hugh John Fleming Forestry Complex, near the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick	February 2003
HLFX	Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Halifax, Nova Scotia	December 19, 2001
NRC1	Institute for National Measurement Standards, National Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario	April 1995
PRDS	Dominion Observatory in Priddis, Alberta (near Calgary, Alberta)	January 7, 1997
SCH2	Transport Canada radio telecommunication facility, Schefferville, Quebec	June 29, 1997
STJO	Geological Survey of Canada (NRCan) geomagnetic observing station, St. John's, Newfoundland	May 1992
WHIT	Whitehorse, Yukon	June 1996
WINN	NavCanada Winnipeg Area Control Centre building, Winnipeg, Manitoba	January 9, 1997
YELL	Yellowknife, Northwest Territories	January 1991