Abstract

NGS Continuously Operating Reference Stations & Online Positioning User Service
Track: Surveying
Authors: William Stone

This presentation describes the NOAA/National Geodetic Survey's network of permanent GNSS Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and the related Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) utility. The CORS network and OPUS both support centimeter-level positioning capability, thereby enhancing a broad range of user applications, including those demanding extremely high positional accuracy. The material presented should be of interest to professionals involved in surveying, mapping, GIS, and other geospatial disciplines.

The CORS network comprises a network of approximately 2,000 sites, each containing a geodetic-quality GNSS receiver whose data are freely available via the Internet. Presentation topics include the development of the CORS network, CORS applications, and CORS data access.

OPUS is an automated utility that processes submitted GNSS observation data with respect to the CORS network and provides positional results to the submitter via email, usually within minutes. The development, use, and applications of OPUS will be discussed.