Analysis of GPS and BeiDou positioning performance in polar regions and extraction of gravity anomalies using BDS observation data

doi:10.23919/JSEE.2026.000011

Abstract

Abstract:

Aerial gravity measurements in polar regions require higher accuracy and stability from satellite navigation systems. The performance of conventional Global Positioning System (GPS) significantly deteriorates as one moves from lower latitudes to polar areas. First, a regional comparative analysis of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and GPS positioning performance in polar regions is conducted. Results indicate that in polar environments, BDS demonstrates certain advantages regarding satellite availability and geometric distribution. Based on this analysis, a method for extracting airborne gravity anomalies using BeiDou signals in polar regions is proposed and improved. The process begins by optimizing BeiDou observation data using an altitude angle weighting method combined with precise ephemeris data. An error correction model is constructed to enhance system adaptability in the polar environment. Following this, high-precision position and acceleration estimation is achieved using the precise point positioning (PPP) technique, integrated with inertial navigation information, to extract aerial gravity anomalies in polar regions accurately. Results from Antarctic aerial gravity measurement experiments indicate that the BDS-based model improves accuracy by 30% compared to GPS under the same conditions.

Key words: polar aerial gravimetry, Global Positioning System (GPS), BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), positioning, gravity anomaly extraction

Junda Chen, Zhiming Xiong, Juliang Cao, Shaokun Cai, Yan Guo, Wenkai Xiang. Analysis of GPS and BeiDou positioning performance in polar regions and extraction of gravity anomalies using BDS observation data[J]. Journal of Systems Engineering and Electronics, 2026, 37(4): 1374-1382.

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Navigation system		PDOP			GDOP
Navigation system	Maximum value	Average value range	Minimum value	Maximum value	Average value range	Minimum value
GPS	3.153	1.688−2.071	1.422	3.591	1.805−2.216	1.507
BDS	2.449	1.606−1.823	1.397	2.771	1.758−2.068	1.491

Test line	RMS
Test line	GPS	BDS
F0301	1.15	0.51
F0302	1.31	0.81
F0303	0.85	0.68
F0304	0.66	0.62
F0305	0.82	0.74
Mean	0.96	0.67
MSE	0.056	0.011

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