Station Classification and Reference Station Selection

When using a network approach, expressing reliably GNSS position and velocities in a given reference frame (ITRF2014, IGS14, …) requires the identification of ‘stable’ and ‘rebliable’ reference stations. The choice of these reference stations can have a non-negligible impact on the estimated positions and velocities and of course on the derived geodynamic interpretations.

This study will present the work done to address this issue within EUREF and help the users of the EUREF products (more specifically of the EPN multi-year position and velocity solution) to identify the best reference stations in the EUREF Permanent Network (EPN). To that aim, in addition to a station classification, a web tool (https://epncb.oma.be/_productsservices/ReferenceFrame/) has been developed in order to discover the most suitable EPN reference stations. The primary goal of this tool is to help the user of EUREF reference frame product select suitable EPN reference stations to be added to his network during the preparation of own GNSS processing.

The tool helps the selection of optimal reference stations:

• by providing a restricted list of reference stations (based on the station classification and the begin and end date of the user processing)
• by giving access to additional information (number of position or velocity discontinuities, post-seismic deformation,…) and plots (detrended position time series, selection criteria values, velocity variability) for the stations.

The web tool as well as the station classification will be presented.